The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
OHIO VS. MICHIGAN
Beers battle at The Wine Vault
Ohio and Michigan beers went head-to-head Nov. 19 at the Wine Vault’s, 5581 Liberty Ave. in Vermilion, fourth annual Brew Battle.
“This is an event that’s very near and dear to our hearts,” said Josh Frey, who co-owns the bar with his wife, Maggie.
Each of the five-courses served, including a banana and butternut squash bisque, seared Hudson Valley foie gras, pan seared Chilean sea bass, grilled lamb rack and chocolate bombe, were served with two threeounce samples of beer.
What the guests didn’t know is which beer was made in Ohio or Michigan, Frey said.
After each course, he collected votes on which blonde or pilsner, fruit ale, DBL IPA, scotch ale or stout they preferred.
This year, Michigan beat out Ohio, winning three of five courses. The series is now tied at two, Frey said.
“They’re told to not mix them up and to judge them how they want to judge them, whether it’s on their own, pairing with the food or up against one another,” Frey said. “The only thing I want from it, is for them to come up with a decision, however you come to the conclusion, that this one is better than that one.”
This year, Michigan beat out Ohio, winning three of five courses. The series is now tied at two, Frey said.
Frey said the event takes place in light of the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes college football game every year.
Tickets for the event sold out, packing the intimate bar with 35 guests.
One of those guests was one of The Wine Vault’s regulars Rick Eberle, 66, of Vermilion, who has attended the brew battle for all four years.
Eberle and his wife, Kim, frequent restaurants and bars in the area to catch up after a week of work and know Frey from when he oversaw customer service for one of the local
restaurants.
“So, when he decided to open up his new place, obviously we were gonna be there to support him,” Eberle said. “What it turned out to be was a very special place.
“The intimacy of the establishment, it has people talking to each other that would never talk to each other in any other bar ... The food is wonderful. It’s just a very neat, warm place.”
The fourth ranked Wolverines will take on the 10th ranked Buckeyes at noon, Nov. 24, in Columbus.