We are just a little over a month away from one of my favorite events at Ravenwood Castle, our semi-annual beer tasting weekend! These events are a can’t miss for the true craft beer aficionado – and we only have a handful of rooms left!

If you like learning about the breweries behind your favorite suds while enjoying the company of other craft beer fanatics, join us for a flavorful weekend of food and beer pairings featuring Southern Tier and Sierra Nevada.

Dinner Friday night features Sierra Nevada Brewery out of California. Lydia Johnson from Sierra Nevada will be joining us to share their lineup of amazing beer. Friday’s menu will include wood fired flatbreads with pesto, roma tomatoes and cheese paired with Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale; tomato pepper, cucumber and red onion salad with red wine vinaigrette paired with Hazy Little Thing IPA; penne with smoked chicken, spring veggies and alfredo sauce paired with Hop Bullet; and chocolate & caramel brownies paired with Bigfoot. As a special welcome beer we will be offering Sierra Nevada’s seasonal Summerfest.

All the way from the other coast, dinner Saturday night features the debut of Southern Tier from Lakewood, New York. Neil Mentzer from Southern Tier will be joining us to share a bit about the brewery and discuss their amazing offerings. Saturday’s dinner menu will include smoked chicken wings in buffalo sauce with Nu Juice IPA; toasted almonds, dried cranberries and goat cheese romaine salad with raspberry vinaigrette paired with Mango Crush sour; braised short rib and root vegetables with mashed redskins paired with 3x IPA; and warm apple crisp with fresh whipped cream paired with S’mores Imperial Milk Stout Nitro. As a special after dinner beer, Southern Tier will be offering Sapsquatch, a barrel aged barley wine.

In addition to lineups from these two top notch American breweries, we stock a full cooler with a wide range of craft beer from local and national microbreweries in the on site Raven’s Roost Pub. Come enjoy the warm summer weather in beautiful Hocking Hills. Gather around a fire in the evenings and play a game or two in the Great Hall.

Please join us June 7th and 8th for a weekend of camaraderie and great craft brews! Tickets are $75 per person and include dinner Friday and Saturday nights, and samplings of at least a dozen beers throughout the weekend. Click the “Reservation” button at the top of this page or call (740) 596-2606 to book your room now!

Please note that the event starts with dinner on Friday. Late arrivals will be accommodated as best as possible, but to enjoy the full experience please attempt to arrive early Friday evening.

Jim Reed

Jim Reed is a lifelong gamer who started with the original red box Dungeons & Dragons. After spending 20 years in the corporate world, he decided it was high time that work be fun and struck out on his own. Jim now owns and operates Ravenwood Castle, and spends his days ensuring his guests have as much fun as he does.