USA, OH: Akronym Brewing LLC hopes to launch in Akron this fall

Akronym Brewing LLC, a new production brewery and tasting room that hopes to launch in downtown Akron this fall, is looking to be compared to the city’s brewing greats, the Akron Beacon Journal reported on February 14.

“We’re going to be making world-class beer like Thirsty Dog and Hoppin’ Frog,” co-founder and brewer Shawn Adams said. “Our main thing is we’re going to focus on quality.”

Thirsty Dog and Hoppin’ Frog are the city’s two established breweries that have won multiple awards at national and international beer competitions.

Adams and longtime homebrewing friends Josh Blubaugh and Aaron Cruikshank — who all live in Akron — are signing a five-year agreement to lease vacant, city-owned retail space at the High/Market parking garage.

The street-level property, at 58 E. Market St., is across the street from the Crave restaurant and around the corner from the Akron Art Museum and Akron-Summit County Public Library. The Akronym partners hope to be an anchor in the area and spur additional development there.

“We found that spot through the city and couldn’t be more excited about where we’re at,” Adams said.

City Council is expected to approve the lease agreement at its next meeting on Feb. 27. The agreement calls for annual lease payments of $25,067.

The space, about 3,000 square feet, has been empty since the parking deck was completed in 2006.

“This is a welcome [sight] to see that space occupied,” said Jeff Fusco, who chairs the council’s planning committee. “It’s going to really add to that neighborhood there. It’s wonderful.”

Akronym is part of a new wave of breweries opening in the Akron area. They include HiHO in Cuyahoga Falls, Two Monks in Akron and Wadsworth in Wadsworth. McArthur’s Brew House also is on the verge of opening in Cuyahoga Falls.

Akronym — the owners wanted the name to have a connection with the city — will launch with a 10-barrel brewing system, instantly making it one of the larger breweries in the community. The goal is to sell 12 beers on draft at the tasting room, with only limited distribution outside the brewery.

There are no immediate plans to offer food. Instead, Akronym will partner with local restaurants and allow people to bring food to the brewery.

The owners want to provide a wide variety of beer styles — everything from hop-forward brews to saisons. They also want to produce lagers.

“I think people are getting back into lagers,” said Adams, 42, a firefighter. “We like to make them fresh here. If you can get a fresh helles, it’ll change your life but you almost have to go to Germany to get one.”

Blubaugh, 42, works in the information technology field, while Cruikshank, 32, is in marketing.
The Akronym website and logo will be unveiled soon.

“We are going to strive to have world-class beers that can win medals at the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival,” Adams said.

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