Attention Home Brewers!

I received the following email from someone interested in casting home brewers in Ohio for a possible documentary! 

Hi Heather,

 

Hope this email finds you well. 

 

My name is Francis Poon, and I’m a producer with part2 pictures, a TV/ film documentary production company here in NYC. We are currently developing a television series that aims to take a fun and immersive look into the competitive world of amateur beer brewing. 

 

I’d love to connect and talk about the homebrewing community in Ohio. I’m especially interested in brewing teams, clubs and stores. At this stage of development, we are really trying to identify strong, fun, dynamic and diverse brewers and brew clubs to feature on the show to illustrate the wealth of the homebrew experience.

 

I would also very much appreciate if you could potentially pass along our casting notice either via a blog post/ word of mouth/ mailing list if possible. The document is attached, and I would also be happy to discuss any and all questions you might have.

 

To tell you a little more about our company, part2 pictures has produced a variety of high quality documentary programming for Discovery, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, National Geographic, PBS, The History Channel and other major broadcasters. Our programming puts an emphasis on the individual; their take on a unique world and how they operate within it. Our ultimate goal is to create a quality program that will show the passion, competition, camaraderie and fun within this unique world.

 

Thank you so much for considering this request, and I hope to hear from you soon!

 

cheers,

Francis

 

Here is a copy of the Casting letter, get in touch with him if you are interested in being a part of this!

SEEKING AMATEUR BREWERS FOR NEW TV SERIES

Are you insanely passionate about making beer? Are you an amateur brewer who competes?
Are you part of a group of friends, social club, or family who brew together? Do you devote
every waking second (or all of your free time) to making beer?

A major cable network and Part2 Pictures, an award-winning documentary film and television
company based in New York City have teamed up to develop a quality TV show about the fun,
competitive world of amateur beer brewing.

We are currently casting people who represent the wide-range of folks making beer – especially
those of you who are very active members of a brew club or beer brewing group. We’d love to
speak with you to learn more about the where’s, how’s and why’s of brewing beer.
WE ARE SEEKING:
• Amateur brewers who participate in competitions (or will be entering their first
competition)
• Members of a social brewers club who brew together
• Colleagues or friends who are part of a brew team
• Siblings or a whole family of brewers
• We will also consider individual brewers not part of a cohesive group
• Brewers with a “friendly rivalry” – or who have someone they’ve been dying to outbrew
• We are open to people who have been doing this for many years or just starting out, or
amateurs who have the dream of going pro
• We are interested in people who just LOVE beer
• Big personalities and huge passion for making beer a must!
If you fit the description or know someone who does, please email:
casting@part2pictures.com with the following info:
• name, email and phone number
• a recent photo of yourself and your “brewmates”
• where you live
• why you love making beer
• how long you’ve been brewing beer
• describe your group (or indicate if you brew and compete on your own)
• your local brew club (if applicable)
• details of the competition circuit (how many competitions you participate in, when you
will be next competing, etc.)
• describe the type of beer(s) you make and why you think it’s the best!
• why you’d love to participate in a show about beer brewers

About Us:
Part2 Pictures is a reputable television company that has produced a variety of high-quality
documentary programming for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, National Geographic, the
Discovery Channel, PBS, The History Channel and other major broadcasters. We are
committed to telling great stories about people, their take on a world and how they operate
within it.

Thank you!
casting@part2pictures.com

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A great opportunity!

I received a few emails this week that sound intriguing! One was for some of our home brewing ladies to be interviewed for a documentary film!

And I just received this email yesterday. Sounds like a great trip for any of you that may be interested!

Hi Heather,

 

My name is Tom Conrad — I’m writing you because I am passionate about good beer, good brewing and good food. I’m excited to be rolling out a Craft Beer and Brewery Tour this fall, which includes a special focus on women in brewing in Germany. It’s the only tour of its kind.

 

We’ll be getting the word out to a broader audience soon, but we’re making a special effort to reach out early on to you and other women in the craft beer and brewing community. The beer-women paradigm is shifting and this issue is here to stay. The fall tour offers a rare chance to meet inspiring women brewers in Germany and celebrate their work, so we’re convinced beer-minded women in the U.S. will want to hear about it.

 

This is a one-of-a-kind travel opportunity for women connoisseurs, craft beer enthusiasts and activists, brewers, somms, servers and other women in the beer and brewing community. It will be important to to have a good mix of women beer lovers in the group, so we hope women will respond with the kind of enthusiasm this new initiative deserves. 

 

I would like to invite you to join us on the Beer Trail this fall. Combine your passion for craft beer and brewing with an exciting travel adventure you won’t forget! Visit us at Treasures of Europe Tours. Read about the trip in detail and reserve a spot soon. Get in touch if you have questions or need more information. We would love to hear from you.

 

I would also like to ask you to help spread the word. Alert your fellow craft beer lovers, local tasting group, craft breweries in the area, home brewers, people in the food and restaurant scene, Slow Food enthusiasts, activists and others. If you blog about beer or food, or if you write for other media, please alert your readers to this opportunity.

 

Share the Love…

• Feel free to use the news release and photos below.
• Include an alert and photo on your blog, company or group website, in your next mailing, and on your calendar.
• Contact us for an interview about the trip, the destinations and the people we’ll be meeting.
• Ask us for a squib you can put out at your bar, brewpub, restaurant or shop.
• Tell us what you think and share your suggestions! Pass along your ideas for getting the word out to women in the craft beer community.
• Like us on Facebook @ Treasures-of-Europe-Tours. Check us out on Twitter @ TreasEurTours, and re-pin our awesome photos on Pinterest @ treasofeurope. 

If you can join us this fall, that would be great — it’s going to be an exciting, unforgettable trip! If you can spread the word to the wider community, that would be a terrific help. Thanks so much — we hope to hear from you. 

 

Yours,

 

Tom Conrad

 

Treasures of Europe Tours

June 7th Event!

We will be taking a tour on the Cleveland Brew Bus!

We will begin the tour at 11:30 at Indigo Imp.

From there we will go to Market Garden/Nano Brew and have lunch.

We will finish our bus tour at The Bottle House in Cleveland Heights.

Prices for members are 50$ and non members are 55$.

 

See our website burningriverbarleysangels.com or check us out on facebook for payment and full details!

 

Hope to see you all there!

 

Cheers!

Heather

Hoppin Frog Event…

I just wanted to thank everyone personally, for coming out to Akron and making this event such a huge success! I think we can all agree that we tried some incredible beers and the food and service were top notch. A special thank you to Shawn, and Scott for executing the event and presenting the pairings with such expertise. 

Pictures are up on our facebook page and on our website. For members who weren’t able to attend, I have your pint glasses and t-shirts. I will bring them to our next event. 

Please let me know where you are all thinking you might like to go in the spring. Hopefully Doreen Lyon’s Craft Beer Bar will be open and we can hold it in a place owned by our own members! 

Post your thoughts, and again, I had a great time on Saturday and can’t wait til the next event!

Heather

Hoppin Frog Tasting on 2/15/14

I just spoke to Shawn from Hoppin Frog today, and the date for the 15th is all set. The time will be from 12 noon, tip 2pm. The price for those of you who have paid for membership is 25$ per person, and for non members, 30$ per person. 

 

Seating is extremely limited, the tasting room is very small and does not generally accommodate large parties. 

 

I have 12 tickets remaining for sale after myself and 2 others that were already sold, for a total of 15 people.  For those of you who purchased memberships, I will bring your tshirts and/or pint glasses to the event for you. 

 

Please make sure you go to burningriverbarleysangels.com to purchase your tickets. Again, seating is limited, so only 12 tickets will be sold to this event. 

 Here is our menu!

 

Here is our menu!

 

Shared plates of Roasted Red Pepper Hummus & Gourmet Charcuterie Boards featuring a great selection of meats and cheeses.

A flight board consisting of five 5 oz samples.  As of today we are pretty sure that we can offer the following beer, but availability is always subject to change.  In that event I would notify you and find an option comparable in price prior to your visit. 

– B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout 
This Bodacious Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout will crush you like no other! This is the grand-daddy of all stout styles, with an intensely deep roasted and full bodied flavor. A robust hop character adds a refreshing balance.  Two time GOLD medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival! 

– Bourbon Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher
Made from our B.O.R.I.S. Imperial Stout, that was rated one of the World’s 50 Best Beers, and won the Gold Medal at the GABF in 2008. BARREL-AGED B.O.R.I.S. has picked up rich characters of vanilla, dark fruit, oak, and spice. It’s unbelievably complex and savory.  Just recently won a bronze at the Great American Beer Festival.  Former 2012 GOLD medal winner at the World Beer cup and Cleveland International Beer Fest!

– Hoppin’ to Heaven IPA
Our flagship single IPA.  Raise your glass to the heavens in a toast to HOPS – the spice of beer! This classic American I.P.A. features the finest American hops to add a spicy, assertive, and citrusy character to its full-bodied, rich malt taste.

– Hop Dam Triple IPA
Some say “bigger is better!”. At Hoppin’ Frog, we built a massive hop dam to handle the enormous amount of hops added to this colossal American Triple I.P.A. An intense experience of citrus and piney hop character is complemented by layers of rich malt flavor. Behold our new standard for hoppy beers.

– Bourbon Barrel Aged Outta Kilter Scotch Style Red Ale
The rich and malty character of our Outta Kilter scotch style red ale is masterfully complemented by barrel aging, as the “angel’s share” slowly evaporates resulting in a wonderful concentrating of flavors. The full flavor experience goes one step further with the vanillin undertones from the oak wood of the barrel, adding a savory, satisfying depth of flavor, ultimately creating a wonderful sensory experience.

Hoppin Frog Beer Pairing

Updates! I just spoke to Shawn at Hoppin Frog, and confirmed the date for 2/15. Again, the hours would be from 12 noon tip 2pm. He is working on a pre-set menu for us, which will be a selection of a few dinners to choose from, and a beer pairing of up to 5 beers. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to tour the brewery at that time, but the brewer will discuss our pairings with us and answer any questions. 

Seating will be very limited, there is a max of 15 people. So I can only sell 14 tickets. I will let you all know the price and when you can purchase tickets and select your meals. There will also be a vegetarian option for those of you who require that. 

Also, Kellie Rubesne has graciously offered to extend her reservation at Ballantine’s in Downtown Willoughby for the Southern Tier beer and food pairing dinner on 3/10. The price is around 35$ per person and will include delicious food and wonderful beers from Souther Tier. Any of you who would like to attend this dinner, please contact either Kellie Rubesne or Ann Zofchak for details!

Purchase Burning River Barley’s Angels Merchandise!

For any of you that missed out on the t-shirt with membership, you can purchase t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, etc. at the cafe press site. Membership still includes a pint glass, discount event prices and yearly members only event, so go to burningriverbarleysangels.com and join!

go here to purchase your clothing with our super cool logo!

http://www.cafepress.com/burningriverbarleysangels

Craft Beer Scene in Ohio…

As all of you know, we are very lucky here in Cleveland to have a wealth of different breweries close to home. We have Great Lakes, Market Garden, Hoppin Frog (in Akron) Indigo Imp, Willoughby Brewing, The Brew Kettle and many others! And, if you’re in for a short road trip, Jackie O’s brewery and Columbus brewery in the Athens and Columbus areas respectively, have delicious offerings only available here in Ohio.

Ohio is also seeing increased distribution from breweries outside the state that previously were unavailable to us, such as the recent inclusion of New Belgium Brewing just yesterday. I have been lucky to have had New Belgium in other states, and it is a welcome and delicious addition to the beer sold in our fine state.

Still, we continue to see beers sold in other states that border us, but not here in Ohio. Much of this is due to the laws restricting beer sales by alcohol percentage. Currently, the highest ABV (alcohol by volume) percentage available for sale in Ohio is, 12%. This number is restrictive to some of the large breweries in California, Oregon and elsewhere that can see ABV’s of 14%-16% and higher from some of their more solid stouts, porters, and imperial IPA’s. Even some of the beers brewed just across the border in Michigan, are not seen here in Ohio.

This restrictive cap on ABV makes it impossible to purchase rarer, or nationally recognized beers here in Ohio, and is even worse for our own breweries. Currently, restricted to the 12% cap, our brewers cannot be as experimental and creative as they could be, which makes it very difficult for them to compete in a national or global market. Not often do we see an imperial stout, barley wine, or triple IPA brewed by our local breweries because it is just too difficult to brew a proper beer of that caliber within the confines of a 12% ABV.

Fortunately, there are members of our State Government who are working hard to increase that limit from 12% to 21%. State Representative Dan Ramos (D) of Lorain, has been working on introducing legislation that will support that increase and benefit the residents of the State of Ohio. One blogger, Jeremy Rupp has been in contact with Mr. Ramos, and keeps an updated blog of the progress of this legislation. Click here to read his blog. Make sure to sign the petition to increase the ABV, there is a link located in the most recent post. Hopefully, in the not so distant future, we can purchase items from breweries such as Firestone Walker, Gigantic Brewing, Deschutes, Ninkaski, Russian River, Kern River and many, many more who produce amazing, higher ABV beers not available to us here in Ohio.

In the meantime, we can all sit around and enjoy a delicious Citramax Ipa from Market Garden, or a Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Great Lakes, and don’t forget about the amazing, wonderful, delicious Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter from Willoughby Brewing!  Breweries are popping up everywhere, like Black Box Brewing in Westlake, and Portside Distillery and Brewery in the Warehouse District, which will be opening it’s restaurant/brewery/distillery sometime in the spring of 2014.  It’s an exciting time for beer lovers in Ohio, we are getting national recognition for some of the beers brewed by our breweries and becoming competitive in a market dominated by the west coast.

Let’s all support State Representative Dan Ramos as he continues to advocate for our breweries and for craft beer aficionado’s in Ohio. You can also contact your local representatives and express your support in writing as this bill becomes assigned to a committee.

Cheers!

Heather

Market Garden event….another success!

Last night’s event was a success! So glad everyone braved the snow and cold to make it to Market Garden for a great meal and delicious beers! So nice meeting all of you, and seeing some of you again! I’ll post some pictures today here, and on the website. Thank you to Leslie Basalla for organizing another outstanding event and for the informative tour of the brewery. We threw around some good ideas last night, hopefully our next event will be in Akron at Hoppin Frog brewery, and if anyone is interested in volunteering as a group at the Cleveland Winter Beer Fest let me know! Roberta has already signed up! 

I hope you all have a safe and merry Christmas and New Years, and I will see all of you again in January. Don’t forget to join our group by going to burningriverbarleysangels.com!

Tickets no longer available!

We sold 18 tickets for this event, which is 2 over our original seating limit! Yay! 

We are going to have a good turnout this time, I can’t wait to see what market garden has planned for us!

I need to plan the first 2014 event. Any suggestions would be great, I was thinking possibly that Fat Heads might be a good place to start. Maybe even a trip to Akron for Hoppin Frog? I hear that the food at their new tasting room is amazing.

Don’t forget, that members who join and pay the annual fee will get a t-shirt & pint glass with our new logo, discounts on events, and one annual members only event.  

If you are interested in joining, please go to our website, burningriverbarleysangels.com, all information will be posted there.

See you all on Saturday!

Heather