Ohio Brewery News
10.21.2021
CENTRAL
It’s been a little over a year since Derive Brewing Company shook off their wandering history and set down roots at their brewery and taproom in Clintonville. Since then, the brewery has been cranking out some highly-sought beers like the “Friends” series of New England IPAs – featuring hops from different regions of the world – and their award-winning saisons. While you can now enjoy a pour of these at the brewery, Derive is still releasing cans regularly for enjoyment at home as well. Pop into the taproom this Friday, Oct. 22 to carry out cans of Canary Diamonds, a New England IPA double dry hopped with Lemon Drop, Calypso and Citra for intense citrus, pear and floral flavors. A limited-edition Canary Diamonds pint glass is also available while supplies last. Fans of the seasonal favorite pumpkin spice latte will be drawn to this weekend’s other can release: Basic cream ale is brewed with milk sugar, then conditioned on Thunderkiss coffee, vanilla, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spices. Get all the info on these new brews at facebook.com/derivebeer
GREATER CLEVELAND
The march toward 400 Ohio breweries continues with the opening of two new spots in the Cleveland area. Hop Brothers Brewing is the newest addition to the Avon Brewing family, which owns and operates Medina Brewing Company in downtown Medina as well as ZZ’s Big Top and their original brewpub in Avon. The new brewery in North Ridgeville features an impressive brewpub menu to pair with small batch craft beers made on site as well as selections from the Avon Brewing portfolio. Find out more at instagram.com/hopbrothersbrewing
On Monday, Oct. 25, Immigrant Son Brewery will open to the public for the first time. The neighborhood market-turned-brewery in Lakewood will feature close to 20 beers upon opening, including Immigrant Son’s initial can release, PerZverance IPA, brewed in collaboration with former Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Read more about what to expect from Immigrant Son at clevescene.com
NORTHEAST
Royal Docks Brewing Company has teamed up with beloved Canton-area grocer Fishers Foods to create a delectable new brew. Fishers Smiley Face Cookie white stout takes the grocery’s iconic bakery treat and transforms it into a unique drinking experience. The beer eschews the dark malts traditionally found in stouts, replacing their flavor profiles with cacao nibs and vanilla beans to emulate the cookie’s yellow frosting face and chocolate fudge grin. A hundred of the authentic smiley face cookies were added to the mash to deliver authentic flavor. The resulting beer is light in color, moderate in alcohol at 6.6% ABV and heavy on nostalgia for a Fishers favorite. Both Royal Docks locations will have the beer on draft and in cans starting this Friday, Oct. 22; it will be available in cans at the four Fishers locations and at select craft beer retailers around the area as well. Read more about the special relationship between Fishers and Royal Docks at citylifestyle.com
NORTHWEST
It’s 70 degrees outside in October, so it must be time for holiday beers and spiced winter warmers! Several breweries have already released their versions of this annual Ohio brewing tradition with many of them holding first pour parties to celebrate the season. Maumee Bay Brewing Company’s Blitzen is one of the longer tenured takes on the style done by an Ohio brewery, dating back more than a decade to when there were just a few dozen breweries operating in the state. Blitzen’s intense cinnamon, orange and honey notes complement the beer’s boozy backbone. Maumee Bay’s first pour event for this year’s batch is happening today from 6-10 p.m. at the brewery’s downtown Toledo event space adjacent to the Oliver House. Live reindeer will be on hand during the first half of the party to celebrate the beer’s namesake and mascot, and special Blitzen merch will be available for purchase. Find out more at facebook.com/mbaybrew
SOUTHEAST
Supposedly, Ohio is the home of the General American or Broadcast English accent, the “accentless” version of English favored by TV and radio producers virtually everywhere in the U.S. Despite being the birthplace of the blandest version of the language – even though those who supposedly spoke it drifted away from it – Ohio features a stunning variety of accents and dialects, geographically ranging from the northern cities shift to the slight twang and drawl of the south (with lots of others mixed in). One prevalent Ohio dialect – a variation on the language of which accent is part – is Appalachian English, spoken primarily in the hilly southeastern region of the state. Chillicothe’s Old Capitol Brewing embraces their Appalachian locale, history and vernacular, even borrowing a word from the local dialect to name their most recent brew. “Sigogglin” (click for pronunciation) is a word that means “crooked, skewed, out of balance or not built correctly”: the brewery applied this name to their new Russian imperial stout, a beer with its balance shifted heavily toward the rich, decadent flavors imparted by malt. Stop by the taproom and enjoy a pour. Find out more at oldcapitolbrewing.com
SOUTHWEST
On the verge of their 10th anniversary, Cincinnati’s BlaCk OWned OuterWear has teamed up with Esoteric Brewing Company to release a signature beer. The collaboration brew, Black Bouquet, starts out with the brewery’s Dahlia brown ale as a base, then incorporates a coffee blend from blaCk Coffee to create a rich, unique, roasted flavor. You can get your first taste of Black Bouquet on Thursday, Oct. 28 during the release party at Esoteric’s brew lounge in Walnut Hills. A limited number of VIP Experience tickets are available: each VIP ticket comes with a welcome drink, a BlaCk OWned/Esoteric collaboration t-shirt, a six-pack of Black Bouquet, a sample bag of blaCk Coffee house blend and a guided tour of the brewery. General admission tickets with just the welcome drink are also available, and six-packs of Black Bouquet will be available for carry out purchase. Get all the details and reserve your tickets now at eventbrite.com
WEST CENTRAL
So far this week, we’ve covered beers designed to taste like pumpkin spice lattes, chocolate and vanilla cookies, and holiday mulled wine, so why don’t we round out this culinary journey with dessert? Alematic Artisan Ales has got just the thing for this final course with Empire State of Mind, their newest sour created to emulate a New York-style cheesecake. Copious additions of strawberries, cream cheese, marshmallows and graham crackers give the brew a mild, pleasant tartness that plays well against the bright strawberry flavor and luscious, decadent creamy body.
OK, so we know these sweet brews aren’t for everyone. If that sounds like your anthem, Alematic’s got you covered too: drop by the taproom in Huber Heights for a pint of It’s Dark and Helles Hot, a light-bodied, perfectly balanced helles lager. How’s it goin’ down? Easy. Find out more at facebook.com/alematicbrewing