No one has written more extensively and authoritatively on craft beer in the Buckeye state than Rick Armon. A journalist by trade, Rick has published two books on the beers of Ohio – Ohio Breweries in 2011 and 50 Must Try Beers of Ohio in 2017 – in addition to his influential Ohio Beer Blog that covered Ohio beer and breweries throughout the teens. We couldn’t think of a better guest for our 50th episode, so Mark and I made a pilgrimage to Akron where Rick was kind enough to sit down with us and talk about the past, present and future of Ohio beer. In this conversation we look back at the early days of craft beer before brewery taprooms became a thing and Rick talks about Ohio City before and after Great Lakes launched Ohio’s first craft brewery in 1988. We talk about the dramatic expansion of craft breweries and the rise of the IPA during the teens, and remember the King of Ohio beer competition, before finishing with some thoughts on what lies ahead for craft breweries. Along the way we try four killer beers from Rick’s 50 must try list. It’s a must listen for anyone with an interest in the unprecedented rise of craft beer in Ohio and the US in general.
Don’t forget you can find this episode and earlier ones on our podcast page, as well as Apple Music, Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, and various other podcast apps. Just search for the All Things Beer podcast, and don’t hesitate to leave a comment or a rating.
Beers Reviewed
- Edmund Fitzgerald Porter by Great Lakes Brewing
- Bodhi by Columbus Brewing Company
- Albino Stout by Butcher and the Brewer
- Barrel Aged Oil of Aphrodite by Jackie O’s
Related Links
- King of Ohio IPA Crown Goes To …
- Tasting Notes and Further Ramblings on the King of Ohio IPA Finals
- King of Ohio Session Beers 2016 – Results and Reflections
- The King of Ohio Title Returns to Central Ohio
- Results and Reflections From the 2019 King of Ohio IPA Contest
- Ohio Beer Treks Part 1 – Cleveland Rocks
- Ohio Beer Treks Part 2 – The Christmas Ale Trail
- Ohio vs the World Part 1 – Bodhi vs Heady Topper vs Sip of Sunshine
Pat's Pints 
Great trip down Memory Lane. I dug out both of Rick’s books and looked through them one more time. Seems like forever ago.
It’s somewhat jarring to remember that we once lived in a world without brewery tap rooms or citra hops or canned craft beer. I will say that some of the classic beers, ones that have existed since those days, still taste pretty good when we revisit them.