If the new exhibit honoring “The Clash” at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame isn’t enough to put you on the road to Cleveland this summer, then how about adding a fantastic brewpub to your list of “mistake on the lake” destinations. Don’t worry, it rarely snows up there in July or August and the river hasn’t caught fire in years. When I am in Cleveland, one of my “must do’s” is to stop and have a beer at Great Lakes Brewing Company’s fantastic little brewpub. On my last trip I decided to go all out and have dinner as well. I was not disappointed.

The Brewpub is located about a mile from the area called “the Flats,” not far from downtown in the “Ohio City” neighborhood. The pub is set on a little side street with a few other trendy storefronts and sidewalk cafes. I was told that the building housed the oldest pub in Cleveland. The building features very old woodwork and a cozy cellar pub that is actually called “The Pub,” which offers a bit of a medieval feel with stone walls and little alcoves. There is normally some form of live Celtic music being played in the pub area, but there was a fund raiser for a Catholic missionary taking place the night I visited. (more…)

I cannot begin to tell you how many times someone tells me that they “simply do not like the taste of beer.” I have a hard time understanding such a broad statement. That is like saying: ‘I don’t like bread’ or ‘I don’t like fruit…’ C’mon, are you telling me that there is not one fruit out there that you like?

Beer, like fruit has such a wide range of flavor, that odds are there will be one or two that will tickle your fancy. Many people just won’t venture out to try new and different flavors. What’s the big deal if you take a sip of something you don’t like? Just spit it out or swallow it and move on! We are no longer little children that cry or run around with our tongues hanging out when something tastes a little sour or bitter. (more…)

The tradition of “The Toast” perseveres through time, alive and well. We rely on its absolute ability to break the ice at weddings and to soothe our sorrow after the death of a friend or a loved one. To give a heartfelt toast is for some folks a rare peek from behind the emotional armor they may be wearing. It’s a “safe” way to express oneself without getting too mushy. Sometimes we mean what we say, and sometimes we just say what we mean. More often than not, we just regurgitate an old-standby: “May you be in heaven a half-n hour before the devil knows your dead…” It’s all good…

Last Friday, I lost a friend to cancer. We weren’t really close friends, but friends nonetheless. We never failed to make small talk when we met somewhere. A smile exchanged walking down the aisle at church (that could have happened more often if I went regularly). We toiled together on a team roasting sixty cases of corn year after year for a fraternal charity. We raised our oldest daughters and just a few weeks ago, graduated them, together. We also shared an occasional beer over the years. It’s all good…

Here’s to a Good Guy! So-Long, Lou…

far away from home
eating alone at the bar
counting the minutes

Written by Captain Hops.

With all of my time on the road, this one hits home…

Name: Nathan

Where: Blues BBQ Etc. Charleston, WV

Beer du Jour: Sierra Nevada Summerfest

Favorite Tipple: Guinness (on tap)

What turned you on to beer: The diversity of flavors

Favorite beer food: Chicken Wings

What drink do you order at a fine restaurant: Wine

Why Wine? As a culinary graduate of Johnson & Wales, I was taught a lot about pairing wine and food.

In the Fridge right now: Corona light and Guinness

Most memorable beer moment: 1996 St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin

Thanks Nathan for taking valuable beer drinking time to answer questions for the Gazz. Be on alert you Beer Afficionados, You could be next!

I recently attended the 14th annual Mondial de la Biere (The World of Beer) in Montreal, Quebec. The 5-day festival features 375 beers, ciders, wines and plenty of Quebecois specialty food designed to harmonize with the beer. In fact, this festival goes much further than any other to promote pairing of beer and food. This is a true tasting event and not a drink-and-drown spectacle. (more…)

If you are thinking: “No kidding Einstein, people go to the ballpark to watch baseball, not to drink beer…” then you probably have never been to a West Virginia Power game on a Two for Tuesday or a Thursday “Buck Night,” where the name of the game is “cheap beer” not baseball.

Don’t get me wrong, I attend many games during the season; sometimes I even watch the game. I can often be found wandering around the park on a “Two for Tuesday” with an Amber Bock in each hand, since they actually make you purchase two beers for the price of one and not simply sell you one beer at half price (the current policy promotes over-indulgence if you ask me). I also enjoy the social interaction that takes place outdoors on a gorgeous spring or summer evening. You can definitely count me as one who thinks building the park was good thing for Charleston regardless of the poor beer selection. But alas, I am a beer writer so I have to focus on the “beery” aspects of the park. (more…)

Walk into any tavern on any day of the year in the German city of Cologne and request “Ein bier bitte” and you will be handed a small, narrow cylindrical glass full of yellow fizzy beer. No, the nice German waiter did not just serve you a Bud light in an attempt to accommodate his American patron. He proudly served you the ale that he and all of his “kölsch” brethren drink everyday. Kölschbier is the beer of Cologne, and although light in color, body and alcohol, kölsch delivers plenty of flavor. It’s really the ultimate refreshing light beer.

The beer pictured is a kölsch beer that was brewed by Jeff Rabatin, a local home brewer and a friend of mine. The traditional narrow glass is called a Stange and holds 20cl (approx. 6oz) of beer. It tastes even better than it looks… The word kölsch means anything or anyone originating from the city of Cologne (Köln). Their beer in particular is a protected appellation, meaning that any beer labeled as kölsch must be brewed within the city. The beer has a long history of having survived many attempts by ancient brewers guilds to forbid its production due to it being an ale and not a lager (it eventually evolved into a cold fermented ale that is then lagered). I got a big kick out of Bill Clinton’s attempt to schmooze his German audience while visiting Cologne by declaring “Ich bin ein kölsch”, sounding to me as if he just called himself a beer; he was actually correct in his use of the word.

I have been seeing more American craft brewers releasing their own kölsch style beers, mainly as a summer seasonal release. (more…)