2nd Annual MSD Brew Ha-Ha Tomorrow!

The decorations are being set, the music is ready, and the beer are arriving throughout the day. Everyone is getting very excited for the 2nd annual MSD Brew Ha-Ha, tomorrow from 6-10 pm. The event raises money for the Montessori School of Dayton, an amazing preK-8th grade school doing amazing things. (Seriously, what other school has a student-run coffee shop, several rock bands as part of the music curriculum, builds robots out of legos, creates sculptures that Dale Chihuly posts on his Facebook page, and hosts a beer festival?)

Below is the beer list, with style, ABV, and location details. Big thanks to our table sponsors. There are still tickets available online and at Belmont Party Supply, Lucky's Taproom and Eatery, The Trolley Stop, and Chappy's Taproom and Grille. Tickets will also be available at the door.

This year's beers continue with the Great Lakes region theme, but with the addition of beers from Indiana and Illinois. I'm happy to report a huge increase in Ohio beers, with outstanding offerings from Dayton and Cincinnati as well as other parts of the state. 

We are beer geeks and we picked the beers we like to drink, so it shouldn't surprise anyone to find a huge number of beers that are rated either Exceptional (one asterisk below) or World Class (two asterisks below) by the beer rating site BeerAdvocate.com. And we've quadrupled the number of draft beers this year (noted as ± below), including a brewpub exclusive sour ale from Ohio's own The Brew Kettle. We've also included a cider (although not from the region, it's one of the best) and a gluten-free beer. 

So without further adieu, here are the stars of the show:

Table 1 (Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery)

Hoppin' Frog Cleveland Crusher ±

Oatmeal Stout (9.40% ABV) OH

Two Brothers Domaine DuPage ±

Biere de Garde (5.90%) IL

Bell's Hopslam Ale**

Imperial IPA (10.00% ABV) MI

Bell's Two Hearted Ale**

American IPA (7.00% ABV) MI

Table 2 (Thai 9)

New Holland Dragon's Milk

Milk Stout (10.00% ABV) MI

Weyerbacher Merry Monks’ Ale*

Belgian-style Tripel (9.30% ABV) PA

Tröegs Perpetual IPA*

Imperial IPA (7.50%) PA

Julian Hard Apple Cider

Cider (6.99% ABV) CA

Table 3 (South Park Tavern)

Founders Breakfast Stout**

Imperial Stout (8.30% ABV) MI

Founders Red's Rye PA*

Rye Pale Ale (6.60% ABV) MI

Two Brothers Cain & Ebel*

Rye Pale Ale (7.00% ABV) IL

Two Brothers Prairie Path Ale

GLUTEN-FREE Blonde Ale (5.10% ABV) IL

Table 4 (King's Table)

Blank Slate Movin' On ±

English Bitter (4.20% ABV) OH

Cellar Dweller Smoked Porter ±

Porter (ABV unknown) OH

Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout*

Imperial Stout (7.50% ABV) MI

Dark Horse Scotty Karate Scotch Ale**

Scotch Ale (9.75% ABV) MI

Table 5 (Chappy's Taproom & Grille)

Hoppin' Frog B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeai Imperial Stout**

Russian Imperial Stout (9.40% ABV) OH

Revolution Eugene*

Porter (6.80% ABV) IL

Revolution Anti-Hero

American IPA (6.50% ABV) IL

Revolution Coup D'Etat

Saison/Farmhouse Ale (7.50% ABV) IL

Table 6 (The Trolley Stop)

Stoudts Fat Dog*

Imperial Oatmeal Stout (8.00% ABV) PA

Stoudts Smooth Hoperator

Doppelbock (7.00 ABV%) PA

Maumee Bay IPA

English IPA (7.00% ABV) OH

Triple Digit Chickow

Hazelnut Double Brown Ale (9.00% ABV) OH

Table 7 (Belmont Party Supply)

Founders Imperial Stout** ±

Imperial Stout (10.50% ABV) MI

Brew Kettle Rude Cru (brewpub exclusive) ±

Belgian-style Sour Red Ale (ABV unknown) OH

Hoppin' Frog Mean Manalisha Double IPA

Imperial IPA (8.20% ABV) OH

Upland Komodo Dragon Fly

Black IPA (6.50% ABV) IN

Table 8 (Stacker’s Subs and Grub)

Fat Head's Head Hunter IPA**

American IPA (7.50% ABV) OH

Fat Head's Bumbleberry Honey Blueberry Ale

Fruit Beer (5.40% ABV) OH

Jolly Pumpkin Fuego del Otono*

Biere de Garde (6.10% ABV) MI

Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca

Witbeer (4.80% ABV) MI

Table 9 (BrewTensils)

Great Lakes Blackout Stout** ±

Russian Imperial Stout (9.00% ABV) OH

Dayton Beer Company Double Pale Ale (with Hop Rocket) ±

Double Pale Ale (ABV unknown) OH

The Brew Kettle White Rajah**

American IPA (6.80% ABV) OH

Rivertown Bock Beer

Bock (7.20% ABV) OH

Rivertown Roebling Porter

Robust Porter (7.80% ABV) OH

** rated world class by BeerAdvocate

* rated exceptional by BeerAdvocate

± draft

Here's a cool infographic on America's alcohol consumption sent to me by the folks over at Healthline. If you are having trouble reading the graphic below, check out the story here.

Brewtensils Brewout in Honor of National Homebrew Day

Join the folks at Brewtensils for a National Homebrew Day inspired brewout.

Miami Valley Brewers

In last week's Dayton City Paper, I ran interviews with the heads of the three breweries slated to open in 2012: Toxic Brew, Dayton Beer Company, and Vitruvian Brewing Company. The online version contained some additional questions and answers that didn't fit in the print.

An exciting time to be into craft beer in Dayton. All three breweries were great to work with, and I'm wishing them all a successful launch. Here are a few extra photos that I shot while working on the piece.

Left side of Toxic Brew. See shuffleboard!

Right side of Toxic Brew

Toxic Brew looking out the street

Look for this sign on 5th street in the Oregan District

Brewing system at Dayton Beer Company

Dayton Beer Co. fermentation vessels

These taps will soon flow with Dayton Beer Co. drafts

Tasting room and bar at Dayton Beer Co.

AleFest Columbus: This weekend

You've been to the Dayton AleFest for years. Why not try the Columbus one? Use it to build your tasting list for the big game. The AleFest team has an amazing line-up once again, including some rare casks. Here are all the details:

**Update** AleFest Columbus Brewery List Available

Choose from over 250 craft beers  from 100+ breweries,  with rare draught & cask offerings Link to the list of breweries for Saturday: Brewery List Columbus 2012 Directions to The Aladdin Center here: Aladdin Shrine Center Info AleFest General Info: AleFest Official Website   Bell's Two Hearted Ale & Thirsty Dog Hoppus Maximus ***in cask, draught and bottle*** An excellent educational way to experience the differences & similarities of one beer via all 3 traditional delivery methods    Special Appearance by OSU Greats: Michael Wiley, Standout OSU & NFL Tailback  Founder of Rush for Success Lung Cancer Foundation **and** James Cotton, OSU Defensive Lineman & Linebacker  Founder of the Buck-Icon Foundation   Reminder: Tropical Attire Encouraged.....  ...so dig that Hawaiian shirt outta the closet!   Hope to see you and your beer friends THIS Saturday....Cheers!

MSD Brew Ha-Ha: Getting Ready

Getting everything in place for the big tasting tomorrow. The beers have arrived, and Linda and crew have been working overtime to transform the space. Ticket sales have been brisk and initial feedback at the beer list has been great. We even picked up some free publicity thanks to WDTN this morning.

You can still get tix online tonight at $25 each, or you can pick them up at the door tomorrow for $30. Doors open at 5, but we'll be pouring until 9. Bring some cash--you'll be able to buy extra tasting tickets, as well as enter in the raffle for beer goodies. There will also be opportunities to take home your favorites from the tasting.

Tonight we train the servers and put the finishing touches on the room. Tomorrow we finalize and print the tasting program, tap the keg, and open the doors. This is going to be a blast!

The line-up, take 1

The line-up, take 2

The logo glasses

Beer List for MSD Brew Ha-Ha

The beer list for the MSD Brew Ha-Ha this Saturday is final, so I can finally release it. I'm very excited about this line-up.

It's a robust sampling of beers from OH, MI, and PA, with some of my personal favorites to share (I'm talking to you, Bell's Porter, Dark Horse Crooked Tree and Founder's Breakfast Stout!).

And a special release of Founders Double Trouble. We'll have it on tap about a week before it makes it to the area officially.

If you haven't gotten tickets, you can still purchase them at the EventBrite site or at the door on Saturday. Remember, doors open at 5 and we'll be pouring all night long.



Here's the list. See you Saturday!

OHIO BREWERS

Ohio Brewing Company Verlich Gold

Kolsch-style Ale (5.0% ABV)

A light and dry ale, with soft malt and delicate hops; based on the style from Cologne, Germany

The Brew Kettle 4 C’s Pale Ale

Pale Ale (5.0% ABV)

Made with the classic US hops (Cascade, Centennial, Columbus and Chinook) that impart citrus and piney flavors.

PENNSYLVANIA BREWERS

Weyerbacher Merry Monks’

Belgian- style Abbey Tripel (9.3% ABV)

Belgian yeast gives this beer complex flavors, with intense fruity esters in the nose, and a moderate to dry finish

Troegs Brewery Troegenator® Double Bock

Double bock (8.2% ABV)

A malty, chewy beer traditionally brewed by fasting monks, who relied on double bocks for their nutritional needs.

Troegs HopBack

Amber Ale (6.0% ABV)

The brewery’s flagship ale; this amber beer blends caramel malts with fresh, spicy hop notes

Stoudts Fat Dog Stout

Imperial Oatmeal Stout (9.0 % ABV)

An amped up oatmeal stout, it is silky black, with prominent roast flavors and chocolate and coffee finishes

Stoudts Pils

German-style Pilsener (5.4 % ABV)

Refreshing with assertive bitterness; a crisp bite from the Saaz hops and a dry malt finish

MICHIGAN BREWERS

North Peak Brewing Majestic

American Wheat Ale (5.5% ABV)

Brewed with winter wheat and Willamette hops, this unfiltered ale is mellow and drinkable

New Holland Cabin Fever

Brown Ale (6.0% ABV)

Rye, roast and raisin notes play off a subtle caramel sweetness and culminate in a dry, roasty finish

New Holland The Poet

Oatmeal Stout (5.2% ABV)

Black as night with a tan, creamy head; a rich, smooth malt character enveloped in tones of roast and chocolate.

Founder’s Breakfast Stout

Oatmeal Stout (8.3% ABV)

Brewed with oats, chocolate, and coffee; an intense java nose with pronounced chocolate and roasted flavors.

Founder’s Centennial IPA

India Pale Ale (7.2% ABV)

Centennial hops produce a big citrusy flavor that balances nicely with the malty backbone

Founder’s Red’s Rye

Rye Pale Ale (6.6 % ABV)

Rye malt adds a spicy, crisp finish to this generously malty and hopped variation of a traditional pale ale.

Founder’s Double Trouble

Imperial IPA (9.4 % ABV)

A monster IPA with huge hop character; pungent aromatics meld with a malt-balanced backbone and a smooth, bitter finish

Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA

India Pale Ale (6.0% ABV)

Inspired by West Coast ales, dry-hopping creates a big aroma of citrus and pine against a rich malt palette.

Dark Horse Sapient Trip Ale

Belgian Style Tripel (8.5% ABV)

Complex ale brewed with Trappist ale yeasts, giving it mild fruit notes and hints of clove; finishes dry

Dark Horse Scotty Karate

Scotch Ale (9.75% ABV)

Named after a Michigan one-man band; enormous but balanced, with rich, bready malts and a slight alcohol bite

Bell’s Two Hearted

India Pale Ale (7.0% ABV)

Another Centennial hopped ale; famous for its grapefruit and pine resin aromas and substantial malt backdrop

Bell’s Porter

Porter (5.6% ABV)

Porter emphasizes the darker, roasted aspects of malt, with hints of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee

Bell’s Winter White

White Ale (5.0% ABV)

Cloudy ale that blends wheat with Belgian yeast to impart clove and fruity aromas without adding spices