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Fifty West Expands Offerings, Adding Craft Hard Lemonade With Meyer Lemons

Fifty West Brewing Company adds a new thirst-quenching option to the Cincinnati “beyond beer” space, with their Hard Lemonade, crafted with Meyer lemons.

Since Fifty West’s inception in 2012, the craft beer industry has seen enormous growth. Shelves at alcohol retailers around the country ballooned with new varieties, which in turn caused singular brand loyalty to shrink. Additionally, consumer interest towards non-beer options flourished, especially within the burgeoning markets of hard seltzer, hard kombucha, ready-to-drink cocktails, etc. The industry casually refers to this emerging category as “beyond beer” products.

This increased competition to grab drinker's attention in a more crowded marketplace created renewed pressure on craft brewers to innovate outside their traditional product space. When faced with this transitional issue, Fifty West began to speculate on how best to grow as a company and offer more diversity in their canned beverage line-up. Unfortunately, this pivotal moment came as a pandemic ravaged the nation.

 

“We were in the early throes of COVID. We had to pause our future business plans, get lean, and then risk everything on our new concept, now known as The Fifty West Burger Bar,” said Managing Partner Bobby Slattery. “While trying to keep our staff and customer morale high, I changed our marquee to read “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade,” which offered some unintentional foreshadowing. Luckily, the new space became a success, and those words rang true. People came pouring into the Beer Garden and we couldn't be more thankful and proud of our team for the work they put into it.”

 

This new space generated lots of attention but also provided an added layer to the brewery’s established brand identity. Optically, the Burger Bar brings a modern take on nostalgia, with a concept inspired by American root beer stands and 1950s carhops. Under this newfound landscape, the team at Fifty West had a revelation, to design a drink based on their own backyard as their first foray into "beyond beer".

“We landed on taking a chance with Hard Lemonade after considering many options. We did a lot of market research and had conversations with our wholesaler and retailer network, but most importantly, we liked that we were bringing liquid to shelves that fit our evolving brand image, “ said Vice President Max Fram. “Imagine holding a cold Hard Lemonade on a sunny Summer day while sitting in the Beer Garden. You're with your friends, your dog, and an overflowing plate of crinkle-cut French Fries. It just feels right.” 

This new creation is brewed like a sweeter hard seltzer with Meyer lemon juice and natural flavors. Meyer lemons are known to be less acidic with a nuanced citrusy lemon depth. “It’s the most R&D we’ve ever put into a beverage. We tasted countless flavors and juice combinations until we landed on something that tasted special and we liked calling our own," said Fram.

 

Fifty West Hard Lemonade is available in 12oz 6-packs for $8.99, 12-packs $15.99, and 16oz singles at your favorite craft beer locations.

Ohio Craft Brewers Association Media Statement Press Release

 

Media Statement

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Below is a media statement from Mary MacDonald, executive director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association:

"One year ago, the state of Ohio ordered brewery taprooms, bars and restaurants to shut down, an effort to stem the tide of the growing coronavirus pandemic. We knew very little about the virus at the time, which meant there was a great deal of uncertainty about what it would take to fight it. Since then, we’ve weathered several surges of infection and endured tragic losses, most notably the nearly 18,000 Ohioans who have lost their lives to COVID-19.

"While the past year has brought an enormous amount of struggle and grief, it has also brought the knowledge and determination necessary to overcome our shared hardship. One year after taking an unprecedented measure to combat an unknown and formidable foe, we finally have some cause for optimism for the year ahead.

"To understand how COVID-19 specifically impacted breweries, you have to know a little bit about the economics of the craft beer industry. Approximately 300 breweries have opened in Ohio over the past seven years; the basic business model of the vast majority of them relies on sales of beer by the glass to customers in their taprooms. The sustainability of the small brewery is rooted in the taproom experience: the freshest possible beer, crafted by a member of your community and served in a welcoming atmosphere. The popularity of the taproom experience transformed the craft beer industry, and it has become a proven business model that works in big cities and small towns alike.

"Deemed essential businesses at the outset of the shutdown, breweries could continue to make beer and sell it in cans, bottles and refillable growlers for carry out, as well as through wholesale distributors and retail stores. Packaging and distributing beer adds significant expense that a small brewery ordinarily may not find wise to take on. Breweries were faced with an impossible choice: pay the additional cost to sell a product with less profit potential, or shut down completely and wait until customers could return to taprooms.

"In response, brewers did what they do best: adapt and innovate.

"Ohio breweries had a couple of advantages that helped them stay afloat during the shutdown. The beer you find in your local grocery aisle, convenience store or bottle shop is generally delivered by a wholesale distributor that carries dozens of beer brands. The smallest craft breweries usually can’t afford to give up close to a third of the retail price of their beer to enlist a distributor’s services, but the state of Ohio allows our craft breweries to self-distribute to stores that want to carry their beer. Ohio breweries are also permitted to deliver their beer directly to a customer, giving craft beer fans the option to continue supporting their favorite breweries without venturing away from home.

"Only 15 breweries were forced to close their doors permanently in 2020 – not significantly more than in prior years – but it’s impossible to say what that number may have looked like if not for these ways of getting beer into the hands of consumers.

"The bar and restaurant shutdown lasted nearly two months, but as coronavirus continued to spread some taproom customers were understandably slow to return. Breweries have taken extraordinary measures to make their taprooms as safe as possible: reducing seating capacity to ensure physical distancing, constructing barriers to minimize risk of infection, requiring masks on entry and when away from tables, rigorously sanitizing frequently touched surfaces, offering touchless ordering and payment, installing advanced air filtration systems, and much more.

"All of these changes come with a cost, which is why the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, the Brewers Association and other advocates for the hospitality industry have been working relentlessly to lobby the state and federal governments for targeted relief. Ohio has offered relief payments to all liquor permit holders and delayed license renewal fees. Congress has passed legislation to make grants and forgivable small business loans available, including $28.6 billion in the latest COVID relief bill specifically tagged for hospitality businesses. We continue to work to find ways to alleviate financial burdens and modernize alcohol regulations to serve both Ohio’s breweries and craft beer enthusiasts.

"For the first time in a year, we can envision what a return to normal may look like. With more and more Ohioans receiving their doses of vaccine, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are finally trending in the right direction. The statewide curfew that had been in effect during the worst surge of the pandemic has been lifted. The Ohio Department of Health has set the target level of COVID-19 incidence necessary to remove all mandated public health measures. As spring's warmer weather rolls in, Ohio breweries are re-opening and expanding outdoor seating areas – and continuing public health best practices – to welcome patrons back and safely accommodate everyone in their taprooms.

"None of us can say when we can officially declare victory over this devastating pandemic, but the craft brewing industry is moving forward with a much-needed sense of optimism. We can’t wait to see you out at your favorite Ohio breweries, gathering with friends and neighbors, remembering those that we’ve lost, and celebrating what we’ve achieved together."

Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote, preserve, diversify 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; to promote safe, responsible enjoyment of Ohio craft beer; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.

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Hop Butcher For The World Newfallen IPA

Hop Butcher For The World Newfallen IPA is my latest Rod J Beer Review and latest beer discovery to share here on Rod J BeerVentures, and a big thank you to Jeremiah from Hop Butcher for sending it to me for this youtube beer video. So let's get into this beer review, and talk about this latest IPA beer I picked up from Hop Butcher.