Events Calendar
In This Section
New eateries expand menu of options
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Veterans describe rewards, sacrifices
Sentencing hearing in Twinsburg officer's killing to begin Thursday
WWII veteran honored through hospice program
Zips fit well together for a victory
Don't expect Zips' exhibition game to be pretty
Microsoft to upgrade portal to boost Bing
Most Read Stories
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
New eateries expand menu of options
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Louisville athlete commits to play for Boston College
Family found dead in Ohio home
Blogs:
Pets:
It Takes All Kinds
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout wins Ohio's only gold medal
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008
Thank goodness for Akron's Fred Karm.
If it weren't for him and his Hoppin' Frog Brewery, Ohio would have been skunked at last weekend's prestigious Great American Beer Festival.
Karm, the Hoppin' Frog owner and decorated brewer, took home a gold medal for his B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout — a big-flavor, high-alcohol beer.
''I was happy to be flying the flag for Ohio,'' Karm said Monday. ''And to get a gold? I was thrilled to death.''
Hoppin' Frog was the only Ohio brewery to win a medal this year. The state traditionally has had multiple winners.
The Great American Beer Festival, held annually in Denver, is considered one of the most respected beer gatherings in the world. This year, the event featured 472 breweries and 2,902 beers competing for awards. The festival also attracted 46,000 beer fans.
B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher beat 43 other entries in the imperial stout category. The style is growing in popularity.
''It's one of the most respected styles among the high-end beer aficionados,'' said
Karm, who attended the event and accepted his medal in person. ''It's a huge feather in my cap.''
Both BeerAdvocate.com and Ratebeer.com have ranked B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher as one of the top 100 beers in the world.
The beer, the best-seller among the Hoppin' Frog lineup, is high-powered with 9.4 percent alcohol.
''That's a great imperial stout. One of the best,'' said Matt Huber, a member of the Society of Akron Area Zymurgists home-brewers club. ''It's a great balance of malt and hops. That's what you need in an imperial stout.
''It's almost like pouring a can of motor oil out. The aroma is just out of this world.''
Karm expects the gold medal to help sales and boost name recognition for the small brewery, which opened two years ago near the Akron Airdock.
He should know. Karm has won 15 medals since 2000 at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. His other medals came while brewing for Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Hoppin' Frog sales already have been so strong that Karm tripled the size of the brewery and doubled production this year. Hoppin' Frog sells its beer in signature 22-ounce brown bottles with a logo of a green and white frog hoisting a beer mug.
In other festival news:
• Anheuser-Busch Inc. won the large brewery of the year award. Pyramid Breweries and AleSmith Brewing Co. won the midsize and small brewery awards, respectively.
• Olympia, Blatz and Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve won gold, silver and bronze in the American-Style Lager or Premium Lager category.
• Coors Light, Old Milwaukee Light and Keystone Light won in the American-Style Light Lager category.
For a list of winners, go to http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/.
For details about Hoppin' Frog, including a list of where the beer is available, go to http://www.hoppinfrog.com/.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Thank goodness for Akron's Fred Karm.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Barberton, OH
Posted 07:53 AM, 10/14/2008
mmmmmm...beer.
Posted 08:39 AM, 10/14/2008
Congrats to Hoppin Frog. But Blatz won an award? Seriously? Geez, maybe I have to try that again... Or not.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:41 AM, 10/14/2008
Way to represent.
O-H
I-O !!!!
Akron, OH
Posted 07:56 PM, 10/14/2008
Yeah Blatz real good . . . and affordable
Posted 02:03 PM, 10/15/2008
can anyone tell me what stores carry Hoppin Frog beer?
