Great Lakes Strikes Again

On the stumbling heels of Christmas Ale comes the next slobber-inducing sensation at Great Lakes Brewing Company, Tempus Fugit. According to the resident experts (whom I assume are Luke and his minions),


"a complex strong/old ale brewed with honey and five different malts that features a medium hop presence."

What does this mean to you and me? Don't drink more than two if you plan on driving anywhere or three if you're planning on a run for public office. Perhaps the brewers had this in mind when they named the beast, as the ever reliable Wikipedia notes that -

"The meaning is sometimes used less colloquially as: "Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes," expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment." (emphasis mine)

Thanks, guys. Now not only are you brewing unique, excellent, award-winning beers that will knock us off our respective bar stools, you're rubbing our Latin-illiterate faces in it. Cool, real cool...

No word on the label, though if I had my say it would show a picture of my freshman dorm room. It will be available (in the brewpub only) on January 2nd, leaving just enough time between New Year's Eve and then to rehydrate.

My First Start-Up

I realize I've been slacking a bit with the blogging (to your utter dismay I'm sure), but I have a good reason. I'm putting together the requisite materials to open my own business. What will it be, you ask?

NoCoToCo will offer excursions based upon differing themes throughout the Midwest (and beyond, eventually). Interested in beer, perhaps? Have a free weekend and want to get away? Well, consider this:

Three days, a chartered bus with all the amenities. Start at the eminent Great Lakes Brewery in Ohio City, where we lay out the itinerary and enjoy a toast to the weekend fun to come. First stop is Ann Arbor (the enemy's lair, I know) for lunch and a tour of Jolly Pumpkin Brewing Company, then on to Kalamazoo for dinner and a rendezvous at my beloved Bell's. An evening free to your leisure, overnight in a three to four star hotel, and on to Munster, Indiana in the morning. There we visit Three Floyd's Brewing Company, crafter of the immensely popular Dark Lord Imperial Stout. After some lunch and a few libations, it onward to Chi-town for some fun at Goose Island Brewing Company and a Cubs game. After the game enjoy a free evening in Chicago and another night at a superior hotel. Sunday we board the bus and roll home sweet home by 5:00 p.m.; refreshed and rejuvenated. Sound good? I thought so too.

There will be other themed trips available as well, for antique lovers, oenophiles, or sports fans. How about a trip with 15 of your closest friends to an away Browns game and a designated ride all the way home? As I said, I'm working on the details, and will have more information in the near future. I would certainly appreciate any feedback you might provide; shoot me an email if you're so inclined.

Also, in a related note, there is a Future of Cleveland party this evening (April 22nd) at the beautifully restored Fenn Tower on the campus of Cleveland State University. Cool Cleveland, the sponsor of the event, bills the event as follows:

"While enjoying open bar and tasty appetizers, you'll discuss Cleveland's future with eight of CSU's executives-in-residence - top experts recruited from business, law, technology, politics, education and more - where you can pick their brains for career advice and make valuable connections."

See and be seen!

Afternoon Delight (For Beer Lovers)

Winter Warmer is in itself anachronistic, but when prefaced with the premise that said alliterative combination is in reference to a festival celebrating the strongest beers of the season, it is quite apt. I can attest that I came out of the third annual festival warmer than when I went in. Held at Rock Bottom Brewery in Cleveland's Flats, this installment treated revelers with the work of 13 local breweries.

The ticket, $30, was again raised for this year's event (as it was last year), though the price of admission did entitle attendees to feast on a small but satisfying buffet lunch. But let's get real, no one bought their ticket for the food.

The beer was the main event, and boy did it deliver. Historically, brewers opted for stronger recipes for the cold winter months. Those worthy brews were the impetus behind the festival. Hundreds of hop-heads, amateur brewers and curious beer lovers crowded into Rock Bottom, armed with the complimentary pilsner glass and 15 sample tickets. Katie and I met up with my parents as we have done for the past two years (it's become a greatly anticipated tradition for the Simmons'), and got down to business.

The star of the show, in my own humble opinion, was Hoppin' Frog's India Pale Ale (IPA) entry, Hoppin' To Heaven. Frog, from Akron, consistently puts out much-admired styles available in 22 ounce 'bombers'. My only beef with them is that they don't produce the traditional six pack, a hindrance to wider distribution and interest. The Hoppin' To Heaven was chocked full of hops, but well balanced by a spicy, almost tea-like malt. There are plenty of IPA's that lay claim to extremely high IBU's (International Bitterness Units), but there are few that offer the complexity of this. I don't think I'd pick over my beloved Bell's Two Hearted Ale, but it would be close.

Other winners included new Cleveland brewery Indigo Imp's cask-conditioned Winter Solstice, Brewkeepers' Olde 21 IPA, and the ever popular Great Lakes Brewing Company's (GLBC) Blackout Stout. Surprisingly, GLBC didn't offer a beer unique to the festival, or one not available at the Restaurant in Ohio City. I asked Luke, the company's head brewer, why no surprises this year. He said that between preparing the upcoming seasonals and the increasing production of flagship brands, there just weren't enough hours in the day. I could go on ad infinitum about the marvelous offerings, but that would bore all but the most devoted beer lovers. I'll just say that there was no place on Earth that most attendees would rather have been than in cloudy, cold Cleveland on a Sunday in February... except maybe Belgium.

Named for the massive 2004 blackout that darkened much of the Eastern Seaboard, as well as the Cleveland area, not for the condition prompted by excessive drinking.