The state of Ohio is home to some of the nation’s, if not the world’s finest craft beer. We are very proud to be from a state with a A-Class caliber College Football team as well as world-class craft beer. Here is a short list of some of favorite Ohio beers and breweries you can enjoy whilst rooting the Ohio State Buckeyes on to another National Championship Monday evening! It should be noted that the following list is not intended to be a “Best-Of-Ohio” beer list – (it would be impossible to compile that list!) This list is just a short assembly of some Ohio greats that can be enjoyed for the big game! Go Bucks!
1. Fat Heads Hop JuJu:
Sometimes, I don’t know what I like more — Ezekiel Elliot’s belly shirts, or Fat Head’s Hop JuJu. This beer won Gold at the GABF in 2014, and is just one of many great IPA’s from Fat Heads brewery in North Olmstead, Ohio. Full of piney, dank, resinous flavors, Hop JuJu is a beer for the bold, it’s a beer that will bring the juice! It’s not too easy to find hop JuJu, but if you do, make sure you grab it and don’t let it slip through your hands.
2. Hoof Hearted Half Wet Musk of the Minotaur:
Another IPA, and this one won an even more impressive crown, this won the coveted King of Ohio IPA belt! Just like college football finally decided to do, we, along with an awesome group of beer bloggers from Ohio, made our own brackets to crown the best IPA in Buckeye Country. Hoof Hearted’s Half Wet Musk of the Minotaur won on a close matchup with Fat Head’s Head Hunter. Read just how great this beer is here.
3. Great Lakes Edmond Fitzgerald Porter:
Another Cleveland classic, Edmond Fitzgerald is a world-class smoky porter that just makes you feel like a man. It also happens to pair perfectly with one of the best gameday treats any buckeye fan can have, candy buckeyes. These chocolate and peanut butter concoctions are a staple wherever you can find people wearing Scarlet and Grey. Edmond Fitzgerald’s smoky, roasted, chocolate, and coffee notes give you just one more excuse to bite into another buckeye!
4. Elevator Brewing Bleeding Buckeye:
I don’t think it’s even right, or fair, to not add this beer to the list. If you are an Ohio State fan, and you want to show your allegiance to The Scarlet and Grey, then you need to go get some Bleeding Buckeye from Elevator Brewing in Columbus, Ohio. This beer might not be the most award winning, but it definitely plays up to it’s target market. It’s even a RED ale, for crying out loud. Expect a big malt flavor from this one, some earthy, spicy notes from the yeast, as well as some slight hoppy bitterness and caramel sweetness. This is a beer every Buckeye fan should try, even if just for you try it just for it’s name.
5. Great Lakes Christmas Ale:
Let’s face it, Christmas has been extended for many Ohio State fans. Beating Alabama was equivalent to a perfect stocking stuffer, and now we’re waiting to see how awesome that big present under the tree is. For Ohio beer lovers, though, there’s only one thing that comes to mind in the winter seasons — Great Lakes Christmas Ale. This is a beer that many people trade for and pine over. It’s full of cinnamon, ginger, and tons of honey to round out this winter warmer. Christmas Ale, if you can find it, will be the perfect beer to celebrate the end of a perfect season. If the Buckeyes are winning when the clock strikes 0:00, you know I’ll be cracking open a celebratory Christmas Ale.
If you are interested in learning more about Ohio Craft Beer, please visit OhioCraftBeer.org to get a full list of breweries, beers, and beer-availability listings.