Ohio Brewery News

St. Patrick’s Day 2022 

Two years ago on St. Patrick’s Day, Ohio’s craft breweries were either selling carryout beer exclusively or closed entirely due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, COVID has impacted nearly every aspect of brewery operations, from the added costs of enhanced sanitation and distancing measures to labor participation to availability of raw materials and price inflation. As the omicron variant subsides and more people are vaccinated against COVID, breweries are cautiously optimistic that better days are ahead as we welcome warmer spring weather and the start of patio season.

That change of season is traditionally kicked off around St. Patrick’s Day, one of the biggest sales days for breweries, bars and restaurants. Rather than make a list of all the stouts, green beers, corned beef dinners and other Irish celebratory events happening at Ohio breweries – and trust us, there are way too many to succinctly share with you – we’d rather take this opportunity to simply ask you to support your local breweries that are still dealing with the economic effects of the pandemic. Here are a few great ways to do it:

1. Visit some brewery taprooms this weekend. Our Ohio On Tap statewide brewery passport app can help you find and keep track of your visits, and we’ll send you free stuff as a reward. Download the app for free and start your three-year tour today!
2. Stay in the loop. Sign up for the Ohio Brewery News Bulletin email and never miss our dispatches about Ohio breweries and updates on the brewing industry. Many of your favorite breweries also have email newsletters: take a moment to sign up for those so you always know what’s fresh!
3. Help us help breweries. As a non-profit trade association, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association relies on the support of our members and craft beer fans to fund our mission to promote, preserve, diversify and unify Ohio’s craft brewing industry. You can directly support that mission by purchasing tickets to Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Beer Fest in Columbus on May 14, picking up some of our Drink Beer Made Here merchandise or becoming an OCBA Enthusiast member.

When you support Ohio’s independently-owned craft breweries, you’re not just buying beer: you’re backing businesses that are investing in their communities and making Ohio one of the best beer states in the nation. We’ll say sláinte to that!