Ohio Brewery News
10.2.2020
CENTRAL
Whenever the calendar turns to October, I find myself immediately drawn to the idea of relaxing around a fire with a drink in hand, enjoying the outdoors for as long as possible before the Ohio winter sets in. A recent collaboration between Restoration Brew Worx and The Phoenix Brewing Company attempts to capture that experience in a glass. Smokey Jack hit the taps at Restoration’s Delaware brewpub this week, and it’s pretty far from your basic fall pumpkin ale. Smoked malts evoke the sensation of hovering at the edge of a fire pit, while the addition of chai spice blend adds a light playfulness that contrasts with the earthy pumpkin and rich sweetness of blackstrap molasses. This collaboration beer won’t last long, so make your way to Restoration Brew Worx – or The Phoenix in Mansfield – to have a pour from the tap or take a growler back home to enjoy around the fire. More details at facebook.com/thephoenixbrewingcompany
GREATER CLEVELAND
This blog writer is taking next week off to recharge his batteries, so let’s go ahead and give a hearty cheers to two years of beers from Bookhouse Brewing one week early! The anniversary festivities kick off on Friday, Oct. 9, highlighted by a slew of special beer releases. The headliner here is the 2 Year Anniversary Pastry Stout brewed in collaboration with Ohio City neighbors Great Lakes Brewing Company. Instead of loading the mash tun with baked goods, the brewers used a heavy and diverse malt bill paired with toasted hazelnuts, cacao nibs, molasses and lactose to deliver a thick beer reminiscent of Nutella. If that doesn’t sound delicious enough, two variants of this stout conditioned on coffee and toasted coconut will be available on tap while supplies last. The collab stout is a draft only release, but Bookhouse will also be releasing three canned beers in the week leading up to the celebration. Get all the details at facebook.com/bookhousebrewing
NORTHEAST
Here’s another date to mark on your calendar: Wednesday, Oct. 14 is the grand opening of Lake Milton Brewery, Mahoning County’s eighth craft brewery. We’re still almost a full two weeks out so many details are still forthcoming, but the new gem of Lake Milton’s boating community will for sure be serving several house-brewed beers at their grand opening, including an all-natural orange vanilla creamsicle ale featuring a healthy dose of hand grated orange zest. Doors open at noon on Oct. 14, and after they serve their predetermined first customer, they’ll be happy to pour a beer for you. Make the trip out to Lake Milton and get your Ohio On Tap passport stamp. Follow the brewery on Facebook to keep abreast of all the forthcoming details in advance of the grand opening celebration: facebook.com/lakemiltonbrewery
NORTHWEST
Since we were talking about unique autumnal beer collaborations earlier, we should probably note that Earnest Brew Works and The Brew Kettle teamed up on an apple crisp-inspired ale that hit distribution this week. Apple Jack, brewed with Macintosh apple, vanilla, cinnamon and lactose, intends to capture that fall ritual of apple picking amidst a crisp breeze and the fruits of that labor: fresh baked apple pie. Apple Jack is on tap now at Earnest’s south Toledo taproom as well as The Brew Kettle’s Strongsville brewpub and other locations around the Cleveland area. Six-packs of Apple Jack are hitting retail shelves across the Buckeye State this week. Read more about this fun fall collaboration at thebrewkettle.com
SOUTHEAST
Sept. 30, 2020 marked the 60th anniversary of the debut of America’s first favorite animated TV family. Fittingly, Homestead Beer Company’s annual tribute returned to their taproom the same day. Yabba Dabba Brew, an 8.1% ABV double IPA brewed with a (wooly) mammoth ration of Fruity Pebbles, returned to Homestead’s taps this week. For the first time since this beer made its debut in 2017, Yabba Dabba Brew will be available in 16 ounce cans. Four packs are available at Homestead’s brewery tasting room in Heath, but this perennial favorite is not likely to last long. Hop in your foot-powered car and grab some cans while you can. Read more at facebook.com/homesteadbeerco
SOUTHWEST
Welcome Braxton Brewing Company, the newest member of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association! Braxton made the jump over the Ohio River last month, taking over the location of the former 3 Points Urban Brewery in Cincinnati’s Pendleton neighborhood. Their new Ohio outpost will serve a mix of offerings from Braxton’s Kentucky breweries and beers made on site. This week, the Cincinnati taproom expanded their hours and are now open seven days a week. Plan a fall trip to southern Ohio and get your Ohio On Tap passport stamp from the newly opened Braxton Brewing, Rebel Mettle Brewery and any of Cincinnati’s great OCBA member breweries. Follow Braxton on social media to keep up with what’s happening at their new Ohio home: facebook.com/braxtoncincinnati
WEST CENTRAL
Congrats to Ohio’s newest brewery, Loose Ends Brewing, which will have its grand opening this Saturday, October 3. The family-owned business is headed up by brewer John Loose and his father Kent, combining their beer and food experience to design an ambitious brewpub concept with a commitment to community. Loose Ends is the fourth brewery to put down roots in the Centerville area, joining Lock 27 Brewing, Heavier than Air Brewing and Sojourners Brewstillery, the last of which opened in late February of this year. Loose Ends will open at noon on Saturday and be open seven days a week thereafter. Keep up with all of their goings-on at facebook.com/looseendsbrewing