Joe Tucker, the executive director of RateBeer.com, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Ohio Brew Week.
The 10-day event, a massive celebration of Ohio beer held each year in Athens, is July 11-19.
“I was surprised and honored to get the invite,” Tucker said in an email. He said he’s been impressed with Ohio’s “enthusiastic, burgeoning scene.”
“Being at RateBeer has provided a unique perspective for watching that budding beer culture grow like wildfire,” he said. “It’s been an amazing last decade for beer.
“In my talk, I want to share the vision, excitement and satisfaction of how this all went down, where we are now and how we all — like Soylent Green, RateBeer is people — might shape a positive future.”
The popular and influential RateBeer has been around since 2000 and allows drinkers to rate beer online.
The website also puts out an annual listing of the best breweries and beers worldwide. Hoppin’ Frog Brewery in Akron and Great Lakes Brewing in Cleveland are always ranked among the top 100 brewers in the world.
For more details about Ohio Brew Week, go to www.ohiobreweek.com.
Troegs dinner
D’Agnese’s at White Pond in Akron will hold a five-course “Spring Beer Dinner” with Troegs Brewing Co. at 6 p.m. April 9.
The dinner will feature Dreamweaver Wheat, Sunshine Pils, Nugget Nectar, Perpetual IPA and Flying Mouflan. Tickets are $35, plus tax and tip. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 234-678-3612.
Beer exports up
Americans aren’t the only ones with a growing thirst for U.S. craft beer.
The Brewers Association reported this week that craft beer exports increased 49 percent last year, representing 282,526 barrels and $73 million.
Canada remains the largest export market, with shipments increasing 92 percent by volume (up to 131,511 barrels). Sweden (15.5 percent) and the United Kingdom (7.9 percent) are the next two largest markets, with Australia (5.4 percent) and Japan (3.2 percent) following, according to the Boulder, Colo.-based association.
Fred Karm, the award-winning brewer and owner of Hoppin’ Frog Brewery in Akron, said foreign markets can present challenges for American brewers. That includes shipping and keeping the beer cold. And foreign customers tend to be fickle, always wanting the latest award-winning brew from the U.S., Karm said.
Hoppin’ Frog is distributed in 15 foreign countries. Karm said he didn’t see his exports increase last year, but they have gone up over the last several years.
“It’s rewarding to have people who are drinking your beer who can hardly speak English,” he said with a laugh.
Re-election beer
The Republican Governors Association released a video this week highlighting Ohio Gov. John Kasich and the rise of the craft beer industry in the state.
Mt. Carmel Brewing co-owner Kathleen Dewey talks about changes in state law that have helped craft brewers.
Kasich is seeking re-election this year and faces off against Democrat Ed FitzGerald, Cuyahoga County executive.
To watch the video, go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=34boroGtB3w.
Beer samplers
• Butcher & the Brewer, a new brewery on East Fourth Street in downtown Cleveland, is under construction. It’ll be a brewery, butcher shop, deli, restaurant and speakeasy.
• The Brew Kettle beer that won the National Imperial IPA Challenge is El Lupulo Libre. An incorrect spelling was reported last week.
• Fireman’s Brew, a Los Angeles-based brewery founded by two firefighters, has moved into Ohio.
• Toxic Brew Co. in Dayton celebrated its first anniversary on Sunday.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his beer blog at www.ohio.com/beer. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.