The Muse of
Brews
February/March
2009 Column
While I was sunning myself in the Caribbean, I hope you were keeping warm at the first Frozen Falls Beer Festival at the Main Street Grille and Brewing Co. in Garrettsville. In case you missed that, you can keep warm by heading over to the BREW Kettle Taproom and Smokehouse for their annual OgreFest. This celebration of high gravity beers starts on February 9 and will continue until February 15 or the beer is gone! The beers on their 24 taps rotate so you have to keep coming back to make sure you try them all. Look for the return of the BREW Kettle’s own Dark Helmet Imperial Schwarzbier and Old 21 Imperial IPA to be in the lineup, and for Valentine’s day, the Vanilla Frambozen.
The BREW Kettle is hosting their 4th Annual Winter Bus trip to New York and Pennsylvania this year, leaving on March 28 and returning on March 29. Their trips always fill up fast so plan ahead if you want to go. Check their website for details and planned brewery visits. (www.thebrewkettle.com).
As Ohio winters can be long and brutal, your quest for warmth should take you next to the third annual Winter Warmer Festival at Cleveland’s Rock Bottom Brewery. It will be held on February 22 this year from noon until 8 p.m. Admission is $30, with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to the Ohio Brewer’s Guild. The festival will feature strong brews from at least ten local area breweries, and live music and a buffet are included in the ticket price.
“Buckeye Beer Engine motors into 2009 with unbelievable beer dinners,” says owner Garin Wright. On Wednesday, February 18, in keeping with their goal of recognizing key components in the industry, they will feature Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery for a special beer dinner in their newly renovated downstairs, “beer-learning center.” Garrett will be on hand during the dinner and signing books following the dinner. Whether you attend the dinner or not, expect a “Monster” night at the Beer Engine. On Tuesday, March 24, they will have a beer dinner featuring Michigan’s Bell’s Brewery.
In addition, on Friday, March 13, Beer Engine celebrates its second year in Lakewood, and if you sign up for the email newsletter, you’ll receive a 'thank-you' coupon that you can use on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to celebrate. Then on Tuesday, March 17, the Beer Engine continues another tradition by opening at 6 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day with a day long celebration of Irish food, beer, beer, and more beer!
When asked about brewing plans, Wright says “Buckeye Brewing is on a crash-course to release quite a few weird brands this year. This is going to be fun year. We have Bling Bling in the works, which is a borderline PA/IPA with Amarillo as the base hop. Yuppie ESB will also be bottled this year. We first brewed Yuppie in 1999, but were required to keep it underground. These short runs will appear in the silk-screened bottle. Heidi will be bottled this year. She's a German-style Pilsner flowered with Spalt Select. I am also geared up to brew the biggest IPA I have ever made. Taste it at 420 HopFest 2009!”
Ratebeer.com recently published its list of the top 100 brewers in the world. They arrive at this list by a calculation based on recent beer ratings on their site. Ohio had three in the top 100 with Great Lakes Brewing at #20, Barley’s Brewhouse in Columbus at #53, and Hoppin’ Frog of Akron at #74. All great accomplishments, especially Hoppin’ Frog, as it’s barely two years old!
Another accomplishment worth mentioning, John Lane, VP Operations of the Winking Lizard Tavern, received a prestigious beer award in being recognized as an Ambassadeur d’Orval for 2009. This unique and highly coveted distinction is bestowed by the Orval Brewery, one of seven remaining authentic Trappist breweries in the world, to individuals that best exemplify the Ambassadeur d’Orval criteria of Presence, Service, and Creativity in showcasing and serving Orval’s world renowned Trappist Beer. Congratulations, John. The Winking Lizard is hosting a Real Ale Festival on March 28 at their Bedford Heights Party Center. Check their website for details. (www.winkinglizard.com)
After 9 years of brewing in Marysville, Ohio, the Elevator Brewing Company, which started in an old 1884 grain elevator, has moved its operation into a 100 year-old building, formerly a tire shop. The new location is in downtown Columbus, just two blocks away from its Brewpub and restaurant, the Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus, located in an historic 1897 former Gentlemen’s Saloon. Vic Schiltz, head brewer, is very excited about the new location in that it will now accommodate brewery tours, he will have two more hours each day to brew now that he does not have to drive to Marysville each day, and he has a new state-of-the-art 15-barrel brewing system. An automated bottling line is planned for later in the year.
Ohio Brewing Company has officially broken away from Damon's Grill and they are now just Ohio Brewing Company. They have a new full-scale menu which includes many brewpub favorites. Most people will only notice the difference in the menu. They also now have live entertainment every Saturday night (mostly rock and blues). They still have an association with Damon's Grill in that their beer is on tap at most Northeast Ohio Damon’s locations. New beers are a Pale Ale and they are planning on doing a foreign stout and bringing back their Maple Porter, which has been one of their most popular seasonal beers. A brewery dinner is being planned for late February, but details weren’t available at print time so call the pub for tickets and details. On a personal note, I attended a blind judging of Christmas beers in December and picked Ohio Brewing’s Holiday Spiced Ale and Hoppin Holiday Ale as my favorites without knowing whose they were. Great job! There just might be a keg of the Hoppin Holiday Ale left for February if you hurry!
Rust Belt Brewing Company is a new brewery in the old B&O Station in Youngstown. They are a microbrewery only and their beers are available locally in Youngstown; the Boxcar Lounge for one. Another new brewery since last issue is the Indigo Imp Brewery in Cleveland. They are now brewing and their beers are available at the brewery and at Northeast Ohio Heinen’s stores.
Anderson’s, mentioned in last issue, has regular weekly beer tastings at the Woodville and Sylvania stores. Get on their email list or check BeerAdvocate.com for the beer choices and times each week. It’s a great way to try new beers before you buy!
Weasel Boy Brewing is working on a Bitter Sable Imperial Black IPA. This will be along the lines of a standard double IPA but with roasted grains added to lend color and a hint of roastiness to the brew. It should be released in February. In March they will release a new Marzen for the spring. They feature live music most weekends. Check the website for upcoming performers and times.
Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon is still “soon to be opening” in North Olmsted. They have an outstanding lineup of planned beers, but I think I’ll wait until next issue after I’ve tried a few!