When Cleveland shut down in March, the city’s innovative craft brewers knew there would be an intense need for beer to get us through this hard time. Quickly transitioning to delivery or pickup, they’ve ensured there is no shortage of that sweet golden nectar.
But still, we miss craft beer culture. We miss the smell of hops, the industrial vibes and the peeks inside the endlessly creative brewing practices of our local brewers.
Thankfully, City Brew Tours is offering a virtual way to dive back in to craft beer culture. The tour company, which operates in 11 cities, has transitioned its educational bus tours, which guide visitors through multiple breweries in one day, to virtual events until breweries reopen — and maybe after. The two virtual offerings include a live homebrew experience and a beer-and-cheese pairing happy hour.
“We know how to entertain people, so we wanted to still provide that interactive education that we’ve built with our tours and give people an unforgettable, shareable experience,” says Chad Brodsky, founder and CEO of City Brew Tours.
The live homebrew experience ($99) is a foolproof way to learn how to brew your own beer at home. After signing up at least 10 days before the course, City Brew Tours sends each participant a kit that includes bottles, hops, tubing and everything a beginner needs to get the job done. Then, guided by an expert, you and your group learn how to transform the ingredients into 2.5 gallons of American Pale Ale or Amber Ale over the three-hour course. You can even upgrade to American IPA or Nut Brown Ale for an extra $40. This experience is likely to continue after things reopen.
“The biggest question our guides, many of whom are homebrewers with decades of experience, get is how do you brew your own beer at home,” says Brodsky. “So we wanted to build a kit that was better than your run-of-the-mill kit and give you that education, humor and history that only our guides can offer. Plus, it can be a fun and engaging glimpse into the scientific elements of brewing, similar to fermenting.”
Meanwhile, the beer-and-cheese pairings ($15 per household) are more of the social experience you’re likely craving. Perfect for virtual birthday parties or corporate events, the one-hour guided tasting offers you the freedom to your favorite beers and cheeses combine into elevated flavors.
“Again, you get that humor, history and education in talking about why you would pair a brown ale with a Camembert cheese to kind of emulate a toasted grilled cheese sandwich or how alcohol cuts through some of the creamier cheeses,” he says.
Both experiences can be done privately, in your chosen groups or in public groups. Brodsky looks at the leaders of these experiences, especially the beer-and-cheese experience, as guides to kick off the conversation of that potentially awkward Zoom happy hour.
“We’ll do introductions like ‘If you could be any animal what would you be?’ or ‘If you could drink with anyone in history dead or alive who would that be?,’” he says. “If you've been on any Zoom calls since you've been quarantined, it's always kind of like a mishmash if there's no facilitator. So just having that facilitator leading in that first hour, kind of, it makes the whole experience so much different."
More Info: citybrewtours.com
City Brew Tours Offers Virtual Home Brewing, Beer And Cheese Events
The company's tour guides are bringing their humor, history and education to digital lessons for making beer at home and elevating your cheese and brew pairings.
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9:00 AM EST
April 22, 2020