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I got a phone call from a very excited Matt Cole today. Matt is the brewer at Fat Head’s Saloon and Brewery in North Olmsted. Draft Magazine publishes an annual list of the 25 best beers in the world, and Fat Head’s Head Hunter IPA made the list! This is quite an honor, and was the only Ohio brewery to make the list, which was dominated by West Coast and Belgian breweries.
Here’s what Draft Magazine had to say about Head Hunter IPA: “A mix of amazement and curiosity rippled across the beer-soaked land when word broke that a brewery in Cleveland bested a plethora of West Coast brewers at this year’s IPA festival at the Bistro, the biggest IPA competition west of the Mississippi. After a pint of this beer, however, you’ll cast all hesitations aside: It lumbers over the tongue with caramelized malt and a hop display that cannot be rivaled. This isn’t your finesse IPA; there isn’t an ounce of subtlety to it. It’s just a punch-you-in-the-mouth brew for those who truly love their hops.”
For the complete list of the top 25, click here. Congratulations, Matt!
There are two beerfests coming up the last weekend in January. These are on the “events” page but I wanted to make sure you saw them! One in Cincinnati and one in Garrettsville. Time for some Winter Warmers??
Saturday, January 30 – Cincinnati’s Original Beerfest! 7-11 pm. This year it is downtown at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati – over 15,000 square feet of beer! But get your tickets now, as this event sells out every year! Tickets $30 in advance. $40 for VIP ticket and entry at 5 pm! www.cincybeerfest.com
Sunday, January 31 – 2nd Annual Frozen Falls Beer Festival at Main Street Grill & Brewery in Garrettsville. There will be three (3) tasting sessions: 11:30-1:30, 2:30-4:30, and 5:30-7:30. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Designated drivers are admitted free of charge. Tickets can be purchased in person or by calling 330-527-3663.
Participating breweries include Thirsty Dog, Ohio Brewing, Roo Brew, Buckeye Brewing, Cellar Rats, Rust Belt, Rocky River, Rock Bottom Cleveland (sessions 2 & 3), Weasel Boy, Bell’s, Flying Dog, & Troeg’s.
If you’ve had your head in the sand (like I have), then maybe you haven’t heard the news. Andy Tveekrem, a former Akronite, who was formerly the brewmaster at Great Lakes Brewing, and more recently at Dogfish Head in Delaware is back in town. I’ve heard the rumors, but I’ve been too busy traveling around the country (for work) to report to you. Members of the local home brew clubs and the microbrew community have been talking for a couple of months. There have been Tveekrem sightings and rumors have been flying, almost since last September when he was seen at the Beer Engine. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported it January 12, and today the Akron Beacon Journal picked up the same article.
Tveekrem has teamed up with Sam McNulty, owner of McNulty’s BierMarkt, Bar Cento, and Speakeasy to open a new microbrewery and beer garden called “Market Beer Garden” across the street from McNulty’s Bier Markt. With Great Lakes Brewing around the corner, and McNulty’s good beer bars and now new brewery, is this the start of Cleveland’s own “brewery district”? Just down the hill in the Flats is Rock Bottom Brewery, and across the river is Cleveland Chophouse & Brewery. That will be four breweries and several good beer bars within 1.5 miles of each other.
The Cleveland Beer scene keeps getting better! The Plain Dealer article said they plan a June opening.
At Buckeye Beer Engine. Click here for more information.
On Saturday, December 12th at 2 pm there will be the 3rd Annual Holiday Hop sponsored by the CornerStone Brewing Co., Mikes Bar& Grille, and Luna Marketing. This event is to benefit the Berea Children’s Home. The cost is $20 and one wrapped gift (wish list available). Tickets can be purchased at the CBC. Reservations are encouraged as there will be a limited number of tickets sold. By purchasing a ticket, you will receive one free pint of holiday brew at each location, hors d’oeuvres, brewery tour, entertainment and the first 65 people will receive a commemorative glass. The event kicks off in the CornerStone brewery for a tapping of Xmas Ale and festive holiday cheer. At 4 pm participants will hop on down to Mike’s for a tapping of 2008 Olde Special Ale and another round of goodies.
‘Tis the season for good beer… but then it always is!
This season we have several returning beers and a few new ones. Most of these are little higher in alcohol, and are usually spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, coriander, orange peel, cloves, and/or other seasonal spices.
Always a favorite, Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale is available on tap at numerous locations and at your favorite grocery store. Thirsty Dog’s 12 Dogs of Christmas is also back again and widely available. I know there are lots of Great Lakes Christmas Ale fans out there, but if you haven’t tried Thirsty Dog’s, you should. Both are excellent.
Indigo Imp has it’s Winter Solstice back again this year, available at the brewery, Heinen’s and other good beer stores. Fat Head’s is celebrating the season with its Christmas Ale and Chocolate Pumpkin Stout, on tap now at their brewery.
Newly released from Hoppin’ Frog is the Frosted Frog Christmas Ale, available at the brewery and fine beer retailers. Brewer Fred Karm says you can taste Christmas in every bottle. This one is 8.6% abv and highly spiced with fresh nutmeg from India and fresh cinnamon.
The Brew Kettle has it’s annual Winter Warmer on tap, and Main Street Grille in Garrettsville has a aged pumpkin beer for its seasonal beer called Nightmare on Main Street!
In Madison, the Cellar Rats Brewery has an interesting Winter ale called Ripper. It is an old English style ale that has a beautiful mahogany color to it. This bold ale has a strong back bone and has been spiced with chicory root and cinnamon. It is full of malty, spicy flavors and aromas from handfuls of Chinook hops all the way through and is 7% abv.
Rock Bottom will be tapping their Holidaze, Belgian strong ale on December 10, and Weasel Boy Brewing has its Snow Ermine Holiday Ale which is a porter with honey and vanilla.
If I’ve missed any, let me know!
The Annual Pumpkin Patch fest is going on now at the Buckeye Beer Engine. On draft until they run out (I presume) are:
Dogfish Head Punkin’ Ale
Brooklyn Pumpkin
New Holland Ichabod
Southern Tier Pumking
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale (My favorite!)
Heavy Seas The Great Pumpkin
Shipyard Pumpkin
Also… make your reservations now for the November Beer and Food Pairing dinner featuring none other than Garin Wright and the Buckeye Brewing Company! It will be on Tuesday, November 10 at 7 pm. They promise seven (7) courses, bonus beer and two dessert courses….all for only $50, tax and gratuity included. Reserve your ticket now at 216.226.2337.
Garin, head brewer since 1997, will give us a little insight on Buckeye’s plans for the future. Don’t miss this one!
There are lots of great events between now and Saturday night’s BrewZilla! Check the schedule and the following article for more info… click here
It’s Firkin Alive! is yet another Cleveland Beer Week event that has limited ticket availability. It will be held at the Indigo Imp brewery on Thursday October 22 at 6:30 pm.
It promises to be the best “in brewery” event of CBW! They will have 10 cask-conditioned ales to taste, paired with different cheeses from Heinen’s.
Read more… click here
Started October 16 at the Independence Winking Lizard with the ceremonial keg-tapping (see picture below). Complete calendar of events is at Clevelandbeerweek.org
 John Najeway (Thirsty Dog), Tim Rastetter (TD Brewer), John Lane (Winking Lizard)
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