A beer festival is coming back to Garrettsville.
Several years ago, the Main Street Grille and Brewing Co. hosted the Frozen Falls Beer Festival — named after the small, picturesque falls behind the brewpub.
The festival disappeared. But now it’s back.
“Really, why not?” brewer Mike Mallone said when asked about Main Street hosting another tasting.
The event has been renamed Beer Feast — “craft beer, craft food, basically,” he said about the new name. Beer Feast will feature two sessions on May 3: noon to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
The participating breweries so far are: Thirsty Dog, Lager Heads, Little Mountain, Black Box, MadCap and Willoughby. One or two additional brewers may be added later. A beer lineup is expected to be released in the next couple of weeks.
The event also will include Crafted Artisan Meadery, Sugar Luv, Popped, Lucky Penny Creamery and Keep Calm Cleveland Clothing. The Boogie Men will provide live music.
Main Street, 8148 Main St., also is planning a silent auction at the event to benefit the community. Garrettsville was devastated March 22 when a massive fire ripped through the business district.
The brewery is creating a special beer with all proceeds going toward the relief efforts. Mallone has brewed a German-style pilsner named #GarrettsvilleStrong. He hopes to put it on tap in late April. A pint will sell for $5.
As for Beer Feast, tickets are $40 in advance, and $45 at the door. They are being sold at Main Street and a few of the participating breweries and vendors. Designated drivers will get in free and receive free soda and water.
All tickets come with a souvenir glass, 20 tasting tickets and (pre-sale only) a food voucher.
One hundred tickets are available for pre-sale for each session. The brewpub, a former grist mill that sits along Silver Creek, expects to limit attendance to about 150 people in each session.
For more details, go to www.msg-brew.com.
Turbo Shandy released
Hoppin’ Frog Brewery, 1680 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, has released its seasonal Turbo Shandy Citrus Ale.
The beer is available on draft at the Hoppin’ Frog Tasting Room, and also in 22-ounce bottles for $7.99.
The Tasting Room promises to have food specials and beer pairings with Turbo Shandy this week. The Boca Loca Burrito Factory food truck also will be at the brewery on April 4 for lunch to celebrate the release.
The beer will be on draft all month, the brewery said.
Best of Akron
Speaking of Hoppin’ Frog, the real-estate website Movoto listed the brewery on its list of “29 Things You Need To Know About Akron Before You Move There.” Hoppin’ Frog ranks No. 3.
To view the full list, go to www.movoto.com/akron-oh/moving-to-akron/.
Thirsty Dog dinner
Crave, 57 E. Market St., Akron, will hold a five-course beer pairing dinner with Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. at 6 p.m. April 14.
The dinner will feature chicken wings with Whippet Wheat, shredded pork shank slider with Bernese Barley Wine Ale, ahi tuna tartare with Cerberus Belgian Tripple Ale, sous vide strip steak with Rail Dog Smoked Black Lager, and rum cake with Coconut Mandarin Citra Dog aged in rum barrels.
Tickets are $50, plus tax and tip. To make a reservation, call 330-253-1234.
Starkbier Fest
Willoughby Brewing Co., 4057 Erie St., Willoughby, will host a Starkbier Fest at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The tasting event — which focuses on strong beers — will feature Willoughby BDA Russian Imperial Stout, Willoughby She’s Soo Heavy Scottish Strong Ale, Willoughby-The Brew Kettle Barrel-aged Collaborator Doppelbock, The Brew Kettle Jack Hammer Barley Wine, Fat Head’s Battle Axe Baltic Porter and Great Lakes Chillwave Double IPA.
The brewpub also has secured a special keg of Schlenkerla Fastenbier for the occasion.
The strong beers run the gamut of high-alcohol styles and brewmaster Rick Seibt and other Willoughby brewers will discuss the beers and styles during the tasting. The event also will include food, but the menu is still being worked on.
Tickets are $40 and include a souvenir glass, 6- to 8-ounce pours and food. Tickets are limited, with seating for only about 60 people. They can be purchased at the brewpub or reservations can be made by calling 440-975-0202.
Play ball!
Just in time for the start of the Major League Baseball season, the Daily Meal reported on the “Top Baseball Stadiums for Craft Beer.”
Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati ranked No. 3. Progressive Field in Cleveland was No. 13.
To read the full report, go to www.thedailymeal.com/top-10-baseball-stadiums-craft-beer.
World Beer Cup
Ohio will be well-represented at the World Beer Cup in Denver.
At least 14 Ohio brewers — including Akron’s Thirsty Dog and Hoppin’ Frog — have entered the competition, which begins Sunday.
To see the full list from Ohio, go to www.ohio.com/beer.
Great Lakes ranking
The Brewers Association in Boulder, Colo., this week released its annual lists of the biggest U.S. craft and overall brewers.
Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland ranks 20th and 27th, respectively. It’s the only Ohio-based brewery on the lists.
To see the full lists, go to http://tinyurl.com/m2lk3uq.
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.