Your 2010 MBA and PHD Lists

This is how we say "Happy Holidays!" at Elevator Brewing Company...

2010 Masters of Beer Appreciation

January: Barrel-Aged Porter III
February: Mocha Plum Stout
March: Imperial Witbier
April: Barrel-Aged Barleywine
May: Verano Mexico Cerveza
June: Blackberry Wheat
July: Icebox Eisbock
August: Over & Back Double IPA
September: Oktoberfest
October: Pumpkinweizen
November: Winter Warmer
December: Vic's Barleywine No. 5

2010 Professor of Hearty Drinking

January: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
February: Chocolate Cherry Wheat
March: Irish Red
April: Milk Stout
May: Poor Richard II Ale
June: Mark's Hard Cranberry
July: Homebrew Winner
August: Frosh with Honey Ale
September: Smoked Porter
October: Abbey Dubbel
November: Oud Bruin Ale
December: Wheat Wine

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.

Elevate Your Degree

How much beer can you handle in a year?

Elevator Brewing Company already offers the most extensive handcrafted beer menu in Columbus, with 10 year-round selections complemented by multiple seasonal brews. Elevator is also home of the Masters of Beer Appreciation (MBA) program, featuring a unique limited beer release each month.

But seasons and months are simply no match for the creativity of Vic Schiltz and Mark Beery.

Schiltz, Elevator masterbrewer, and Beery, Elevator brewer, started kicking around a fresh idea earlier this year: What if they brewed a small single batch every couple of weeks?

“We make a single batch; when it’s out, it’s out. Sorry about your luck,” Schiltz said during an impromptu brainstorming session in November. If you’re doing the math at home, that adds up to 20+ distinctive brews in addition to the 10 always on tap at Elevator. Schiltz and Beery reasoned that with brewing capabilities at both the brewery and the nearby Elevator restaurant, where eight of the 12 MBA beers are created, why not cut loose and try some new recipes?

Dick Stevens, Elevator owner, didn’t need much convincing that this idea could fly. Not that he could protest; Schiltz and Beery were practically salivating at the prospect. Stevens proposed coining the program PHD, an advanced version of the MBA.

“I’m willing to try it,” he said. “It’s bold and in-your-face.”

So what did the boys decide? Check back and see…

Procrastinators Homebrew Competition II

Calling all homebrewers!

Elevator Brewing Company has announced the Procrastinators Homebrew Competition II, a chance for craft beer wizards to showcase their creations. The entry deadline is Thursday, Jan. 14. Entries may be submitted to the Elevator Restaurant at 161 N. High St. in downtown Columbus, or to the Elevator Brewery at 165 N. Fourth St.

Competitors pay a $5 entry fee per recipe, and judges need three unmarked 12-ounce bottles of each beer. Every entry requires a completed recipe form identifying the category of beer; these forms can be found at http://www.bjcp.org/compcenter.php.

Beers will be judged by category, and the top three “Best of Show” will receive prizes.

First Place: $75 gift certificate to the Elevator Draught Haus. Additionally, the top beer will be brewed on Brew Pubs Brewing system and served at Elevator. The winner will also receive one free entry to the National Homebrew Competition, as well as publication in Zymurgy magazine.

Second Place: $50 gift certificate to Gentile’s Wine and Homebrew Supplies.

Third Place: One-year subscription to American Homebrewers Association.

Awards will be handed out on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.

Vic's Barleywine No. 4

Brace yourself.

Vic's Barleywine No. 4 has arrived.

Born of the mad mind of Masterbrewer Vic Schiltz, the fourth varietal of this specialty beer is, in a word, strong.

"Very strong," Schiltz emphasized. "Very malty, very sweet. When I say malty, people think sweet. This is very sweet."

Vic's Barleywine No. 4 was aged for six months before its release. Stop by the Elevator Restaurant and get your tongue on it, for a limited time only.