Ohio Brewery News
3.27.2020
CENTRAL
Commonhouse Ales doesn’t have a taproom on their premises, one of the few production-only breweries in the state. With the government order prohibiting on-premises consumption at bars and restaurants across Ohio, production breweries that rely on wholesale keg purchases are scrambling to generate income. Commonhouse has been lagering a batch of Czech, Please Bohemian-style pilsner for a planned keg release, but are now changing tack and gauging interest in a bottle release direct to the public. If you’re looking for an easy drinking pilsner that’s perfect for porch sitting and chatting with your neighbors from an acceptable social distance, you can commit to pre-order a case at facebook.com/commonhouseales
GREATER CLEVELAND
Being on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, The Jolly Scholar shut down operations at the same time that the school did. Owner Matt Vann immediately shifted gears to find ways to help his local community. After giving away all the food in the brewpub’s walk-in cooler to prevent it from hitting the landfill, Vann came up with a unique way to support other small businesses in the Cleveland area. Every night at 9 p.m., the “Jolly Scholar Go Away COVID-19 Casino” goes live. This free online poker tournament rewards winners with gift cards to local breweries, restaurants and retailers. The game has proven to be so popular that host site pokerstars.com has granted two expansion requests in the week that it has been active. Marc Bona has the full story with details on how to join the action at cleveland.com
NORTHEAST
Shale Brewing Company chose to temporarily shut down operations when the state ordered the closure of bars, restaurants and breweries to on-premises consumption. In the interim, they have offered up their space as a staging area for the North Canton Cares Pantry, a volunteer effort that distributes food and dry goods to needy families in the North Canton City School District. The pantry is seeking volunteers to organize, pack and distribute food boxes on Monday, March 30. Donations of food and dry goods are also being accepted at The Summit Church in North Canton. For a list of needed items, donation drop-off times and volunteer information, visit nccpantry.com
NORTHWEST
Bowling Green’s newest brewery, Arlyn’s Good Beer, re-opened for carry out growler sales this week, but is also making preparations for the end of the state stay-at-home order. Taking advantage of the temporary slowdown, Arlyn’s has started to convert the half acre adjacent to their taproom into an outdoor beer garden. The plan calls for the perimeter of the lot to be lined by mature trees and shrubs, an attractive natural environment to pair with craft beer and some highly anticipated social interaction when the time comes. To follow along with the beer garden progress or get updates on their tap list for carry out, follow Arlyn’s on Facebook.
SOUTHEAST
Rockmill Brewery is accepting donations at their brewery taproom for the Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency food pantry. The pantry provides emergency food assistance once per month to income-eligible Fairfield County residents. At each visit, residents in need are given enough food to provide nine full meals for their entire household. If you have non-perishable food items to donate, they can be dropped off at Rockmill’s Lancaster taproom Thursday-Sunday from 2-6 p.m. To make a direct monetary donation to the food pantry, go to faircaa.org
SOUTHWEST
Firehouse Grill just celebrated their grand re-opening in late February after adding a brewhouse to their existing restaurant operation. In response to the order to close Ohio bars and restaurants that came just a few weeks later, they decided to turn a stroke of bad luck into something positive. The brewpub donated their sizeable restaurant space and their existing food inventory to La Soupe, a non-profit organization that rescues perishable food from restaurants and caterers that would otherwise be wasted and converts it into meals for schools, non-profits and food-insecure families. Firehouse Grill owners Bob and Molly Davis also arranged to have Gordon Food Service donate a freezer trailer to give La Soupe more cold storage on site for prepared meals. Read more and find out how you can donate to the effort at facebook.com/firehousegrillcincinnati
WEST CENTRAL
We all miss seeing each other’s smiling faces at brewery taprooms while we work together to slow the spread of coronavirus. Yellow Springs Brewery has a solution: a virtual happy hour on Saturday, March 28 at 4 p.m. Taproom manager Chris Hutson and sales rep Paul Herzog will host the teleconference event on Zoom for the first 30 people who sign up to participate. The event will kick off with a tasting of Raspberry Springer fruited blonde ale, available in cans for carry out at the brewery taproom or for delivery in Yellow Springs and Clifton. Spaces are limited and going fast, RSVP at yellowspringsbrewery.com