First off, let’s recap what’s new in brews. Last week, MadTree released their popular and limited Galaxy High imperial IPA. The “dank” flavored beer is made with New Zealand hops, has 120 IBUs and a 10.2 percent ABV. Get it in cans and on draft.
Speaking of MadTree, they recently collaborated with Metropole chef Jared Bennett to create Mt. Ida, a strong ale brewed with grape must (the stuff leftover after crushing grapes for wine) and smoked grapes. Get it on draft at the restaurant and ask for a skewer of their housemade smoked grapes.
Paying homage to springtime, Bad Tom’s latest offering is Wickked Sheryl’s Blush Pale Ale. The beer contains hints of strawberry and citrus and is brewed with Columbus and Simcoe hops.
Rivertown just tapped Fluffed, a Belgian-American IPA created by home-brewer Rob Westendorf. Apparently the beer was inspired by a fluffy, happy cat.
Events
• On April 28, Blank Slate and the Cincy chapter of the Pink Boot Society — an organization for women working professionally in the brewing industry — will tap There She Gose, a hibiscus gose created by a handful of regional female brewers.
• Walnut Hills’ The Woodburn Brewery has yet to officially open, but you can get a sneak peek of its progress — and beers — during a Flying Pig Marathon Party on May 1. At mile 8.5, at the intersection of Madison Road and Woodburn Avenue, watch marathon participants run by. Then, after the race, the brewery will host a beer tasting, pig roast and brewery tours. The $25 VIP pass includes marathon viewing seats, a brewery T-shirt, a pub glass and roasted pork. Details can be found on Twitter @woodburnbrewery.
• Braxton Brewing Company is throwing its second-annual Derby Party on May 7. Last year, they debuted Kentucky Home, a golden ale aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels and infused with mint like a mint julep. The beer will be served on tap in a Derby glass during a live Derby viewing party. Kentucky Home will also be available in bottles at the brewery.
• May 7 might be Kentucky Derby day, but at Listermann/Triple Digit, it’s Chickow! Day. They’ll be tapping several types of their cult-favorite Chickow! all day, including Coconut Chocolate, Red Hot, Irish Cream and the last keg of Pappy.
• After the Derby comes Mother’s Day (May 8). Starting at 11 a.m., Lil’s Bagels and Braxton team up for a Mother’s Day build-your-own-bagel bar at the brewery. To complement the bagels, Braxton will serve up beermosas — mimosas made with beer.
• We’re not sure if combining booze and roller coasters is a good thing (probably?), but Kings Island hosts the second-annual Banshee Brew Festival, which will take place over two weekends: May 6-7 and May 13-14. Their Banshee coaster is the world’s longest inverted roller coaster. The fest will pour more than 200 beers from 50 breweries, both regional and national, including the Dayton Beer Company, MadTree and Urban Artifact. The $29.99 ticket includes 15 beer samples and two food tickets; the $59.99 price includes the same, plus admission to the park. Get tickets at visitkingsisland.com.
• If you like biking and drinking beer (not simultaneously), then donate $20 to participate in Fifty West’s Wheelin’ For Wasson, a critical mass bike ride on May 15 to benefit the construction of the Wasson Way bike trail. The proposed bike trail will stretch 7.6 miles from Victory Parkway to the Little Miami Bike Trail in Newtown and will cost an estimated $20 million to construct.
Production News
• Blank Slate is releasing two of its beers in cans this summer — Fork in the Road IPA and Out and About, a gose.
• Little Kings comes home: When Hudepohl-Schoenling left Cincy in 2001, the brewery-owned Little Kings cream ale followed. Fun fact: In the late ’80s, they sold about 8 million cases of Little Kings a year. But when Greg Hardman bought Moerlein in 2004 (Moerlein owns Hudepohl-Schoenling’s beers), he knew one day he’d bring production back to Queen City. Fifteen years later, those little green bottles are finally being manufactured here again. ©
