Ohio Brewery News
8.26.2021
CENTRAL
Generally, we like to keep this blog forward-looking with features about upcoming releases and events at Ohio craft breweries. Every once in a while, though, we come across a story that we missed that deserves a little hype after the fact. Such is the case with last week’s collaboration between Pretentious Barrel House and DankHouse Brewing. The two breweries used the opportunity to branch out from the sour ales and hazy IPAs upon which they have built their reputations. They brewed a batch of Czech-inspired pilsner, then split it in half and aged them separately in añejo tequila and chardonnay barrels. The resulting beers – A Lager Won’t Tequil-ya and No Wine’ng, It’s Beer, respectively – were packaged in cans and released last weekend. You can pick up four-packs at the Pretentious taproom or shop online and have them delivered in the Columbus metro area. Read more at facebook.com/pretentiousbh
GREATER CLEVELAND
In the first month of the pandemic, the Brewers Association released poll results that painted a bleak picture for American craft breweries. Amid government-ordered closures and restrictions intended to slow the spread of coronavirus, more than half of breweries anticipated that their businesses would fail within three months. Luckily, a combination of state and federal relief funds, targeted de-regulation, and no small dose of resilience and determination staved off the nightmare scenario. However, no one is sure what kind of long-term effect the economic disruption will have. To draw attention to brewery struggles in the ongoing pandemic, Bascule Brewery and Public House named their newest beer Mayday, Mayday IPA. Answer the distress signal by planning a trip to visit them in Lorain; while you’re in the area, you can hit quite a few breweries nearby on the Ohio On Tap passport app as well. Read Bascule’s account of how they’re dealing through the pandemic at facebook.com/basculebreweryandpublichouse
NORTHEAST
If you’re reading this blog, you probably already know that the omnipresent American yellow lawnmower beer is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to lagers. If you really want to get a firsthand experience with the breadth of lager styles available, grab a ticket to Akronym Brewing’s Lagerfest this Saturday, August 28 at their newly constructed urban beer garden. Not only will they be pouring four of their lager varieties, they’ve also invited some renowned Ohio breweries to show off their own. Sip a light, refreshing Augenblick helles from Masthead, the smoky, offbeat Buchenrauch smoked lager from Wolf’s Ridge, the rich, decadent Battle Axe Baltic porter from Fat Head’s, or lager offerings from the Butcher & the Brewer, Noble Beast and Thirsty Dog. See the full list of beers and secure your tickets at facebook.com/akronymbrewing
NORTHWEST
“Midwest Fruit Tart” doesn’t show up on the style guideline sheets for the Beer Judge Certification Program or the Great American Beer Festival competition, but its popularity – especially in Ohio – doesn’t rely on any official recognition. Cincinnati’s Urban Artifact has done as much as anyone to refine and popularize the beer style, and has gone to great lengths to define it as well. With parameters in place – use lots of real fruit, tightly control acidification, emphasize balance and drinkability – breweries all over the state have tried their hand at the crowd-pleasing style. This past week, Modcraft released cans of their latest fruit tart ale: Feedback is a crisp sour ale featuring an abundance of lush, tart raspberries and subtle notes of citrus and melon from the use of Cashmere hops. Pick up cans or enjoy a pour on draft from Modcraft’s brewery taproom in downtown Findlay. Find out more at facebook.com/modcraftbrewing
SOUTHEAST
If you head southeast out of Columbus and meander through some of the towns out that way, you may stumble upon Combustion Brewery in Pickerington, Outerbelt Brewing in Carroll or Double Edge Brewing in Lancaster. Right now, you can get a taste of all three at once: CODE is an annual collaboration beer made by the three breweries for release in advance of Lancaster Brewfest. This year’s version is a hazy session IPA clocking in at a modest 4.5% ABV, but absolutely brimming with hop-derived tropical fruit flavors and aromas. You can enjoy a pint or two at any of the participating taprooms, or grab four-packs for carryout while supplies last. Find out more about this annual collab at facebook.com/doubleedgebeer
SOUTHWEST
As we mentioned in the Central section above, collaboration beers often give breweries the opportunity to experiment, get out of their comfort zones and do something that may not be part of standard operating procedure. For two of the country’s largest craft breweries, that meant thinking small. Rhinegeist, the 25th largest brewery in America by sales volume in 2020, teamed up with Deschutes Brewery – ranked 10th – on a new hazy IPA available exclusively at the Rhinegeist taproom in Over-the-Rhine. Sabro Express complements the complex contributions of Sabro hops – citrus and fruit flavors, backed with aromas of tangerine, coconut and even a hint of cedar – with the addition of pineapple for a pleasing tropical sweetness. A wheat-heavy malt bill provides a soft but crisp body for the hops and fruit to pop against. This collab between two industry giants will only be around for a limited time, so don’t wait. Read more at facebook.com/rhinegeist
WEST CENTRAL
Any season can be stout season if you want it bad enough. Eudora Brewing Company is putting that theory to the test with last week’s release of Thunderball, their flagship oatmeal stout. The brewery jumped into canning this spring, but the taproom favorite stout was not among the initial offerings. That was rectified last Thursday as dark beer fans were finally able to purchase cans of Thunderball for enjoyment at home. Chocolate and caramel malts drive the rich, roasty flavor of this stout, bringing out notes of coffee and cocoa atop a thick, smooth body imparted by the inclusion of oatmeal in the mash. Grab a six pack at the Eudora taproom in Kettering and make this summer your own personal stout season. Find out more at facebook.com/eudorabrewingcompany