Let’s start by talking about one of the weirdest places I’ve ever been. I ventured down to Youngstown, Ohio, to see the son of one of the Allman Brothers in concert a year or two ago. After typing that sentence, I tried to Google his name, guessing first that it was Damon because I made jokes about his off-brand Allman name all night and the funniest, to me, was Damon. Turns out it’s Devon (which might be funnier). Anyhow, I didn’t know he was a person that played music, especially not in front of people, but a buddy had free tickets, and it was a perfectly nice Ohio Wednesday, so why not drink some beers and listen to some live music in Youngstown?

The venue for this Devon “Damon” Allman concert was a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle dealership. Yes, a Harley Motorcycle dealer in Youngstown, Ohio, has this back area attached to it — just a big empty warehouse/garage space that has a small stage in it that hosts concerts. Looking at the stage, you’d assume you were at any other weird rock and roll show in an abandoned warehouse/garage, but then you turn to get another beer, and suddenly you are looking into the inside of a Harley dealer in Youngstown.

So, why in the hell am I telling you this story? Other than it being a side effect of this strawberry cough I just secured? Well, that same Harley dealer in Youngstown, Ohio, is now tacking on its very own craft brewery.

From the Akron Beacon Journal:

Biker BrewHouse started serving beer earlier this month inside the Harley-Davidson Bike Town, located at 5700 Interstate Blvd. just off Interstate 80 in Mahoning County. Wilson, 44, and co-founder Rick Sekely, 59, both work at the dealership. Wilson is the floor manager, while Sekely is a salesman.

They have transformed a back corner into a small bar complete with a leather couch, circular tables, and a flat-screen television that is glued to weather reports, which are vital for motorcyclists. There also is a Harley parked there to ogle.

The 2½-barrel SysTech Stainless Works brewing system is up a flight of steps and on a floor directly above the bar. That’s where Wilson pumps out his partial extract brews.

“This is the coolest lounge that a Harley-Davidson can have,” Wilson said.

We are not bike people at CBB, but that’s a pretty cool idea on Harley’s part to build and foster its community and brand with totally seemingly unrelated stuff like craft beer and live music. But yea, it’s also kind of weird that this motorcycle dealership makes its own beer. So, it got us thinking about some of the most hilarious craft beer/business mashups we’ve seen in the last few years. Heck, there was one tucked into this much more professional blog post on re-zoning buildings for breweries.

Anyway, here are our five favorites that we could recall and dig up:

5.

Friday Fun: Coffee shop has extra warehouse space, says: ‘Let’s make beer too’

OK, that one isn’t exactly weird, but I was having trouble finding stuff in our archives.

4.

A brewery with a dog park is a cool idea, but can it succeed?

3.

 

Dayton’s Pinups and Pints might be America’s first strip club brewpub

2.

What is your local self-storage facility missing? Craft beer, duh

1.

This Harley Dealer in Youngstown. Apologies to the storage facility, but we have to choose this one for sentimental reasons.

This list far from exhaustive or scientific. Even its entertainment value is debatable at best. So, if you have any suggestions or hints/tips on other great craft beer/business mashups, we’d love to hear them: [email protected].