Ohio Brewery News
9.25.2020
CENTRAL
Ohio now has more than 350 operating craft breweries. The newest of which, Spires Social Brewing Company, will hold the grand opening of their Polaris-area taproom on Saturday, Sept. 26 at noon. Several years in planning, Spires Social is going big out of the gate with a 15 barrel brewhouse, giving them sizeable production capacity and plenty of ability keep up with demand as the business grows. The brewery will also offer homebrewers and craft beer enthusiasts the opportunity to use their brew-on-premises system to create their own small custom batches of beer. For Saturday’s opening, Spires Social will have four beers on tap: a blonde ale, a wheat beer, a hazy IPA and their version of the Black is Beautiful imperial stout collaboration, proceeds from which will be donated to the People’s Justice Project. Guest taps from several Ohio breweries will also be available. Read Dan Eaton’s coverage of the Spires Social grand opening at bizjournals.com
GREATER CLEVELAND
Two Cleveland-area breweries are offering up some special beers in collaboration with the local beer community. 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the Society of Northeast Ohio Brewers – a.k.a. SNOBS – one of Ohio’s longest running homebrewing clubs. To commemorate the occasion, Fat Head’s Brewery invited club members to participate in the brewing of SNOBS 30th Anniversary Wet Hopped IPA, made with fresh, whole-cone Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Centennial hops. The beer is available on draft now at all Fat Head’s locations; cans will hit retail shelves in northeast Ohio starting next week.
The Cleveland Craft Beer Community, a Facebook beer group that boasts more than 5,000 members, entered into a collaboration with Noble Beast Brewing for a special brew. After sourcing recommendations and holding a series of votes, the group ultimately settled on a Russian imperial stout with toasted coconut, toasted marshmallows and cacao nibs. The as yet unnamed beer – that’s at the discretion of Noble Beast brewer Shaun Yasaki – will be offered first as an exclusive to group members sometime in October. If any remains after the initial release, it will then be offered to the public. Membership has its benefits, after all.
NORTHEAST
Since the state-ordered closure of breweries, bars and restaurants in mid-March, Modern Methods Brewing Company has been selling its beer via a makeshift drive-thru in David Grohl Alley in downtown Warren. Six months later, the brewery is ready to start serving beers by the pint yet again. Modern Methods received approval this week to extend their permit premises out into the alley to create an outdoor seating area for customers. Follow Modern Methods on social media for an upcoming announcement on their re-opening date: facebook.com/modernmethodsbrew
The Ohio legislature passed a bill this week that would make it easier for breweries and other liquor permit holders to extend their permit premises onto adjacent property in order to accommodate more customers with adequate physical distancing. House Bill 669 passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine sometime in the next two weeks.
NORTHWEST
Halloween is right around the corner, and Maumee Bay Brewing Company is getting into the spirit by offering haunted brewery tours every Sunday in October. (I’m so proud of that pun.) Tours are limited to 15 guests in order to comply with social distancing guidelines and are led by medium Sirena La Point. Will you catch a glimpse of “The Captain,” a specter decked out in military regalia who has haunted the historic Oliver House in downtown Toledo since the Spanish-American War? There’s only one way to find out: get details on how to book your tour at facebook.com/mbaybrew
For more Halloween fun, we’re offering limited edition t-shirts as part of our statewide virtual Ale-O-Ween event. Ohio On Tap app users are eligible for five bonus passport stamps with purchase of a shirt. They’re only available through Wednesday, Sept. 30, so act fast! Get all the details and buy your shirt at ohiocraftbeer.org/ale-o-ween
SOUTHEAST
A draft favorite from Jackie O’s is making its way into cans. Cool Beans, a latte-inspired golden ale, is brewed with lactose and conditioned on roasted coffee. The resulting beer retains the bright, almost fruity character of the coffee and pairs it with a smooth finish imparted by the lactose addition. Clocking in at 4.5% ABV, Cool Beans is a perfect, refreshing brew to enjoy for the duration of these gorgeous Ohio autumn afternoons. Look for six packs on retail shelves around Ohio starting early next month, or make the trip to Athens to pick some up right now. You can also enjoy a cold Cool Beans on draft at the Jackie O’s Public House or at the brewery taproom. Read more at facebook.com/jackieosbrewery
SOUTHWEST
16 Lots Brewing is getting a splashy brand refresh, starting with some new look cans available today at their taproom in Mason. (Yeah, I’m proud of that pun too.) Splash Landing came down the chute for the first time back in July, an IPA triple dry hopped with Sultana and Lemon Drop hops to impart intense lemon, citrus, pine and herbal flavors at a refreshing, easy drinking 6.4% ABV. The most recent batch of Splash Landing made its way into slick new 16 ounce cans this morning; you can pick up the freshest IPA in town when 16 Lots opens at 2 p.m. today. The brewery’s rebrand will be rolled out over the course of the next few months and we should be able to expect a few more specialty can releases with this new look in the near future. Follow 16 Lots on Facebook to keep up with all the changes and new offerings in store: facebook.com/16lots
WEST CENTRAL
Cheers to three years of beers from Heavier than Air Brewing Company! While distancing requirements implemented by the state have restricted the seating capacity of Heavier than Air’s cozy Centerville taproom, that’s not going to stop them from making the most of their anniversary. To celebrate three years in business, they’re releasing a triple IPA called T.E.B. Shot, named for the catalyst used to ignite the jet fuel on the SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest jet-propelled aircraft in history. At 11.6% ABV, it’s guaranteed to kick in your afterburners. T.E.B. Shot goes on tap when the brewery opens at noon on Saturday, Sept. 26. Table space is very limited in the Heavier than Air taproom, but all beers are available for carry out in growlers and crowlers. Read Mark Fisher’s write-up of this weekend’s event at dayton.com