Ohio Weekly Roundup
1.26.2018
CENTRAL
Hoster Gold Top, a Columbus heritage brand dating back to pre-Prohibition days, has found new life through a deal with Actual Brewing. The dortmunder-style lager will be brewed and canned at Actual under the supervision of Hoster brewmaster Victor Ecimovich III. Kegs of Gold Top will continue to be contract brewed at Mother Stewart’s Brewing Company in Springfield. Gold Top cans are expected to hit Central Ohio retail shelves this spring.
Land-Grant Brewing Company released their 2017 Sustainability and Community Report this week, detailing their efforts toward organizing, measuring and managing environmental and communal initiatives. Among last year’s accomplishments, Land-Grant emitted 51,144 fewer pounds of greenhouse gases thanks to the sustainability practices they’ve initiated. You can read the full report on their website: landgrantbrewing.com
Audible Groan is the new barleywine from Ill Mannered Brewing in Powell. Brewed in collaboration with the Delaware Ohio Homebrewers Club, this 9% English-style barleywine is full-bodied and malty sweet with just a touch of alcohol warmth. Available at the taproom this week.
GREATER CLEVELAND
In the running for best beer name of the month is Generic Phish Reference, a double NE IPA collab between Noble Beast Brewing and Terrestrial Brewing in Cleveland. According to Shaun at Noble Beast, “It’s permanently hazy. The damn malted oats clogged my grain handling system. The stupid amount of hops clogged the heat exchanger and then the fermenter… That being said, the aroma on this beer is HUGE and it tastes wonderful.” This one won’t last long, so get to Terrestrial or Noble Beast on the double.
Great Lakes Brewing Company is releasing their Barrel Aged Blackout Stout at two private events on Feb. 7 & 8. Attendees will have guaranteed access to purchase up to four (4) 22 oz. bottles of 2018 Barrel Aged Blackout Stout, plus samples of six rare draft-only beers. Tickets and more info available at greatlakesbrewing.com
Celebrate a year of beer from BRIM Kitchen + Brewery in Willoughby on Friday, Feb. 2! There will be a special birthday beer tapped at 3 p.m. and anyone who orders it can keep the glass (while supplies last). Contact the brewery to make reservations as space is limited: brimbrewery.com
NORTHEAST
Thirsty Dog’s new Akron taproom at 587 Grant St. – just a short walk down the street from the current brewery and tasting room – is slated to open on Saturday, Feb. 3. The new taproom will be open Tuesday through Saturday with 20 taps and a full-service bar, plus a small food menu. The existing tasting room at the brewery (529 Grant St.) will be open only on Saturdays from noon – 3 p.m. for brewery tours.
Millersburg Brewing Company has canned a new, high-horsepower double IPA called Major Holmes. This 10.73% ABV, 80 IBU thoroughbred beer is named for Andrew Hunter Holmes, American infantry commander during the War of 1812. Four packs of Major Holmes are available at select retailers and at the brewery (in Holmes County, natch…)
Birdfish Brewing in Columbiana has expanded their hours, opening at 4 p.m. on Thursdays, 2 p.m. on Fridays and adding noon – 8 p.m. hours on Sundays. Keep on top of all Ohio Craft Brewers Association member hours and contact info with the Ohio On Tap app: ohiocraftbeer.org/app
NORTHWEST
Rooster Bock – the toasty, malty, 7% ABV offering from Moeller Brew Barn – is now available in cans. Pick up a six pack from your favorite retailer or from the brewery in Maria Stein to warm up the frigid Ohio prairie winter.
There are still spaces available in the mug club at 4kd Crick Brewery in Defiance. Sign up at the brewery and you’ll be invited to attend an exclusive mug club social on Monday, Feb. 19 featuring drafts of your favorite 4kd Crick beers and a free appetizer buffet.
SOUTHEAST
Buck’s Brewing Co. has been operating for four-and-a-half years as a production-only nanobrewery. Owner/brewer Clark Myers has now branched out and opened a taproom at 993 Mt. Vernon Rd. in Newark. Buck’s is open Wednesday through Saturday from 3 p.m. until the bell rings at last call. Read Bill Babbitt’s write-up and check out more photos at drinkupcolumbus.com
If you stopped out at Weasel Boy Brewing in Zanesville for their 10th anniversary last summer, you may have tried Anastasia X, the 2017 vintage of the GABF gold medal-winning Russian Imperial Stout. For a very limited time, Anastasia X is back on tap at the Weasel Boy taproom. This vanilla, bitter chocolate and smoked malt symphony is worth a special trip.
(Photo courtesy DrinkUpColumbus.com)
SOUTHWEST
Wednesday was national Beer Can Appreciation Day, so here are three big can announcements from the Greater Cincinnati area:
- Fifty West Brewing is canning their beer for the first time. Coast to Coast IPA, Doom Pedal White Ale and American Lager will hit store shelves on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
- Christian Moerlein’s new Big Hazy NE IPA will be released at the Malt House taproom in OTR at noon on Saturday, Jan. 27.
- Rivertown Brewery and Barrel House has released cans of their Nitro Roebling Vanilla Espresso Porter, available now at their Monroe taproom.
Congrats to Urban Artifact’s Bret Kollman Baker, recently named to the board of directors of the Sour + Wild Ale Guild. SWAG seeks to promote breweries nationwide who specialize in sours and wild fermentation beers. Bret is the chief of brewing operations for Urban Artifact and sits on the board of directors of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association.
WEST CENTRAL
Star City Brewing is hosting the Great Miami Gose Fest on Saturday, Jan. 27 at their taproom in Miamisburg. They will have several variants of the Great Miami Gose available, including Basil, Hibiscus and Rosemary & Lemongrass flavors. Participants can vote on which variant will be made into a full batch. Flights available starting at 1 p.m. and limited to the first 150 customers.
On Thursday, Feb. 1, Warped Wing Brewing Company will introduce Coyoacán, a Belgian-style Tripel aged in mezcal barrels. The beer gives off aromas of smoky mezcal and Belgian yeast, then hits you with a complex flavor combo of light fruit and smoke from the barrel-aging process. 375 mL bottles will be available for purchase at the brewery in downtown Dayton.