The Muse of
Brews
June 09/July 09 Column
Since a few Ohio Breweries were attending, I had a good excuse to go to the Erie Micro Brew Festival in April. I mention it primarily because this one had an unusual twist. They had a computerized text-message voting system for best brewery and for the best beer. Results were updated every few seconds and the top three in each category were visible on a large screen on the wall. Attendees seemed to be loyal to the local brews, but Main Street Grill & Brewing Co. of Garrettsville was in the top three for a while. If you haven’t tried their beers yet, summer is a good time for the drive to scenic Garrettsville and visit the brewery which was once an old mill. (Oh, and if you are interested in using the text message voting at your next brew fest, they are willing to share the program.)
So, what’s new in Ohio? More than you thought, I’ll bet! Okay, you know about Fat Head’s new brewery, it’s on the cover. Then there’s Cornerstone Brewing opening a second location in Madison Ohio, right in the middle of the northeast Ohio wine country. Jay Cox, brewer for Cornerstone in Berea will be brewing for both locations, keeping the ten Madison taps filled with such Cornerstone favorites as Grindstone Gold, Sandstone Marrze, Seven IPA, Erie Blu, and Dockside Wit, along with others. So head out to wine country and tell them you want handcrafted beer!
New, in Copley, is the Beer Factory. The Beer Factory is Ohio’s newest brew-on-premise. It is also shares the space with It’s Your Winery, so you can actually do both. Beer Factory owner, Brian Caton, opened the good beer bar last July, with about twenty good beer taps, but the BOP just opened in May. It promises to be a great place for both beer and wine lovers to hang out. For now there is a limited appetizer menu, live music on weekends, a party room for special occasions, and oodles of seating in the main area. It is in a building that used to be a grocery store a decade or two ago, so it’s very roomy, high ceilings, and a little bit of an “industrial” feel to it, with the bar enclosed in a giant barrel. Book your kettle times now, and bring your friends to help or to hang out while you brew! Ales only, for now, but future plans include a lagering cellar, and later, a full kitchen and expanded menu.
Also new in June, the BREW Kettle will be opening “Your WINE Cellar.” Two doors down from the existing BREW Kettle, it will be a Wine-on-premise, with a tasting bar for wines and BREW Kettle beers. You should also be able to find bottled BREW Kettle beer in your local grocery or beverage store now, starting with the 4 C’s Pale Ale and the Copperhead Red Ale. Wit’s End, a double Belgian wit beer was well received at the aforementioned Erie Brew Fest and is becoming a fast favorite in the tap room. At 8% ABV, it is tangy and full-flavored with an abundance of coriander and orange that make it a delightful summer quencher. The Red Eye Pale Ale was also popular at the Erie Brew Fest and got one of my votes for best beer. (Yes, you could vote for more than one, but not more than once for any beer.) Love that citrusy grapefruit aroma!
Ohio Brewing Company has a new Zip Hop Ale on tap for a limited time only. It is over 8% ABV and over 90 IBU’s. Definitely a hophead beer! I was there the night they had a contest to name the beer, and I’m guessing the Zip Hop won as a tribute to Zippy the Akron U mascot. Ohio Brewing has just announced that they will be distributing their beer in five northeast Ohio counties through Tramonte Distributing. Their beer is also available at the Akron Aeros stadium.
Speaking of Akron U, have you seen the ROOBREW around Akron? Again inspired by Zippy the Kangaroo mascot, ROOBREW’s Litigation Lager, a Munich Helles, and Kickin’ Tail Ale,an American style ale, are available on draft at many local establishments and are now being released in bottles, too. ROOBREW, LLC is a collaborative effort between owners Barry Rosenbaum, Gordon Schorr, and John Myers, and John Najeway of the Thirsty Dog Brewing Company. A portion of the profits are contributed to the University for scholarships.
Hoppin' Frog Brewery has released the first of several new beers planned for this year with the release of the Outta Kilter Wee-Heavy Scotch Red. The strongest of the Scottish styles, this "wee heavy" Scotch ale is like an Irish red, with more flavor and kick at 8.2% abv. The 15% rye gives it a crispness that balances the malty sweetness better than hops alone. It is complex, smooth, and tasty! The first release of the bourbon barrel aged BORIS (stout) sold out immediately and more is coming soon. The Wild Frog Wheat will be available all summer. Lastly, plan on attending a special Hoppin’ Frog Beer Dinner at the Taverne of Richfield on July 24. Call 330-659-0610 for reservations.
Buckeye Beer Engine continues their beer dinners with one on June 16, featuring BrewDog of Scotland with the head brewer scheduled to be present at the six course dinner. Watch their website for details of the July dinner. On Saturday June 20, the Beer Engine will hold its annual Summer Solstice Beer Sour Beer Tasting downstairs in the Engine Room from 2-8 pm. I attended this last year, it’s a must attend event for sour beer and lambic lovers!
On Thursday June 25, representatives from Brewery Ommegang will be at the Beer Engine for an evening of Ommegang beers. Then July 24 kicks off the annual Christmas in July featuring holiday and winter warmer beers that have been aging quite nicely. And remember, they are open 365 days a year and are open at 10 a.m every Sunday for kegs and eggs, and the patio is open.
Thirsty Dog Brewing now has available six packs of Labrador Lager, a dortmunder style lager that is 6.5% ABV. Don’t forget about Thirsty Thursdays at the brewery with $8 growler fill ups on any beer except Cerberus & Orthus, including the new Irish Setter Red that is available now at the brewery only. Thirsty Dog will again be sponsoring the 5th Annual Blues & Brews Festival at Stan Hywet to be held this year on August 8. Tickets are available at stanhywet.org. Thirsty Dog beer is now available from Maine to North Carolina, New York, and Michigan.
July in Ohio now means time for Ohio Brew Week., a week long celebration of good beer, food, and other activities in Athens, Ohio. There’s the Brew Choo Choo, BBQ cook off, homebrew competition, 23 Ohio Breweries, over 75 beers, and featured speaker, Ohio native Steve Hindy, now president of Brooklyn Brewing. Come on down to relaxing Athens and join in the festival. Check out www.ohiobrewweek.com for schedules and more information.
One last, ‘almost Ohio’ note. For you Cincinnati-area folks Hebron Brewing has recently opened in Hebron, Kentucky. They have a range of good beers on tap, but aren’t brewing yet. The tanks are scheduled to be installed in June.