The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Event is all about the brew
Variety spiced Lorain with flavors from 44 craft beer makers August 12 when BrewFest Waterfront District flooded Black River Landing.
The fourth annual event not only offered swigs from all craft beer makers in Lorain County, but a Punk IPA by Brewdog from Ellon, Scotland.
Brewdog is the largest craft brewery in the United Kingdom, said Brian Jones, Akron, who operates a Brewdog in Canal Winchester near Columbus.
“Punk IPA is our largest seller in the U.K.,” Jones said, adding they built a facility in Columbus that started brewing in April. The Punk IPA sold at BrewFest was made in Ohio, he said.
“We want to take down big beer,” Jones said. “Our mission is to get people as excited about craft beer as we are. So our biggest thing is to make sure people are coming to this type of thing and drinking great beer.”
Two women on “The Brew Crew” festival committee, Jen Lynn and Rebecca Perhot-Rodriguez, said the turnout was fantastic and the venue at Black River Landing was a perfect fit.
“Years worth of work paid off,” Perhot-Rodriguez said. “This is amazing and outstanding. It just shows folks can come down and have a great time.”
A line formed early and stayed at Bascule Brewery, a new beer
maker that opened in Lorain.
“It’s exciting to see,” Lynn said. “They had a line since noon. People have been wanting to try their beer. We’re glad to give them a chance to showcase their beer.”
“We have a different selection from last year, not only in brewers, but in the beers they brought,” PerhotRodriguez said. “We have some collaboration beers people are showing off and people are loving it. Even the Great Lakes Brewery stepped it up and brought out a pub-exclusive today. It’s really cool to see.”
Flavors from various states included Boulevard Brewing Co. from Kansas City, Mo.; Short’s Brewing Co., Bellaire, Mich., and Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales from Milton, Del.
“We’re having a great time,” said Mike Vincent, facilities manager for Brew Kettle in Strongsville and Amherst. “It’s our fourth year here. We were with the original BrewFest when it was off the little alley. It’s a great event for us, because we’re local. We’re the biggest brew pub in the Lorain area, even though we don’t brew in Lorain County. We brew in Strongsville. But we have 37 taps in Amherst.”
Brew Kettle created beers for Cedar Point and for Cleveland Cavaliers, he said.
A Cedar Point flavor, Shandy Shores, was tapped for opening a new water park. Shandy includes blood orange.
“It’s a really light, easy drinking beer,” Vincent said. “It’s a good summertime beer, because it’s not too heavy.”
Mathias Hauch, a coowner of Avon Brewing Company, said business was great as he served Barista Blonde, Eagle IPA, and King Kokonut.
Avon Brewing Co. clustered among friends with Franklin Brewing Co. from Elyria and Bascule Brewery and Public House from Lorain, Hauch said.
And a group of friends from Sandusky and Huron celebrated summer birthdays big by bringing party hats, a birthday sash and pretzel necklaces to BrewFest.
Jonathon James, 36, wore the sash courtesy of his wife, Kimmie James, 44, of Lorain, who also provided the hats and necklaces.
“It’s a lot a fun,” said Miranda Warner, 29, who attended with her husband, Time Warner, 34, of Huron.
“It’s the first time we’ve come,” Tim Warner said. “They (Jameses) invited us. I’m having a good time. There’s a lot of good beers.”
Nathan Hershiser, 24, of Sandusky, celebrated a birthday without a hat.
Jennifer Vrbancic, 36, waived a small glass of wine.
“I’ve tried a little bit of everything,” Vrbancic said, “Matus Winery, Red Head Cider House. I really liked that. And I tried her Zombie Killer.”