Local establishments team up for Medina County Brewery Passport program

MEDINA — After what has been a tumultuous year for bars and restaurants, several local breweries will soon provide those in and out of Medina County a chance to sample some of the local craft brews the county has to offer. Blue Heron Brewery, Lager Heads Brewing Co., MAD Brewing Co., Medina Brewing Co., Planted Flag Brewing and Wrecking Crew Brew Works in Medina, along with D.J. Malthopper in Valley City and Hoppy Dude Brews in Hinckley are teaming up to take part in the first-ever Medina County Brewery Passport event from June 1 through Aug. 31. Hosted in conjunction with Dine Medina County, a group that helps promote and support local restaurants in the county, the hope is that the passport program will bring attention to the growth of craft breweries in the county, said Chris Zaffle, founder of Dine Medina County. "I hope it brings attention to Medina County and brings people from other counties into Medina to realize we've got a great brewery scene, great restaurant scene in the county and it's growing," Zaffle said. "It's getting better every year. We want other people from other places and inside our own county to see what we have and appreciate it and take advantage of it." The plan for this brewery passport program is being modeled after the ones done in the Cleveland and Akron areas. The Summit Brew Path covers two dozen breweries in three counties while the Cleveland Brewery Passport Program includes more than 30 breweries, mostly in Cuyahoga County. One person who has seen the effects of the Cleveland Brewery Passport Program first hand is Mathias Hauck. Hauck owns the Avon Brewing Co., which has been part of the Cleveland program in the past, and also owns Medina Brewing Co., 320 S. Court St., G9. In both the Cleveland program and the Medina County one, those wanting to complete the passport must buy something from each of the breweries on the list. In the case of Medina, each of the eight breweries must be visited twice, a total of 16 visits. Because of this, Hauck said in one instance, 10,000 people visited the Avon Brewing Co. as part of the Cleveland program. He is hopeful that the same can happen to not only Medina Brewing Co., but all the locations on the passport. "Not only will it be a benefit to all the breweries in Medina, because I'm sure that people come from outside of Medina to do this passport, it will also bring people in to see the local, small mom-and-pop shops in our community," Hauck said. "For us, we don't offer food, so it will give people the opportunity to visit our food vendors, bring them revenue and see the square and all the beautifulness that entails. It's great for the entire city and more people coming in is good for everybody." Since last spring, Medina Brewing Co. is one of several breweries that opened its doors right before or in the midst of a pandemic. Hoppy Dude, set to open later this month, MAD Brewing Co. (opened in October 2020), Planted Flag Brewing (opened in March 2020), and Wrecking Crew Brew Works' Medina location and D.J. Malthopper (both opened in June 2020) all opened their doors during a time when restaurants and bars were unsure what each day would bring. For these newer places, an opportunity like this passport program means a chance for not only financial help in the short term, but the chance to build a community of returning, local customers as well. "Our goal is to try and attract those who will like our beer, food and atmosphere," Aaron Wirtz, owner of Planted Flag Brewing, said. "If they come in for one beer, that's great. If they like it, (we hope they) share their experience. I think this passport may help people come in to have a conversation and have food together and get to know these breweries. Build the community we have here." All this growth, Hauck said, is a signal of what Medina is becoming: a hot spot for craft brews and a desirable destination for brewers and drinkers alike. That that trend is showing statewide as well, as Ohio has 358 craft breweries, 47 of which opened in 2020, according to the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. "When you have multiple people who go to work, create beer and have a good experience for people, it becomes that destination spot," Hauck said. "When you can have a city like Medina or a county like Medina County have multiple establishments where people can enjoy their time, drink craft beer and have the whole experience, it does become a destination. I think it's going to become the next big pop for sure." For the first 800 of those who complete the passport by getting all 16 boxes stamped, they will receive a VIP invite into the Medina County Brewery Passport party that will be held at the Blue Heron Brewery from 2-6 p.m. Sept. 12. There is a rain date of Sept. 19. At the party, there will be beer samples and beer for sale, food available for purchase, a live DJ, photo booth, 50/50 raffle and more. Anyone who completes the passport after the first 800 will receive a complementary passport drinking glass. All of those who complete the passport will also be entered into a raffle, where two names will be drawn to join the brewmasters at the next Medina County Collaboration Brew. Winners can bring one guest each. The last collaboration brew came in September, when six of the above mentioned breweries teamed up with Wadsworth Brewing Co. to make a Famous Amos Amber Ale. For more information about the passport program, go to its Facebook page: Medina County Brewery Passport. Contact reporter Jack Kopanski at (330) 721-4063 or jkopanski@medina-gazette.com.