This is a really fun event, because to me, it’s the first little nugget of Kevin Moreland “coming back” to brewing here in Cincinnati. I suppose before I dig into this new beer, called ‘Nati Dread, I need to catch you up, in case you just got back from a nice tropical vacation and missed the news.
Kevin Moreland Lands
Kevin Moreland is a name that needs little context around it when you’re talking about Cincinnati Beer. The guy is one of the few people who has a real “style” with what he brews in town. You can taste who he is when you try Listermann beers like Chickow, Cranium, and Nutcase. His stamp is on beers like Taft’s Cherrywood Amber, or their Liquid Advent.
This guy has fans because he makes beer that has become synonymous with Cincinnati, that’s not an easy thing to do, or something that I think should be overlooked. When he left the brewery he helped launch, Taft’s Ale House a year ago, there was a lot of sad people, curious to see where his next step would take him. He drifted around using a consulting business to do something he does extremely well – he helped breweries open their doors. That was what helped him get partnered up with Fretboard Brewing.
He says he was attracted to Fretboard because of their “different voice”, one in which they don’t chase trends, instead blazing their own path in this busy community. After he helped them launch, they say that him leaving left a void in their day to day operations. They missed him in the same (but different) ways as the rest of Cincinnati had missed him. They made an offer… and now he’s their managing partner and production manager.
That brings us to this next beer… which without trying it sounds exactly like a Kevin Moreland beer to me, it’s called ‘Nati Dread.
Nati Dread
There are a few things that make a Moreland beer stand out. The best of them aren’t afraid to use adjuncts, and some of my favorites salute the tropics in stunning fashion. Nati Dread hits both of those square on the head.
The beer is an Imperial Stout, loaded up with Smoked and Toasted Coconut and then infused with Maverick Chocolate Cocoa nibs. You can almost taste it just thinking about it. It comes in at 8% ABV and 44 IBUs… it’s a tropical beer perfect for the cold winter months – enough to warm you up, and still remind you of the sunshine beating down on your shoulders.
The beer is going to be tapped on Thursday, at 5pm, with the party kicking into gear all night. They’re also going to let loose with 4 taproom only variants that sound pretty fantastic.
- ‘Nati Dread Salted Caramel
- ’Nati Dread Vanilla Beans
- ’Nati Dread Chili Peppers
- ’Nati Dread Smoked and Toasted
The event will also be benefiting the ArtsWave foundation, with $1 from each beer sold benefiting the foundation… so you can feel good about yourself while you have a pint or two and tell Kevin just how happy you are to see him at a home in Cincinnati Beer again.