Cincinnati Beer Week begins
Here's what you need to know to navigate the 160+ beer-centric events
Feb. 5, 2014 3:37 PM


Rhinegeist Brewery is one of the venues participating in Cincinnati Beer Week, which starts today. / David Sorcher / Special for the Enquirer

Written by
Shauna Steigerwald

The third annual Cincinnati Beer Week runs from Feb. 6-13, and it’s shaping up to be the event’s biggest year yet, according to Lindsey Bonadonna-Roeper, Cincinnati Beer Week president and craft beer maven. (Yes, that’s 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 event’s eight days.

That’s 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, it’s about education, entertainment and exposure to what organizers call “well-crafted beer,” beer that’s been brewed with quality ingredients and a thoughtful recipe, Bonadonna-Roeper said.

Among the beers available to try is this year’s Cincinnati Beer Week collaboration brew: Hostivit, an imperial pilsner. It’s 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 brew’s 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 it’s a nod to the beer style’s heritage (pilsner originated in Czechoslovakia), Cincinnati (seven princes stand in for the city’s seven hills) and the nature of the collaboration (the host brewer welcomes all of the other brewers to brew it).

To find Hostivit, visit the event’s 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 haven’t been exposed to yet. Or, if you’ve 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 week’s charity events. These events will not only serve “well-crafted” beers, but they will also donate a portion of sales to charity.

• Don’t 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.

• Don’t 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 don’t go with friends, after you leave an event, you’re 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 http://cincinnatibeerweek.com/events/
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20140...eek-begins

I'm really excited for this. Anyone planning on going?