Spring has officially sprung, which means it’s time to start drinking outdoors again! April sees the advent of new beer fests, the release of spring-influenced brews and the return of baseball-themed beers, like MadTree’s Rounding Third and Rhinegeist’s Hustle. So crack open a cold one, watch the Reds try to win and enjoy the warmer weather.
New Beers
• Northside Yacht Club and Rhinegeist collaborated on a pale ale appropriately named Dinghy. The beer features Idaho 7, Mosaic and Simcoe hops, resulting in a tropical and piney flavor. Try the beer at either NSYC or Rhinegeist’s taproom.
• What a great name: Coal Hearted Killer Russian imperial stout. Bad Tom just released this high-alcohol beer (11.9 percent), inspired by Kentucky miners. As Bad Tom describes it, it’s “a pitch-black liquid with rich fudge, chocolate and roasted coffee.”
• Party Source’s gypsy brewery Quaff Bros. brewed a beer called Space Taxi, a dark Belgian fermented with sangiovese grape juice and aged in bourbon barrels. They describe it as “boozy, sweet, and out of this world.” Try it at Ei8ht Ball and Blank Slate.
• This time last year, Blank Slate and Fifty West collaborated on a Golden Milk Stout call April Fool’s Gold. Though it tasted chocolatey like a dark milk stout, it poured a gold color. The breweries will trick drinkers with the brew again this year.
• On April 1, Wilmington’s Old Firehouse Brewery finally releases cans of three of their beers: Pin Up Girl, a blonde ale; Code 3, a red ale with a baseball theme; and Flash Point IPA. For now, the only place you can swipe these cans is at Jungle Jim’s.
Events
• Relive the glory days of the Big Red Machine at Moerlein Lager House on March 31, when they bring in Reds Hall of Famer George Foster for a special dinner. For $40, get a buffet, a beer ticket, an autograph and a photo with Foster. Call 513-421-2337 for tickets.
• If you haven’t been to Lockland’s Rivertown, let them come to you: Rivertown does a tap takeover at OTR’s HalfCut on March 31. Sixteen of Rivertown’s beers will be ready to pour, including Ojos Negros, Old Sour Cherry Porter, Sage on Saison and Death.
• Formerly known as Cork ’N Bottle, Covington’s Liquor City Uncorked hosts their first Beerfest 1-4 p.m. April 2. Admission costs $20 ($25 day of), which gives you 10 four-ounce samples, including Nice Melons from Rivertown, Braxton’s one-year anniversary beer — Country Boy Sinkhole barrel-aged stout — and MadTree Axis Mundi. Guests will also have an opportunity to buy hard-to-find beers like 3 Floyds Zombie Dust and Founders Brewing Co. KBS.
• Each month, Blank Slate pairs with a local eatery for an affordable three-course Taproom Dinner. On April 1, the brewery partners with Alfio’s Buon Cibo to embrace Italian-Argentine flair. It’s $5 per course or $13 for all three dishes: buffalo chicken empanada, five-cheese baked angus ravioli and cinnamon bread pudding.
• From 5-9 p.m. on April 1, Ei8ht Ball hosts a charity event for the Testicular Cancer Society. A dollar from every glass or growler sold will go toward combating the disease, and they’ll debut their Hefeweizen, Hammock brew. As an added bonus, the brewery will also give away free meatballs and bananas (get it?).
• MadTree commences its first Funk Day on April 3, releasing bottles from their Funk Series ($12.50 per bottle, also on draft), including Sherry Cherry Raspberry, Peach Levanto, Cherry Levanto and, my fave, Chamomile Levanto. A few weeks ago they gave a preview at Liberty’s Bar & Bottle, but you’ll finally be able to own your own.
• From 5-11 p.m. on April 15, Listermann throws their annual Starkbierfest, highlighting strong beers with an ABV of at least 7.5 percent (though the fest will also have a few weaker beers on hand). Local breweries Blank Slate, Rock Bottom, Mt. Carmel and, of course, Listermann will provide the brews.
• Take your drinking to BB Riverboats on April 15 for Craft Beerfest II. They’ll pour 60 beers from 16 different breweries, local and regional. Tickets include 20 beer samples. bbriverboats.com. ©
This article appears in Mar 23-30, 2016.