Tag Archives: Brew Kettle

2020 Year in Review

So another year is about to draw to a close. And with that, it is time to look back on my brewery and taproom visits for the year. At the start of the year, I set myself a goal of 52 breweries/taprooms, an average of one per week. By the middle of March, I had visited 17 breweries and 5 taprooms, so I was well on course to meet my target. And then, as we all know, large parts of the United States started to go into lockdown mode in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. I was one of those individuals who took the threat of Covid-19 seriously, its appearance severely curtailed my brewery and taproom visits. Indeed, in the period since mid-March I have only visited 3 breweries and 1 taproom (all in my home state of Ohio). So, in total, I visited 20 breweries and 6 taprooms during 2020 – exactly half of my original target. This compares with 46 in 2017, 66 in 2018, and 63 in 2019.

Before providing more statistics on my 2020 visits, let me explain the difference between a brewery and a taproom. The difference is quite simple. A brewery is an establishment where beer is produced, whereas a taproom is an establishment owned by a brewery that sells but does not produce beer on-site.

Of the 20 breweries that I visited 5 were in Ohio and 15 were in the United States but outside of Ohio. All of my non-Ohio brewery visits were in California, Florida, Michigan, and Nebraska – states that I had the opportunity to visit before Covid-19 lockdowns were implemented. Of the 20 breweries, I had visited 4 before (all in the Toledo metropolitan area and indicated by italics in the list below). Of the 6 taprooms that I visited 4 were in San Diego, CA, 1 was in Omaha, NE, and 1 was in Hudson, OH.

Unfortunately, there are no international breweries or taprooms on this year’s list. For the first time since 2003 I did not venture outside of the United States. With several vaccines now available hope that I will be able to resume my travels and brewery/taproom visits during 2021. Due to the uncertainty that still exists with regard to the impact that Covid-19 will have on our activities during 2021 I will not set myself a target.

As is my tradition, I have provided one photograph from each of the breweries/taprooms that I visited during 2020. To me they capture the beauty and diversity of the world of craft beer. I hope that you enjoy them.

Ohio Breweries (5)

Non-Ohio US Breweries (15)

Ohio Brewery Taprooms (1)

Non-Ohio Brewery Taprooms (5)

Pizza Port, Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA
Green Bench Brewing Co., St. Petersburg, FL
Inside The Five Brewing Company, Sylvania, OH
Swamp Head Brewery, Gainesville, FL
Brickway Brewery & Distillery, Omaha, NE
Black Frog Brewery, Holland, OH
Cigar City Brewing Company, Tampa, FL
Salt Springs Brewery, Saline, MI
Blue Monkey Brewing Company, North Royalton, OH
First Magnitude Brewing Company, Gainesville, FL
Thorn Brewing, San Diego, CA
St. Pete Brewing Company, St. Petersburg, FL
Upstream Brewing Company, Omaha, NE
4KD Crick Brewery, Defiance, OH
Patron Saints Brewery, Toledo, OH
Ypsi Alehouse, Ypsilanti, MI
Cycle Brewing, St. Petersburg, FL
Coronado Brewing Company, San Diego Tasting Room, San Diego, CA
3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg, FL
Coronado Brewpub, Coronado, CA
Iron Fist Brewing Co, San Diego, CA
Thunderhead Brewing Company, Omaha, NE
Mike Hess Brewing, Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA
Border X Brewing, San Diego, CA
Pure Project, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
The Brew Kettle, Hudson, OH

Buy Me, I’m Local

I'm Local - a six-pack of Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale from Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, MI
I’m Local – a six-pack of Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale from Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, MI

I was in my local Kroger grocery store last week. Those of you who are Facebook friends with me will know it as Scary Kroger (yes people have been shot in the parking lot). I pretty much follow the same pattern winding my way through the aisles every time I go there. The last aisle I usually wander down is the one with beer in it. I do not buy much beer from Kroger but always like to check out what they have to offer. Last time I was there I noticed that a number of beers had the words “I’m Local” next to or incorporated into the price tag. Kroger have been using these “I’m Local” designations for quite some time but I never paid much attention to them before. So noticing them got me thinking – what does it mean for a beer (or any Continue reading Buy Me, I’m Local