Professor of Hearty Drinking

Consider Elevator Brewing Company a school of higher learning – when it comes to beer, at least.

It’s only fitting that the brewery responsible for the Masters of Beer Appreciation (MBA) program would develop a level of advanced brew education. Introducing Elevator’s Professor of Hearty Drinking (PHD) curriculum, new for 2010.

With 10 beers on tap year-round and 12 monthly specialty selections, Elevator already offers the boldest beer menu in Columbus. But this year, Masterbrewer Vic Schiltz and Brewer Mark Beery are pulling out all of the stops and utilizing the full capacity of Elevator’s brewing capabilities. Schiltz will continue to hone the list of 12 MBA beers at the brewery, while Beery will concoct the 12 magic potions comprising the PHD list on a 3.5-hectoliter brewing system at the nearby Elevator Restaurant.

That adds up to 24 small batch offerings in addition to the 10 beers always on tap.

“Let’s push the envelope a bit,” explained Dick Stevens, Elevator owner, with a twinkle in his eye.

The PHD list has been in secret development for months. With two gifted brewers and two brewing locations, Stevens figured, why not offer more selection to the beer drinkers of Columbus? The one and only downside: The PHD beers in particular will be limited single-batch releases.

“When it runs out, it’s out,” Beery said.

In the first years of the MBA program, Elevator provided a cheap cap and gown for members who sampled the entire list of 12 beers during the calendar year. Today, MBA members receive a diploma for that accomplishment. The Elevator crew is currently considering additional prizes to reward beer aficionados who tackle both the MBA and PHD lists – perhaps a special t-shirt or mug.

Coming soon: The official MBA and PHD lists for 2010.