NWO Hopheads

Wow! I've never heard of many of these and I consider myself to be a real corner-sewer of beers. I used to make my own brews back in the dark ages in college. Some real rotgut made from Blue Ribbon Malt extract and baker's yeast! Those were the days before all the fancy brewing kits were available.

i wonder if there is going to be any sort of bus service?

Judging from their non-existent advertising I'm guessing bus service isn't happening. It would make a lot of sense though!

I'm going to take the hub and be the designated driver. I owe him a B-day present.

THanks for the post idinspired.

sigh. I know they probably get a lot of sponsorship money from the big guys, but this list is 3/4 mass produced crap being marketed as craft beer.

There is so much incredible, ACTUAL craft beer being brewed in this region. It's a shame more of it can't be represented at something like this.

good point

I'm not a huge IPA fan, I think most taste like a mouth full of rusty nails. That said I may still attend just to up attendence at a craft brew festival in the area.

Kaj - I'm not sure what you're talking about. With the exception of the Goose Island stuff (thanks to their recent purchase by InBev) and MillerCoors, everything up there is by definition a craft brew. It includes both local brewers, Jolly Pumpkin, the home of quite possibly the highest quality sour beers and beers made with wild yeasts, and a few other solid choices.

Sure there may be a few better or smaller craft breweries (including many new nanos), but they generally aren't the ones who can afford to go buy a table and give their beer away for free.

Regardless, I've often wondered why Toledo doesn't have a good beer festival each year. We're on the border between two of the best beer states (Ohio, Michigan) and within short driving distance of two others (Illinois and Wisconsin). I don't expect anything comparable to the still new International Beer Fest in Cleveland, the GABF, or the Great Taste of the Midwest, but I do think we should have more than the tiny one held at the Zoo every year.

Kaj-You're right on. There are a couple of decent brewers (esp. Jolly Pumpkin), but the rest are either faux (big acting small, like Harpoon, Full sail, Leinekugels, Blue Moon) or bad versions. This feels like distributors driving the lineup...

Many IPAs can be too hoppy for me, but some I go out of my way for like Bell's Two Hearted Ale.

Looks like it is going to be a great night for this! Can't wait to try the new ones from Great Black Swamp and Maumee Bay!

I disagree with the comments on the beer list. This list has 5 Ohio breweries and only a few brands owned by the big brewers. Pretty good for a first time event!

HELP!

Start time and address anyone? The site seems to be down for me!

Centennial Terrace in Sylvania.

For those who went, how was it?

...I just noticed I missed it. CRAP!

It was awesome! I couldn't believe how many people were there despite their lack of advertising. There were cover bands playing on the stage and they had the snack shack open but almost no one paid either of those any attention. It was a fun atmosphere.

The beers were great for the most - there were 10 different breweries represented and each had about 4 different beers to choose from. Columbus's Elevator brewery had a coffee IPA that everyone was talking about but they were gone by the time we made it to their booth. My personal favorites were the Full Sail and Jolly Pumpkins.

I would highly recommend going next year - based on the great turnout I'd imagine it'll definitely happen again.