Next time you're out visiting the Grand River Valley wine region in NE Ohio, you'd be remiss to pass up an opportunity to explore some locally made beers as well. Cellar Rats Brewery, located within Debonné Vineyards, is fairly new on the micro-brew scene, however brings together a team with years of experience. Active trio Brian Burns (assistant wine maker & brewer), Tony Debevc (the younger), and Ed Trebets (chemist and wine maker) have been brewing small batches of brew since 2008.Making batches in ninety-five gallon lots and having limited storage space you could definitely consider this operation a "boutique" outfit - nothing is bottled, but you can get a growler to go at the beer tasting room inside the winery. This limited quantity production simply means you'll get to try more unique creations on a regular basis.
While at first thought the idea of rodents might be a turn off where drinks are concerned, it's important to know that "cellar rat" is a benevolent nickname bestowed to those who spend a lot of time working on the operation end of a winery. The beers are also named with witty, mousy names - but don't let that slow you from sipping them! On a recent visit I sampled four of the current beers on tap which offered a broad range of styles and flavors.
Rat Trap Lager: American lager; golden orange color with a very slight haziness, light head; citrus, vanilla, spice, ginger, caramel, and butter aromas; creamy and smooth on the palate with slight bitterness; flavors of yellow apple, yeast, and citrus; soft finish.As the beers here are constantly changing, be sure to make a regular stop in to check out what's new. Some previous offerings have included Porter, Stout, and oak-aged ale, and Oktoberfest. With Burns' 18 years of brewing experience this small scale venture has definitely got a lot to offer, and will hopefully expand your palate and appreciation for quality micro-brews. For questions call (440) 466-3485 and visit the tasting room at 7743 Doty Road, Madison, Ohio 44057. A website will be coming soon at www.ratbrew.com.
Rat Tail Ale: American pale ale; golden brown color, almost clear, with soft head; aromas of juniper, citrus, herbs (coriander), lemon, and grapefruit; no bitterness on the palate, very approachable and fruity - citrus peel, grapefruit, and herbs.
Field Rat Wheat: Belgian-like wit beer; golden yellow, light head, unfiltered and hazy in the glass; tropical aromas, banana, orange, yellow apple, dried flowers; in the mouth this beer was light with soft bitterness, slight sweetness and flavors or baking spice, apricot, banana, and honey.
InFESTation: Malt style beer; like burnt sugar in color, clear with a light head; nose showing caramel, coffee, chocolate, and toffee; flavors closely mimic the nose adding spiciness and a lingering sense of chocolate covered espresso beans; rich with a long finish.
Posts
