orangek8: Ohio Brew Week 2025

Happy 2025 Ohio Brew Week! It was an excellent time in Athens this year.

Tuesday was Jon Sparhawk Day, which means MATCHING OUTFITS! Everyone is encouraged to wear a Hawaiian print shirt and shop local. Look at this crowd!

Janna and me!

As always, one of the highlights was the Top Deck Dinner on Wednesday. It rained off and on all day, so we weren't able to dine on the very top deck, but we did get a rainbow!

The menu was a delightful pairing between Chef Andrew Wenmoth of Culter's and Jackie O's. The first course was a tart trio: whipped pea & tarragon, charred strawberry & burrata, pickled carrot & miso; paired with Featherweight Petite Pilsner.

Course two was a Reuben-Cobb salad with corned tri-tip, house kraut, shredded swiss, cured egg yolk, dill pickle emulsion and rye crumble; paired with Kvass Mixed Fermentation Rye Bread Saison.

The third course was a hot honey duck wing, peach & basil slaw and smoked cornbread crumble, paired with Hazy on the Hocking Hazy IPA.

Course four was a McCutler’s Rib sandwich featuring a house smoked pork rib, BBQ glaze, pickled onion & koolaid pickles on toasted milk bread, paired with Gestalt German Pilsner.

McRib is Brandon's favorite sandwich, and he was SO excited for this course. Look how happy he is!

The dessert course was a bruleed apple & brown sugar pastelito with vanilla-oolong cream, bourbon caramel and cocoa sugar dust. It was paired with Endolith 13.3% Barrel Aged Barleywine, which was too strong for several of my seatmates which is why my cup is so full!

After the rain stopped, it was a beautiful night!

Ohio Brew Week Board group photo!

I was going to take Thursday off of festivities, but during the matching Hawaiian shirt event, Julie was telling us about these super cute pjs they have at Walmart right now. $10!!! Sooo it wasn't hard to convince me to get a set and come out in matching outfits on Thursday. Julie, Janna and I met for a beer at the Tap Room.