Beer Flow Thursday - Beer Me Up Before You Go Go

Thursday night means another Beer Flow night, where we will drink and talk beer while discussing things from around the beer community.

It's time to Get Our Beer On! Check out the Live Stream by clicking the link: Beer Me Up Before You Go Go.

Beer Flow 2018 2nd Annual Beer Flow Awards

We took a look back over 2018 and discussed the beers that we found noteworthy, with our second annual Beer Flow Awards.

Check out the YouTube video to see what caught our attention in 2018!

Beer Flow 2018 2nd Annual Beer Flow Awards

MadTree partners with Community Coffee Roasters on New ‘Local Blend’ Beers

Local Blend features the same beer infused with four different Ohio-roasted coffees

CINCINNATI (January 3, 2019) – MadTree Brewing has partnered with some of Ohio’s best coffee roasters to create a unique coffee beer experience. MadTree’s brewers worked side-by-side with coffee roasters from Deeper Roots Coffee (Cincinnati), Phoenix Coffee Co. (Cleveland), Stauf’s Coffee (Columbus), and Boston Stoker Coffee Co. (Dayton). They collaborated to select, roast, and brew the four unique coffees to give each city’s beer a unique flavor. MadTree then packaged one of each in mixed four-packs of 12 oz cans. Each can’s artwork features a rendition of the respective city’s skyline to pay homage to the corresponding roaster.

“We love coffee almost as much as we love beer, so we had this idea to partner with some of the best roasters in the state to show how the flavor profile of a coffee beer can be so different depending on the beans,” said Ryan Blevins, MadTree head brewer. “We made sure the beer took a bit of a back seat so the coffee could shine. Overall, it was awesome to see how their passion for coffee mirrors the passion we have for crafting quality beer.”

Deeper Roots head roaster, Adam Shaw, said, “It was great to be able to be a part of the process from the beginning to ensure we were able to create such specific flavors. The brewing and roasting were all done so purposefully to steer the beer with the coffee.”

A Local Blend can release party will be held on Saturday, January 5 at 10AM at the MadTree Taproom at 3301 Madison Rd in Oakley. Roasters from Deeper Roots, Phoenix, Stauf’s, and Boston Stoker will be on-hand brewing free, fresh cups of the coffee used in the beers (while supplies last) and Deeper Roots will have a mobile roaster to give a live coffee roasting demonstration. Mixed four-packs of cans will also go on sale for the first time for $12.50 each (including tax).

The four-packs go on-sale throughout Ohio and Northern Kentucky beginning Monday, January 7.

About MadTree Brewing Company

Cincinnati’s MadTree Brewing made history when they opened in 2013 by becoming the first modern craft brewery to can its beer in Ohio. When it comes to brewing, they have carved their own path. They mix. They mash. They methodically bring quality beer to life, and have fun doing it. Demand from the growing community keeps MadTree motivated and moving. In return, they make nothing but the best beer. They are founded and continue to grow on the notion that beer builds community and community builds beer. MadTree distributes its beers throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Middle and Eastern Tennessee. 

Winter Warmer Fest Breweries Announced

CLEVELAND – The Ohio Craft Brewers Association released the list of participating breweries for the 13^th Annual Winter Warmer Fest. 61 Ohio craft breweries will showcase their winter seasonal, limited-edition and high-gravity beers at Windows on the River on Saturday, March 9, 2019 from 2-5 p.m. The total number of breweries is up five from 2018's sold-out event and features 11 first-time participants, reflective of the rapid growth of craft breweries in Ohio.

The Winter Warmer Fest is a fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, a non-profit organization founded to promote, preserve and unify 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.

More than 60 Ohio breweries to feature seasonal, rare and strong beers.

Participating breweries (first-timers marked with*):

Akronym Brewing*
Bookhouse Brewing*
The Brew Brothers at Scioto Downs
The Brew Kettle
BrewDog
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.
Elevator Brewing
Fat Head’s Brewery
Grainworks Brewing Company
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Hairless Hare Brewery
Hansa Brewery
HiHO Brewing Company
Hofbrauhaus Cleveland
Hoppin’ Frog Brewery
Jackie O’s Brewery
JAFB-Wooster Brewery
The Jolly Scholar
Little Fish Brewing Company
Lucky Owl Brewing
MadTree Brewing
Magic City Brewing Company*
Maize Valley
Market Garden Brewery
Masthead Brewing Co.
Millersburg Brewing Company
Muskellunge Brewing*
Noble Beast Brewing Co.
North High Brewing
Ohio Brewing Company
Paradigm Shift Brewing
The Phoenix Brewing Company
Platform Beer Co.
Pretentious Barrel House*
R.Shea Brewing
Railroad Brewing Company
Rhinegeist
Rocky River Brewing Company
Royal Docks Brewing Co.
Sandy Springs Brewing*
Saucy Brew Works
Seventh Son Brewing
Shale Brewing*
Sibling Revelry Brewing
Streetside Brewing*
Terrestrial Brewing
Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Three Tigers Brewing*
Wild Ohio Brewing*
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing
Wooly Pig Farm Brewery*
Working Class Brewery
Yellow Springs Brewery

General admission tickets are available in advance for $45, which includes a souvenir glass and tasting tickets for 20 four-ounce samples. Early admission tickets are also available in advance for $55, 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/winterwarmer2019

Attendees will enjoy a spirited entrance courtesy of Black Sheep Pipes & Drums, plus live music throughout the event from Austin Walkin’ Cane and Chris Allen. Four food trucks will be set-up on site: Fired Up Taco Truck, The Manna Truck, Scott’s Fire and Ice, and Slyman’s Tavern.

Winter Warmer Fest is supported by Boelter Beverage, The Country Malt Group, Frantz Ward, and Mosaic Employee Benefits. Winter Warmer Fest is also sponsored by the following Ohio craft breweries: Columbus Brewing Company, Fat Head’s Brewery, Great Lakes Brewing, Masthead Brewing Co., Muskellunge Brewing, Saucy Brew Works, Brick & Barrel, Butcher & the Brewer, MadTree Brewing, Platform Beer Co., The Phoenix Brewing Company, Royal Docks Brewing, Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, The Brew Brothers, The Brew Kettle, Catawba Island Brewing, Cornerstone Brewing, Grainworks Brewing, Hansa Brewery, HiHO Brewing Co., Hofbrauhaus Cleveland, Hoppin’ Frog Brewery, Jackie O’s Brewery, Lucky Owl Brewing, Market Garden Brewery, Millersburg Brewing, Noble Beast Brewing, Paradigm Shift Brewing, Rhinegeist Brewery, Seventh Son Brewing, Sibling Revelry Brewing, Streetside Brewery, Thirsty Dog Brewing and Working Class Brewery.

Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote, preserve and unify Ohio’s 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.

Cincinnati Based Urban Artifact Brewery Nominated for Good Food Award

Press Release: Cincinnati, OH - The 2019 Good Food Awards Finalists have been announced, and for the second time in three years local brewery Urban Artifact is again a finalist with their dry hopped barrel aged sour, Orbexilum. Only 21 brewers across the country qualified as finalists and Urban Artifact is the only brewery in the tri-state area of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana to make the finals for the 2019 Good Food Awards.

Orbexilum was dry-hopped with hops from local growers Dave & Nina Volkman, of Ohio Valley Hops, as well as using local yeast for a true taste of local terroir. Barrel aged for over a year and a half, at which time hops from Ohio Valley Hops were selected for their intensity and quality of flavor. Dry-hopped for three days and immediately bottled, Orbexilum was a mix of wild yeast character and fresh hop aromatics.

The 2019 Good Food Award Finalists are taking care of the commons for future generations, strengthening their communities through their decisions as small businesses, and building international relations with direct trade and above fair trade prices for cocoa, coffee and spices. Finalists from across the 16 categories embody what it means to be good global citizens, eschewing carbon-emitting fertilizers and pesticides, favoring practices that build soil health and sourcing local ingredients with low transportation-related carbon footprints. 

 Urban Artifact is Ohio's sour brewery with a taproom, full bar, and live music venue, located in the historic St. Patrick’s Church in Cincinnati, Ohio’s Northside neighborhood. Urban Artifact opened their doors with their first beers and music shows in April 2015.

Urban Artifact specializes in tart and wild ales, especially balanced, heavily fruited ales. Urban Artifact’s beers are inspired by their culture and community, and by the microscopic natural world around us.

Campanology Harmony Foretold Pale Wheat Ale Review

Harmony Foretold from Campanology Brewing out of Wisconsin is a cucumber Pale Wheat Ale that I happened to stumble across during a past beer run. This 6% ABV beer highlighted by cucumber from this Wisconsin brewery was enough to catch my attention. There was somewhat of a crisp refreshing quality with this one along with a slight bit of bitterness. The ale also came off as clean and light as the cucumber came out easily in the aroma and taste. Something different indeed and one that I pretty much dug which is why I rated it 3.75 out of 5. Check out the video to see and hear more of my thoughts, and let me know if you have had this one by leaving a comment. Cheers!

New Belgium Honey Orange Tripel Review

The Honey Orange Tripel from New Belgium Brewing is yet another one from Belgium Reserve Series from the Colorado brewer. This ale carries a 10% ABV and 25 IBU, and for me came through with a nice smoothness overall although the booziness does come through slightly as well. The citrus was there from the orange peel along with a nice touch from the honey. For me, it worked well enough as a Belgian-style beer that I gave it a 3.75 out of 5 and worth a try. Check out the video to see and hear more of my thoughts on this ale, and if you have had it before then let me know what you thought by leaving a comment. Cheers!

New Belgium Sour Saison Review

The Belgian Reserve Sour Saison from New Belgium Brewing is yet one more beer as part of their Belgian Reserve Series. At 7% ABV and 18 IBU, this ale encompassed the characteristics that I like about the Saison style and did well bringing in Belgian tones. Refreshing and crisp, this ale had a nice effervescence and a sour tone that was subtle but still present. Light in body with a great citrus feel, along with the clove and coriander made this an enjoyable beer for me. Check out the video to see and hear more of my thoughts on it, and for me, this one was a 4 out of 5 hitting the very good on my scale. And don’t forget, if you have had it then please leave a comment as well so that I can see what you thought of this one yourself. Cheers!

Terrapin Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout Review

Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout from Terrapin Beer Company is a Sweet or Milk Stout that is a seasonal and winter offering from the Georgia brewery. At 6.1% ABV and 30 IBU, this one actually surprised me at how good it did come through. Pleasant and smooth, this one did well providing a nice chocolate and coffee feel that pretty much did leave me thinking of chocolate milk in a way. It is sweet though, so not sure I would do more than one in a sitting. But it is a nice beer, to break up the routine or maybe enjoy as a dessert. 3.75 out of 5 for me on this one, and if you have had it yourself then please leave a comment to let me know what you thought of this stout as well. Check out the video to see and hear more of my thoughts on this dark creamy chocolate ale. Cheers!

Rhinegeist Wowie Fruited Ale Review

Wowie from Rhinegeist Brewery is a fruited-ale featuring pineapple and passionfruit. It is a year-round offering with an ABV of 6.2%, and IBU was not listed. But is it really an ale is my question, as for me it comes across more like a hybrid between an ale and a cider. Whatever it is though, it carries a great amount of flavor as the fruitiness comes right through with the pineapple, passionfruit and even apple along with great tones of citrus and tropical notes and flavor. It is a bright refreshing drink indeed for what I found, and an easily crushable one whether an ale or cider. If you like fruity ales then this is one to grab and for me an easy 4 out of 5 placing it for me at the very good mark. Have you had this one? If so then leave a comment below letting me know what you thought, and check out the video to see and hear more of my thoughts on this one. Cheers, and Get Your Beer On!

Beer Unboxing - Goal Achieved And Deals Found

The funny thing about craft beers is that there is always something coming out that is unique, and that is what makes it even more enjoyable to try these beers. This is the reason for my latest beer run as I hunted down one in particular, of course though, this led me to find others as well. Check out my video here to see what I found and what I was looking for, and oh yeah, there may be a Rod J Deal or two as well. Cheers, and Let's Get This Unboxing On!