By Jim Cyphert, Mahoning Valley Flight Crew

MadTree Brewing Co. has arrived in Northeast Ohio. The Cincinnati-based brewery’s craft beers are now available at retailers, bars and restaurants right here in the Mahoning Valley.

MadTree kicks off in Northeast Ohio today with its four core year-round beers — PsycHOPathy (India pale ale), Lift (Kolsch-style ale), Happy Amber (amber ale) and PSA (pale ale).

The brewery also will have a versatile rotation of seasonal products, including Shade (gose) and Entropic Theory (India pale ale).

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MadTree is being distributed locally by Cavalier Distributing through its Cleveland warehouse.

The Mahoning Valley Flight Crew has some experience with the MadTree brand. Last month we toured the brewery and sampled a few MadTree beers.

Opened in 2013, MadTree is one of Cincinnati’s largest breweries. Earlier this year, a brand new, state-of-the-art $18 million brewing operation and tasting room opened.

MadTree’s brewing capacity is about 35,000 barrels of beer annually. And, there’s plenty of room at the brewery for expansion for growth in new markets. MadTree also launched in Louisville, Ky., in August.

The first Ohio brewery to can all of its beers, MadTree has taken the Henry Ford approach to business — quality is job one. Many features at the new brewery are designed for consistent product quality.

There’s a bit of a science to brewing good beer, and MadTree brewers could be considered mad scientists. There’s a dedicated lab for quality consistency. And there are five full-time employees working in the lab.

Plus every MadTree associate is schooled in the brewing process and actually gets lessons in brewing beer. Therefore, 85 experts are out and about in the community tasting beers, so if there’s a problem, it can be addressed quickly.

The Flight Crew took a few moments out of our busy schedules to sample the MadTree beers now available in the Mahoning Valley beginning. Here’s what we had to say:

Roger Gillespie

Entropic Theory IPA (ABV 7.5%, IBU 7-)

“From chaos emerges order. Entropic Theory is an American IPA. It boasts an ABV of 7.5% with a tease of 70 IBUs. Entropic Theory comes across much softer than the hop slap of the West Coast-style IPAs. You catch the subtle aromas of citrus and tropical fruit in the effervescent body beneath a frothy white head. It’s tasty, refreshing, and easy to drink.”

Brian Long

Lift Kolsch-Style Ale (4.7% ABV, 11 IBU)

“Lift’s can reads...“Lift. Drink. Repeat.” You can very easily do just that with this Kolsch-style beer with a very mild 4.7% ABV and smooth 11 IBU. Anyone on the fence about trying a craft beer instead of the same old domestic could easily start with this one. Lift doesn't necessarily have a “WOW” factor, but it’s a very light, pleasant craft beer with mild sweetness and even less bitterness.”

Dave Shively

Happy Amber Ale (6% ABV, 30 IBU)

“The first question I invariably get asked as a member of the Mahoning Valley Flight Crew is, “What's your favorite beer?” This is always followed up by the same three-word reply, “Well, it depends.” It depends on my mood. It depends on the time of year. It depends on what I’m eating. And, sometimes it just depends on what my choices are. If I had to pick a favorite style of beer, I tend to gravitate toward amber ales.

“So, it should come as no surprise that I selected MadTree’s Happy Amber Ale to write my review on. Boy, am I glad I did. While enjoying my pint, I discovered a new friend. I found this cloudy, unfiltered amber ale to be medium bodied, copper in color, and surprisingly hop forward. It had a lot of character, because this dry-hopped ale combined to have a sweet, malty, carmel-flavored finish. It’s easy to see why MadTree elected to make this beer a year-round staple of its craft beer portfolio.”

Jason Jugenheimer

PsycHOPathy India Pale Ale (6.9% ABV, 60 IBU)

“Call a psychiatrist and pull up a couch; this beer is truly “Madness in a Can.” This IPA pours cloudy and hazy with hints of citrus and grassy hops. Like a Rorschach inkblot, this complex beer’s flavor differs by sip and palate. Flavors of orange and lemon zest, grapefruit, honey, grass and even hay can be discovered and linger from start to finish.

“So, grab a can after working outside or flipping on a football game, but be prepared to share your deepest, darkest secrets.”

Joe Sanfilippo

PSA (Proper Session Ale) (4.5% ABV, 30 IBU)

“This crisp citrus pale ale brewed with Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic hops is a very easy-drinking beer. PSA pours a hazy golden color and has a fruity hop aroma. This is a great beer you can enjoy all year long.”

The Mahoning Valley Flight Crew offers this bit of navigation advice when it comes to the newest beer in our market: Look for the bright cans and tap handles with the distinct MadTree logo next time you’re at your favorite craft beer establishment, and get yourself some.