The third annual Cincinnati Beer Week runs from Feb. 6-13, and its shaping up to be the events biggest year yet, according to Lindsey Bonadonna-Roeper, Cincinnati Beer Week president and craft beer maven. (Yes, thats her incredibly fun title.)
More than 160 events, including classes, beer dinners, taproom takeovers, art exhibits and more, are planned at about 99 bars, shops and restaurants around town during the events eight days.
Thats up from about 75 participating venues last year, Bonadonna-Roeper said quite a jump for what started as a grassroots community effort by a group of sales reps, retailer reps, brewery reps and owners, beer bloggers and others interested in the local beer scene.
We really encourage all of our venues to do events that are compelling and fun, and hopefully educational, too, she said. Our goal is to expose people to new things, to raise awareness of the Cincinnati beer community and also for people to have a good time.
In short, its about education, entertainment and exposure to what organizers call well-crafted beer, beer thats been brewed with quality ingredients and a thoughtful recipe, Bonadonna-Roeper said.
Among the beers available to try is this years Cincinnati Beer Week collaboration brew: Hostivit, an imperial pilsner. Its an effort by many of the local breweries: Bad Tom Brewing, Blank Slate Brewing Company, Cellar Dweller Craft Beers, Christian Moerlein Brewing Company, Fifty West Brewing Company, Listerman/Triple Digit Brewing Company, MadTree Brewing Company, Mt. Carmel Brewing Company, Rhinegeist Brewery and Rivertown Brewing Company participated.
The collaboration brews name comes courtesy of Richard Dubé, head brewer at Christian Moerlein, where the collaboration was brewed this year. Hostivit was the name of the seventh and last mythical Bohemian prince from 11th-century Czechoslovakia, Bonadonna-Roeper said; further, hosti means guests and vitat means to welcome, she added. So its a nod to the beer styles heritage (pilsner originated in Czechoslovakia), Cincinnati (seven princes stand in for the citys seven hills) and the nature of the collaboration (the host brewer welcomes all of the other brewers to brew it).
To find Hostivit, visit [137]the events website and click the venues tab; almost all of the participating venues will carry the limited release, Bonadonna-Roeper said. What's a beer drinker to do?
With more than 160 events to choose from, figuring out a plan of attack can be daunting. Bonadonna-Roeper offers these tips for getting the most out of Beer Week:
Plan ahead and make reservations for events that require them early.
Choose a mix of events that incorporate breweries and experiences you know you will love, as well as breweries and experiences you havent been exposed to yet. Or, if youve never participated in Beer Week, give it a try.
Take advantage of the local beer scene in Cincinnati and plan to tour local breweries.
Check out the weeks charity events. These events will not only serve well-crafted beers, but they will also donate a portion of sales to charity.
Dont be shy about asking questions at the events or registered venues. Every venue shares a great passion for well-crafted beer and loves to talk about it and help you to find new beers to enjoy, she said.
Dont think that Beer Week is just for the beer evangelists; it is also designed to entertain and engage the well-crafted curious.
Go with friends or go alone. It is safe to say, even if you dont go with friends, after you leave an event, youre bound to have made some new ones! she said.
Be responsible: Drink water, stay nourished and have a responsible plan for transportation just in case some of the beer catches up to you unexpectedly.
For a full list of events, visit
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