Now Open: Royal Docks Brewing Tied House in Ohio City

Royal Docks Brewing Tied House now open in Ohio City Credit: Photo by Doug Trattner

The northern invasion of Canton-based Royal Docks Brewing has begun. This week, the 10-year-old brewery opened the doors to its newest outpost, Tied House + Kitchen in Ohio City. The 100-seat restaurant and taproom has taken over the former North High Brewing space at COhatch.

Co-founders John Bikis and brewer Dave Sutula launched the company in Stark County in 2015. They’ve since grown from that 7.5-barrel brewpub to running a production facility with 10- and 30-barrel systems. Royal Docks follows the classic “tied house” model, with a central production facility feeding a growing number of taprooms in both urban and near-rural communities.

The Ohio City pub got a complete overhaul since North High decamped, with Royal Docks going for a more pub-appropriate look and feel.

“Our DNA has always been: what would it look like if a brewery in London put in a pub,” Sutula explains.

Along with brewer Zane Charnas, Sutula crafts a wide range of award-winning brews. On tap now are favorites like Backyard Crusher, Royal Czeck Pils, Vlad Imperial stout and Yuletide, their Scotch ale-based holiday beer.

Royal Docks is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, offering a menu that goes beyond typical pub grub. There are wings, poppers and sauerkraut balls, naturally, but also meat and cheese-filled pasties and mititei, heavily spiced sausages. Alo available is an onion ale soup, burgers, and fish, chicken and sausage sandwiches. Heartier appetites can lean into fish and chips, chicken and chips and a comforting English roast with carrots and mashed potatoes.

For folks who want to bring a taste of the brewery home, a small retail section offers canned beer to go.