Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family
Woman, 75, charged with beating fawn to death
Akron woman found dead at Brimfield Township store
Man shot outside his Akron home during robbery attempt
Man shot in back near Akron park
Suspect sought in Portage Path bar robbery
Tragic day puts man on path to be Pinnacle owner
Blogs:
Pets:
Dogs' Bark: Not fair! Study shows pups get jealous
The Heldenfiles:
Who Will Get the Michael Media Treatment Next?
Patrick McManamon:
More on Varejao
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Kent State
Browns Bulletin:
Quick thought on Browns rookies
Tribe Matters:
Wedge challenges relievers
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Andy’s Signed According to ESPN
All Da King's Men:
Does Medicare Have Lower Administrative Costs ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
CIA Did Mislead Congress
Akron Law Café:
Breaking Story: CIA Lied to Congress about Secret Program
Varsity Letters:
East basketball update
See Jane Style:
Oh Baby!
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Closings….Not the Good Kind!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Margy inquires-when is a Taste of Hudson?
Sound Check:
LeVert II live performance Saturday night — "Dedication" album due July 13,
HRLite House:
DDI One of Best Places to Work
Akron Gamer:
First 24 'Guitar Hero 5' songs announced
Growing festival offers chance to try beers from throughout state, nation
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Aug 07, 2008
Discriminating beer fans, rejoice.
The Fourth Annual Blues & Brews fest — one of the largest beer festivals in Northeast Ohio — returns Saturday to Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron.
About 80 breweries will be represented, offering about 180 beers, meads and ciders. This year, there will be an even stronger contingent of Ohio breweries.
More than 20 Ohio brewers are scheduled to attend.
''Here's your chance to taste your favorite Ohio brewery against everyone else in the country,'' said John Najeway, festival organizer and owner of Akron's Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
The festival, sponsored by WKSU (89.7-FM), Thirsty Dog and the Winking Lizard, continues to grow. Last year, about 2,300 people attended, up from about 700 the first year. Organizers are hoping for between 2,500 and 3,000 this year.
''It's a premier event to have in our backyard,'' Najeway said. ''Akron and the surrounding area have proven that they like good beer because they come out to support it.''
Debonne Vineyards in Madison will make its festival debut at the event.
''This is the very first one,'' said Tony Debevc Jr., Debonne owner and assistant brewer.
The family-owned winery, established in 1916, started the Cellar Rats Brewery this year and is now making Rat Trap Lager, Rat Tail Ale and Field Rat Wheat. (The rat refers to the nickname for some winery workers and not the four-legged animals.)
Right now, the beer is sold only on the premises in draft or in growlers for takeout. So the Blues & Brews fest is the best chance to taste the beer without driving to the brewery — as is the case with many of the Ohio beer makers that will be at the event.
Blues & Brews runs from 2 to 6 p.m.
There will be a special VIP tasting from noon to 2 p.m. The Brewers' Circle will include beer brewed just for that tasting, including a special keg from Rogue Ales.
The festival also will feature a book signing by author John Schlimm, who wrote the cookbook The Ultimate Beer Lovers Cookbook: More Than 400 Recipes That All Use Beer; a silent auction; area chefs hosting cooking demonstrations; and music by the Bluestones and the Punchy Atkinson Quartet.
Leeners, a Northfield business that offers home-brewing equipment, will provide a make-your-own beer demonstration.
The Ohio breweries that will be represented are Thirsty Dog, Barley's, Barrel House, Black Box, Brew Keeper, Brew Kettle, Brown Derby Roadhouse, Buckeye, Columbus, Cornerstone, Debonne, Elevator, Granite City, Great Lakes, Hoppin' Frog, Hoster's, Jackie O's, Main Street, Marietta, Maumee Bay, Mount Carmel, Ohio, Rock Bottom, Rocky River and Willoughby.
The other brewers are Abita, Alesmith, Allegash, Anchor Steam, Anderson Valley, Arcadia, Bar Harbor, Bell's, Bitburger, Bluegrass, Brooklyn, Chimay, Czechvar, Dogfish Head, Dundee, Erie, Flying Dog, Fort Collins, Founders, D.L. Geary, Goose Island, Heavy Seas, Hebrew, Hoegarden, Jacob Leinenkugel, Jolly Pumpkin, Lagunitas, Land Shark, Left Hand, Lindemans, Looking Glass, Mad River, Magic Hat, Mendocino, New Holland, Ommegang, Otter Creek, Redhook Brewing, Sam Adams, Samuel Smith, Sierra Nevada, Southampton, Southern Tier, Spanish Peaks, Stella Artois, Stone, Stoudt's, Straub, Tommyknocker, Troegs, Two Brothers, Victory and Young's.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Discriminating beer fans, rejoice.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
