Ohio Brewery News
12.9.2021
CENTRAL
Independent craft beer and independent radio collided for a cause in Columbus this past weekend. Central Ohio’s longest-running alternative rock station, CD 92.9, teamed up with Nocterra Brewing to create a beer that would benefit the radio station’s annual children’s charity fundraising drive. It was a natural fit, too: the Powell brewery had already established the Take A Hike series of beers with proceeds donated to local causes. Take A Hike 7 is a German-style Altbier – because CD 92.9 is an alternative station, get it? – brewed with 929 pounds of grain and three varieties of hops. This past weekend’s fundraiser netted more than $35,000 for the station’s children’s charity, and sales of Take A Hike 7 on draft and in cans will continue to add to the total. Find out more about the beer at facebook.com/nocterrabrewing
GREATER CLEVELAND
Cheers to a year of beer from Unplugged Brewing Company! Celebrate with them this Saturday, Dec. 11 at the brewery taproom in Elyria with a bevy of new beers. Unplugged’s first anniversary brew is a big one: Transient Fault is an imperial stout clocking in at a massive 12% ABV, perfect for sipping on a cold Lorain County winter night. The anniversary beer is available for pre-order in cans now while supplies last: purchasers can pick up their beers starting Saturday at 11 a.m. Because one beer isn’t enough for an occasion like this, Unplugged has also released cans of three more new brews: Flightless IPA made with New Zealand hops, Bee Light gluten-free honey cream ale and Produce Aisle sour ale brewed with cherry, pomegranate, plum and orange puree. Find out more about this weekend’s festivities at facebook.com/unplugbrew
NORTHEAST
Get cozy with a handful of seasonal brews at Ignite Brewing Company in Barberton! If you’re a loyal reader of this blog, you already know that we spend a lot of column inches on holiday beers, especially the spiced winter warmer ales that are so popular in northeast Ohio and beyond. Of course, Ignite has one of those – called Ignite the Lights – but they’ve got a variety of other seasonal treats on tap as well. Want something rich and hearty? Choose the taproom favorite Celebratory Waffles maple brown ale or the new Mehocho Mexican hot chocolate stout brewed to benefit the Barberton fire department’s Operation Warm fundraiser. Need a more sessionable sipper? Consider the Winter Seltzer brewed with apricot and plums (as in “visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.”) You can even pick up a mixed “12 Beers of Christmas” pack if you want to take a daily tasting adventure this month. Get all the details of Ignite’s holiday spirit at facebook.com/ignitebrewingcompany
NORTHWEST
Sip the season with two wintery beers from Buffalo Rock Brewing Company in Waterville. Fans of the traditional winter warmer style will enjoy Yuletide, a Christmas ale with a copious addition of ginger for a crisp, spicy finish. For a twist on the seasonal formula, order up the new Holiday saison, a brew whose natural tartness and complexity is amplified by the addition of fresh cranberries. If the traditional tastes of Ohio winter aren’t your thing, try the rich and complex Columbian House black IPA, a Cascadian-style ale that leans on a dark malt body and intense hoppy bitterness to achieve a perfect balance. Find out more about what’s on tap at the Buffalo Rock taproom by giving them a follow on social media: facebook.com/buffalorockbrewing
SOUTHEAST
If your idea of the perfect winter brew is a beer that you can enjoy in any kind of weather, Outerbelt Brewing has you covered. Their latest release, Double Parked, is exactly that kind of “holiday-beer-in-name-only”: a double IPA clocking in at 8.5% and 85 IBU that just happens to feature jolly ol’ St. Nick on the label. For those seeking seasonal flavors, Outerbelt has brought back the winter version of their year-round fruited Berliner weisse, Two-Day Shipping, this time incorporating a pleasantly tart and crisp combo of cranberry and ginger. Try them both on draft at the taproom in Carroll, or grab some cans to go and enjoy in your own winter wonderland. Details at facebook.com/outerbeltbeer
SOUTHWEST
MadTree Brewing announced a couple of cool can releases this week that put a fresh spin on some old favorites. The brewery’s Legendary Lager series, which shines a light on Ohio heroes, is getting a refresh with a new historical figure. Emma Gatewood was the first woman to complete a solo thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, a feat she accomplished in 1955 at the unlikely age of 67. “Grandma Gatewood” would complete the feat two more times at the ages of 69 and 76, the first person to complete the trail three times. The new Legendary Lager cans roll out in distribution this week. Shifting from Ohio history to MadTree history, the brewery is offering a limited can release of one of their Understory beers – one-off beers conceptualized by MadTree employees. ¡Aheuvo! is a Mexican hot chocolate-inspired stout made with cacao, chipotle peppers, cinnamon, vanilla and lactose. Enjoy it on draft at the MadTree taproom or grab a four-pack to go. Read more about ¡Aheuvo! at facebook.com/madtreetaproom
WEST CENTRAL
Most Fridays are beer release days at Roundhouse Depot Brewing, and in December that means – you guessed it! – new holiday beers on tap. Many of the Bellefontaine brewery’s weekly releases are of the small batch variety, allowing them to test new flavor combos and experiment with ingredients, so they often don’t last long before they’re down the hatches of the brewery’s faithful Friday regulars. In addition to the annual taproom favorite Polar Express cinnamon and ginger winter ale currently on tap, Roundhouse Depot is also featuring last week’s release, Candy Cane Surprise, a refreshing blonde ale brewed with peppermint leaves and – you guessed it again! – candy canes. This Friday’s new release is Gingerbread Cookie cream ale, which tastes like – you are really good at guessing! – the molasses and ginger cookies that are the staple of any yuletide snack table. Keep up with the brewery’s weekly small batch tappings by giving them a follow at facebook.com/roundhousebrewing