Beer and Loathing in Columbus
By Steve Croyle |
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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
- Hunter S. Thompson
The dog days. Hot. Humid. Unfit for man or beast. So named because the heat index is dramatically increased when dogs drive humidity to record levels with their incessant panting. Yeah, I know somebody told you something about an ancient belief that the Dog Star, Sirius, drew closer to the earth and scorched us with its heat, but it's a scientific fact that man's best friend is the bastard making August so uncomfortable.
Beer and popcorn at Studio 35
Photo: Christopher Atwood
That's why my beer of choice this time of the year comes from Flying Dog Brewery. While Flying Dog offers a number of outstanding beers, my summer favorite is Tire Bite Golden Ale, a light bodied beer with a healthy dose of imported German hops. If you're a stickler for styles, you might best describe this as a Kolsch, although it packs more of a hop punch than the style guidelines call for, which is probably why the folks at Flying Dog don't seem too keen on waving that flag. Far better to brew a great beer and let people form their own opinions. Regardless of semantics, it's a thirst-quenching beer that lends itself to repeated consumption.
As luck would have it, Studio 35 will feature Flying Dog at a beer tasting August 16, along with a screening of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a fitting tribute as Hunter S. Thompson was quite fond of Flying Dog and is the inspiration behind Flying Dog's "Gonzo" brewing process. Thompson's longtime friend and collaborator, artist Ralph Steadman, provides the artwork for the brewery's interesting (and sometimes disturbing) labels.
If you can't get there for the tasting, make a point to catch a flick at Studio 35 some time. In addition to being a funky little cinema that mixes first run feature films with a steady schedule of cult classics and a few local productions, they boast an impressive taproom specializing in season-appropriate craft brews.
Studio 35
3055 Indianola Avenue
(614) 262-7505
www.studio35.com
Originally Published: August 1, 2009
