Valley filling up with craft brews
By JIM CYPHERT
BOARDMAN
Not long ago, scoring quality craft beer was a bit of a chore.
Craft-beer lovers needed to depart the Mahoning Valley and head to Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus or Pittsburgh to hit a craft brewery with the kind of goods they were looking for.
Fast forward to 2017 and it’s more convenient than ever in the Valley to acquire great-tasting craft beer.
There are about a dozen craft breweries in the Valley – from Austintown to Columbiana to New Castle to Sharon to Youngstown. And that number keeps growing.
BJ’s Brewhouse opened its doors in Boardman last week. Noble Creature Cask House in Youngstown, Modern Methods Brewing in Warren, Brix ’n Brews as well as a new brewery at the Vineyards at Pine Lake in Columbiana, and likely a few others, will open their doors later this year.
While local breweries get much of the attention, there are dozens more places to grab a pint, fill a growler or take home a four- or six-pack – from grocery stores to craft-beer bars to specialty retailers.
Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association in Boulder, Colo., said convenience and craft beer go hand in hand, especially for younger Americans.
“Craft beer has taken a stronghold across the country, obviously,” Watson said. “Millennials are wanting to integrate craft beer into their everyday lifestyles. What used to be reserved for a special occasion, craft beer is becoming more of an everyday fixture.”
Watson said craft beer is becoming far more common at ball games, zoos, festivals and other community events, and that grocery stores and specialized retailers keep expanding their inventory.
“Many events and businesses are making craft beer readily available,” Watson said. “Offering a variety of craft beer is something many do as a way to attract customers. It works.”
One local business adding convenience for craft-beer-loving customers is the Churchill Commons Giant Eagle in Liberty. Like many Valley grocery stores, the supermarket has been expanding its craft-beer portfolio for several years.
But, since November 2016, Churchill Commons Giant Eagle has gone a step further by offering craft beer on tap – a trend that’s taken craft-beer-friendly markets like Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus by storm the past five years.
At the Liberty Giant Eagle, shoppers can enjoy a pint at the bar and they can fill a growler to go. A recent visit to the store found eight beers on tap – from Austintown’s Paladin to Cleveland’s Fat Heads, Great Lakes and Platform, Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist, and Michigan’s Bell’s.
The jury is still out as to whether more Valley grocery stores will offer craft beer on tap for purchase. But craft-beer lovers are certainly keeping their fingers crossed.
Craft-beer specialists like Vintage Estate and Magic Tree, both on South Avenue in Boardman, and The Pour House Bar & Grill in Poland and Canfield have seen exploding success for several years. Each offers dozens, if not hundreds, of craft-beer options, and the inventory is often changing.
But a new wave of national craft-beer bars and specialty markets is picking up steam in the Valley. One such specialty retailer is the Casual Pint, which is expected to open next month in the Shops at Boardman Park.
Justin Homer is the local franchise owner of the Casual Pint of Youngstown.
“We’re all about convenience for craft-beer lovers here in the Mahoning Valley,” Homer said. “Our patrons will be able to enjoy a cold beer on site, create a custom six-pack or get a growler filled to go.”
Homer has been studying the national and local craft-beer scenes to find ways to add variety and opportunities for Valley craft-beer lovers to get what they want when they want it.
“Our location is modeled after some of the best beer gardens in the world, like those in Germany,” Homer said. “We want Casual Pint of Youngstown to be a place where variety is always there. We want it to be a place the whole family can enjoy, a place to slow down and unwind.”
If Valley craft-beer lovers are stuck inside and can’t make it out to a local brewery, grocery store or specialty retailer, no problem. Online delivery services like Tavour out of Seattle are there to fill the void.
Tavour claims to deliver the world’s best craft beers to its customers’ doorsteps. Through Tavour, customers order craft beer from across the country they might not otherwise have access to.
Tavour subscribers span 15 states, and according to community manager Megan Birch, the service hopes to expand to as many states as possible.
“Customers have told me that opening their Tavour box generates excitement like Christmas morning,” Birch said. “Our subscribers get access to beers from around the country that they may have never heard of. That’s the appeal.”
Birch said the Tavour team reaches out to breweries every day and travels across the country to meet brewers, get to know their missions and find beers that meet the high expectations of craft beer lovers.
Despite the rigors, the craft-beer consumer-convenience trend puts on retailers, the craft-beer consumer is still king – or queen.
“People get excited by variety when it comes to craft beer,” Watson said. “While that’s great for the consumer, this makes it extremely challenging on the part of the craft-beer retailer. However, I don’t expect the trend to slow down any time soon.”