Ohio Brewery News
7.17.2020
CENTRAL
Since America’s glut of breakfast cereal options is the envy of the world, three craft brewers have collaborated to make the beer equivalents of their favorites from the cereal aisle. Wolf’s Ridge Brewing in Columbus, Listermann Brewing in Cincinnati and Lil Beaver Brewing in Bloomington, Ill. – all well-regarded purveyors of stouts – teamed up on this three-way cereal beer project called MannBeaverWolf. The Wolf’s Ridge version, a take on Peanut Butter Crunch, is an imperial stout infused with roasted peanuts, vanilla, cinnamon, lactose, dark brown sugar and sea salt. The Listermann and Lil Beaver versions will be released at a later date. MannBearWolf peanut butter crunch stout is available for carry out and delivery from Wolf’s Ridge now; to order your four-pack, visit wolfsridgebrewing.com
GREATER CLEVELAND
Last week in this block, we wrote about space vibes. This week, let’s talk about vibe space. With breweries looking for options to accommodate customers with social distancing in mind – including pending legislation that would allow for expansion onto adjoining property and easing restrictions on designated outdoor refreshment areas – Saucy Brew Works took advantage of an existing state law to open up their retail sales space. Ohio allows a brewery to operate a satellite taproom up to a half-mile from the production site, so Saucy opened the Vibe Garden this week, an outdoor bar and recreation space that sits on the former site of the Cleveland Vibrator Company (manufacturers of industrial material feeders and sorters) just across the street from the brewery. In addition to beer, the Vibe Garden also features life-sized beer pong, corn hole games, sand volleyball, live music and a bank of big-screen TVs so Cleveland fans can watch their favorite teams. More info available at saucybrewworks.com
NORTHEAST
Paladin Brewing invites their loyal customers to attend two separate anniversary parties this year. Saturday, August 22 will mark five years since the they opened to the public, but this weekend Paladin will celebrate a more personal milestone. Owner/brewer John Chandler was diagnosed with stage four sinus cancer on Father’s Day weekend in 2015, requiring an invasive surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Now, five years later, Chandler is cancer-free and continues to brew and serve his beer from their Austintown brewery taproom. At the celebration this Saturday, July 18, bottles of Cancer Sucks! ESB will be on sale: one dollar from each bomber and all proceeds from Cancer Sucks! merchandise will be donated to Rock 4 Reason, a Mahoning County charity that assists the families of people with cancer and terminal illnesses. Read Rick Armon’s interview with Chandler to learn more about his story and the upcoming events at beaconjournal.com
NORTHWEST
Ohio loves its Christmas beers so much that we can’t go more than six months without them. Quite a few breweries will be releasing their spiced winter warmers this month – Akron’s Thirsty Dog Brewing put theirs out in June – with most being tapped next weekend (July 25th, ho ho ho!) Maumee Bay Brewing is getting a head start on the pack with the release of one of the strongest Christmas beers on the market. Über Blitzen is the high gravity cousin of their Blitzen winter warmer, checking in at a walloping 14% ABV and bursting with honey sweetness, cinnamon and nutmeg spice and a little orange peel to brighten up this heavy affair. Maumee Bay’s Christmas in July party happens this Sunday, July 19 from noon-6 pm. at their downtown Toledo brewery complex. Crowler cans of Über Blitzen are limited; get more details at facebook.com/mbaybrew
SOUTHEAST
FACT: There are craft breweries in 66 of Ohio’s 88 counties, 345 in total as of this week. In late June, Old Bridge Brewing in McConnelsville became the first brewery to call Morgan County home. Located about halfway between Zanesville and Marietta, the brewery is named after the 107 year-old Morgan County Veterans Memorial Bridge spanning the Muskingum River, visible from the brewery’s front door. Owners Dean and Jennifer Ponchak started as homebrewers and decided to make a business of it, enlisting sons Blake and Dirk who also work for the family’s construction business. Veteran brewer Doug Beedy (Shale, Ohio Brewing, Penguin City, Elevator, among others) helped the Ponchaks get the brewhouse up and running in advance of their opening late last month. The newest members of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, Old Bridge Brewing is now part of the Ohio On Tap statewide brewery passport app. Read an in-depth write-up on the brewery’s opening at clutchmov.com
SOUTHWEST
If I’m not having a beer on a hot summer day, chances are my libation of choice is some type of gin-based cocktail. The juniper berry-driven pine-like flavor, amplified by aromatic botanicals makes it a satisfying changeup for fans of west coast IPA hop flavors. MadTree Brewing gets it, which is why they’ve been making Joon, a gin barrel aged Kölsch-style ale, for several years now. It’s one of their most anticipated annual releases and is available this week at their taproom in Cincinnati. The base beer is a light, refreshing ale featuring spicy notes from Pacifica and Cascade hops. It then rests in Watershed Distillery gin barrels to pick up the characteristics of their unique spirits. A Joon variant infused with chamomile and elderflower took home a silver medal at the 2019 Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers. That variant, a citrusy Four Peel version and the original Joon are available on draft and in bottles for a limited time. Get more info at facebook.com/madtree
WEST CENTRAL
You’re going to have to hustle to get a taste of this one, but Branch & Bone Artisan Ales revealed their plans for a new historical cask series today. They’ll be periodically brewing up very small batches of beer styles that are of historical significance, have been lost over time or can otherwise be considered artifacts of our brewing culture. They start today with the oldest beer recipe they could find: an IPA from 1838 originally brewed by Reid & Co. of London. This very early English-style IPA is an example of what we call SMaSH beer today (single malt and single hop), using just pale malt and Goldings hops. Unlike its American cousins, the English IPA is generally a smoother experience with restrained flavors and aromas, a lighter ABV and a pleasing sessionability. This is a small batch though, so you’ll need to act fast if you want a proper pint. If you can’t make it to Branch & Bone’s Dayton taproom, they do have a bevy of new brews on their online store available for carry out or shipping within the state of Ohio. To purchase, visit branchandboneales.com