Ohio Brewery News
5.13.2021
CENTRAL
Save the date, saison fans: Derive Brewing Company is holding the inaugural Saison and Sour Fest at their Clintonville taproom on Saturday, June 5. The brewery will host a who’s who of sour beer brewers from around the state, including selections from Jackie O’s, Pretentious Barrel House, Wolf’s Ridge, Branch & Bone, Sixth Sense and more. Derive knows a thing or two about brewing saisons themselves: their barrel aged, dry hopped saison, It’s Only Dirty Paper, earned a silver medal at the 2019 Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers. The $40 admission includes tickets for 10 four-ounce pours, enough to sample a beer from each participating brewery. Additional drink tickets will also be available at the door. Seating is limited, so secure your spot at this unique collection of sour ales and saisons. Head over to derivebeer.com for details.
GREATER CLEVELAND
Fat Head’s earned a gold medal for Goggle Fogger, a German-style wheat beer, at last year’s Great American Beer Festival competition. Ohio shoppers agree with the GABF judges that it’s a great beer: Goggle Fogger is the best-selling wheat craft beer in the state dating back to 2020 according to IRI scan data. This week, Fat Head’s will roll out Grapefruit Goggle Fogger, a special summertime variant of the award-winning base beer. It’s available on draft at all Fat Head’s locations starting today, and 15-packs will start to appear on store shelves by Memorial Day. A portion of all Grapefruit Goggle Fogger sales will benefit the Pink Boots Society, a non-profit that empowers women in the brewing industry through education. Read more at facebook.com/fatheadsbeer
NORTHEAST
Opening a brewery is a complicated process, from business planning to site selection to permitting to build out. For some, this can be a project that takes multiple years before pulling that first pint from the taps for a thirsty customer. However, with some good luck, an abundant amount of determination and a supportive community, a brewery can open much faster. When Hoppy Dude Brews opens this Friday, May 14, it will be just shy of eight months since their zoning request was approved to open a brewery in the small Medina County community of Hinckley. Hoppy Dude is starting small with just a one barrel brewing system, so brewers Chad Riffle and Keith Tapper will have fresh beers in frequent rotation in the cozy, 600 square foot taproom. Marc Bona has full coverage of the brewery’s grand opening this weekend at cleveland.com
NORTHWEST
If you’re not from northwest Ohio you may not know it, but the Toledo Zoo consistently ranks as one of the best in the country. Not only does the zoo feature top-notch animal exhibits like their signature Hippoquarium – the first of its kind in the world – but also features community programming that engages audiences from all corners of the northwest Ohio population. The Toledo Zoo has long supported area craft breweries, and this week Earnest Brew Works will launch a special benefit beer to give back to the zoo’s wildlife conservation programs. Red Panda Ale, named after the animals included in a zoo exhibit dating back to 2015, will be released in cans at the Earnest taproom in south Toledo on Saturday, May 15. A portion of the sales of each four pack of this red Irish cream ale will be donated to the Toledo Zoo Wildlife Fund, which works to protect endangered species like the red panda. Read more coverage at thebrewermagazine.com
SOUTHEAST
Some familiar taproom favorites are now available in cans at Double Edge Brewing in Lancaster. Last week, the brewery released Callista session IPA and Rustic Sunrise coffee blonde ale in four-packs for carry out. Callista relies on German hops to bring out strong herbal notes and hints of red berries and plum, all in a crushable 5% ABV package. Rustic Sunrise embraces Ohio’s love of pale coffee beers, pairing robust roasted coffee flavors against a light, slightly sweet malt backbone. Stop in the taproom to grab cans to-go, or order online for curbside pickup at double-edge.beer/order
SOUTHWEST
Today is May 13th, otherwise known as 513 Day in the Cincinnati area. Plenty of other Ohio cities celebrate themselves on the date that corresponds with their area code, like Cleveland on Feb. 16th, Columbus on June 14th and Dayton on September 37th, but West Side Brewing is taking 513 Day to new heights with the release of their new 513 Pale Ale. Made with five varieties of hops – Cascade, Centennial, Citra, Comet and Columbus – one strain of yeast and three types of malted barley, this brew celebrates Cincinnati with rich, bountiful flavors of grapefruit, citrus and pine. Stop by the West Side taproom for a pint pour or grab some 16 ounce cans to go. Find out more at facebook.com/westsidebrewing
WEST CENTRAL
Lock 27 Brewing has a special release in store to celebrate American Craft Beer Week. Starting today, you can pick up six-packs of Luminous Haze, a new hazy IPA perfect for a summer crush session. Crack open a can and take in the pineapple, ripe melon and strawberry aromas before the tropical flavors carry your imagination away to a remote beach, basking in the sun, just you and your Luminous Haze. When reality starts to pull you back in, go ahead a pop the top on another vacation in a can. Available now at Lock 27’s downtown Dayton taproom or at the brewpub in Centerville. Find out more at facebook.com/lock27brewing