Ohio Breweries Unite in Collaboration

From the Heart: Volume 3 IPA to be brewed and served by more than 60 Ohio breweries this May.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the third year in a row, breweries around the state are collaborating on a beer to raise funds for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. Starting this week, breweries are making their versions of From the Heart: Volume 3, to be released in conjunction with American Craft Beer Week from May 15-21.

This year's version of From the Heart is a Cold IPA, a style fermented at cooler temperatures than traditional ales to give the beer a crisp finish. The recipe was devised by Jack Kephart, award-winning brewmaster at The Brew Kettle, and Whitney Thompson of Origin Malt, an Ohio-based ingredient supplier that donated the base barley malt for the project.

The flagship batch of From the Heart: Volume 3 was brewed at The Brew Kettle on Monday, April 17 by Kephart and Thompson, along with brewers from The Phoenix Brewing Company in Mansfield and Upside Brewing in Sylvania. The brewing system used at The Brew Kettle Production Works in Middleburg Heights was formerly installed at Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and was used by Thompson while she was employed as a brewer there.

In addition to the barley donated by Origin Malt, the beer also features Belma, Strata and Zappa hops donated by Crosby Hops. The blend was carefully chosen by Kephart and Thompson to show off deep aromas and bursting flavors of mango, strawberry, citrus and spice.

Brewers participating in the From the Heart collaboration are allowed the freedom to put their own particular spins on the beer by using additional ingredients or different brewing and fermenting processes. Each beer will vary slightly based on the brewers' choices, allowing drinkers the opportunity to compare and contrast versions from multiple breweries.

"The growth of the craft brewing industry in Ohio is a direct result of the creativity and innovative spirit of our brewers," said Mary MacDonald, executive director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. "Our organization works to ensure that Ohio breweries have the support they need to continue crafting bold, new, captivating beers for consumers to enjoy."

The Ohio Craft Brewers Association counts more than three-quarters of Ohio’s 422 independently-owned craft breweries among its membership, ranging from large production breweries in city centers to small scale taproom breweries in suburban and rural communities. The association is led by a volunteer board of 11 brewery owners and employees from around the state, as well as three full-time staffers. This small team provides a wide range of member services, including legislative advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse, brewery marketing through programs like the Ohio On Tap passport app, technical and educational conferences and seminars, and community-building connections between breweries and the businesses that support the industry.

From the Heart: Volume 3 is slated to be released by participating breweries in advance of American Craft Beer Week, celebrated May 15-21. Many of the breweries will also be offering limited edition From the Heart pint glasses, while supplies last. A limited number of breweries will offer From the Heart: Volume 3 in cans, though most will have it available on draft in their taprooms.

Branding and packaging support for the collaboration was donated by Blue Label Packaging Company, Hankscraft/AJS Tap Handles and Lemon Grenade Creative.

More info on the From the Heart: Volume 3 collaboration is available online at ohiocraftbeer.org/fromtheheart


Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote, preserve, diversify and unify Ohio’s craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; to promote safe, responsible enjoyment of Ohio craft beer; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.