The wild ride that has been the craft beer boom of the last decade has witnessed the expansion of everything in the industry. The beer population has gotten bigger, but the beers themselves have gotten bigger too. Humble pale ales are juiced to ABV levels that used to be appropriate for IPAs, and the ABV range of IPAs has shot up to heights formally reserved for imperial and double IPAs. In a way, I feel this trend is still playing itself out. But there’s a second trend in the hoppy beer world that has been filling the gap left by…
Author: Dan Schmidt
Not so long ago, goodies like these were available at Jackie O’s public house and brewpub only, or as one off bomber releases. Even when they started canning and distributing, their choices for mass production seemed appropriately “everyday” beers. But in the last year, Jackie O’s introduced and quickly ramped up production of specialty beers in 375ml bottles. Now we no longer have to trek to Athens to sample such delights as Dark Apparition RIS, Brick Kiln barleywine, and Oil of Aphrodite imperial stout – and all of their barrel aged versions as well. I am a fan of breweries…
The limited release of Fat Head’s Hop Juju has hopheads salivating. While only available in select states, Fat Heads along with quite a few other notables is continuing to prove that Ohio is a major player in the craft beer scene. Fat Head’s Hop Juju “Ju-ju” is defined as “the magic attributed to a charm or fetish.” If there’s anything in the craft beer world that qualifies as a fetish object, it must certainly be the almighty hop cone. And Fat head’s Brewery in Northern Ohio knows a thing or two about coaxing a little magic out of otherwise ordinary…