Ohio Weekly Roundup
5.11.2018
CENTRAL
Columbus Craft Beer Week starts today and runs through Saturday, May 19. The nine-day celebration features over 250 craft beer events at breweries, bars, restaurants and retailers around central Ohio. Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Beer Fest is the signature event of the week, taking place at Huntington Park on Saturday, May 12 with 55 Ohio craft breweries in attendance. Get Six One Pour tickets and browse all the week’s events at columbusbeerweek.com
Zaftig Brewing Co. in Worthington will celebrate their fourth anniversary this weekend. As a brewery that specializes in big beers, it’s only fitting that the anniversary will be centered around a bottle release of Ol’ Rugger Russian Imperial Stout, aged in single cask Four Roses barrels for 12 months and clocking in at a whopping 17% ABV. Several Ol’ Rugger variants and a very limited quantity of cellar releases will also be available. Get all the release details at facebook.com/zaftigbeer
Fans of Four String Brewing Company’s popular Hilltop Lager can look forward to the release of Hilltop Light this Saturday, May 12 at both Columbus-area taprooms. The new light craft lager will be available on draft this weekend with a can release at both locations within two weeks. Details at facebook.com/fourstringbrewing
GREATER CLEVELAND
Hopheads rejoice! Lupulin Effect, the long-awaited Imperial IPA collaboration from Fat Head’s Brewery and MadTree Brewing landed on store shelves this week. Chinook, Citra and whole-leaf Denali hops fill out the bill for this big, robust brew. 4-pack cans of Lupulin Effect are available throughout Ohio, but are certain to go fast.
Great Lakes Brewing Company will release the fan favorite Rackhouse Ale at their Ohio City gift shop on Saturday, May 12. Rackhouse Ale is a sweet ale aged for ten months in oak bourbon barrels with notes of cherry, vanilla and wood. A limited quantity of 22 oz. bottles go on sale at 10 a.m. exclusively in the GLBC gift shop. Details at greatlakesbrewing.com
The latest entry in the Butcher and the Brewer Simplicity S.M.A.S.H. (single malt and single hop) Pale Ale series features Pilsner malt from West Branch Malts in Brunswick alongside Australian Galaxy hops. The resulting brew pairs bright hop-imparted tropical fruit flavor with a clean, light and refreshing body. Get it on tap at the downtown brewpub.
NORTHEAST
Akronym Brewing has opened their doors to the public in downtown Akron. They held their first soft opening last weekend and will be open again this Saturday and Sunday, May 12 & 13. Please note: the brewery did not have their point-of-sale system installed last week, and hence were operating on a cash-only basis; that may still be the case this weekend. The brewery has stated that they will expand their hours once the point-of-sale is installed. Follow their updates at facebook.com/akronymbrewing
On Saturday, May 12, Modern Methods Brewing Company is releasing West Side Heat, a smoked chipotle Imperial stout collaboration with Cockeye BBQ. The malt was smoked over hickory wood overnight and chipotle peppers were introduced after fermentation. 22 oz. bottles will be available at the downtown Warren brewery with a limited amount on tap as well. Details at facebook.com/modernmethodsbrew
Columbiana’s Birdfish Brewing Company will release some limited edition cans in early June. Too Hip To Sip Hazy IPA and Dude White Russian Stout will both be available in 16 oz. can 4-packs while supplies last, with a new can release coming every other week thereafter. Rick Armon has all the details on the Akron Beacon Journal Ohio Beer Blog.
NORTHWEST
Tiffin’s first craft brewery will hold its grand opening on Wednesday, May 16. The Laird Arcade Brewery (aka The LAB) actually opened the doors of their downtown taproom this week for a soft opening, and will be open to the public every Wednesday through Saturday going forward. Be sure to stop in and get your Ohio On Tap passport stamp!
Today marks the official beginning of island season in Ohio, as St. Hazards Resort and Brewery opens for the season on Lake Erie’s Middle Bass Island. FUN FACT: Hazards is the closest Ohio brewery to the Canadian border (approximately 3.5 miles away), and is only accessible by boat or aircraft from the mainland. Entertainment schedule at Hazards starts Memorial Day weekend.
SOUTHEAST
Welcome Dungeon Hollow Brewing, the newest member of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association! Dungeon Hollow is a nano brewery in Reeds Mills – about 15 minutes west of Steubenville – built in a restored historical 1800’s homestead. Enjoy a variety of craft beers in an idyllic Appalachian setting and get your Ohio On Tap passport stamp!
Homestead Beer Company’s Charity Tap program starts this month at their tasting room in Heath. Each month, $1 from the sale of a featured beer will be donated to a local charity. To kick things off, Homestead has chosen two charities, the American Brain Tumor Association and Best Buddies, a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Details at facebook.com/homesteadbeerco
SOUTHWEST
Saturday, May 12 is Chickow! Day, celebrating Listermann Brewing’s legendary and multiple award-winning double brown ale, Chickow! Starting at 10 a.m., 12 oz. bottles of two barrel-aged Chickow! variants – Hazelnut Joy and Vanilla Cinnamon – will go on sale. Then, starting at noon, a different Chickow! variant will be tapped every hour on the hour through 3 p.m. There will also be eight other Chickow! variants on tap all day until they’re gone (with another 3 variants on deck as taps become available). Get all the details at facebook.com/listermannbrewing
Grainworks Brewing Company is honoring moms this Sunday, May 13 with a special release, one-off beer. Named Mom Claude Van Damme (“because moms kick butt,” as the brewery explains), this Belgian Golden Ale has complex spicy, fruity and earthy flavors and is slightly sweet but has a dry finish. Available on draft at the brewery in West Chester.
Look for Three Points Urban Brewery to swing open the doors later this month. The brewery in Cincinnati’s Pendleton neighborhood plans a grand opening on Friday, June 1, with soft opening previews for neighborhood residents on May 25 and 26. Make your plans to check it out and get your Ohio On Tap passport stamp!
WEST CENTRAL
Cheers to six years of beers from The Dayton Beer Company! The party starts at noon on Saturday, May 12 as DBC will tap a couple of beers aged in OYO Wheat Whiskey barrels: Deep Sea Diving Sea Salt Stout and JB Imperial Peanut Butter Cream Stout. They’ll Also have hidden Paradise Tart Passionfruit Wheat and Blackberry Wheat on tap, as well as some Gem City Light Lager infused with jalapeño. The celebration doubles as the annual opening of their outdoor biergarten and stage, with live music playing all day. Details at facebook.com/daytonbeerco
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is entering its 75th season and will reveal this year’s performance schedule Saturday, May 19 at Mother Stewart’s Brewing Company. The season reveal event will feature music from a 16 piece brass ensemble along with multi-media visuals by The Now Device. The event is free and open to the public, details at facebook.com/motherstewarts