Columbus Celebrates American Craft Beer Week

Written by on May 15, 2011 in Beer, Events - 1 Comment

This is a guest post by Brandie Williams. Brandie believes that drinking your feelings should be a delicious endeavor! She’ll never say “no” to more hops or a free shot.


American Craft Beer Week is an annual event that celebrates small and independent craft breweries. Breweries, brewpubs, restaurants, and beer stores across the country hold events that celebrate the independent culture and innovative spirit in the craft beer community. It was first established in 2006 and has been recognized with two US Congress Resolutions supporting the goals and ideals of the Week. A detailed history of American Craft Beer Week can be found at Craftbeer.com.

Businesses throughout Columbus are joining the celebration. Bodega is tapping a new, special keg each day of the week. Bob’s Bar has an event planned each evening. Rusty Bucket is featuring a Rogue Dead Guy Ale Beer Cheese Soup all week, plus offering craft beer bucket specials and a discounted pairing of a craft beer and burger. Elevator Brewery has a variety of scheduled events, and the Elevator Restaurant will be featuring beer-inspired, off-the-menu specials. Gordon Biersch is pouring Cascade Alt, which blends a traditional Dusseldorf Altbier malt profile with American Craft Beer’s signature Cascade hop.

Looking for a place to celebrate? Here is a schedule of the planned events:

Sunday, May 15th
Bob’s Bar – Lee Hill from Sierra Nevada will be at the bar at 8pm. They will be featuring Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Torpedo IPA, and Summerfest Lager on draft for $1.00 off, as well as several bottled offerings.

Monday, May 16th
Bob’s Bar – An evening with Columbus Brewing Company will start at 6pm, featuring IPA, Summer Teeth, and Bodhi on tap, as well as a cask of Dry Hopped Bodhi
Bodega – Featured keg: Mikkeler & Stillwater collaboration “Two Gypsies On Our Side”
Elevator – “Storm the Elevator” will be from 7-8pm and will benefit the Franklinton CycleWorks co-op. The challenge: to fit as many bicycles as possible into the Elevator Brewery (located at 165 N. 4th St). The entry fee is $5.

Tuesday, May 17th
Bob’s Bar – The Bells Brewing Company event will start at 6pm and feature Bells Two Hearted Ale, Amber, and Oberon on tap. While supplies last, you can also keep the pint glass.
Bodega – Featured keg: Columbus Brewing Company Bodhi Double Dry Hopped on cask
Elevator – From 7-9pm, “Drink to Save Time” will raise funds for the Downtown Residents’ Association of Columbus. A portion of beer sales at the Elevator Restaurant will benefit the DRAC clock restoration project.

Wednesday, May 18th
Bob’s Bar – Starting at 6pm, the Imperial IPA night will feature $1.00 off Brew Kettle Old 21, Founders Double Trouble, Southern Tier 2XIPA, and Green Flash Imperial IPA on tap.
Bodega – Featured keg: Dogfish Head “Hellhound on my Trail”
Elevator – Members of Elevator’s Masters of Beer Appreciation (MBA) and Professors of Hearty Drinking (PHD) programs will gather for a reunion cookout at the brewery, starting at 6pm. A $10 cover charge will include a tour.

Thursday, May 19th
Bob’s Bar – Happy Hour from 4-6pm featuring 21st Amendment Brewing company.
Bodega – Featured keg: Ommegang & Chouffe “Gnomegang Ale”
Elevator – Homebrewers’ Night at the brewery, featuring the Big Brew Day Reunion & Great Beer Tasting from 7-8pm. This event will include an assortment of fine beers crafted by local homebrewers. Sampling will take place during a meeting of the Scioto, Olentangy & Darby Zymurgists (SODZ).

Friday, May 20th
Bodega – Featured keg: Founders “Curmudgeon Old Ale”
Elevator – The Bark & Brew II fundraiser from 6-7pm will benefit the Columbus Downtown Dog Park Association. For $20, attendees will tour the brewery and receive a souvenir t-shirt.

Saturday, May 21st
Bodega – Featured keg: Indigo Imp “Gatekeeper Porter” on cask
Elevator – The second annual five-course, beer-infused dinner begins at 6pm. Last year’s event included spent barley bread, Bleeding Buckeye Red Ale tomato bisque soup, and Procrastinator Doppelbock bread pudding. Guest speaker Rick Armon, Akron Beacon Journal reporter, will discuss craft brewing in Ohio. Cost is $45 per person. Seating is extremely limited and reservations are required.

Sunday, May 22nd
Bodega – Featured keg: Rogue “Love & Hoppiness” (super limited release)

Where will you be celebrating American Craft Beer Week?

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One Comment on "Columbus Celebrates American Craft Beer Week"

  1. Evelyn Van Til May 15, 2011 at 7:22 PM · Reply

    Come by Brothers Drake Meadery at 26 E. 5th Ave for a taste of local honeybrew! We are the only meadery in Columbus!

    Monday, May 15, 7-9 PM ~ Join SODZ homebrew at Brothers Drake as we learn from Geoff Towne of Zauber Brewing an update on his planned new brewery in the Arena District and then make Mead with Woody Drake of Brothers Drake. Someone in the audience will make the mead and take it home! Learn more about honeywine and get to know a vibrant community of homebrewers.

    Wednesday, May 18th, 4PM-10PM ~ Join us for some Hopped Traditional Mead on tap! Try our Honey Oak, Bergamot Blue, VO, Pillow Talk, and Apple Pie for a well-rounded gourmet tasting adventure.

    We are also open Friday & Saturday 4PM-1AM! Try 4 meads for $10 or 6 meads with 2 special reserves for $16! Ask us for a tour of production to learn more about how we turn local honey into mead!

    Relax, have a honeybrew!

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