The Grandview Digfest -- a celebration of local craft brewers, micro-distillers and Ohio wineries -- will be held from 4 to 10:30 p.m. June 15 on Yard Street in Grandview. The event, organized by the Grandview Chamber of Commerce, will include 13 Columbus-area breweries, live music and entertainment.

The participating breweries are: Columbus, Actual, Hoster, Seventh Son, Zauber, Hoof Hearted, Four String, Rockmill, North High, Elevator, Granville, Buckeye Lake and Barley's. Brewers will be available to chat with fans from 4 to 5 p.m., organizers said.

Here are a few interesting beer-related stories:

-- The website Matadornetwork.com reports on the "20 Best Beer Towns in America." Coming in at No. 13 is Cleveland. The author cites Great Lakes, The Brew Kettle and Hoppin' Frog as noteworthy breweries in the area. To see the full list, click here.

Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. will release two of its bourbon barrel-aged beers in bottles for the first time starting Friday (May 24) at the Akron brewery. Both Siberian Night Imperial Stout and Wulver Wee Heavy Ale were aged for 11 months.

They aren’t for the faint of heart. Wulver -- the name is a nod to the legend of a Scottish werewolf -- clocks in at 12 percent alcohol by volume, while Siberian Night is 10.9 percent.

Anheuser-Busch InBev is upset again with Ohio lawmakers, saying a new brewery bill introduced this week could scuttle its plans to buy a wholesale distributorship in Lima.

State Reps. Jim Buchy, R-Greenville, and Ron Gerberry, D-Austintown Township, introduced House Bill 174, which would prevent breweries from buying beer distributors in the state before a new law prohibiting such ownership takes effect.

The Delaware Gazette reports on Staas Brewing Co., a new brewery planned for the community. Owner Donald Staas told the newspaper he hopes to open by July 4 and will offer a Ger­man weizen, Bel­gian-style golden strong, kolsch, India pale ale, English ESB, brown ale, saison, oat­meal stout, rotat­ing sea­sonal and root beer.

“Our aim is to cre­ate syn­ergy down here, an envi­ron­ment that is con­sid­ered to be a des­ti­na­tion spot for beer drinkers,” he told the newspaper about the location.

West Point Market in Akron is hosting a 25th birthday party for Great Lakes Brewing Co. from 7 to 9 p.m. June 7. The special beer tasting will feature all Great Lakes beers and an appearance by brewery co-owner Pat Conway, who along with his brother Dan launched Great Lakes in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood in September 1988.

The tasting will include small batch firkins and Class of '88 Imperial Smoked Porter, a collaborative brew with Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Ore.

Fire, Food & Drink in Cleveland will hold a five-course beer pairing dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (May 23) with Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.

The dinner will feature Labrador Lager, Whippet Wheat, Irish Setter Red, Hoppus Maximus and Old Leghumper. To see the full menu, designed by Chefs Douglas Katz and Cameron Pishnery,   click here.

Homestead Beer Co. plans to move into the Columbus market and open a full-blown tasting room this summer.

“The community response has just been off the charts,” brewer and co-owner Adam Rhodes said during a visit this week. (See video below.)

Hoppin' Frog Brewery will hold a special meet-and-greet with beer fans from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday (May 23) at Siamone's Thai Pub & Restaurant in Springfield Township. There will be 10 Hoppin' Frog beers available. 

"You can try some of the special beers that will be available for the evening, and there will be a special toffee shortbread cookie dessert served with Barrel Aged Double Pumpkin Ale for dipping," the brewery said in an email. "It's a unique, shockingly delightful flavor experience that we wanted to bring to you."

Fat Head's Brewery will open a brewpub in downtown Portland, Ore., co-owner and brewer Matt Cole said. Fat Head's -- which operates a brewpub in North Olmsted, a production brewery in Middleburg Heights and a restaurant in Pittsburgh -- just signed a deal for a 13,000-square-foot space in the Pearl District about two blocks from Deschutes Brewery and Rogue Ales pubs, he said.

"The Pearl District is a pretty hip area right in downtown Portland," Cole said.

Rich Higgins -- one of six master cicerones in the world -- will lead a special beer tasting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 5 at Seventh Son Brewing Co. in Columbus. The event, called "Rusticity & Elegance: Contemporary Beers With A Hint Of The Past," is part of a summer tour.

Higgins "will lead a fun and informative tasting of five beers, explaining the unique flavors and brewing processes of each," a news release says. The featured beers are: Seventh Son Spring Sheep Stout, Birra Amiata Contessa, Scheldebrouwerij Hop Ruiter, Seventh Son Stone Fort Oat Brown Ale and Olvisholt Lava.

Here are a few interesting beer-related stories:

-- The website Eater.com reports on "The 12 Hottest Craft Beer Bars in America Right Now." The list includes Nano Brew Cleveland. "The brewpub plus beer garden opened late last summer, and serves regional faves like Bell's and Great Lakes from 24 taps," the site says. "There are also the hoppy products of Nano's own adjoining 1-barrel system, including an American IPA loaded with organic Citra hops." To read the full report, click here.

The Tap 'N' Run 4K -- which features costumes, beer chugging and racing -- returns to Cincinnati at 2 p.m. June 1.

The event combines beer and a 2.4-mile run/walk race over the Purple People Bridge and by both Reds and Bengals stadiums. Participants are encouraged to dress in costume and run with teams, friends and family of legal drinking age. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Sports Corp.

Here are some interesting beer-related stories:

-- Beer writer Adrienne So writes on Slate.com that the craft beer world has fallen in too much love with hops. "In fact, everyone I know in the craft beer industry has a problem: We’re so addicted to hops that we don’t even notice them anymore," So writes. To read the full column, click here.

The 33rd annual Walleye Festival in Port Clinton will feature a craft beer tasting from 7 to 11 p.m. May 23. The Port Clinton Walleye Beer Fest will include more than 100 beers from 20 breweries, local restaurants pairing their food with beer, and live performances by the Last of the Wildmen and the Naked Bacon Band.

C&G Distributing Co. Inc. in Lima and Anheuser-Busch InBev announced a deal today (May 17) for the wholesale distributorship to be purchased by the brewer. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in the near future, were not disclosed.

The Cecala and Guagenti families have owned and operated C&G for more than 60 years, and have been selling Anheuser-Busch products in a nine-county area in west central Ohio since 1967.

Great Lakes Brewing Co., which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, announced plans this week to expand distribution and make capital improvements at its Cleveland brewery.

Great Lakes -- Ohio's oldest craft brewery -- will expand into the Gettysburg and Harrisburg, Pa., areas during the second quarter of this year; into the West Virginia panhandle, Indiana, St. Cloud, Minn., and Northeast and North Central Pennsylvania in the third quarter; and throughout North Carolina in the first quarter of next year. The brewery now serves 13 states and Washington, D.C.

Eli Smart wants to be part of the ongoing craft beer boom in Ohio. The homebrewer and former restaurant manager plans to open the Trailhead Brewery in Akron’s Merriman Valley this summer.

"I just want to make some beer and have some fun," Smart said. "I just love making beer, you know."

Ohio Congressman and Speaker of the House John Boehner received the Beer Institute's 2013 Jeff Becker Beer Industry Service Award for his commitment to the beer industry and American beer drinkers, the trade and lobbying group announced today (May 15) in Washington, D.C.

Brenda Becker, the widow of longtime Beer Institute President Jeff Becker, presented the award during a reception at the Capitol Visitor Center. Boehner was honored as part of the group's annual Brewers’ Day gathering.

The Clark County American Red Cross will hold a Hog Roast & Beer Toast Beer Tasting fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday (May 18) at the Windy Knoll Golf Club in Springfield.

The event will feature Yellow Springs Brewery's Porter and Wyatt's Eviction ESB, along with Goose Island 312, Goose Island Summertime, Widmer Hopside Down, Kona Longboard Lager, Red Hook Long Hammer IPA, Redhook Wit, Harpoon IPA, Leinenkugel Canoe Paddler, Redd’s Apple Ale, Rivertown Blueberry Lager, Samuel Adams Summer Ale and Third Shift Amber Lager.

With new breweries opening left and right across the country, the Brewers Association has updated its book: The Brewers Association's Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery (Second Edition).

The 232-page book was written by Dick Cantwell, the head brewer at Seattle-based Elysian Brewing Co., which has three brewpubs and a production facility. The how-to guide covers everything from ingredients, financing, business plans and quality assurance to distribution, wastewater, sustainability, the association says. The cover price is $95.

Here are some interesting beer-related stories:

-- The Sun News reports that Buckeye Brewing Co. will hold a beer tasting during the Taste of Lakewood on June 2. "Visitors can learn about beer and food pairings as they sample six unique craft beers from Buckeye Brewing, each carefully selected to complement foods from seven of Lakewood’s best-known restaurants.," the newspaper reports. To read the full story, click here.

Michigan tourism officials are rolling out a new radio ad as part of its Pure Michigan campaign highlighting its craft beer scene and urging people to visit the state. The radio spot will air in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, St. Louis and southern Ontario.

The radio ads feature New Holland Dragon’s Milk, Huma Lupa Licious from Short’s Brewing, Grizzly Peak’s Steelhead Red and the Motown Lager from Motor City Brewing Works.

The Fishers Foods store on Fulton Drive Northwest in Jackson Township will hold a special Belgian beer tasting from 4 to 8 p.m. May 24 featuring PALM Ale, Rodenbach and Steenbrugge Tripel from PALM Breweries. PALM Ale will be available on draft.

Rebecca Weatherwax, brand development manager from Latis Import Brands, will attend to discuss the beers. Samples will be 25 cents.

Here are two beer-related stories with Ohio connections:

-- Granite City Food & Brewery reported this week that total restaurant sales increased 22 percent to $35 million and same store sales climbed 2.7 percent for the first quarter of 2013. "We are excited to remain one of the industry leaders in same store sales and guest traffic during the quarter," Chief Executive Officer Rob Doran said in a prepared statement. To read the full story, click here.

Grand Rapids, Mich., took home the top honor in the 2013 BeerCity USA online poll, which had 50,000 votes cast. Kalamazoo, Mich., and Asheville, N.C., were second and third, respectively.

Cleveland -- one of the 23 qualifying cities -- finished near the bottom with less than 300 votes. To read the full Examiner.com story, click here. To read a story from the Detroit Free Press about Grand Rapids, click here.

As Darrell Williams surveyed the Ohio craft beer scene, he couldn’t find a good podcast devoted to brewing in the Buckeye State. So he started one.

Williams, a web design developer in Cincinnati, and friends Kevin Yania, Mark Driscoll and Ron Tulley launched the weekly Ohio Beercast in March. So far, they’ve released interviews with the crew behind MadTree Brewing in Cincinnati, Dick Stevens at Elevator Brewing in Columbus and Scott LaFollette at Blank Slate Brewing Co. in Cincinnati. (I’ll also be recording an interview this week.)

Christian Moerlein will serve as the official beer sponsor of the 35th annual Taste of Cincinnati, the brewery said in an email. The event takes place Memorial Day Weekend in downtown Cincinnati. The brewery will tap specialty kegs every two hours during the event at its Moerlein Beer Garden on Fountain Square.

People also will be able to sign up for a free tour of the brewery. Buses will be available every 15 minutes to take people to the brewery. The first 5,000 visitors will receive a free "Moerlein Lagers & Ales" pint glass.

Here are some interesting beer-related stories:

-- The Boston Globe praises Hoppin' Frog Brewery in Akron for producing some of the best barrel-aged beers around. Writer Gary Dzen highlights both BORIS The Crusher and Barrel-Aged Outta Kilter. To read the review, click here.

The Miller Lite bottle is getting a summer makeover. MillerCoors announced that the new bottle -- which, according to the brewer "offers broad shoulders and a contoured grip" --  will be available only in bars and restaurants this summer.

Beer drinkers can expected to see television ads focusing on the bottle design starting May 20, said the company, which has a brewery in Trenton, Ohio.

Elevator Brewing Co. sales manager Jay Taylor will be the guest speaker at Ohio Beer Drinkers Association tasting event at 8 p.m. Saturday (May 11) at the Indian Head Roadhouse in Russels Point.

Taylor will talk about his brewery and beers. The cost is $10.

The organizers of the annual Big Tap In have decided to host another beer festival this September in Boardman focusing on firkins and fall seasonal brews. The event, called octoBREWfest 2013 Firkin, Frankfurters, Farmer's Food and Fall Seasonals, stems from the popularity at the Cask Corner at the Big Tap In.

“When we realized how excited people were to taste the specially brewed cask beers at Big Tap In 2013, we found ourselves brainstorming about an event that we could host that would focus on firkins of cask ale and highlight the creativity of the great brewers in the craft beer community," organizer Sandy Reda said in a prepared statement.

The Dayton area is awash with breweries -- at least breweries that are in the planning stages. The Dayton Daily News reports today (May 9) on the proposed Star City Brewing Co. in Miamisburg.

The brewery and tasting room will be in the former Peerless Mill restaurant building and open as early as this fall, the newspaper says. It's the 11th brewery planned or already open in the Dayton area. To read the full story, click here.

The World of Beer in Lakewood is hosting a "tap takeover" by Willoughby Brewing Co. starting at 3 p.m. Monday (May 13). Willoughby brewers will be there at 6 p.m. to hang out and chat with fans.

The draft beer lineup features: Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter, Moonshadow IPA, Perfidia Pale Ale, Kaiserhof Kolsch, Railway Razz, Hop Jam Black IPA, Wild Irish Red, Altbier, Spring Saison and Gutterpup Porter.

The Global Beer Network, a U.S. importer of more than 60 Belgian beer labels, has added Petrus Aged Red Ale from Bavik Brewery to its portfolio and is distiributing the beer in Ohio. The beer, which is 8.5 percent alcohol by volume, is made by combining Petrus Aged Pale with a dark, sweet double ale and fresh cherries, the importer said.

"Petrus Aged Red is incredibly unique with a supremely invigorating taste," Global Beer Network President Steve Villani said in a prepared statement. "Petrus Aged Pale Ale has a passionate fan following. When you blend in cherries and amp up the alcohol, the result is a beer with a slightly sour bite blanketed by a light fruit flavor that is balanced through the oak barrel aging."

Here are a couple interesting beer-related stories from Ohio:

-- The Willoughby News-Herald reports that Little Mountain Brewing Co. in Kirtland has received a $4,000 economic development grant to help relocate to Mentor. The brewery announced earlier this week that it is expanding its operation and moving. To read the full story, click here.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. will tap its new Class of '88 Imperial Smoked Porter -- a collaboration beer made with Deschutes Brewery -- on May 17 at the brewpub in Cleveland.

The brewery also will start selling a limited number of hand-bottled, silk-screened 22-ounce bottles in its gift shop that same day. The bottles will retail for $9.88 -- a play on Great Lakes' anniversary date of Sept. 6, 1988. 

The Whole Foods Market in Mason will host its first Whole Foods Market Craft Beer Festival from 3 to 9 p.m. May 18. Proceeds will benefit the Shared Harvest Foodbank and the Mason Food Pantry.

The outdoor event will feature more than 30 breweries, food and live music.  

Here are some interesting beer-related stories:

-- It's that time again to vote for BeerCity USA honors. Cleveland is one of the options among the communities. The Internet poll ends Friday (May 10). To read about the poll or vote, click here.

Little Mountain Brewing Co. is growing — and moving. The brew-on-premise and production brewery now located in a small strip mall in Kirtland will become a full-fledged, 100-seat brewpub later this summer when it relocates to Mentor across the street from the Great Lakes Mall.

The brewery is teaming up with chef Christopher Sotkovsky, who runs The Reserve House Catering & Service in Chardon, on the project, which includes Little Mountain adding food service, a new three-barrel brewing system and even wine-making.

 Ara AArc of Stark County will hold its second annual Rhythm & Brews beer festival from 6 to 10 p.m. June 20 at the Canton Cultural Center for the Arts. The event raises money for Arc, which helps individuals with developmental disabilities.

Rhythm & Brews will feature beer from local breweries such as Great Lakes, Thirsty Dog, Lager Heads and Ohio, as well as imported and other Ohio beers from distributors like Esber Beverage, Anheuser-Busch Sales of Canton and Heidelberg Distributing Co.  

Wiedemann’s Special Lager will make its long-awaited Ohio debut on May 17 at Arnold’s Bar and Grill in Cincinnati, the new Geo. Wiedemann Brewing Co. announced Friday.

"Wiedemann has been a mark of fine Bohemian-style brewing in Cincinnati since 1870 – almost as long as Arnold’s has been in business (1861) -- so we’ re thrilled to reunite these treasured Bohemian-style institutions," the brewery said in a news release.

The Sam Can is here. Samuel Adams is releasing its Boston Lager in a can nationwide this week. The can -- which took two years of research and testing -- was designed to "provide a drinking experience that is closer to the taste and comfort of drinking beer from a glass," the brewer said.

"Though the difference in drinking will be modest, we hope you notice the enhanced flavors, as well as a more comfortable experience," founder and brewer Jim Koch said in a prepared statement. "The position of the can opening and wider lid, naturally opens up the mouth allowing for more air flow and positions the drinker's nose closer to the hop aromas of the beer. Also, notice that the extended, curved lip of the can places beer to the front of the tongue to maximize the early enjoyment of the malt sweetness."

Actual Brewing Co., a new brewery in Columbus that received its brewing license this week from the state, will have a beer featured Saturday (May 4) at the 10th annual Mini Real Ale Fest at Barley's Smokehouse in Columbus. Actual will serve Fat Julian, a chocolate imperial porter, which clocks in a 12 percent alcohol by volume.

"Actual Brewing is proud to be part of the Xth Annual Mini Real Ale Fest," brewer Fred Lee said in an email. "It's a Columbus institution and a perfect place to preview our French Oak Imperial Chocolate Porter. When [Barley's co-owner] Lenny Kolada said he could squeeze us in at the last minute, we were flattered but declined because we don't have a firkin, or know how to use the damn thing. Lenny loaned us one and the expertise of brewmaster Angelo Signorino. We had to do it. It was a great opportunity. Although it's just a preview, we're proud of this beer and hopefully the festival will like it."

Craftbeer.com has put together an online graphic featuring a map of the U.S. with brewery logos from every state to help celebrate the eighth annual American Craft Beer Week, which runs May 13-19. Ohio is represented by Willoughby, Weasel Boy, Granville, Market Garden and Blank Slate. "No Red State or Blue States. Only Brew States," the graphic says.

Fifty West Brewing Co. in Cincinnati will launch its "Musical Road Trip" summer concert series Friday (May 3). The brewery will have live music on its patio the first Friday of every month and will hold a music festival, Fifty Fest, on Sept. 7.

All About Beer Magazine has announced it will hold a World Beer Festival in Cleveland from 1 to 5 p.m. July 13 at the North Coast Harbor. The magazine has held nearly 30 festivals in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia since 1996.

The tasting will feature more than 150 beers.

The Portside Distillery in Cleveland will host a fundraiser at 6 p.m. May 23 for the Ohio chapter of the National Kidney Foundation. The brewery and distillery will donate $1 of every pint sold to the nonprofit group.

The StrEat Mobile Bistro food truck also will be at the brewery pairing its food with Portside beers. StrEat also will donate a portion of its proceeds to the foundation. For more details on the event, click here.

Maumee Bay Brewing Co. in Toledo will host its first firkin tapping at 6 p.m. May 17 at the brewpub. The brewery will serve its Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout over vanilla beans and fresh raspberries.

"We're hoping to do at least two firkin tappings a month," brewery rep Shannon Mohr said in an email.

Listermann Brewing Co. in Cincinnati will hold a special bottle release party at 5 p.m. Friday (May 3) at the brewery for its first-ever sour ale. Julia Belgian Style Blonde is a Belgian-style sour ale brewed with muscat and riesling grape juices and aged in oak barrels.

"We are really excited about this beer," Listermann's Jason Brewer said. "We kind of see this as a gateway sour, as it is very light and crisp." 

Gatta Productions is planning a multi-day beer festival this fall in downtown Youngstown that will culminate with a main tasting Oct. 5 at the Covelli Centre. The Youngstown BeerFest will feature several beer-related events around the city, according to a news release issued Tuesday.

"There will be a number of smaller events leading up to Saturday," Dominic Gatta III said in a prepared statement. "Some restaurants downtown will be hosting tastings and brewer 'meet-and-greet' sessions during the week."