http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home The Arts, News and Entertainment Monthly Magazine of Akron, Canton & Cleveland Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:27:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2013/02/07/craft-beer-101/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2013/02/07/craft-beer-101/#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:27:17 +0000 Aaron Fowler, Films Editor for Buzzbin Magazine http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30807 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 tapping around your area and will also let you know what new brews may be hitting the shelves of your nearby bottle shop. Beer drinkers will also be able to learn about upcoming events such as tap takeovers, beer tastings and festivals in the area via social networking sites. Facebook is a perfect way for craft beer companies and places to establish a fanbase so take advantage of this mutual connection. Visit Your Local Breweries Explore the local guys to see what they have to offer. Ohio is known for having a strong presence in the craft beer world — Cleveland has even made a few Best Of lists in recent months — so take note and get out there to visit them all. Among the highlights are Great Lakes Brewing Company, Hoppin’ Frog, Thirsty Dog, Market Garden Brewery and Fat Head’s. You will also be surprised how many big name East Coast microbreweries — like Three Floyds in Indiana, Bell’s Brewery in Michigan and Troegs in Pennsylvania, just to name a few — that are within a few hours radius from Northeast Ohio. Fill a tank of gas and get out on the road. Try Beer Flights So you are not sure what you really like yet, may not want to blow your whole paycheck on beer or simply just want to get the best bang for your buck. Look no further than ordering a flight of beer when you’re out at craft beer bars. Flights are usually four to five taster glasses (usually about four-ounces) worth of beer that helps you tastes multiple beers at the same time. This way you can sample more brews all in one visit instead of wasting five bucks on a full glass of a beer you may or may not enjoy. Breweries always offer flights for guests to order. So next time you hit a local brewery or brewpub, order one up. Shameless self promotion: Buzzbin Shop in downtown Canton has Flight Night every Wednesday! Don’t Be Scared To Explore If until this time you have been drinking nothing but watered-down macrobrewed lagers, then tasting anything with strong, rich flavors may seem a little oft to your taste buds, at least at first drink. I must admit when I first started drinking craft beer many moons ago the thought of a heavy and complex stout was just not my thing. But man did that change overtime. While I would definitely call myself a hophead — someone who loves hoppy and bitter beers — I am also an admirer of well-defined stouts. So what I am trying to say is open your eyes and your taste buds to beers that may at first be outside your comfort zone. Trust me, you will thank me later. Discover Your Style As mentioned above, I am definitely a India pale ale and stout guy, but also enjoy just about any style. My best recommendation is to give every style of beer a try at least once. There are a ridiculous amount of styles out there but here is a brief breakdown of the more popular ones. Pale ales and India pale ales contain more hops than malts often bringing forth a more bitter taste and aromas of tropical fruits. Stouts and porters lean more on the darker side and some of the best ones are heavy on cocoa nibs, giving off coffee and chocolate like flavors. Saisons, wild ales and sours offer beer drinkers something a bit more funky and complex thanks to the use of brettanomyces and other yeasts. Finally if you just don’t want to sway away from your norm too much, lagers and pilsners are easy to take for those looking to make baby steps.]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2013/02/07/craft-beer-101/feed/ 0 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2013/02/07/beer-of-the-month-founders-breakfast-stouts/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2013/02/07/beer-of-the-month-founders-breakfast-stouts/#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:18:00 +0000 Shawn Brogan, Beer Connoisseur http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30803 Well folks, thankfully we are still alive and drinking. Christmas was wonderful, and New Year’s Eve was a blast, but quite frankly this has been the worst apocalypse ever. However, since things did not go the way the Mayan’s planned I can continue to drink good beer. I am starting off 2013 by drowning my sorrows with Founders Breakfast Stout. The first time I tried this beer was on draft at the Auricle in Canton. Also, during my first visit there I was surprised by their craft brew selection on tap. It was a small cup with a hefty price tag, but filled with divine elixir. I suggest drinking this beer at room temperature to experience the full flavor it has to offer. Pours out very dark brown with tan lacing and minimal head. First smell is a delicious mix of coffee and dark chocolate. The coffee is definitely assertive and stands out as the dominant scent, but the chocolate complements it perfectly. The two most common issues I have with coffee beer is either not enough coffee or not enough other components to back up the coffee. Not the case here. Tastes like a meal of espresso beans dipped in dark chocolate. Truly phenomenal. You get that in-your-face coffee flavor, but it’s backed up by rich dark chocolate and a hint of caramel. There is a nice smooth bitterness (likely from the coffee and chocolate, it’s not quite the same as hop bitterness) that works perfectly with the beer’s flavors. No alcohol heat, medium to full and very nice silkiness. Truly a world-class example of a coffee stout. It has an addictive quality that makes it almost impossible to put down once you start drinking it. My brother and I continued to drink this wonderful elixir until the keg blew later that evening. This stout is big, apocalyptic big, and if you are any fan of coffee stouts then I highly suggest you try Founders before the next time the world is going to end.]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2013/02/07/beer-of-the-month-founders-breakfast-stouts/feed/ 0 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2013/02/06/revolution-brewing-chicago-brings-more-badass-beers-to-n-e-ohio/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2013/02/06/revolution-brewing-chicago-brings-more-badass-beers-to-n-e-ohio/#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:02:07 +0000 Aaron Fowler, Films Editor for Buzzbin Magazine http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30799 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 and brew pub brewer. It was around this time when he first made plans to branch out on his own. However, after the first few tries at opening a brewery didn’t pan out, Deth opened Handlebar, a vegetarian and vegan comfort food restaurant specializing in beer and bicycling advocacy. While running his first bar, he also worked as Executive Director of Logan Square Chamber of Commerce, where he promoted local businesses. Working at the Chamber, he found an old building on Milwaukee Avenue with a nice tin ceiling. With a location, Deth figured he would give the brewery idea one last shot. Revolution Brewing opened up in February 2010 after three years of raising funds, dealing with the zoning department and construction. A year later, they added a second floor Brewers’ Lounge, and in 2012, the company opened a new production brewery and tap room. Here are a handful of the brews currently filling the racks at most of Ohio’s finer craft beer establishments: Six-pack cans Anti-Hero IPA This 6.5 percent India Pale Ale is a blend of four hop varieties that creates an irresistible bitterness and a burst of floral and citrus aromas. This brew can be savored year round and is currently a member of Winking Lizard’s 100 plus beer list. Anti-Hero can also be found down at the Buzzbin Shop. So what are you waiting for? Come down and try one on for size. Eugene Porter A robust porter full of chocolate malt and creamy goodness. Named after Eugene V. Debs, an American union leader and activist who led the Pullman Railroad strike in 1894, Eugene porter is made from Belgian specialty malts, which creates enticing caramel flavors and dark, rich chocolate notes. As with Anti- Hero, this porter is canned and available in six-packs for a very reasonable price. Botom Up Wit The brewery’s other year-round can beer is a Belgian-style white ale brewed with organic pilsner and wheat malts from Canada. Freshly ground coriander and Curacao orange peel bring out an array of orange and citrus aromas, making for a very smooth brew to down especially in the hot days of summer. 22oz oferings: Rise English roasted barley and dark chocolate mold this medium-bodied stout chock-full of rich and complex notes of dark roasted coffee and chocolate. Combining traditional stout staples with an arsenal of both Amarillo and Chinook hops, this beer brings out the citrus and piney flavors of an India Pale Ale. Think Black IPA and you will be on the right track with this hopped-up American stout, which took home a Gold Medal at the World Beer Cup last year. Double Fist Clocking in at 8 percent, this double pale ale (yeah, we said that right – a double pale ale) was originally brewed as the 100th beer at Revolution’s brewpub. The hoppy imperial pale ale kicks you straight in the face with a full force of hop presence. Revolution takes the dry-hopping tactic with this beer and successfully brings forth resiny, citrus flavors worthy of praise. Coup D’Etat The Chicago Brewery even takes a stab at a French-style saison with this naturally fermented brew. The saison style originated in southern Belgium during the 19th century. Saisons, which means ‘season’ in French, were typically brewed during winter months, then stored until summer months to fully enjoy. Revolution’s result embodies more citrus hop characters than your traditional saison and should be indulged by those looking for something a tad bit different from the norm.]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2013/02/06/revolution-brewing-chicago-brings-more-badass-beers-to-n-e-ohio/feed/ 0 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/12/20/oskar-blues-hits-buzzbin/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/12/20/oskar-blues-hits-buzzbin/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:45:58 +0000 Aaron Fowler, Films Editor for Buzzbin Magazine http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30749 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 Ale will have you wanting more the minute you finish your last sip. This hoppy brew took home a gold medal at the 2010 World Beer Championships and should be a given for anyone looking for a refreshing beer. DEVIANT DALES IPA (8% ABV) Arguably one of their best offerings. this India Pale Ale is a perfect example of a fine west coast representation of the much-loved style. Aromas of citrus and grapefruit take over this Great American Beer Festival Silver medal winner, which delivers bitter hoppiness at all corners. Not unlike Sixpoint’s equally pleasing Resin, Deviant Dales IPA is packaged in 16-ounce cans making room for even more piney goodness. MAMA’S LITTLE YELLA PILS (5.3% ABV) Okay, so I must admit, I am not a big fan of pilsners. However, Oskar Blues somehow pulls off a drinkable beer here thanks to a focus more on quality than quantity. Made with 100 percent pale malt, German specialty malts, and Saaz hops, Mama’s Little Yella Pils is low-profile, but not low on taste. Its subtle but effective hop presence creates a beer that is simple yet enjoyable. TEN FIDY (10.5% ABV) This imperial stout made Oskar Blues a household name and, rightfully so, it is well deserving of the crown. The 10.5% beast of a stout is loaded with chocolate, caramel and coffee presence making for one hell of a beer. Chocolate malt, roasted barley and a array of hops make for an onslaught of taste that you will not easily forget.]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/12/20/oskar-blues-hits-buzzbin/feed/ 0 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/12/20/beer-of-the-month-fat-jack-double-pumpkin-ale/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/12/20/beer-of-the-month-fat-jack-double-pumpkin-ale/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:43:09 +0000 Shawn Brogan, Beer Connoisseur http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30745 Not another pumpkin ale!? I know I have all ready done one. However, I think Fat Jack is the undisputed king of pumpkin ales and by far the best I have had. I wanted to share this lovely chub of a brew with you all in hopes that you might find some as soon as possible. Even if you can’t track one down you will have been enlightened to its existence and this is a good thing. I bought two 22-ounce bottles and poured one into a chilled pint glass. An active cascading, billowing pour yields close to three finger’s worth of densely packed, slightly creamy, light khaki-colored head. Excellent retention ultimately gives way to a thick veil of lacing and moderate collar. The color is darker than I expected and shows a slight ruby hue when back lit. Carbonation can be seen streaking along the inside. This one is also audibly fizzy. It is absolutely beautiful. The smell is excellently balanced even if the slightest bit overwhelming. Pumpkin pie crust, nutmeg and cinnamon, pumpkin, squash and brown sugar on sweet potatoes. Nothing dominates and everything compliments one another perfectly. A bit of boozy heat is first to greet the tongue. Next is a wonderfully balanced mix of all things pumpkin pie. Slightly sweet pumpkin filling and a light graham cracker crust. A nice mix of autumnal spices. Hints of caramel and brown sugar. The alcohol lingers beneath the surface not overpowering. Nicely full bodied. A bit dense, yet slightly sleek. Limited carbonation is smooth, even and consistent throughout the entire drinking experience. This is exactly what I would expect from a pumpkin ale and Sam Adams delivers! I would drink this beer year round if I could. This is an excellent double pumpkin ale that I walk away from very impressed. If there’s any room for complaint it’s in the simple fact that when all the trees’ leaves are gone so too is the Fat Jack.]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/12/20/beer-of-the-month-fat-jack-double-pumpkin-ale/feed/ 0 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/12/20/the-big-brew-ha-ha-behind-christmas-ale/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/12/20/the-big-brew-ha-ha-behind-christmas-ale/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:40:49 +0000 Aaron Fowler, Films Editor for Buzzbin Magazine http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30741 “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 release with bartender Leigh Hausser stating that last year on opening day the brewery poured one pint every six-and-a-half seconds and that the taps never shut off from four o’clock until midnight that day. Throughout the following eight weeks, beer drinkers set aside their Bud Lights and freak out for the release of the brewery’s highly-anticipated Christmas Ale. Many run out and even buy a few cases at a time so they can not only drink it throughout the rest of the year but stash some for the following months. Restaurants like Winking Lizard even save a keg for the summertime for their coveted Christmas in July tappings. Brewed with honey and spiced with fresh ginger and cinnamon, this festive ale is Great Lakes Brewing Company’s second biggest seller (sold in 13 states, from Minnesota to North Carolina) yet 90 percent of it never leaves Ohio. A bit crazy? Some would say so. But what gives? Is it really that good? What really drives people to this “holy grail” of Cleveland beers. An immediately response may be its easily availability and high alcohol per volume. The brew can be found nearly everywhere in November and December, whether it be your local grocer down the street or the hole-in-the-wall pub around the block. You name it, it’s most likely there. Compared to other beers filling the shelves right now, Christmas Ale packs in a 7.5% alcohol per volume — over twice as high as your average macrobrew in which the majority of people drink. One could say that after consuming the typical fizzy yellow stuff year round, most casual drinkers really get a kick out of the Christmas Ale’s higher than normal alcohol level. And then there is the taste. That fusion of honey and cinnamon really draws consumers in. The idea of drinking something that reminds you of America’s favorite holiday could surely be an attraction as well. While haters have compared the beer to licking a Christmas Tree, those who adore the brew love the holiday spices that remind them of this joyous time of year. Whatever the case may be, Buzzbin would like to let you know there are other solid beers out there for the holidays as well. Here are a few great brews to snatch up this holiday season: THIRSTY DOG’S 12 DOGS OF CHRISTMAS Another local brew that sometimes gets overshadow by all the Christmas Ale madness. This holiday ale mixes honey, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg to create an enjoyably tasty beer with an even higher alcohol level (8.3%) than its colleague and is just as satisfying. TRÖEGS MAD ELF This delicious seasonal combines sour cherries, honey, and chocolate flavors to create a beer unlike anything you are likely to sample all winter. While considered a Belgian Strong Ale, this ruby red brew really benefits immensely from its fruitiness, not to mention, packs quite a punch at 11% alcohol per volume. HOPPIN’ FROG FROSTED FROG CHRISTMAS ALE Though packing a spicy kick to the face, this 22-ounce bottle of local Christmas cheer contains all the flavors beer drinkers have grown to love in a holiday brew. Cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg make this bomber a must seek out for the holiday season. Also look for a barrel-aged version, which also hit shelves last month. ANCHOR BREWING MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ALE This holiday beer from San Francisco’s oldest brewery is a dark spiced ale. The brewery prides itself on changing the recipe each year, yet continuously makes an exceptional brew in the process. This unique tactic makes getting hold]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/12/20/the-big-brew-ha-ha-behind-christmas-ale/feed/ 0 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/11/08/beer-of-the-month-newcastle-werewolf-ale/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/11/08/beer-of-the-month-newcastle-werewolf-ale/#comments Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:10:33 +0000 Shawn Brogan, Beer Connoisseur http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30193 I ran across a Werewolf in my favorite drive-thru the other day. I was not previously in an English pub with pentagrams on the wall. I am pretty sure I stayed on the main road. I do not believe there is any moss growing in this particular drive-thru. As a matter of fact it was not even a full moon. Luckily for me this was actually a bestial blood red ale from Newcastle Brewery named Werewolf. Had it been an actual werewolf I would most likely be…dead. Had it also been an Irish pub I would still be there…drunk. I poured this out into a tall pilsner glass. I wanted to get a lot of light through it and yes it is very red. Bloody red translucent in the light. A dark brown-maroon shade when I stalk around it on my bar. A foaming mouthfull of bubbly eggshell white head. Little to no lacing. I stick it under my nose and I sniff like a hungry wolf. A clean bready smell. Pretty sweet in the nose with caramal and crystal malts, assuming this will be a very malty palate. My eyes glow at the thought of a sip. The song “Wolf Moon” is now playing. Just a nice bit of eerie background music as I sowly raise and sip my goblet of wolf’s blood! Lots of that sweet malt and breadyness from the nose here. Nothing absolutley mind-blowing but a delicious example of the Irish red style. There’s a moment in the finish where you almost get a roasted quality, but that feeling disappears too quickly. Slight hop presence and bitterness here with a nice dryness in the finish. There is a peppery spice that lingers on my tongue that I think is evidence of the rye malt used in this one. A chill runs down my spine from the effervescent and smoothness of Werewolf. Good drinkability. The peppery spice does start to get a little “thick” on the tongue after a while. It lingers between light and medium in body. Yes I am a changed man. For the style, Werewolf slaughters most other red ales out there save for Nosferatu….that is a different “tail” all together. Newcastle has definitely put some work into this brew. Having said that I must warn you not to pass up your favorite drive-thru. For you may miss the opportunity to drink the blood red ale that is Werewolf.]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/11/08/beer-of-the-month-newcastle-werewolf-ale/feed/ 0 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/11/08/oskar-blues-comes-to-town/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/11/08/oskar-blues-comes-to-town/#comments Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:08:22 +0000 Aaron Fowler, Films Editor for Buzzbin Magazine http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30186 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 the first U.S. craft brewer to can its beer with their flagship Dale’s Pale Ale, a 6.5% hop-filled brew that has made them a must have over the years. By 2006, the brewery became the top beer-producing brewpub in America. The same year also saw the release of arguably their most popular beer, Ten Fidy, an imperial stout that has put others to shame. Two years later, Oskar Blues moved to a 35,000-square-foot brewing facility in Longmont, Colorado turning the original location back into a brewpub. A new canning line was installed, which made it possible for them to produce up to 160 cans per minute. In 2010, the Hops and Heifers farm was open, which allowed Oskar Blues to raise Black Angus cattle and hosts 3,500 hop plants across two acres. This year saw yet another expansion, allowing 100,000 barrels per year and a canning line that nearly doubles in capacity. Oskar Blues has also announced that a new brewery and even a music venue are now in production. Their emergence into Northeast Ohio will feature a stellar line-up including Dale’s Pale Ale, Deviant Dale’s IPA, Old Chub Scotch Ale, G’Knight Imperial Red IPA, Mama’s Little Yella Pils and the seasonal Ten Fidy Imperial Stout. So don’t miss out on this exciting arrival and grab some today. The full line of Oskar Blues is available at the Buzzbin Shop in Canton.]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/11/08/oskar-blues-comes-to-town/feed/ 0 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/11/08/one-tanked-trip-baxters-bar-in-akron/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/11/08/one-tanked-trip-baxters-bar-in-akron/#comments Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:00:17 +0000 Aaron Fowler, Films Editor for Buzzbin Magazine http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30182 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 outside in. Well laid out and artistic in design, the building should draw both the college crowd and local folks looking for something new on the block not to mention worth their time and money. As we sat down, first things first — I must find a good beer to start my evening. Arguably one of the best brews made locally, if not one of the best on the east coast, Thirsty Dog’s Siberian Night imperial stout is a beer all enthusiasts should have on their must-try list. Thirsty Dog co-owner John Najeway is a local hero around these parts thanks to the incredibly drinkable creations he has masterminded during the past two decades. Roasted dark chocolate, vanilla and coffee are all prominent in this outstanding imperial stout. Even more astonishing is their bourbon barrel-aged counterpart, which can often be consumed down at their tasting room on Grant Street just a mile away. Make a stop by sometime if you know what is good for you. The wife and I were starving so we ordered up a little appetizer in anticipation of our main course. The pretzel bites with roasted jalapeno Parmesan dipping sauce sounded irresistible so they had to be sampled. We were, of course, not disappointed. These bites, as one would assume, were enjoyable though the clear standout that set it over the top was the dipping sauce that taste unlike anything I have ever had before. Another beer that immediately poked its head out when searching the impressive bottle list was Columbus Brewing Company offering Columbus IPA. While I must admit, my personal favorites from the brewery are their imperial India pale ale, Bodhi, and their barleywine, Creeper, this IPA is such a well-executed representation of the style. The bold and hoppy India pale ale is extremely well balanced and bursting with flavor. This beer, in particular, has been my savior during some rough Sunday Night Football games this season thus far and I thank Columbus Brewing for that. For my main course, I decided on one of their homemade sandwiches. While my wife went for their Italian featuring prosciutto, salami, coppa, roasted red pepper, fresh mozzarella, basil and house vinaigrette, I instead chose the Baxter’s Cuban made with herb-roasted pork loin, prosciutto, yellow mustard, house pickles and Swiss on a ciabatta roll. When the food arrived it was obvious that I had to get my grubby hands on both of our choices. Honestly, I can’t decide on which one I loved most. Both sandwiches come with high praise thanks to the way in which Baxter’s and its chefs craft these delightful creations. Tortilla chips and a to-die-for dipping sauce accompanied each meal. Next up for the evening was a bit more local Northeast Ohio love — Lagerheads Tyranny American Pale Ale. Lagerheads is a barbeque smokehouse in Medina, which also brews their own beers. Established in 2004, Lagerheads has focused much pride on their secret recipe BBQ sauce and hickory smoked meats made in house. The brew side of things didn’t come together until half a decade later. In the summer of 2010, the brewery unleashed five of their own beers. Tyranny is a hop-filled brew, made from Simcoe and Centennial hops, which walks a fine line between pale ale and IPA offering up some bold and bitter goodness that hopheads can’t resist. As usual I finished things off with a satisfying stout. On draft was none other than Great Divide’s Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti, which I simply couldn’t pass up. This chocolate oak-aged imperial stout is one of six beers in the Yeti series, which also included a Espresso Oak Aged, a Barrel Aged and a Belgian Style stout. If you are ever looking for some fantastic imperial stouts, look no further than this tasty Yeti series from Great Divide. Vanilla notes created by the oak matches perfectly with the cocoa nibs, which establish a enticing chocolate bitterness. One hell of a beer to go with one heck of a restaurant, if you ask me.]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/11/08/one-tanked-trip-baxters-bar-in-akron/feed/ 0 http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/10/16/30036/ http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/10/16/30036/#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:29:39 +0000 Aaron Fowler, Films Editor for Buzzbin Magazine http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/?p=30036 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 be attending the “Collaboration Kickoffs” to meet with patrons and showcase their beers. The collaboration project was organized over the past few months by brewer Jack Kephart of The Brew Kettle Production Works and brewer Luke Purcell of Great Lakes Brewing Company. “Area breweries are heavily involved in Cleveland Beer Week, and we wanted to do something special for this year’s celebration,” states Kephart. Adds Purcell, “We all work well together and enjoy the creativity that comes from collaboration.” Chrislan Ceramics of Canada created custom tap handles for the collaboration beers and donated them to CLEVELAND BEER WEEK. The tap handles will be used by all retail locations featuring collaboration beers for the “Collaboration Kickoffs.” The collaboration beers include: · Great Lakes and Cellar Rats: Wet-Hopped Pale Ale · Market Garden, Rocky River Brewing and Indigo Imp: Tallboy, a wet-hopped brown ale · Brew Kettle and Willoughby Brewing: Reinheits Kaput!, a hoppy hellesbock · Buckeye Brewing, Ohio Brewing and Black Box: Nut Brown Ale with Maple Syrup · Fat Heads and Chardon BrewWorks: CuyaHawga Smoked Maple Bacon Stout · Thirsty Dog, Cornerstone Brewing, and Lager Heads: Belgian Style Dubble with Plums The neighborhoods and retailers include: TREMONT Southside: Fat Heads/Chardon AND Market Garden/Rocky River/Indigo Imp Treehouse: Brew Kettle/Willoughby Edison’s Pub: Buckeye/Ohio/Black Box Flying Monkey: Great Lakes/Cellar Rats Fat Cats: Thirsty Dog/Cornerstone/Lager Heads LAKEWOOD: Winking Lizard: Thirsty Dog/Cornerstone/Lagerheads AND Market Garden/Rocky River/Indigo Imp Degans: Fat Heads/Chardon Merry Arts: Great Lakes/Cellar Rats Rozi’s: Brew Kettle/Willoughby Jammy Buggars: Buckeye/Ohio/Black Box EAST 4TH STREET Winking Lizard: Fat Heads/Chardon AND Market Garden/Rocky River/Indigo Imp City Tap: Brew Kettle/Willoughby Pickwick and Frolic/Hilarities: Thirsty Dog/Cornerstone/Lagerheads Corner Alley: Great Lakes/Cellar Rats Lincoln Taphouse: Buckeye/Ohio/Black Box OHIO CITY Market Garden: Market Garden/Rocky River/Indigo Imp AND Brew Kettle/Willoughby Bier Market: Thirsty Dog/Cornerstone/Lager Heads Great Lakes: Great Lakes/Cellar Rats ABC Tavern: Buckeye/Ohio/Black Box Nano Brew Cleveland: Fat Heads/Chardon COVENTRY Winking Lizard: Great Lakes/Cellar Rats La Cave du Vin: Fat Heads/Chardon Panini’s: Brew Kettle/Willoughby AND Market Garden/Rocky River/Indigo Imp B Side: Thirsty Dog/Cornerstone/Lager Heads AND Buckeye/Ohio/Black Box Advance tickets for “Collaboration Kickoffs” are required at $25/person. Included are 10 ounce samples of all collaborative beers across retail locations in the chosen neighborhood.Patrons will receive a passport at their chosen neighborhood’s starting location and then proceed on foot to other neighborhood retailers to sample the collaboration beers. “Collaboration Kickoffs” is sponsored by Cleveland SCENE. All proceeds benefit the Malone Scholarship Fund. For additional information and tickets, visit www.clevelandbeerweek.org.]]> http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/2012/10/16/30036/feed/ 0