Wolf’s Ridge Brewing is a family-owned craft brewery and restaurant in Columbus, and is the exclusive beer sponsor of the 2017 B.R.E.A.D! Festival. I recently sat down with co-owner Alan Szuter to learn more about the business. Szuter, previously employed as a consultant, was a frequent traveler. After visiting numerous breweries and becoming familiar with the industry, he started home brewing and became increasingly intrigued by beer culture. Now, fours years after its opening, the brewery feels at home in central Ohio. Wolf’s Ridge Brewing got its name from a landscape in Columbus that was originally a forested area known to locals as Wolf’s Ridge. Wolves were considered pests in the area and were eventually eradicated. Because of this, the brewery partners with Ironwood Wolves, a group which raises money for wolf education.

A resident of Dublin, Szuter was glad to headquarter Wolf’s Ridge Brewing in central Ohio. Since there were no available areas in Dublin for him to house the brewery, Columbus was the next logical location. He greatly values the city’s diversity and changing demographics and is excited to be a part of the Columbus community.

Wolf’s Ridge Brewing serves a wide variety of high quality, consistent beers. They brew a number of traditional styles, many of which have won awards in various competitions. The brewery serves smoked lagers, German beers, Belgian sours, and more. They implement creative infusions as well as barrel aged beers. Head brewer Chris Davison has helped add to the brewery’s impressive collection of more than 250 beers.

One thing that makes Wolf’s Ridge unique from other breweries is its emphasis on providing both a craft beer and craft food experience. Instead of focusing solely on one or the other, Szuter wanted to make sure that the emphasis was on a food and beer pairing. He says he is lucky to work with a creative executive chef who is always experimenting in the kitchen. This keeps their food selection unique and diverse.  The company’s executive chef and first staff member, Zach Lassak, is also a Dublin native. Alan’s son and business partner, Bob, has a background in finance and hospitality, and was excited to join his father in this restaurant-brewery duo.

Szuter is excited that Wolf’s Ridge Brewing is participating in this year’s B.R.E.A.D! Festival, literally in his historic Dublin backyard. When Dublin Arts Council approached Szuter regarding festival participation, his response was, “I want to do that. I want to support the arts, support Dublin, and support our business.” Szuter also sees the festival as beneficial to the diverse population of Dublin. He sees the festival implementing its goals by “giving participants an opportunity to express themselves and their craft.” He mentioned that many don’t realize how diverse Dublin truly is. Szuter says that Wolf’s Ridge Brewery’s focus on craft and creativity is a perfect compliment for the festival. He says, “We are humbled by the reception we have gotten in Columbus and we appreciate the support our customers have given us. We are excited to be part of this event and we are excited to be participating in Dublin.”

Be sure to stop by Dublin Arts Council’s B.R.E.A.D! Festival this year between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 21. For more information, visit Dublin Arts Council’s B.R.E.A.D! Festival website here.

Alexa Demyan, DAC Fellow