Ohio Brew Week convenes in Athens, with Samuel Adams as a sponsor
The Plain Dealer
July 16, 2008
By Scott Stephens
It's Ohio Brew Week again.
Now in its third year, the state's largest beer festival runs through Saturday in Athens. Organizers say 24 of the state's 28 craft brewers are participating. They're offering brews as diverse as pawpaw beer, peanut butter cup porter, chocolate stout and maple porter.
The event has been a popular occurrence, attracting suds sippers from all over the country. It has been a boon for the Southeast Ohio college town where it takes place, creating jobs and tourist business during the slowest time of the year.
Restaurants are filled. So are motels, cabins and gift shops. Printers, graphic designers and advertising professionals are hustling to keep pace.
It has also landed a heavyweight sponsor, Samuel Adams, which is debuting a national sampling campaign it plans to roll out.
Speakers include Pat Conway, president and CEO of Great Lakes Brewing Co., Ray Daniels, author of "Designing Great Beers" and director of a beer sommelier program, and Bob Skilnik, author of "Beer & Food: An American History."
The cooking with beer competition has been turned into a fund-raiser for the family of Jon Sparhawk, a festival founder who died last summer. Brad Clark, brewer at Jackie O's in Athens, has concocted a special brew, "Sparbock," in Sparhawk's honor.
There's even a train trip on the "Home Brew Choo Choo" on which you can sample homebrew selections while chugging through the countryside.
Can't make the trip? Many of the brews at Ohio Brew Week will be available through Sunday at the Buckeye Brew Engine, 15315 Madison Ave., Lakewood, where brewer Garin Wright is holding a "mini-festival."
Want more information? Check out www.ohiobrewweek.com.
GLBC plans reunion:
Great Lakes Brewing Co. is putting together a reunion of former employees as part of its 20th anniversary celebration this year.
The reunion will take place at the Market Avenue pub on Sunday, Aug. 17.
Right now, organizers are trying to track down anyone who has worked at the popular microbrewery and brewpub. They'll be sending out invitations to anyone they can locate.
Former employees can contact the brewery via e-mail at glbc20reunion@yahoo.com.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
sstephens@plaind.com, 216-999-4827