Great Lakes Brewing News Archive

Ohio Beer News

Originally Published: 12/97

By: Fred Scheer

Compiled by Fred Scheer

Thirsty Dog Brewing Company in North Canton has a lot to bark about! With at least 10 beers on tap, two new seasonal beers have been making a big hit, with a third planned for December. The Spiced Pumpkin Ale is currently raising some eyebrows- it combines 7 special ingredients including nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, molasses, brown sugar and pumpkin-pie-ish flavor. The Oktoberfest is their first lager, which is rich and toasty, with substantial hop character right where it belongs to add balance. It has become so popular at their brewpub that they decided to make it year-round, and renamed it Labrador Lager. Thirsty Dog's new beer for December is their Nut Brown Ale, which is slightly sweet and complex. It has nutty malt flavors (of course) and is medium-light bodied and easy to drink.

Bavarian Brewing Co., located in Maumee, is closed and undergoing an ownership change, according to the brewery's telephone message. This comes just after VP Fred Scheer announced that their Bavarian Pilsner was awarded a bronze medal in the European Pilsner category at this year's GABF held in Denver. Stay tuned for more information on Bavarian Brewing.

Things are happening quickly at Great Lakes Brewing Company. Four new brewhouse vessels have been installed across the street from their current site and the steel framing of the walls and roof are going up around them. Meanwhile, tradesmen are busy routing all of the new electrical and piping services for the new brewery. In Illinois Craft Brewers Guild Formedthe short term the GLBC will utilize some of the new fermentation tank capacity to boost production for its seasonal favorite, Christmas Ale. If all goes well, the new facility will be fully operational in the first part of 1998.

The Diamondback Brewery is proud to announce that they have been awarded the gold medal in the Belgian Lambic style/Specialty category at the 1997 GABF. The Gueuze Lambic is a special style of beer rarely brewed outside the Senne Valley of Belgium. Mixed culture fermentation give this beer its characteristic winey, cidery, tart and earthy flavors. Three months of maturation in oak wine barrels further increases its complexity. The same week of the GABF the Diamondback Brewery received word that their lambic beer also won the silver medal from the Beverage Testing Institute's World Beer Championships (gold medal was award to an actual lambic brewery in Belgium). This is an international competition. A huge congratulations goes out to our head brewer, Bill Morgan and his assistant Daniel Maereluft.

The Mad Crab Restaurant & Microbrewery's brews are unique, not only for their recipes, but for the detailed steps and meticulous timing that takes place during the chemical process of brewing beer. Mad Crab's brewer, Sorin Boboc, is a high spirited survivor from Brasov, Romania. Sorin proudly displays his Engineering diploma with a specialization in brewery construction and set-up and also has a vast chemistry background. While in Romania, Sorin trained under skilled German BrewMeisters, whom like their father's and the father's before them worked as artisans in the hand-crafting of beer. The beers available at the Mad Crab include: Sturgeon Stout, Pirate's Pilsner, Blue Whale Wheat and a changing Brew-master's Special.

Fair Dinkum, mate! Wallaby's Brewing Co. , a public company, located just outside Cleveland in Westlake, has been in operation since July, bringing "down under much closer" by brewing freshly made beer with an Australian flavor. Wallaby's brews with a 3 vessel 50-bbl brewhouse and into five 150 bbl fermenters. Its initial three brews, Great White Wheat, Ayer's Rock and the Big Red Roo are available in bottles, kegs and casks. Wallaby's Brewing Company will self-distribute its product on the west side of Cleveland. Most of its beer, however, will be sold and distributed in Ohio by a commercial distributor. Plans are underfoot to distribute in Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati. The head brewer at Wallaby's is Thomas Cizauskas, a graduate of Siebel Institute of Chicago. Christopher Alltmontt is a assistant brewer and packaging supervisor. Matthew Hahn is an assistant brewer and the distribution manager

Western Reserve Brewing Company, Cleveland's newest microbrewery, has been awarded a bronze medal for its American Wheat Beer at the 1997 GABF. Western Reserve began selling hand-crafted microbrews in greater Clevland in July, with draught and bottled beer available to consumers throughout the Cleveland area. The brewery offers three styles of beer on a year-round basis. American Wheat Beer, Amber Ale, and Brown Ale. Western Reserve is planning on offering seasonal beers throughout the year , the first of which will be Lake Effect Winter Ale. The recipes have been painstakingly developed by head brewer and company president, Andrew Craze. Craze is helped by Damon Smith and Mike Butler.

Alyce... On the East Bank a new BOP will be opening soon on the east side of the Flats.

Wooden Pony Brewing Co.'s brewer Vince Falcone welcomes you to stop in for one of Wooden Pony's award-winning brews. Quench your thirst with a Pale ale, ESB, Pilsner, Stout, Oktoberfest or Brown Ale. Head to Mansfield to enjoy their new St.Wenceslaw's Stout, a heavy dry stout, available soon. Coming soon: Buck-eye Native Bock!

Trumbull County's own Ohio Brewing Company continues to offer thirst quenching brews. OBC has plenty to choose from: Verich Gold, Steel Valley Stout, Buckeye Brown, Alt-ernative Amber, Cardinal Red, and if you hurry, you can still get a pint of the Ohio-Fest (Oktoberfest style). Chris Verich has an IPA on line next, and a special ale brewed with the spirit of Christmas in mind. Don't miss the Ohio Brewing Co.'s live entertainment each weekend and fantastic menu selections!