Quickie Beer News: Beer Can Appreciation Day Coming - 1/17/18

Get your cans ready because National Beer Can Day is coming...

Beer Review: Elysian Brewing The Immortal IPA

The Immortal IPA from Elysian Brewing is positioned as an English IPA that is loaded with hop flavor, and it is the subject here of my latest review. The ABV of this brew stands at 6.3% while its IBU level is that of 62. Far from some of the most bittering beers that I have had but the flavor did offer a little something while the aroma actually had me feeling a little underwhelmed. Overall the beer did prove solid enough and it stood well with its golden appearance that I was able to score this one a 78 out of 100. It didn’t do as much to wow me, but it did enough for me to consider it very solid. Check out my video to see and hear more of my thoughts on this considered no longer craft but still “crafty” beer. And if you have had it, then please leave some comments on your thoughts as well.

Cheers!

Beer Review: Rhinegeist Knowledge

Knowledge from Rhinegeist is a seasonal year-round Imperial IPA, and it is one of my local beers from one of my local breweries. This Double IPA carries an alcohol content of 8.5% ABV and packs an IBU level of 98. I recently acquired it during a beer run after thinking I wanted and needed to share more of our local brews. Described as being highlighted by notes of dankness, pine, grapefruit and other notes, this was definitely a beer that I was looking forward to trying. And I was glad that I did, as the beer was able to provide many of the aspects expected which led me to scoring this one 85 out of 100. So check out my video and see and hear my thoughts on this local treat. Cheers!

Beer Review: Foothills Brewing Hoppyum IPA

The Hoppyum IPA from Foothills Brewing which is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the subject of my latest review here and was one of the beers that I was able to pick up during my past road trip. The beer itself carries an alcohol content of 6.25% ABV along with an IBU level of 70. It poured a nice golden orange color although the flakes in the beer definitely let you know that it was bottle fermented. Flavor and aroma on the beer were adequate and it did sit fine on my palate and was decent enough overall that I scored this one 78 out of 100. But find out more of my thoughts on this beer by checking out the video and if you have had this year-round IPA then please feel free to also share your thoughts in the comments.

Cheers!

Beer Review: Springdale Ain't That Remarkable Hoppy Pale Ale

Recently thanks to my buddy Joe, I was able to gather another beer that I had not tried previously due to location and our distribution system which would not allow me access since I am outside of their area. That beer and the subject of this review is the Ain’t That Remarkable Hoppy Pale Ale from Springdale Beer, which also is a subsidiary of Jack‘s Abby and is located in Framingham, Massachusetts.

This New England Pale Ale carries an alcohol content of 5.5% ABV and proved to be a delightful beer to try as it carried a lot of nice smoothness to it and provided a nice refreshing quality overall. The body appearance was pretty solid although the head was one area that didn’t really impress me as much. But we are drinking the beer as an overall product and that being said, this one does deliver which is why I scored this one as an 86 out of 100. It was well worth the try and watch my video here to see and hear more of my in-depth analysis of this one from the New England area. Thanks again Joe for the beer and thank you all for watching and your support!

Beer Review: Other Half DDH Broccoli

Back with another beer from Other Half Brewing Company for this review and this time it was their Broccoli Double Dry Hopped Imperial IPA. Brewed with four hops, oats, wheat and mosaic lupulin powder, this 7.9% ale proved to be a nice juicy thirst quenching beer that I ended up scoring a total 86 out of 100. But don’t just take my word for it; check out my video here to see what I discovered about this one and what I took away as its offering.

Unboxing Video: Big E Says Hello From Michigan

Once again, I was sent a mystery box of beers from a good buddy and c’mon, who doesn’t like a surprise box of beer. This one is from my friend and fellow reviewer from Michigan and is packed with some of the good stuff from around his area. Check out my video here to see what is enclosed.

Beer Review: Upper Pass Beer Company First Drop

Here is my look at First Drop from Upper Pass Beer Company which is located in Tunbridge, Vermont. This American Pale Ale comes in with an alcohol content of 5.9% ABAV and an IBU level of 65. With a base of Pilsner and Golden Promise malts along with Mosaic, Citra, Centennial and Azacca Hops, this ale provided a nice overall experience which led me to rating it 85 out of 100 on my scale. Check out my video to see and hear more as well as other details on this beer.

Press Release: Cleveland Winter Warmer Fest Breweries Announced

Winter Warmer Fest Breweries Announced

Over 50 Ohio craft breweries to feature strong and rare beers.

CLEVELAND – The Ohio Craft Brewers Association released the list of participating breweries for the 12^th Annual Winter Warmer Fest. Over 50 Ohio craft breweries will showcase their winter seasonal, limited-edition and high-gravity beers at Windows on the River on Saturday, March 3^rd from 2-5 p.m. The Winter Warmer Fest is a fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, a non-profit organization founded to promote, preserve and protect Ohio’s craft brewing industry.

Winter Warmer Fest will once again feature a cask area with several breweries offering special infusions available only at the event. Many of the brewers will be on hand throughout the day to meet and talk with Ohio craft beer enthusiasts.

Participating breweries:

The Brew Brothers at Scioto Downs
BrewDog
The Brew Kettle
Brick and Barrel Brewing
BRIM Kitchen + Brewery
Butcher & The Brewer
Catawba Island Brewing Co.
Collision Bend Brewing Company
Columbus Brewing Company
Cornerstone Brewing Company
Crooked Handle Brewing Co.
Double Wing Brewing Co.
Fat Head’s Brewery
Forest City Brewery
Goldhorn Brewery
Grainworks Brewing Company
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Hairless Hare Brewery
Hansa Brewery
HiHO Brewing Company
Hofbrauhaus Cleveland
Hoppin’ Frog Brewery
JAFB-Wooster Brewery
The Jolly Scholar
Lager Heads Brewing Company
Little Fish Brewing Company
Lock 27 Brewing
Lockport Brewery
MadTree Brewing
Maize Valley
Market Garden Brewery
Masthead Brewing Co.
Noble Beast Brewing Co.
North High Brewing
The Phoenix Brewing Company
Pigskin Brewing Company
Platform Beer Co.
R.Shea Brewing
Railroad Brewing Company
Rhinegeist
Rocky River Brewing Company
Royal Docks Brewing Co.
Saucy Brew Works
Seventh Son Brewing
Sibling Revelry Brewing
Terrestrial Brewing
Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Wadsworth Brewing Company
Warped Wing Brewing Company
Willoughby Brewing Company
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing
Working Class Brewery
 
Early bird discount tickets are available for $10 off list price if purchased by 12/31/2017.
General admission tickets are available in advance for $45 ($35 with early bird discount), which includes a souvenir glass and tasting tickets for 20 four-ounce samples. Early admission tickets are also available for $55 ($45 with early bird discount), granting admission at 1 p.m. Designated driver admission is available for $15 and includes a food voucher. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.beerfesttickets.com/winterwarmer2018

Winter Warmer Fest is supported by Boelter Beverage, Brewers Professional Alliance and Frantz Ward.
 
Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote and preserve Ohio’s unified craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio Craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.

Press Release: Ohio Craft Breweries Earn Excise Tax Reduction

Ohio Craft Breweries Earn Excise Tax Reduction

Small businesses plan to reinvest savings into growth and jobs.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A two-year version of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA), which lowers the federal excise tax for breweries, was passed on December 20^th, 2017 by the 115^th U.S. Congress.

Under the bill, domestic craft breweries producing less than two million barrels annually would see the federal excise tax reduced to $3.50/barrel (from $7/barrel) on the first 60,000 barrels. This savings will allow Ohio’s 257 small brewers to reinvest in their businesses, expand their operations and hire more workers. The legislation is currently written as a two-year provision.
 
“The CBMTRA provisions will make a real-world bottom line difference for every size brewery in the state of Ohio,” said Collin Castore, president of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association and co-owner of Seventh Son Brewing Company. “Breweries will continue to pay all the regular state, local, and federal taxes that every business pays. The excise tax reduction of $3.50 per barrel will save large and small breweries thousands of dollars each year. In the brewery business, that usually means those dollars can be put towards growth; and growth means Ohio manufacturing/brewing jobs and more great Ohio beer.”
 
The effort to bring meaningful federal excise tax relief to small brewers has been a primary political objective for the Brewers Association and state guilds from across the country for almost 10 years. 

“Our expectation is that small brewers will use their savings related to the recalibration of the federal excise tax on beer to invest in their breweries, expand their operations, create more jobs and hire more American workers,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO, Brewers Association. “We are very appreciative that Congress has enacted these bipartisan, strongly supported measures.”

Currently, the craft brewing industry is responsible for $2.67 billion in impact to the Ohio economy and Ohio craft brewers employ over 4,000 workers.

“We’d like to thank Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, as well as the entire Ohio Congressional delegation for co-sponsoring CBMTRA,” said Mary MacDonald, executive director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. “Their support will help Ohio’s small and independent brewers continue to grow and thrive, and we look forward to their continued support in our efforts to make the excise tax reductions permanent in future tax legislation.”

CBMTRA enjoyed wide bi-partisan support in Congress, counting 303 co-sponsors in the House and 54 in the Senate. Senator Portman offered the amendment to include the CBMTRA provisions to the tax bill passed Wednesday.

“The Brewers Association along with the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, other state guilds, and countless individual brewers’ voices were loud and were unified and were heard,” Castore said. “We made CBMTRA literally the most widely supported bi-partisan piece of legislation to pass through Congress in the last several years. Our Ohio Senators are proud and supportive of Ohio craft beer and were instrumental in finally getting CBMTRA attached to a piece of legislation.”

 
Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote and preserve Ohio’s unified craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio Craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.

Cincy Winter Beerfest List Unveiled

Once again, it's that time for Cincy Beerfest and the new list has been unveiled and check out the link below to see all of the offerings. This year is sure to be another fun time and if you come out on Saturday for the day session then make sure to try to come check me out pouring beers.

Check Out the Cincy Winter BeerFest List Here