Eight is Great!

Around this time 8 years ago there were butterflies filling our bellies. I couldn’t really say if they were from nerves or from excitement, most likely a hefty dose of both.

Truthfully, we didn’t really know what to expect when we opened. We were hoping people would fall in love with craft beer as much as we had. We were hoping it would become a sustainable business within Mansfield. We were hoping we hadn’t thrown away our life savings.

What it has done,… is grow.

When we first opened in 2014, the basement brewhouse was a small 5 bbl system with 2 fermenters and 2 brite tanks (serving tanks). That quickly expanded s to include a 20-barrel production system and over 120 barrels of fermentation space. We no longer deliver kegs from personal vehicles but from our delivery vans, and filling brown bomber bottles by hand has morphed into to a canning line capable of filling 20 cans per minute. Our beers are no longer only available in our taproom, but in restaurants, bottle shops, and to-go locations within a 70-mile radius. Our original staff with 5 part-time employees and owners has grown to 18, with 7 full time. And those first 4 first beers have blossomed into over 100 different beers over the years.

It might have looked pretty easy. on the outside, but growth provides a lot of challenges. Logistics, management, financial, consumer expectations, quality control, and changing regulations combined with COVID, supply chain disruptions, equipment failure and repairs, and seasonal changes. It hasn’t been easy.

We are so very lucky to be where we are today. Our dedicated staff have helped to drive the company forward with creative problem solving and the support from our community and the professional brewing community during some of those rough moments has been at times overwhelming.

So for whatever role you have played, we thank you., we appreciate you, we are so very grateful for you, and we look forward to spending many more years with you.

And, are the butterflies still there today? You betcha.

Anniversary Week Schedule of Events:

Tuesday, April 26th at 3 PM, the Carrousel Orange Wit releases. Brewed by a collective of Phoenix staff, friends, and family, in celebration the Eighth Anniversary, the Carrousel is a Belgian Witbier infused with orange. Named to honor the iconic downtown Carrousel District, it is pale in color and hazy from the wheat, oats, Munich, and Pilsner malts. The Carrousel embraces a light malt sweetness combined with juicy and fragrant all-natural orange flavor. Complemented by the addition of coriander during brewing for floral and citrus notes, this refreshing 5% Wit won’t last long. The Carrousel will be available on draft and for to-go sales in 4-pack 16-ounce cans.

Tuesday, April 26 is BINGO night at the Phoenix, with silly prizes, great beers, and fun. Best of all it is FREE to play! The evening will consist of 5 total rounds of Bingo. 3 traditional and 2 more "challenging" rounds. April’s special challenge rounds will focus on all things PHOENIX & BEER. Jason McManes is the special Bingo Caller for the evening. Special guests for April Bingo include the Richland Young Professionals!

Wednesday, there will be tapping a special single keg infusion of the Persephone Blond Ale infused with Pistachio.

The celebration continues Thursday with an Eighties Night with DJ B-Rad emceeing favorites from the Eighties from 7 pm to 9 pm. Eighties attire most certainly appreciated, but not required. Grab your neon, put your loafers on without socks, and get ready to party like it is 1987 but with way better beer.

The Big Bash in the Beer Garden, will be Saturday, April 30 with doors opening at noon. Over 30 beers will be available, with 16 taps inside and 16 taps out in the Beer Garden including 2 specialty cask ales.  Included in the 30 plus beers are flagship beers, seasonal favorites, limited editions, and one-off infusions. A limited amount of specialty crowlers will also be available while they last for some of the beer garden exclusives.  

Live music begins at 12 PM with Taylor Schlupp, a solo acoustic artist influenced by musicians like Paul McCartney, George Harrison, EVH, and John Mayer.  At 4 PM you can catch the McIan’s, Central Ohio’s best Celtic duet featuring a mix of traditional and modern Celtic music. .

 Headlining for the evening will be the Ricky Mitchell Trio at 8:00 PM.

Along with live entertainment, local Mansfield food truck favorites, The Fry Guys, will be on hand serving their delicious fare and Two Cousins Pizza will also be available from the in-house pizza warmer or for delivery directly to your table when ordered through them.

For more information about the celebration week please follow this link.

Brewer “Embraces the Bald”

Ryan 2022

Ryan Nichols, a brewer at the Phoenix Brewing Company, has been shaving his head for charity for almost as long as he has been working for the Phoenix. 2022 will be his 6th year in a row shaving his hair off to raise money for St. Baldrick’s Children’s Cancer research.

He started in 2016 as a bartender. In 2017 he embraced the bald by shaving his head for the first time, raising almost $2,000, after being inspired by a customer to take on the challenge. Over the last 5 years, he has raised over $10,000. For his 6th shave, he hopes to raise a lofty $5,000. He is currently a little over 45% of the way to his goal. Ryan said, “It has been great to see how many people willingly contribute to the cause and it has made it easier for me to spread the word about the organization. Which is one of the reasons why I do this every year. Having my own child now also emboldens my efforts.”

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research. They have funded more than $314 million in research since 2005 when they were established as an independent charity. They are powered by volunteers and donors.

At the 2017 Shave

People have been following his journey and efforts. They eagerly watch the transition of Ryan’s shaved head into long curly brown locks through the year. His hair is often the topic of conversation in the taproom about whether or not he will cut it before the shave. He doesn’t cut it, in the hopes that it will reach the necessary 8 inches for donation, but every year it has been just a little shy. This year he says may get it cut in between because the summers get pretty warm. The only downside is how cold his head feels after the fresh shave.

But this time, he isn’t alone. Joining him in his efforts is his 12-year-old nephew, Wesley, who decided to join in the efforts to raise money for other children after being inspired by his Uncle. Ryan beamed,” I'm very proud of him for standing with me, and many others, to end childhood cancer.” Wesley’s mom, Brandie Hall, said “I am proud of my son for taking an interest in such a great cause.”

The plan is for the pair to have their heads shaved over in the beer garden at 7 pm, on April 1. (Not an April Fool’s Day joke). People are welcome to watch in person, or on the live feed on Facebook on the Phoenix page. “Ryan has been such a great role model (to his nephew). They have a bet going to see who can raise the most donations. “said Ryan’s mom, Tonya Swint. Ryan is extremely appreciative of all of the support over the last 6 years from donations to the crowds that have watched in person when the shave was held at Legends in Shelby, and virtually the last couple of times because of COVID. Traditionally the group event has been held in March, but participants shaved virtually on their own selected dates during COVID. The last group head shave was held in September of 2021 outdoors, but Ryan wanted to wait to grow his hair out a little more. He hopes for great weather and a great crowd for his shave Friday and for the September 2022 shave.

Ryan & Keith R.

St. Baldrick’s is also the March charity for The Phoenix Brewing Company. In 2021 they converted to a non-tipped business model. Paying employees a higher living wage ensures a consistent paycheck for staff after inconsistencies in pay through COVID disruptions. Customers, who occasionally still wish to leave cash behind, now leave it behind as a donation to a designated monthly charity.

Anyone wishing to donate, or find more information, can visit this link:

https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/1097118/2022

Saison of the Witch

The history of beer and brewing is fascinating. It reads like a dramatic novel filled with plots of murder, accusations of witchcraft, untimely endings, a battle between men and women, and villainous characters. Thankfully, the industry has changed today, and the environment is more inclusive and collaborative between the sexes than combative.

Several women from breweries in Central and Northern Ohio recently gathered together to brew the “Saison of the Witch” to release on International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day, March 8th.

Jamie Sipps from HiHO Brewing in Cuyahoga Falls, suggested the name for the beer. And given the history of beer, the group unanimously agreed. Most original brewers were women, because women brewed beer as a part of their household responsibilities and duties.

Beer was a household staple. Not only was it safer to drink than water, but it was also a source of nutrients. It was important for those spending long days working on farms and in the fields. It was also common for women to make extra beer for sale or trade.

The pointed hats that are often associated with witches today, were easily be spotted in a crowd while selling beer at the local market. And the hats were sometimes hung on door frames of their houses to signal they had beer available. At least until the 1500’s. As beer became a bigger business, competition increased, and the Reformation movement began. Women brewers were suddenly being accused of being witches by a few opportunistic individuals (men). Cutting the competition down by more than half and leaving those hats, forever associated with witchcraft.

The Saison style is often referred to as a farmhouse ale and sometimes a Belgian Pale Ale. Traditionally, they are flavorful, light, and effervescent with fruity and citrusy aromas and light peppery notes from the yeast. They were brewed after the harvest season, aged, and then released the following year. They would often include local, seasonal ingredients.

The Saison of the Witch features Edese’m hops, an Ohio hop grown by Barn Talk Hops in Wadsworth. “We really liked the idea of using a local hop, and this particular hop was perfect not only for the style but because it was grown locally,” said Carmone Macfarlane of the Phoenix Brewing Company. “The Saison also includes a small amount of the Pink Boots hop blend, in support of the Pink Boot Society.” The Pink Boots Society is a scholarship organization that provides educational opportunities for women in craft beer. Local chapters include Columbus and Cincinnati, and they support women in a traditionally male-dominated field. “ We will be incorporating more of the Pink Boots Hop blend into another beer later this year. at the Phoenix.”

Not everyone could participate in person on February 1, but brewing a beer starts well before the kettle begins to boil. The first steps include designing a recipe for a chosen style. Jennifer Hermann of Bell Tower Brewing in Kent, developed the recipe even though she was unable to attend the brew day.

In addition, the product must be registered with the state, production schedules must be maintained, ingredients need ordered and sourced. Marketing materials begin to be designed, and then the actual brewing process can begin.

The February 1 brew day began with women gathering in the Phoenix taproom to enjoy breakfast and learn more about each other and the roles they serve in their breweries. The brewers were also joined by Representative Marilyn John from the Ohio House of Representatives, Mary McDonald, the Executive Director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, and Jodie Snavely from Destination Mansfield. Many of the women that participated have extensive brewing and cellaring experience and some are just starting out. The women also fill vital roles in the Craft Beer Industry in marketing, sales and distribution, creative, advocacy, and ownership.

After the brew day, the beer must be monitored during fermentation. It must pass multiple QC checks, and then begin preparation for packaging for eventual distribution in kegs and cans. Most of this batch will be packaged in kegs but there will be some limited cans available. The 16 oz can label features a mandala, a geometric configuration of symbols, composed of hops and grains, and 4 symbols representing the seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. In the center of the mandala, there is a tiny, pointed hat. The colors are earthy and subdued with a pop of modern pink and green.

The Saison will be distributed on draft in several of the participating brewery taprooms including Bell Tower Brewing in Kent, HiHO Brewing in Cuyahoga Falls, Upside Brewing in Sylvania, Weaselboy Brewing from Zanesville, and Franklinton’s Brewdog. Boss Chick-n-Beer will also be tapping the Saison at each of their 3 locations. Participants attending Winter Warmer, hosted by the Ohio Craft Brewer’s Association, at Windows on the River in Cleveland will have the opportunity to sample the beer first, at the now sold-out, March 5 event.

Participants included:

Mary MacDonald, Executive Director of the OCBA

Representative, Marilyn John, Ohio House of Representatives

Lori Wince, Weasel Boy Brewing Company-Zanesville, Ohio

Jennifer Herman, Belltower Brewing Co. -Kent, Ohio

Ali Hovan, HiHO Brewing Co.- Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Jamie Sipps, HiHO Brewing Co.- Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Ashlee Glass, HiHO Brewing Co.- Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Melissa Dallas, Upside Brewing-Sylvania, Ohio

Emma Jones, Nocterra Brewing Co.- Powell, Ohio

Andrea Wertz, Nocterra Brewing Co.- Powell, Ohio

Jamie Cadle, Walking Distance Brewery- Marysville, Ohio

Veronica Bagley, Great Lakes Brewing Company,- Cleveland, Ohio

Erin Campbell, Outerbelt Brewing-Carroll, Ohio

Gwyn Armstrong-Patrick Gangwer Memorial Brewing Scholarship recipient

Carmone Macfarlane, The Phoenix Brewing Company-Mansfield, Ohio

Jodie Snavely, Destination Mansfield

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Love is brewing...

Beer isn’t the only thing brewing at craft breweries, love is too. Breweries have long been known as community spaces with the power to bring people together, but there is a lesser-known connection between craft beer and romance, whether it started in a taproom as a first date or became shared experiences between couples, nothing is sweeter than a craft beer love story,

Joe and Elizabeth Daniels had one of their first dates at the Phoenix. Joseph said: “Elizabeth was excited to learn about a new craft beer place in town, so we went Phoenix on one of our first dates. Phoenix has continued to be an important location in our relationship - it was the first place we said "I love you."  We worked with an artist to design phoenix tattoos for us to commemorate our relationship. Our wedding was in the Brickyard - basically, the backyard of Phoenix -and had their beers on tap. We also frequently stop by on date nights.”

“When I think about the number of first dates that have happened at the taproom, the couples who travel all over the state brewery hopping, and people who stop in for regular date nights, it makes my heart smile a little.” said Creative and Marketing head Carmone Macfarlane. “And the couples who have gotten married after meeting in the taproom, that has been an unexpected bonus. We are really humbled to be a small part of their journeys.”

The Phoenix has hosted engagement parties, a few weddings, and many receptions. You can often spot engagement or wedding photos happening at the brewery.  

Chris and Julie Niswander held their reception at the Phoenix. “We chose the Phoenix for our wedding because every time we walk in we have always been greeted with warm smiles and kindness. The staff at the Phoenix became our people, our friends, and our family! We wanted to share our special day surrounded by the people and places we love. I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate our new start in our life!” said Julie.

Offering a vow renewal just seems like a perfect fit near Valentine’s Day. Craft Beer-loving married couples are invited to renew their vows on Saturday, February 12th in the production facility of the Phoenix Brewing Company for a non-denominational group vow renewal ceremony.

Couples can rededicate their love at one of 2 free vow renewal ceremonies, led by Phoenix brewers and staff, at 1 pm or 5 pm. The production facility will open half an hour before each ceremony and participants are asked to please arrive no later than 10 minutes before the ceremony starts. What should participants wear? Suggested attire is favorite brewery apparel, but really it is all about the couples. Guests will have the opportunity to snap photos at a selfie station. And cake will also be available, while it lasts. Registration is not required, but couples should be 21 and over to participate.

The vow renewal ceremony does not have any legal significance. Couples do not need to bring their marriage license to participate.