Matt Koesters

Special to Cincinnati Enquirer

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This is a drum I’ll keep banging again and again as long as I have this platform: Craft beer is about community. That phrase probably invokes images of crowded taprooms and bars, and of course, that’s a perfectly fine way to picture it. But that’s not what I’m talking about today.

Instead, I’m talking about the craft beer industry people – the people you have to thank for making the beer. The ones who pour it for you. The ones who bottle it, distribute it and sell it. They’re the ones who make the magic happen. Those folks are hurting right now due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, and they need your love now more than ever before.

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So instead of grabbing beer while you’re battling the lines of TP hoarders at the grocery store, go to your favorite brewery or independent bottle shop to stock up. After all, the lines will be short (hey, fewer germs!), the service and selection will be better, and you’ll be doing your part to help these small businesses (and yes, craft breweries are small businesses) stay afloat and their employees stay current on their rent.

Better beer selections

I’m all about buying local. That said, craft beer drinkers are all about variety, and are constantly on the prowl for hard-to-find brews. If you need some extra incentive to head to your local bottle shop, here are some brands worth trying that recently entered our market – and you’ll only find them at your finer bottle shops.

Hubbard’s Cave/Une Année: One brewery, two brands. I remember the first time I had Coco Van, a Hubbard’s Cave stout. The pour I received had little chunks of toasted coconut floating atop the chewy black liquid, and the flavor was unreal. I’m still hoping to see this Chicago brewery’s big-format bottles hit shelves, but in the meantime I’m all too happy to take home their 16-ounce canned offerings. Must try: Une Année Peche. Une Année is Hubbard’s Cave’s sour line. I don’t normally care for peach, but I can say without reservation that this one is worth tracking down.

El Segundo: Oh hell yeah. As an unapologetic fan of professional wrestling, I was pumped to learn that Steve Austin’s Broken Skull IPA recently arrived in Cincinnati. I haven’t had the pleasure of trying this West Coast IPA yet, but people I trust tell me it’s solid. Broken Skull is the perfect beer to celebrate with after hitting your boss with a Stone Cold Stunner.

Perennial Artisan Ales: I’ve driven to St. Louis just to buy beer from this place. Extremely limited quantities of Abraxas, Perennial’s excellent Mexican hot chocolate stout, arrived in Cincinnati a few months ago. They’re long gone, but you can still find two packs of their Coffee Stout. The price is steep at $11 per 16-ounce can, but the flavor makes it all worth it.

In my glass

MadTree Local Blend Porter: Each four-pack of Local Blend includes one can of coffee porter brewed with coffee from each of four cities: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton. I recommend starting with the Cleveland can and drinking your way home.