Cold weather doesn't freeze out inaugural 'Camp Tap-A-Lot' at Phoenix Brewing Co.

MANSFIELD — Sixteen Ohio craft beers, four rounds of blind tasting and one grand champion highlighted a camp-inspired craft beer competition in downtown Mansfield recently.

Despite 47-degree temperatures, The Phoenix Brewing Company hosted craft beer enthusiasts for its inaugural Camp Tap-A-Lot on Oct. 17.

The unseasonably chilly weather prompted organizers to add heaters to the beer garden and move most of the festivities into the production brewhouse and the upstairs Spirit Room.

The centerpiece of Camp Tap-A-Lot was a blind-tasting competition featuring 16 fall-inspired beers from across Ohio.

(Below are submitted photos from the inaugural Camp Tap-A-Lot at the Phoenix Brewing Company.)

Participants sampled beers across four rounds, dubbed “cabins,” voting online for their favorites without knowing the brewery labels or packaging.

Columbus-based Forbidden Root earned the 2026 Camp Tap-A-Lot Grand Champion title for its Better Together Peanut Butter and Chocolate Porter.

McArthur’s Brewhouse finished in second place with its Cranberry Sour.

The other two finalists were Great Lakes Brewing Co. and Uniontown Brewing Co.

Phoenix organizers said the blind-tasting format was inspired by McArthur’s Brewhouse’s Shandyfest earlier this year.

“Our original idea had guests sampling identified beer flights and rotating through cabin stations with a snack or food pairing at each. but Shandyfest was a blind tasting, and it leveled the playing field,” said Carmone Macfarlane, marketing and events director for the Phoenix Brewing Company.

“Every participating brewery had an opportunity to impress guests based on flavor rather than brand recognition,” she said.

Duncan Macfarlane, head brewer at Phoenix, said the brewery excluded its own beer from the competition to spotlight peers across the state.

“We selected fall-forward beers — many were award winners, and all from breweries our local consumers could easily visit,” Duncan Macfarlane said.

“We pulled our beer from the competition. We still shared a sample of our newest release with everyone, but we really wanted to showcase our friends in the industry.”

Sourcing the lineup presented logistical hurdles due to limited distribution networks for independent breweries, requiring organizers to spend several days driving across Ohio to pick up kegs directly from taprooms.

Attendees traveled from across the state as well, including visitors from Cleveland, Grove City, and Lima.

In addition to the blind tasting, attendees received camp snack packs, decorated flight paddles and tote bags at craft stations, and toured production facilities.

Participating breweries were: