Ohio Weekly Roundup
10.26.2018
CENTRAL
Cheers to three years of beers from the Brew Brothers at Scioto Downs! The brewery released their birthday beer, Cake the Great, this week. This smooth and creamy American porter is inspired by German chocolate cake and is made with roasted pecans, toasted coconut and cocoa nibs. A rich, delectable dark beer, Cake the Great is available on draft at the south Columbus brewpub while supplies last.
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing will tap two collaboration beers made with Sideswipe Brewing on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at their downtown Columbus taproom. Both breweries did a take on a candy bar milk stout, using the same base beer recipe. No Tricks from Sideswipe is infused with chocolate and vanilla, inspired by the Milky Way candy bar. All Treats from Wolf’s Ridge is infused with toasted almonds and coconut, cacao nibs and vanilla, inspired by Almond Joy. Details at facebook.com/wolfsridgebrewing
Beard Crumbs, the delicious winter seasonal from Land-Grant Brewing Company has returned. This smooth, dark stout is teeming with notes of chocolate, coffee and an extra punch of holiday cheer via the addition of raisins. It delivers the joy of an oatmeal raisin cookie, minus the crumbly clean up. Look for it on Central Ohio store shelves starting next week, or on draft and in six-packs at Land-Grant’s Franklinton taproom today.
GREATER CLEVELAND
Pretty much every brewery in Cleveland does some variety of Christmas ale, but Collision Bend may be the only one offering a Hanukkah ale. On Thursday, Nov. 1, the brewery will release 8 Crazy Nights, a winter warmer brewed with honey, cinnamon and local Ohio apples. The first six-packs will be sold at Collision Bend’s brewpub in the Flats at 3 p.m. with limited local distribution to follow. Release party details at facebook.com/collisionbrew
Welcome Thirsty Dog East Bank, the newest member of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association! The brewpub marked its one-year anniversary this past Thursday and will be one of the stops on the Flats East Bank Adult Trick-or-Treat pub crawl on Saturday, Oct. 27. Put on your scariest duds and go get your Ohio On Tap passport stamp!
This week, Forest City Brewery released their Bulleit bourbon barrel aged wee heavy, Maide Leisg (my Scottish Gaelic is rusty, but a close pronunciation is “mah’-tcha layshk”), named for a Scottish game of strength. The brewery is hosting a clambake featuring the beer on Saturday, Oct. 27, but I don’t believe you’ll be asked to pull anyone off the ground for sport. Event details at facebook.com/forestcitybrewery
NORTHEAST
McArthur’s Brew House will be releasing their Abbey’s Amber Ale made with locally grown malts from West Branch Malts on Sunday, Oct. 28. A representative from West Branch Malts will be on hand at the Cuyahoga Falls brewery taproom answering questions about Ohio-grown malting barley and handing out some free stuff. Details at facebook.com/mcarthursbrewhouse
Yeah, I know, it’s not even Halloween and we’re already seeing Christmas ales and winter warmers. Christmas creep is real, everybody, but this is the best possible version of it. Millersburg Brewing Company released their Edgy Elf Christmas ale this week, brewed with cinnamon, ginger, honey and mulling spices. Look for it in cans wherever Millersburg beers are sold.
Two great events coming up at The Phoenix Brewing Company in Mansfield. First, the brewery will host their 4th annual Mortuary Mayhem Halloween party on Saturday, Oct. 27, including live music, special drinks and a costume contest. Then on Wednesday, Oct. 31, the Phoenix will tap Dark Lylith Chocolate Stout, loaded with chocolate flavor from black cocoa, chocolate malt, and cocoa nibs. Details at facebook.com/thephoenixbrewingcompany
NORTHWEST
4KD Crick Brewery sits on the grounds of the Eagle Rock Golf Course, which was known as the Kettenring Country Club prior to 2011. The club was built by Defiance industrialist Ransom P. Kettenring in 1921, and it’s rumored that his ghost still walks the course. At 4KD Crick’s Halloween party this Saturday, Oct. 27, the brewery will release their first barrel aged beer: a version of their Ole Ransom Russian Imperial Stout aged in a Heaven Hill bourbon barrel. Supplies are very limited, but be sure to buy one for Mr. Kettenring if you see him. Details at facebook.com/4kdcrickbrewery
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, Inside the Five will release bottles of Xerxes’ Bane – an IPA aged in Crown Royal barrels – for public sale (sales to the brewery’s draft class members opened yesterday). The bottle release coincides with Inside the Five’s Halloween party, which includes food, a beer and live entertainment. Tickets available at the brewpub in Sylvania. Details at facebook.com/insidethefivebrewing
SOUTHEAST
Rauchbier (German for “smoke beer”) can be a challenge even for the most adventurous drinker’s palette, but the rich maltiness, restrained bitterness and savory smoke flavor of a well-executed rauchbier can be a real treat. So when Wooly Pig Farm Brewery says they’re bringing a rauchbier into their stable of outstanding German lagers today, it’s time to start planning a trip to the hillside brewery in Fresno. Take in the stunning fall foliage, grab a half-liter of rauchbier and cozy up to the fire pit.
Stop in to Y Bridge Brewing in Zanesville on Saturday, Oct. 27 and wish owner/brewer Ray Ballard a happy birthday! No need to bring a present: Ray is tapping his brand new Blueberry Pumpkin Ale as a gift to you. The party starts at 7 p.m. with a Halloween costume contest and live music throughout the evening. Details at facebook.com/ybridgebrewing
SOUTHWEST
Congratulations to Ohio’s newest craft brewery, Sonder Brewing in Mason! Sonder’s grand opening celebration is Saturday, Oct. 27, starting at 10 a.m. In addition to delicious beers crafted by brewers Chase Legler (formerly of New Glarus Brewing) and Luke Shropshire (formerly of Streetside Brewery), Sonder will also have a food menu from BrewRiver Gastropub and a self-described “full rec center” with bocce ball, wiffle ball and a kickball field. Details at facebook.com/sonderbrewing
According to a report from market research firm IRI, Fifty West Brewing topped the list of new brewery sales in supermarkets over the first six months of 2018. Fifty West released their first canned six-packs – Doom Pedal White Ale, Coast to Coast IPA and American Lager – back in February and is currently on shelves at 60% of Kroger locations in Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky. Read more at brewbound.com
Two new beers on tap this week at Rhinegeist’s OTR taproom. Gloam, an Autumnal Saison ale made with Dupont ale yeast and buckwheat honey, is the latest release in Rhinegeist’s Brewers Series. Pretty Bird, a popular Amarillo and Mosaic hopped pale ale introduced earlier this year, returns to taps for a limited time. Both beers are available on draft only. Details at rhinegeist.com
WEST CENTRAL
This weekend is your last chance to grab a pint at Eudora Brewing Company’s current taproom. Once the doors close at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28, Eudora will move down the street to a larger facility in Kettering at 3022 Wilmington Pike. An opening date for the new brewery and taproom has not yet been announced, but Eudora’s Facebook page states that they expect about a one month gap before pouring the first beers at the new space. Stay on top of the move by following facebook.com/eudorabrewingcompany
Crooked Handle Brewing Company will release their holiday seasonal, Krooked Kringle, on Thursday, Nov. 1. The Springboro brewery’s fan favorite Christmas ale is brewed with cinnamon and orange peel and served in a glass rimmed with cinnamon and sugar. 22 oz. bottles of Krooked Kringle will be available for purchase while supplies last. Details at crookedhandle.com