There’s Always Something New at Warren’s Cork & Cap
By Jim Cyphert & The Flight Crew
WARREN, Ohio — Like most craft beer lovers, Nick Uroseva and his team at Cork & Cap Bottle Shop & Tasting Room on Elm Road in Warren are never satisfied with the status quo.
Unique and special craft beers regularly arrive at the shop located at 3225 Elm Road NE and have patrons eagerly awaiting what’s next.
“We’re constantly trying to improve in everything we do,” said Uroseva. “That includes craft beer cans, bottles and draughts as well as our wine and food selections.”
Uroseva said that while a lot has changed due to COVID-19, an amazing craft beer offering and friendly customer service have remained mainstays at Cork & Cap.
From Cavalier Distributing to Esber Beverage to Premium Beverage, Cork & Cap works with every major beverage distributor in the state of Ohio to ensure a well-rounded portfolio.
“We take pride in keeping an eye on what’s new and hot,” said Uroseva. “Our distributors do a great job keeping us informed about new releases. Sometimes we contact the breweries directly. And social media is a good source of information.”
Nine years ago, Uroseva and his wife, Loretta, purchased the former Michael Charles Premier Wines, an established shop of more than 25 years. The couple rebranded to Cork & Cap and modernized the business five years ago. Two years ago, the space was doubled.
The Flight Crew spent an enjoyable evening chatting with Uroseva and key employee Sarah Leasure, also known as SarahMeetsBeer on social media channels. They listened to what styles we liked and delivered impeccable flights that met our every expectation.
Here’s a little more about the beers we liked best:
Birdfish Snow Daze Hazy White IPA (6.2% ABV)
Dave Shively
“It’s been 40 years since I last enjoyed one of these. Even though that’s been decades ago, I can still recall the magic and joy of my favorite meteorological event. It typically arrived in February, and it was the day when the weather gods managed to take down the educational gods, for just one day. Of course, I’m referring to those two magical words — Snow Day. Birdfish Brewing pays tribute to this rite of passage with its interpretation of winter in a can with Snow Daze Hazy White IPA. WFMJ meteorologist Andrew DiPaolo joined forces with the Birdfish gang three years ago to bring to fruition this annual limited-edition seasonal craft beer. Snow Daze is partly cloudy in its appearance. This New England-style IPA has the aroma of fresh-cut pine with generous amounts of grapefruit and citrus juices in its flavor profile. If you’re fortunate to still find this limited edition beer, act quickly before the weather changes!”
Noble Creature OHvercast IPA (7.5% ABV)
Jim Cyphert
“Sticking with the weather theme, anyone from — or anyone who’s spent any time in — the Mahoning Valley certainly knows that northeastern Ohio is notorious for its high percentage of overcast days each year. We’re the second only to Seattle as the most overcast area of the country. So, Noble Creature Cask House Owner Ira Gerhart paid homage to that fact with OHvercast hazy IPA. This is Noble Creature’s flagship American IPA, hopped with Simcoe, Citra and Centennial. It’s very hazy, just like the notorious Ohio days, with notes of orange peel, passion fruit and lemon. But if you’re a hazy IPA lover like me, OHvercast will most certainly help to brighten your outlook. Kudos to Nick and Sarah for always supporting local!”
Saugatuck Brewing Neapolitan Milk Stout (6.0% ABV)
Roger Gillespie
“I’m a self-avowed hop junkie. I constantly seek a more powerful hop slap. This occasionally leads to some serious palate destruction. When this happens, I start dabbling with softer, gentler brews. The Saugatuck’s Neapolitan Milk Stout could possibly be the most delicious Stout I’ve ever been served. It truly offers the flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberries, each being distinctive with every sip. A 6% stout pushed by nitro makes this an unforgettable experience.”
Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout (5.7% ABV)
Joe Sanfilippo
“The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery is located in Farmville, N.C., but its beer has made its way to the Mahoning Valley. The brewery’s best-selling beer is its milk stout – for very good reason. This beer has taken home several awards from the Great American Beer Fest and World Beer Cup. The aroma on the pour was second to none. You get milk chocolate and toasty notes along with hints of caramel. After taking one sip, I knew this was going to be a great beer. And indeed it was.”
Butcher and the Brewer Stop Hop Kaboom American IPA (6.4 % ABV)
Brian Long
“This beer’s name might be a bit misleading, but not in a bad way. It poured a clear orange with slight head and almost earthly aromas. And, if you would have told me this was a “light” beer, I wouldn’t have doubted it, as it was so easy drinking. This American IPA has a light hop bitterness on the front, followed by soft, piney juiciness and a dry, sweet finish. This is easily an all-day drinker!”
Epic Brewing 2019 Big Bad Baptist (11.0% ABV)
Jason Jugenheimer
“Nick said he loves to have a barrel-aged beer on tap at all times because it draws people in. He could probably leave a rotating tap handle on for this versatile ‘Baptized in Barrels’ imperial stout. With more than a dozen different varieties and rare specialty releases, this beer has a lot of range. But the award-winning base Baptist is phenomenal on its own. The 2019 version we sampled is a flavorful gateway to epic barrel-aged beers. It pours deep and dark, almost thick, but it’s silky smooth. A lot of wood and roasted malts rest on your palate with a slight bourbon, but not boozy, finish. Grab any variety when you see it, and get baptized in this stout series.”
Recommended Flight Pattern: Don’t miss the opportunity to check out one of the coolest bottle shops in the Valley. Go say “Hey” to Nick, Sarah and the team at Cork & Cap.
If You Go:
Brewery: Cork & Cap
Address: 3225 Elm Road NE, Warren
Website: corkandcap.net
Hours: Monday through Thursday.: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday.: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Available for Purchase: Flights, pints, growlers, bottles, cans and food.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
