Ohio Brewery News
5.20.2021
CENTRAL
You won’t find many American craft breweries with as long, detailed and well-documented of a history as Barley’s Brewing Company. The venerable Columbus brewpub has been taking copious notes over the past 28 years, and what’s really striking is how many of these beers have stood the test of time. Trends come and go, but pub classics like Barley’s Scottish Ale, Christmas Ale and Auld Curiosity barleywine are comforting constants in a city that has changed dramatically in recent years. Still, you can always put a modern spin on a classic. Starting this week, you can enjoy a pint of Salty Caramel Milk Porter, which takes the flagship Ivan porter recipe first brewed in 1993 and adds Madagascar vanilla, sea salt and lactose to the robust caramel and chocolate malt base. Get a pour of this “pastry” porter from the downtown brewpub while supplies last. Read more at facebook.com/barleysbrewing
GREATER CLEVELAND
Somebody flipped the switch to “summer” in Ohio, as balmy temperatures made their debut across the state this week. Great timing for The Brew Kettle, which has two new summer seasonals in store to help craft beer fans beat the heat. Off the Map is a dark Mexican-style lager brewed with a hint of lime and a pinch of sea salt; consider it a dark companion to Coastline, The Brew Kettle’s popular seasonal light Mexican lager. If a big burst of citrus is more your speed when the weather gets hot, check out Always Vibin’, a smooth, crushable wheat ale brewed with orange and lemon peel to refresh throughout the sweltering Ohio summer. Look for Always Vibin’, Off the Map and Coastline in cans around the Cleveland area and beyond starting this week. Read more at thebrewkettle.com
Photos by Mike Crupi Photography – Instagram: @kegandcamera
NORTHEAST
R. Shea Brewing’s latest hazy release, Seven Zero Niner, is a big 8% ABV double New England IPA brewed with Galaxy, Citra and Mosaic hops. Those latter two varieties shouldn’t be alien to IPA fans, as they’re highly prized for their citrus, berry and floral aromas. Galaxy hops, hailing from Australia, present an out-of-this-world cornucopia of fruit, ranging from tropical passionfruit and pineapple to bright citrus and peach. With such strong fruit flavors, you won’t want to keep this juicy beast away from your face for long. Drop in at R. Shea’s Canal Place taproom in downtown Akron to score some four packs starting this Friday, May 21. Act fast, because when it’s gone, it’s game over, man. Game over. Read more at rsheabrewing.com
NORTHWEST
Findlay Brewing Company has tapped several new brews over the past week, with a little something to appeal to all craft beer fans. For the hop heads, there’s From the Heart pale ale featuring tangerine and piney notes derived from Amarillo and Idaho 7 hops. Subtropic Bru also returns to the draft list, an IPA made with experimental Bru-1 hops that impart strong tropical fruit flavors. If the sweet stuff is more to your liking, try the decadent German Choccy Cake pastry stout, brewed with chocolate and coconut and garnished with a rim of crushed pecan, toasted coconut and sweetened condensed milk. Also making its debut this week is Vanilla in Cream ale, a light, crushable cream ale infused with a massive dose of vanilla. Read more about all these new brews at facebook.com/findlaybrewing
SOUTHEAST
Ohio breweries, bars and restaurants were ordered to shut down on-premises drinking and dining on March 15, 2020 in an effort to control the spread of coronavirus. That was the last day that anyone had a drink at the Devil’s Kettle Brewing taproom in Athens, even though the ordered closures were ended in mid-May last year. Owner and brewer Cameron Fuller turned the brewery into a one-man show, continuing to brew beer and selling it exclusively for carry out from the taproom. With COVID-19 metrics headed in the right direction and warmer weather making outdoor seating more consistently viable, Devil’s Kettle welcomed patrons back to their taproom and patio for the first time in 14 months. Plan a trip to Athens and stop by for a pour of the flagship Spider Silk imperial blonde ale or one of several barrel aged barleywines on tap. Read more about the reopening at facebook.com/devilskettlebrewing
SOUTHWEST
UPDATE: Due to forecasted warm weather, the pop-up vaccine clinic location has been moved a block away to 25 Main St. in Milford. Little Miami will still offer a discount to those who get their vaccination at the pop-up clinic on Saturday.
In the same televised address in which Governor Mike DeWine announced that public health orders dealing with the pandemic would be lifted on Wednesday, June 2, he also urged Ohio businesses to offer incentives to get their employees and customers vaccinated against the coronavirus. This may take the form of a cash bonus for employees who get the shot, or discounts and prizes for vaccinated customers. Little Miami Brewing Company teamed up with Clermont County Public Health to host a pop-up vaccine clinic at the brewery on Saturday, May 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clinic will be offering first shots of the Pfizer vaccine to anyone age 12 or older; second shots will be administered at the brewery on Saturday, June 12. Patients of legal drinking age can also enjoy a discount on their first beer after getting vaccinated. For more information or to book an appointment, please visit ccphohio.org
WEST CENTRAL
On the heels of the announcement that Moeller Brew Barn would have a strong presence at Dayton Dragons baseball games this summer, the brewery released plans this week for a new location just across the street from Day Air Ballpark. Renderings of the new brewery show that it will incorporate some of the existing building, while also including a sizeable and thoroughly modern outdoor beer garden facing the ballpark. Owners Nick Moeller and Anthony Scott anticipate the brewery opening in spring of 2022, just in time for opening day of the Dayton Dragons season. Read more about Moeller Brew Barn’s expansion into the Gem City at daytondailynews.com