Nearly 80 Ohio breweries are gearing up to celebrate American Craft Beer Week May 16-22 with the second edition of a statewide collaboration brew. From the Heart Vol. 2 is a fundraising beer made to benefit the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, the non-profit trade organization working to promote, preserve, diversify and unify the state’s craft beer industry.
The beers will begin to be released by participating breweries starting Friday, May 13. Many of the breweries will also be offering limited edition From the Heart pint glasses, while supplies last. A limited number of breweries will offer From the Heart Vol. 2 in cans, though most will have it available on draft in their taprooms.
The inaugural release of From the Heart occurred in 2021 as an alternative fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. Since its establishment in 2007, the association has primarily raised money for its mission with funds derived from membership dues and large-scale beer festivals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the association was forced to cancel eight events over the course of two years, dramatically impacting the non-profit’s operating budget.
Even with festival events returning as a viable fundraising option in 2022, Ohio breweries and allied industry partners jumped at the chance to again give back to the organization that supports them. Blue Label Packaging, the Country Malt Group, Crosby Hops, Great Western Malting, Lemon Grenade Creative and Origin Malt each donated ingredients and packaging materials for the project, allowing brewers to purchase the raw materials from the association as a fundraiser.
“In the face of two years of mounting challenges and uncertainty, Ohio’s breweries have shown remarkable resilience,” said Ohio Craft Brewers Association executive director Mary MacDonald. “Our job is to support them in any way that we can. We’re so grateful that they are showing that support right back to us with From the Heart.”
Brewers Chris Davison of Wolf’s Ridge Brewing and Dan Shaffer of Land-Grant Brewing in Columbus collaborated on the hazy IPA recipe using the donated ingredients. The nearly 80 participating breweries are given the freedom to put their own particular spins on the beer by using additional ingredients or different brewing and fermenting processes. Each beer will vary slightly based on the brewers’ choices, allowing drinkers the opportunity to compare and contrast versions from multiple breweries.
The Ohio Craft Brewers Association counts more than three-quarters of Ohio’s 398 independently-owned craft breweries among its membership, ranging from large, production breweries in city centers to small scale taproom breweries in suburban and rural communities. The association is led by a volunteer board of 11 brewery owners and employees from around the state, as well as two full-time staffers. This small team provides a wide range of member services, including legislative advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse, brewery marketing through programs like the Ohio On Tap passport app, technical and educational conferences and seminars, and community-building connections between breweries and the businesses that support the industry.
More info on the From the Heart Vol. 2 project is available online at ohiocraftbeer.org/fromtheheart
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