Once known as the Rubber Capital of the World, Akron can also justifiably style itself a beer mecca. More than a century ago, brewers like Renner, Burkhardt and others vied for local supremacy. Although these forerunners disappeared, a beer renaissance blossomed in recent years, with today's craft purveyors serving up some of the nation's finest brews. Several of Thirsty Dog Brewery's beers have won awards, and Hoppin' Frog consistently ranks as one of the top one hundred breweries in the world. Rob Musson presents a chronological look at Akron beer from its origins along the Ohio & Erie Canal in 1845 to the present day, featuring one hundred vintage and contemporary images.