12 Ohio Beers to Drink This Year
Although not all are seasonal offerings, these picks from beer writer David Nilsen do pair perfectly with a specific time of year.
WINTER
Abominator | Warped Wing Brewing Co. | 9.1% ABV | Dayton
Ohioans over a certain age remember the Blizzard of ’78, while the rest have heard the stories. Warped Wing pays homage to the storm with this burly Doppelbock.
warpedwing.com
Thundersnow | MadTree Brewing | 8.5% ABV | Cincinnati
Thundersnow is an unexpected meteorological phenomenon, and MadTree unexpectedly brings together a Scotch ale base with holiday spices in a warming winter beer. madtreebrewing.com
Christmas Ale | Great Lakes Brewing Co. | 7.5% ABV | Cleveland
Brewed with honey, cinnamon and ginger, Ohio’s most legendary holiday beer release is a present you can buy yourself. greatlakesbrewing.com
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SPRING
Witbier | Mother Stewart’s Brewing Co. | 5.2% ABV | Springfield
This Belgian wheat beer brewed with coriander and orange peel is perfect for warm spring days on the patio. motherstewartsbrewing.com
Prosperity Wheat | Market Garden Brewery | 6% ABV | Cleveland
This refreshing Bavarian-style wheat ale won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2019. marketgardenbrewery.com
Trail Break Helles Lager | Nocterra Brewing Co. | 5% ABV | Powell
Once the snow melts, it’s time to hit the trails. Nocterra offers the perfect post-hike quencher with this Munich-style Helles lager. nocterrabrewing.com
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SUMMER
Violet Perception | Branch & Bone Artisan Ales | 4.6% ABV | Dayton
Brewed with butterfly pea blossoms, this bright purple sour offers tart, tropical flavors of lime and ginger. branchandboneales.com
Cleft | Little Fish Brewing Co. | 6.25% ABV | Athens
This wine-barrel-aged sour ale is brewed with Ohio-grown peaches and won a medal at the 2020 Great American Beer Festival. littlefishbrewing.com
Dub City IPA | Modern Methods Brewing Co | 7.2% ABV | Warren
Named after the brewery’s home of Warren, this West Coast-style IPA balances bitterness and tropical, citrusy hop aromas and flavors. modernmethodsbrew.com
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FALL
Oktoberfest | Sonder Brewing | 5.5% ABV | Mason
There are a lot of good Oktoberfest lagers brewed in Ohio, but this one might take the schnitzel, er, cake. sonderbrewing.com
Decorative Gourd | Seventh Son Brewing Co. | 6.8% ABV | Columbus
Seventh Son turns the pumpkin beer idea on its head with butternut squash and warm garam masala spices for a comforting fall treat. seventhsonbrewing.com
Yakima Fresh | Columbus Brewing Co. | 7.5% ABV | Columbus
This brewery makes some of the country’s best IPAs, including this wet-hop IPA brewed with Mosaic hops used less than 24 hours after being picked. columbusbrewing.com
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