USA, OH: Sideswipe Brewing Company joins Columbus craft beer scene

Sideswipe Brewing Co., a new nanobrewery in Columbus, hopes to release its beer at bars, restaurants and retail stores over the next month. Craig O'Herron, a former homebrewer who taught English in Korea and Thailand for several years, has started brewing and it's a matter of time before his first three beers, available in 22-ounce bottles, hit the market, Akron Beacon Journal reported on November 19.

"I’m just excited to be creating beers for Columbus," he said. "It’s been quite a bit of work getting here."

Sideswipe - which operates with a three-barrel Psycho Brew system - will launch with bottles and then offer kegs later.

The first three beers are: Elegant Hoodlum Smoke Stout, Fisticuffs IPA and and Coop Looter Saision -- all featuring artsy, paint-splashed-looking labels. Eventually, the brewery will introduce seasonal and specialty beers as well.

O'Herron, a Worthington resident, also has plans to open a tasting room and offer homebrew classes at the brewery over the next few months.

The Sideswipe name stems from O'Herron's love of martial arts, which he took up as a kid. He now enjoys kickboxing.

"Sideswipe means for me an unexpected hit," he said. "We say we do palate-punching beers and it was kind of the blending of my two passions."

O'Herron added that he's happy to be part of the growing Columbus craft scene and that he believes the market can support more craft brewers. Established players such as Columbus, Barley's, Elevator and Gordon Biersch have been joined by start-ups Four String, Zauber, Seventh Son, North High and several others.

20 November, 2013