The World Beer Cup 2006, the “Olympics of Beer Competitions,” is over and Ohio brewers have won two more gold medals! Congratulations to Matt Cole of Rocky River Brewing Company for the gold medal in the Baltic porter category for Neptune’s Nemesis.  Look for it to be back on tap in late summer.  Always the adventurous brewer, Cole is now brewing Chocolate Jitters, a stout brewed with Belgian chocolate, vanilla, and cold brewed coffee.  He plans to add toasted coconut to a couple of kegs of it.  Also in the works is Plutonium Pils, a dry crisp North German Pilsner fermented with a special Danish yeast.  Also coming soon or on tap include Subchaser, a Bavarian wheat, Blueberry Ale, Hopgoblin, a dry hoppy IPA, as well as Cooper’s Gold, a Kolsch, and the lighter version called Pirate.  The outdoor patio deck is now open, come and enjoy one (or more).

Also winning a gold medal at the World Beer Cup this year in the Imperial Stout category was the Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Blackout Stout.  This big, black brew is loaded with the flavor of roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and lots of hops. Great Lakes’ Burning River Pale Ale, Christmas Ale and Conway's Irish Ale recently scored the highest honors in their individual categories at the 2006 World Beer Championships conducted by the Beverage Tasting Institute of Chicago.  While not really a brewfest, Great Lakes Brewing is again sponsoring the Burning River Fest on August 12. The goal of the festival is to raise awareness of environmental issues that affect our region. I attended last year and know you can expect to find live music, delicious food from local restaurants, educational and environmental exhibits, and beer from Great Lakes! 

The second annual AleFest Cleveland was a smashing success! Despite a Cavs playoff game and an Indians baseball game going on nearby at the same time, the event was well attended, and there were over 150 beers to sample.  No, I didn’t get to sample all of them, but I gave it a good try. Don’t miss this one next year!

Speaking of brewfests, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co is sponsoring the 2^nd annual Blues and Brews at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens on July 29 from 2 – 6 PM. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the gate.  Winking Lizard Taverns will have a selection of food for purchase during the event, and area chefs will be doing live cooking demonstrations.  Live blues entertainment will serenade you as you attempt to taste as many of the 150 plus different beers, from over 30 breweries, as you can in four hours.  Participating area breweries include Thirsty Dog, the Brewkettle, Great Lakes, and Willoughby Brewing Co.

Summer is almost here, and the time for us North Coast dwellers to take advantage of our proximity to Lake Erie.  If you (or your friends) don’t have a boat, hop on the Jet Express from Sandusky and spend the day exploring Kelleys Island.  Kelleys Island Brewery will welcome you with a fresh new menu complemented by one of their seasonal favorite brews, Kelleys Gold, Angler’s Ale, Island Devil, and Dawg Bizkit Brown, and live music on the patio. For those who prefer lighter palates, try the new Lake Erie Lager.  They tell me they serve breakfast now, too.  Hmmm… which beer goes best with eggs?  Let me know.

Another patio for lounging in the fresh air while enjoying good beer can be found at the Brew Kettle in Strongsville.  With 24 taps, there is always an interesting selection of guest and Brew Kettle beers. The Dark Helmet, an imperial schwarzbier, is returning soon, although you’ll have to wait a few more months for the bourbon-barrel-aged version.

And now, the continuing saga of Buckeye Brewing Company and the Brew Keeper in Bedford Heights: I already reported the sale of the Brew Keeper and the upcoming move of Buckeye, but the latest news has the Brew Keeper moving also. Ken George and Mark Wise, the new owners of the Brew Keeper (the brew-on-premise operation and the bar) report that Winking Lizard has purchased the building and has asked them to move by September.  Mark Wise says not to worry, business WILL continue, but to hurry in so you don’t miss your final opportunity to brew at the original home of the Brew Keeper since 1997.  The Brew Keeper bar is still a fine place to find good guest brews, Buckeye brews, and now Mark Wise’s own Brew Keeper brews.  On tap at my last visit were Brew Keeper Nut Brown Light, Blueberry Ale, and Hop Fusion.  Check their website (www.brewkeeper.com) for the latest draft selections, updates, events, and specials.

Garin Wright, Buckeye’s brewmaster, is, in the meantime, still brewing on his 3-barrel system at the Brew Keeper trying to keep up with the demand for Hippie IPA which has doubled in the last year!  He is anxiously looking forward to his eventual move to Cleveland’s West side, and to a much larger capacity brewing system.

In the new brewery category, Garretts Mill and Tavern in Garrettsville has been issued a brewing license (in April), but I have no further information.  The Hoppin’ Frog in Akron is still listed on the license pending page of the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, but they have a really neat website to watch for news: www.hoppinfrog.com

Have you heard about Ohio’s first “Microbrew Week?”  This, reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, will be the week of Monday, July 17 through Saturday, July 21 in Athens, Ohio. It will feature Ohio microbrews, cooking demonstrations, and arts and crafts and brewing workshops.  No further details were available at the time of this printing, but it is reportedly hosted by the Athens Independent Restaurant Association.

As always, if you have any news, comments, or questions, email me at brewmuse@ohiobeerguide.com … and thanks to those of you who DO keep me posted. It is appreciated!