Just an hour and a half away from Columbus, according to Google Maps – or a mere hour if you drive like me – is Athens, Ohio, most known as the home of Ohio University (no “The” there.) But Athens, of all places, is home to one of the coolest festivals for beer lovers in the Buckeye State – Ohio Brew Week. This year’s sixth annual Brew Week has been extended to an eight-day week (I guess we’re working on a Beatles calendar) packed with events and, naturally, a ton of beer.
“Increased demand from the public for more craft-brew activities prompted OBW to expand,” said Dan Gates, executive director of Ohio Brew Week. “These two additional days will bring people into Athens a weekend earlier than previous years.”
The keynote for this year’s event is Lew Bryson, an award-winning author of Brewery Guide books and journalist for Ale Street News, New Brewer, American Brewer and All About Beer magazine. Bryson will speak about “beer’s wonderful stuff” and host two craft beer dinners July 10.
Participating breweries include Columbus’ own Barley’s, CBC, Elevator, Gordon Biersch, Neil House and Rockmill, as well as Buckeye Beer Engine (Lakewood), Black Box Brewing (Westlake), The Brew Kettle (Stongsville) , Buckeye Brewing (Cleveland), Cellar Rats Brewery (Madison), Cornerstone Brewing (Berea), Fathead’s Brewery (North Olmsted), Founders, the guest brewery this year from Michigan, Granite City Brewery (Toledo), Great Black Swamp Brewing (Toledo), Great Lakes Brewing (Cleveland), Hoppin’ Frog (Akron), Jackie O’s (Athens), Main Street Brewing (Garretsville), Marietta Brewing (Marietta), Maumee Bay Brewing (Toledo), Moerlein Lagers and Ales (Cincinnati), Mt. Carmel Brewing (Cincinnati), Ohio Brewing (Akron), The Rivertown Brewing Company (Lockland), Rocky River Brewing (Rocky River), Thirsty Dog Brewing (Akron), Willoughby Brewing (Willoughby) and Weasel Boy Brewing (Zanesville).
Here’s all the brewed goodness you can look forward to:
July 8
OBW Happy Hour Reception
5-8pm, Dairy Barn, 8000 Dairy Lane
July 9
Rock ‘n’ Roast featuring Elevator Brewing. Beer Journalist Lew Bryson will give a talk, “Beer’s Wonderful Stuff.”
6-9:30pm Ohio University Inn, 331 Richland Ave.
July 10
Craft Brew Casual Dinner. Beer-flavored foods paired with Ohio Craft Brews. Hosted by Beer Journalist Lew Bryson.
5-9pm The Pub, 39 N. Court St, $10.95
Formal Craft Brew Dinner. Hosted by beer journalist Lew Bryson, each course is paired with an Ohio craft brew.
7pm, Lui Lui Restaurant, 8 Station St, $28
July 11
Formal Craft Brew Tasting featuring Maumee Bay Brewing Co.
1pm, Oak Room, 14 Station St, $17
Meet the Brewer. Garin Wright, Buckeye Brewing Co. & The Beer Engine.
3-5pm, Red Brick Sports Pub, 14 N. Court St.
Meet the Brewer. Jerome Welliver, Black Box Brewing
4-5:30pm, The Smiling Skull Saloon, 108 W. Union St.
Official Keg Tapping Ceremony – Ohio Brew Week Sparbock, brewed in honor of Jon Sparhawk, originator of the idea of Ohio Brew Week. Lew Bryson, book author, beer journalist: “The People’s Drink: Beer!”
6pm, Jackie O’s Public House, 22 W. Union St.
Salaam Gourmet Seven Course Meal. paired with the best of Ohio craft brews.
7:30pm, Salaam Restaurant, 21 W. Washington St, $40
Christmas In July featuring Willoughby Brewing Co.’s Wenceslas Christmas Ale
9pm, Broney’s Alumni Grill, 7 W. Carpenter St.
The Bricks Brew Week Kick-Off Celebration. Meet beer writer Lew Bryson.
9pm, The Red Brick Sports Pub, 14 N. Court St
July 12
Formal Craft Brew Tasting. Features Barley’s Brewing.
1pm, Oak Room, 14 Station St, $17
Jackie O’s and Zoe present “Tap to Table,” small plates and beers
4pm, Zoe, 24 ½ E. State St, $20
Craft Brew Tasting: Five Ohio IPA’s with papadam and spicy cilantro chutney. Meet Jay Taylor of the Elevator Brewing Co., who will talk about his company’s special IPA release just for Ohio Brew Week.
4:30pm, Restaurant Salaam, 21 W. Washington St, $16
Beer and Cheese Tasting. Cheeses from Integration Acres and Laurel Valley Creamery. Beers from Great Lakes, Weasel Boy, Thirsty Dog, Elevator and The Brew Kettle.
6pm, Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St.
Athens Cuisine Showcase. Sample food from regional chefs and cooks using locally-grown foods; made or paired with an Ohio Craft Brew.
6pm, Abrio’s Brick Oven, 859 E. State St, $25
“Blast the Cask” night. Meet Willoughby Brewing Co’s Brewmaster Rick Seibt as he opens casked beers.
8pm, Broney’s Alumni Grill, 7 W. Carpenter St.
July 13
Founders Brewing Co. tasting with brewery founder Dave Engbers.
2pm, Jackie O’s Brewery, 24 W. Union St, $15
Craft Brew Tasting: Five Ohio IPA’s with papadam and spicy cilantro chutney. Meet Jay Taylor of the Elevator Brewing Co., who will talk about his company’s special IPA release just for Ohio Brew Week.
4:30pm, Restaurant Salaam, 21 W. Washington St. $16
Beer, Cheese & Chocolate – Sample regional artisan cheeses along with the rich flavors of Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. craft brews. For dessert, a chocolate porter stout over porter ice cream and a fudge.
5:30pm, Ohio University Inn, 331 Richland Ave, $18.
Brewer’s Forum featuring Great Lakes, Weasel Boy, Thirsty Dog, Elevator and The Brew Kettle. Forum is free; beer tastings priced per sample.
6pm, Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St.
Beer Tasting presented by Elevator Brewing Co.
7pm, Buffalo Wild Wings, 21 W. Union St, $15
Meet the folks from Founders Brewing Co.
8-10pm, Jackie O’s Brewery, 24 W. Union St.
Ladies’ Night. Sample lighter, fruity brews and beers made with chocolate malts.
8:15pm, Oak Room, 14 Station St, $15
Christmas in July Featuring Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
9pm, The Pub, 39 N. Court St.
July 14
“Zero Waste: Best Practices for Small Businesses”
This event will engage Ohio Brew Week attendees, local community members, businesses, brewers and environmental/economic development organizations on the concept of Zero Waste, the benefits and how communities can take action. Saul Kliorys, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Environmental Programs Manager and John Najeway, owner of Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. discuss how the brewing industry embraces sustainability and eco-friendly practices as they strive toward zero waste. Sponsored by Rural Action, Ohio Brew Week, the Athens Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau, the College of Health Sciences and Professions, and Tech Growth Ohio which is housed in the Voinovich School.
10am, Grover W115 on Ohio University’s campus
Formal Craft Brew Tasting. Features Maumee Bay Brewing Co. Includes beer samples/appetizers.]
1pm, Oak Room, 14 Station St, $17
Beer and Cheese tasting with Laurel Valley, Jackie O’s, and Founders Brewing.
2pm, Jackie O’s Brewery, 24 W. Union St, $20
Formal Craft Brew Tasting. Great Lakes Brewing Co. Meet head Brewer Luke Purcell. Taste all that Great Lakes has to offer and talk to the man who makes it happen. Beers and hors d’oeuvres.
3pm, Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St, $15
Formal Craft Brew Tasting. Features Barley’s Brewing Co. Includes beer samples/appetizers.
3pm, Oak Room, 14 Station St, $17
Craft Brew Tasting: Five Ohio IPA’s with papadam (crispy Indian snack, great with these IPAs! ) and spicy cilantro chutney. Tickets can be purchased on the Ohio Brew Week website or at Restaurant Salaam. $16
4:30pm, Restaurant Salaam, 21 W. Washington St.
Cornhole Tournament, Round One. Toss a few with Gordon Biersch Master Brewer Chris Alltmomt.
5pm, Courtside Pizza patio, 85 North Court St.
Collaborative Brew Dinner. Rock Finley, executive chef of Great Lakes Brewing Company, teams up with the chefs of Casa Nueva to offer a dinner special made with and paired with beers from Great Lakes Brewing Company. This special dinner incorporates foods from within 30 miles as we celebrate “30 Mile Meal Month.”
5-10pm, Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St.
OU Inn and Jackie O’s beer dinner. 6 small plates and 6 brews.
6pm, OU Inn, 331 Richland Ave, $20/person, $35/couple
Brewers’ Feast. Gourmet, 5-course meal made & paired with craft brews. Meet the brewers and the chef Joe Mitchell.
7pm, Abrio’s Brick Oven, 859 E. State St.
$50 call (740) 594-8500
Girls Pint Out: Ladies Night Sample Thirsty Dog, Neil House Brewery, Hoppin’ Frog and Mt. Carmel craft brews and small plate appetizers. Bring your girlfriends and sample brews so good you’ll not believe they’re beers.
7pm, Lui Lui, 8 Station St, $15
July 15
Brews & Brew BQ
12-10pm, Athens Train Depot area, West Union St.
Jackie O’s beer tasting with brewmaster Brad Clark. 7 brews.
2pm, Jackie O’s Brewery, 24 W. Union St, $10
Jackie O’s and Zoe present “Tap to Table,” 4 small plates and 5 beers
4pm, Zoe, 24 ½ E. State St, $20
Craft Brew Tasting: Five Ohio IPA’s with papadam (crispy Indian snack, great with these IPAs! ) and spicy cilantro chutney. Tickets can be purchased on the Ohio Brew Week website or at Restaurant Salaam.
4:30pm, Restaurant Salaam, 21 W. Washington St, $16
Cornhole Tournament, Round Two. Toss a few with Chris Alltmont, Gordon Biersch Master Brewer. Teams advance to the Brew BQ Cornhole semi-finals at 7 p.m.
5pm, Courtside Pizza patio, 85 North Court St.
“Flight Night” Stop in for Happy Hour and buy a flight of samples brewed by Mt. Carmel Brewing Co. Meet the Owners Mike and Kathleen Dewey and discuss the way each style of their beer is created.
5pm, The C.I., 32 N. Court St.
July 16
Brew Fest Brunch. Traditional breakfast items with a brew-fest twist!
9am, The Pigskin, 38 North Court St
Brew Brunch. Hearty way to start ‘Boogie Saturday’
10:30am, The Pub, 39 N. Court St.
Boogie on the Bricks. Ohio Craft Brew Garden, 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Sample a wonderful selection of Ohio’s craft brews and talk with the brewers. Relax at the Brew Garden tables sponsored by the Ohio University Alumni Association.
12-10 pm
For full event schedule, visit http://www.ohiobrewweek.com
6 Comments on "Ohio Brew Week July 8-16"
OMG Cheryl, thank you for posting this. Looks like I need to make a trip down to Athens!
i know. i wish most of it wasn’t during the week, i want to go to ALL OF THE THINGS. but alas, work and stuff. 🙁
actually, it IS “THE ohio university”. they just don’t care as much as those STATE guys up the road 😉
I’ve never seen a “The” in front of OU, haha, but that doesn’t mean I’m right. I rarely am 😉
What exactly do you mean when you say “No ‘The’ there.” Does having a “the” in the title make or break a school? It does not. Ohio University was Ohio’s first established university. Poor OS-who will never compare.
Also, we’re tired of THE kids coming to our Fests and being beyond obnoxious after their second drink. Stay at THE campus and learn how to bong a beer.
This website needs to be renamed: learnhowtodrinkcolumbus.nubs
I was actually making fun of OSU, not OU, but anonymously bitching at someone on the Internet who didn’t go to either school is cool, too.