Ohio Brewery News
7.22.2021
CENTRAL
We’re deep into Christmas in July season here in Ohio, and chances are if you’re looking for a spice-laden brew or something evocative of a Christmas cookie, your search is going to be short and fruitful. 2 Tones Brewing’s popular vanilla ale, Crumble, is the perfect base for fruit infusions, making a sort of liquid cobbler that is as irresistible as the dessert table at your family’s holiday potluck. This Saturday, July 24, the brewery will tap four separate Crumble variants for their Christmas in July party: Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry Lime and Lemon Cookie. There won’t be any to-go options since these are all small batch infusions, but you can enjoy a flight of all four Crumbles at the 2 Tones taproom in Whitehall. Doors open at noon: don’t be late or your uncle might bogart the one you want most, and he won’t even be sorry about it. Get all the details at facebook.com/2tonesbrewingco
GREATER CLEVELAND
OK, so let’s not make this entire post about winter beers. It’s the third week of July and we haven’t even seen any Oktoberfests or pumpkin beers ye… oh, wait. This is officially the earliest I’ve ever written about a pumpkin ale, though they have been coming out in late July and early August for a few years now. Seasonal creep wouldn’t be a thing if people didn’t actually demand these beers, though, so retailers push manufacturers to have pumpkin beers ready earlier and earlier. This Saturday, July 24, Saucy Brew Works will release Boo Thang imperial pumpkin ale at their Cleveland and Columbus taprooms. While there’s a little cognitive dissonance to drinking a pumpkin beer when the pumpkins down at the patch are about the size of tennis balls – you know what? – I’m here for it. I’ll wear my flannel shirt to the pool, sip on a Boo Thang and start thinking about what candy I’m buying for trick-or-treat this year. Because what is time, anyway? Take a look at these brand new cans at instagram.com/saucybrewworks
NORTHEAST
Can we get back to summer beers for a sec? Nothing quenches a summer thirst quite like a Berliner weisse. Slightly tart, crisp, and oh so light, it’s just about perf… I’m sorry, Hoppin’ Frog did what? The Akron brewery known for their strong, malt-driven brews released Imperial Berliner Weisse this week, taking all the notes you love about this beer style and cranking the amp up to 11. Clocking in at a whopping 9.05% – whopping for a Berliner, at least – Hoppin’ Frog’s imperial version still retains the refreshment you’ve come to expect in a Berliner weisse, but with the brewery’s characteristic wallop. Given their track record in boosting classic styles past their theoretical limits, you’d be well served to get your hands on some cans of Imperial Berliner Weisse right now. Pick some up at the Hoppin’ Frog tasting room in Akron, or have it shipped right to your front door. Find out more at facebook.com/hoppinfrog
NORTHWEST
In the brewery world, Christmas means cinnamon, honey, ginger, citrus peel, nutmeg and other sweet, spicy flavors. In the real world, it means the joy of giving and making sure we’re taking care of those in need. The latter spirit of Christmas is one we can abide by every day, regardless of season, which is why Inside the Five Brewing is not only releasing two holiday-themed beers this week, but also conducting a supply drive for Sylvania Area Family Services and the Wood County Humane Society. From now through Sunday, July 25, bring in school supplies or pet supplies to the Sylvania or Perrysburg Inside the Five locations and receive raffle tickets for a chance to win local gift baskets. You can even bring your donations to Inside the Five’s big holiday parking lot party in Sylvania on Saturday, July 24. Find out what supplies are needed at facebook.com/insidethefivebrewing
SOUTHEAST
I’ve probably said it on this blog 100 times before, but the collaborative nature of the craft brewing industry is a sight to behold in a world that lionizes cutthroat competition. Old Capitol Brewing and Fifty West’s Chillicothe brewpub received their state brewing permits one day apart this past January. Despite being located on the same street and only about 600 feet apart, the two breweries aren’t bitter rivals. Rather, they’re working together to make Chillicothe, a city which had no breweries in 2020, a destination for craft beer lovers. That dedication is borne out in collaboration: Paint Street Posse, an American IPA named for their shared address, is dry hopped with Vic Secret and Mosaic hops to create a hybrid of west coast and east coast IPA styles. And if east and west can live in harmony, then so can two breweries on the same street. Get down to Chillicothe soon and give this collab brew a try. Find out more at facebook.com/oldcapitolbrewing
SOUTHWEST
Cheers to four years of beers from West Side Brewing! The festivities kick off on Friday, July 23 with a special Firkin Friday tapping at the brewery tasting room in Cincinnati’s Westwood neighborhood. Then on Saturday, July 24, the brewery will hold the greatly anticipated bottle release of their Tart Amber sour ale, aged in oak barrels and matured with wild yeast cultures. A pleasant, tart acidity stands up in contrast to the rich flavors of red berries and stone fruit. Limited edition anniversary glassware is also available during Saturday’s bottle release while supplies last. For more details on this weekend’s anniversary events, follow West Side Brewing at facebook.com/westsidebrewing
WEST CENTRAL
At the risk of this blog simply becoming a megaphone for Warped Wing Brewing every time a new variant of Ermal’s cream ale is released, we really can’t let this one go by without a little hype. There’s nothing quite as great as a ripe, juicy, succulent peach on a summer day. Warped Wing one-ups the sweet stone fruit with Ermal’s Peaches & Cream, adding a subtle spice addition to help the peaches pop against the Belgian-style cream ale base. The result is a clean, refreshing sipper perfect for the upcoming dog days of summer. Pick up a six-pack at Warped Wing’s Dayton and Springboro taprooms starting today, or have cans shipped to your Ohio home starting next week. Get all the details at facebook.com/warpedwing