HEY! HELLO! HOW ARE YA?
You know what? We’re not craft beer snobs or confess to knowing what goes into brewing, we’re just three regular guys who love craft beer. This is our journey into “everything” craft beer. We’ll try as many different types from as many breweries and give our honest and open opinions.
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P.S. No hard feelings if we don’t like it 😉
Joe
Day job: Creative Director/Graphic Designer
Favorite type(s) of beer: Ambers to Stouts
Favorite place to enjoy a cold one: The Tombs (Washington D.C.)
Favorite beer run establishment: Erik’s Grocery Bag (North Canton, OH)
About me: Yup. Started my beer drinking career in high school grabbing whatever started with “b” and ended in “eer”. I graduated to the more mainstream American beers until I found the goodness that was mainstream Canada (the real stuff, not the imports we get here in the States) later in life.
At the recommendation of a friend I tried some different types of beer like Newcastle Brown Ale and Waterloo Dark [insert brain explosion here]. That opened the door to moving on to trying craft beers… and oh man I’ll never look back. Fu*k mainstream beer.
How do I choose my beers? Oh it’s scientific for sure. As a graphic designer, if a beer has a kick ass label, I’m buyin’ it and I’m tryin’ it. The beer may be total crap… one thing’s for sure, it’ll have a cool label.
My favorite beers are what I call “all night” beers. Those are beers you can have a few (or many) of while enjoying a night out with friends. Right now that beer would be Masthead Brewing Single Origin Coffee Stout.
Being an independent graphic design studio owner I know how hard it is to “do your own thing”, I think that’s why I love craft beer brewers and beers so much. Those guys love what they do, work hard, do good things, make good things and try to make the world just a little bit better. RESPECT!
Jamie
Day job: Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Favorite type(s) of beer: Stouts, Porters, generally darker beers.
Favorite place to enjoy a cold one: My wife and I used to love going to the Geisen Haus in North Canton, but since they are no more, I like getting a cold one at The Barrel Room.
Favorite beer run establishment: I’ve been known to frequent stores like Acme, Fishers or Giant Eagle. Recently, Joe showed me Erik’s (which has changed significantly since I was last in) and I think it’s safe to say, they’re my new favorite!
About me: With a wife, two kids and a dog, I’m your average suburban dad… if your average suburban dad rocks out on the electric guitar, competes in triathlons and races sailboats. My early experiences with beer were average, anemic at best. Sips of dad’s beer were exciting as a kid, but my consumption during my college years were far from it. Hanging out with buddies who loved Coors Light. Racing on sailing teams with that one guy that would always show up to a regatta with a cold case of Blatz (no, I’m not kidding). I was exposed to a lot of crappy beer early on. Thankfully selections and tastes have changed significantly. Admittedly, after a hard day of weekend blood, sweat and tears, if it’s cold I’m happy. Craft beer is what I prefer though and they certainly check a lot of boxes for me. The beers taste better, they’re unique, with a wide variety and with few exceptions, you’re buying from a small American owned business. Supporting “local” while relaxing with a cold one? Sign me up!
Selecting beers for me is simple. I gravitate towards darker beers, but if the can, bottle or tap handle looks unique or exciting, I’m likely taking a deeper look. Except for IPAs that is. I just can’t. I also love talking with friends who’ve tried different beers, and watching others to see what they get in an effort to expand my beer vocabulary. While I try new beers often, I do have my go to beers. My all time favorite is Dragon’s Milk by New Holland Brewing Company, and my current local favorites are the Coffee Cream Stout from Shale Brewing Company and Baba Yaga from Royal Docks, but I’m always on the look out for that next great beer!
T.J.
Day job: Social Entrepreneur
Favorite type(s) of beer: Love all types, gravitate toward hoppier IPAs. I am a sucker for collaborative brews.
Favorite place to enjoy a cold one: Wherever the sun is setting, the friends are flowing and the beer is cold.
Favorite beer run establishment: Erik’s Grocery Bag, Acme (oddly enough) and any drive thru that carries Rhinegeist, my favorite brewery.
About me: My beer days started in the latter years of high school (sorry mom…not so perfect). Not sure how my friends ever acquired the beer, I do know the police asked my buddies on a few occasions if they had been in the neighbors garage refrigerator. Whether they did or did not, I know those neighbors loved Busch, Natty, Genny Cream Ale.
Married, 3 kids, and an average palate later, I still love beer! With the influx of breweries popping up everywhere and the craft beer craze, I’ve been like a kid in a candy store. I know when I try/drink true craft beer, I’m supporting a family, partnership and the American dream.
As an organizer of the North Canton Craft Beer Festival, one of the best craft beer festivals in the country, I’d become friends with so many brewers and love their sense of community. It’s not like the big guys that compete to knock each other out. The local guys collaborate and work together to support each other. This is why I support and mostly drink craft beer.
Having grown up from the high gravity beers of the past (Natural Ice/ Bud Ice), I like high gravity craft beers from the present and proudly support craft beer makers of America.
Give us a shout if you think we should try your beer. CHEERS.
3 Guys Blog
Our blog is all about adventure, exploring and trying new things. There you’ll find beers we’ve tried and rated as well as breweries and events we’ve attended and visited. Heck you may even find some things that aren’t necessarily craft beer related, but that’s alright.
Breweries we visited
One of our favorite things to do is to check out local breweries and the beers they offer. But it’s not just about the beer, it’s about the experience of being there. Sure we’ll rate the beers but we’ll also talk about the experience you can expect.
