Penguin City, One Hot Cookie Team For New Brew
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Instead of cookies and milk, why not just leave Santa a bottle of Penguin City Peppermint Ale this year?
The new brew is a Christmas-y collaboration between One Hot Cookie and Penguin City Brewing Co., two locally-owned downtown companies that go together like cookies and beer. As its name suggests, the adult beverage uses peppermint to give it that holiday spirit.
“It’s a fruit ale with hints of peppermint in it,” says Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki, co-owner of Penguin City.
Peppermint Ale will go on sale Nov. 22 at a beer-release and Ugly Christmas Sweater party from 4 to 10 p.m. at the B&O Station, 530 Mahoning Ave., where Penguin City brews its beer. Beer and cookie pairings will be sold at the event. Admission is free.
The seasonal beer will be available on tap at bars and restaurants throughout the region, as well as in 12-ounce bottles at retail outlets. A six-pack will cost $14 (tax included).
It’s a limited release, so anyone wanting to give it a try better act fast. Penguin City brewmaster Doug Beedy is producing just one 10-barrel batch of the brew, which has an ABV of 5.8%, and when it’s gone, it’s gone, Lyras-Bernacki says. One barrel of beer is 31 gallons.
The collaboration with One Hot Cookie keeps with Penguin City’s mission, she says
“We wanted this company to be for the city of Youngstown, for its people,” says Lyras-Bernacki, adding Penguin City likes to honor Valley businesses. “It made perfect sense to tie it in with One Hot Cookie.”
Lyras-Bernacki and Bergen Giordani, co-owner of One Hot Cookie, have long been friends. “We started talking about making a beer together around the time of Federal Frenzy in April,” says Giordani.
The label artwork for the brew, designed by Penguin City brand manager Michael Pontikos, looks like hand-stitched embroidery and depicts a cookie in a beer schooner.
Penguin City Peppermint Ale was unveiled at a Nov. 7 press conference at One Hot Cookie’s original location on West Commerce Street, downtown. The shop, which also offers ice cream and coffee, as well as party catering, has been a part of downtown’s rebirth.
“In the seven years we’ve been here, we’ve seen the whole revitalization of downtown,” says Morgen Chretien, co-owner of One Hot Cookie, and Giordani’s daugher.
The company has stores in Boardman, Berlin and Pittsburgh, Pa.
One Hot Cookie has also created a seasonal treat to go with Penguin City Peppermint Ale. “Our Pink Peppermint Oreo cookie will be paired with it at the release party,” says Giordani.
While Penguin City’s family of products is anchored by its flagship brew, Penguin City Beer, the company introduces limited-release seasonal products – including its 10.10.19 farmhouse IPA and John Young Apple Ale – on a monthly basis.
It will release Lost River Hard Seltzer, which is named for the water ride at the former Idora Park, in the near future. Lost River is a hard seltzer made with peaches from Whitehouse Fruit Farm in Canfield.
Pictured above: (From left) Morgen and Nick Chretien, Bergen Giordani and Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki at a press conference to announce the new Penguin City Peppermint Ale, a collaboration between One Hot Cookie and Penguin City Brewing Co. Morgen and Giordani are co-owners of One Hot Cookie, and Lyras-Bernacki is co-owner of Penguin City.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
