Midwest Roots Shine: A Local Beer Collaboration

As we officially enter into the fall season, what better way to enjoy it than with good food, good libation, and the splendor of Ohio’s parks and greenspaces? That’s why we partnered with Warped Wing Brewing Company and Cox Arboretum to create our own expression of Ohio in autumn: Midwest Roots Red India Pale Ale. Pouring with a rustic red hue and offering notes of citrus, pine, and a traditional IPA bitterness, Midwest Roots is an amalgamation of the DLM Bakehouse, Warped Wing Brewing, and Cox Arboretum’s agriculture.

This collaboration started as two different conversations centered around Warped Wing Brewing Company. On one side was a discussion between Cox Arboretum’s Joe Morrison and Warped Wing’s brewmaster John Haggerty, and on the other side a discussion between Warped Wing and DLM. Amongst many other crops, Cox Arboretum has been growing Chinook hops, which they offered to Warped Wing as a chance to brew using locally grown hops. At the same time, Dorothy Lane Market’s Greg Tyzzer was in talks with Warped Wing’s Nick Bowman about using some heirloom grains that the Bakehouse has been working with in a collaboration beer project between the two companies. Serendipitously, both projects merged together.

Through our connections, Warped Wing gathered heirloom grains from Branstrator Farm in Clarksville, specifically Red Fife Wheat. Together with the Chinook hops harvested from Cox Arboretum, the Red Fife was used in the brewing process for Midwest Roots. Jessi Ross, Springboro Beer & Wine, and I were invited to participate in the brewing process with Warped Wing’s brewers and a contingent from the MetroParks. In addition, a blend of Bravo, Cascade, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Citra hops from the northwestern US were used. 

Midwest Roots is the fruit of our collaboration. It's not only a great IPA to be enjoyed as we welcome autumn, but it's a celebration of local ingredients and local community. Enjoy responsibly!