So you have been drinking generic domestic offerings all this time and really want to know what all the fuss is about with this whole craft beer thing. It must be a a fad you think to yourself, but the thought of exploring it still strikes a chord of intrigue in your mind. Lucky for you, Buzzbin is here to help you out a bit. Here is our guide to what you need to know if you plan on taking the plunge to drink some beer with flavor and actual taste. Facebook Is Your Friend Start to follow breweries, bars and bottle stores online. This will keep you up to date on new beers that will be tappi...
Yet another terrific brewery has made its way to the Northeast Ohio shelves. Chicago's Revolution Brewing opened just three short years ago but has been on a steady incline ever since. So sit back, relax and crack open a beer as you learn more about Revolution Brewing. In the summer of 1995, homebrewer Josh Deth landed a job cleaning kegs at the now-defunct Golden Prairie Brewing. As a beginner, Josh dutifully cleaned kegs and scrubbed tanks containing such intriguing beers as Maple Stout, Honey Ginger and Buckwheat Ale. Years later he moved over to the famed Goose Island as a cellarman ...
Last month, we informed you of the exciting emergence of Colorado’s Oskar Blues in Northeast Ohio. This time around, we figured we would introduce you to what they have to offer. Here are a few of their most popular brews, which can all currently be found down at the Buzzbin Shop. DALES PALE ALE (6.5% ABV) First canned in 2002, Dales Pale Ale is chock-full of its fair share of hops, yet successfully balanced by a sufficient amount of malts. This is an incredibly drinkable ale, which I could find myself tipping back on a daily basis. Smooth as it is blossoming with hop flavor, Dales Pale ...
“So what is the big deal with Christmas Ale?” Those were the exact words out of the mouth of one my longtime best friends in reference to Great Lakes famed holiday brew. So what exactly is the attraction with Great Lakes holiday brew? Has it become a bit too overhyped at this point for its own britches? Every year, fans of the Xmas ale call off work, take longer than normal lunch breaks and even drive from surrounding states to head to Ohio City for the weekday afternoon tapping of the first keg each year at the Great Lakes brewpub. Esquire.com even spotlighted the madness of its relea...
Promoted as the original craft beer in a can, Oskar Blues has been canning their beer for 10 years and counting. Their name is well respected within the craft beer industry and will now be a household name around Northeast Ohio as distribution finally reaches the Buckeye State. Beginning as a restaurant in Lyons, Colorado in 1997, Oskar Blues brewed its first batch of beer a year later in the basement of the eatery. The following year, the crew brought home a bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival thanks to its The Reverend Sandi's Sinful Stout. In 2002, Oskar Blues became th...
For those searching for a new stomping ground in downtown Akron, look no further than Main Street's latest arrival — Baxter's Bar. Located across the street from Lock 3 and right next door to craft beer haven The Lockview, Baxter's plans to add a bit more competition to the local beer scene. With more than a dozen microbrews on draft and a bottle list that clocks in at 150 different beers or more, this new establishment is a must stop for brew aficionados in the area and beyond. The decor and design of Baxter's Bar takes more than a few pointers from big-city stops and impresses from the ...
The fourth annual CLEVELAND BEER WEEK will open with “Collaboration Kickoffs” on Friday, October 19 from 7-10 p.m. Six collaboration beers will be featured at area retailers in each of five neighborhoods including East 4th, Lakewood, Tremont, Ohio City, and Coventry. The small-batch collaboration beers, brewed specifically for and exclusive to CLEVELAND BEER WEEK, were created by 15 northeast Ohio breweries. They will only be available together on draft at the “Collaboration Kickoffs” and singularly in limited supply at brewery locations. Brewers and brewery representatives will b...
With October comes one of the craft-beer world's most anticipated events of the year — Cleveland Beer Week. Now in its fourth year, this brew-tastic week, which runs from Oct. 19 through Oct. 27, features hundreds of craft-beer tastings, dinners, demonstrations, activities and educational programs. You won't want to miss countless specials at bars, restaurants, and grocers throughout Cuyahoga County. Established in 2009 as the first event of its kind in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Beer Week is a not-for-profit, collaborative celebration that raises awareness of the craft-beer industry. The ...
The craft-beer world continues to grow every year, and its numbers are proof enough to show it. Sales by craft brewers, which are defined as independent breweries with six million barrels or less in sales, climbed 12 percent by volume and 14 percent in revenue through the first six months of 2012, according to the Brewers Association. The Brewers Association is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The association represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its mem...
Now in its fourth year, Fat Head's Celebration of the Hop IPA Festival is one event you may regret missing out on so make sure mark your calendar now. Brewer Matt Cole's follow-up to the brewery's other ode to hoppy brews, the Heavyweight Brewers Brawl, this India pale ale fest is a chance to feed your hop fix this October. While 2010's fest saw a handful of west coast beers unavailable in Ohio (including brews from Bear Republic, Port Brewing and Coronado) make rare appearances, last year's event brought the focus back to Ohio with the likes of Columbus Brewing, Buckeye, Willoughby,...
When it comes to drinking beer, everyone has a few favorites. You know, those go-to brews you simply can't resist. Whether it is the Pabst Blue Ribbon 12-pack filling your packed fridge door or a bottle of some rare beer you sold your firstborn to have, an admiration lies deep within us all. We asked the local brewers and owners of some of the best breweries Ohio has to offer what makes them tick when it comes to beers, and we got some fascinating answers. We hope you enjoy the read and even find a new love of the brew in the process. MATT CHAPPEL INDIGO IMP BREWERY Cleveland's Indigo Imp...
Northeast Ohio has become one hell of a destination for craft beer. It seems as if breweries are popping up left and right and around every corner, and now one is about to arise in the most unlikely of places — Wooster. Owner and brewer Paul Fryman, who once worked for the likes of Great Divide Brewing, Snake River Brewery and Great Adirondack Brewing, is opening the Wooster Brewery in downtown Wooster, making it the first craft brewery in Wayne County. By press time, Fryman had already rolled out a soft open but he plans a grand opening in the coming months. First on the list is a cre...
Sam McNulty is kind of a big deal. Already dominating Cleveland's West 25th Street with Bier Market, Speakeasy, Bar Centro and the one-year-old Market Garden Brewery, Ohio City could very well be the house that McNulty built. Those who have criticized Market Garden for playing it safe with its beer offerings will be pleased to know that McNulty has something a bit more unique in mind next. Enter Nano Brew Cleveland – McNulty’s answer to all the naysayers, who feel Market Garden doesn't push the boundaries quite enough. Nano Brew is his chance to get a little bit more extreme and experim...
Can't wait until October to get your German beer and culture fix? Then head on down to the 2012 Cleveland Oktoberfest on Labor Day weekend. Running Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, the festival is considered Northeast Ohio's largest annual outdoor fest of its kind. All things German will be in full swing for four days of authentic food, beer and entertainment. German foodies like Der Braumeister, Schmidt's of Columbus, Seven Roses, Heini's Cheese Chalet, Michael's Bakery, Frank's Bratwurst of the West Side Market, and Balaton (named Best Hungarian Restaurant by Cleveland Scene) will once again b...
Tucked down under the often-busy streets of Cleveland, La Cave Du Vin is located on the corner of Coventry Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard. The entrance and environment literally seem like you are making your way down to an actual cave. The atmosphere is dark and dank, but oddly enough, has a very homey feel. Four coolers full of beer and a handful of tables fill one side while a bar, and a rowdier crowd can often be found on the other. La Cave Du Vin has been rated in the “Top 25 Best Beer Bars” on Ratebeer.com and has also made several appearances over the years in Draft Magazine's ...
Housed in what was once Joe's Bar, the go-to location for hip Canton folk, Thatsa Wrapp does credit to the spot. Away from the rest of downtown Canton's art district (and just a few blocks from the Buzzbin office), this hidden gem is hands down one of our favorite stops in the area and should be a must for any beer connoisseur. The café offers more than 50 craft beers from an impressive bottle list, along with half a dozen taps. This time, I was drawn to the tapping of a recent favorite local beer: Columbus Brewing Company's Bodhi. Columbus has flown under the radar over the last few years...
John Lane and his golden creation Winking Lizard has been a staple of the craft beer scene in Northeast Ohio for more than 25 years. Already known for their array of beers — more than 100 in bottles — and rotating taps of more than a dozen each month on draft, the inevitable next step was a retail store. In early 2011, Lizardville came to be. Housed in the original location of the first Winking Lizard in Bedford Heights and featuring over 600 rare and unique beers and another eight on draft, it became a mecca for beer aficionados. The Lizardville beer store and whiskey bar allows drinke...
One of the unsung breweries around these parts has to be the Willoughby Brewing Company. Located in a former railcar-repair building in downtown Willoughby, the brewery opened in 1998, the first brewpub in Lake County. In January 2011, new owners purchased the brewery, and brewmaster Rick Seibt came aboard as director of brewing operations. Seibt’s love of craft beer started early. “Once I found out that you could brew beer at home, and brew the styles popular in England and Europe, I was hooked,” he said. “I loved to research the history of the styles and brewing methods. I’ve be...
If you ever thought about sipping back a few cold ones and heading out to the zoo, then Akron has got the perfect solution for you. On June 13, the Akron Zoo will once again bring forth Brew at the Zoo. Dating back to 2009, Brew at the Zoo has become a great way for adults to escape the chaos of their daily lives and enjoy the evening doing something slightly out of the ordinary. “We added this event because we were hearing from our visitors that while most of our events were kid-oriented and fun, they would love some adult events as well,” said David Barnhardt, director of marketing...
On May 11 and 12, the International Beer Fest in Cleveland will once again showcase some of the best beers in the world. Last year’s inaugural event was considered a huge success, and beer enthusiasts from surrounding states made the trek to the Cleveland I-X Center to get their drink on. This year, three separate sessions will feature more than 800 beers from 200 breweries. The International Beer Fest features exclusive beer offerings, home-brewing classes and educational lectures on brewing. Highlights from the fest include a Barrel-Aged Beer roundtable discussion, the cask-conditioned re...
