MANSFIELD — For those looking to limit or avoid alcohol during Dry January and beyond, the Phoenix Brewing Company will be offering recurring programing through February. There was even a non-alcoholic tasting hosted by Athletic Brewing Company on January 4.
“We are kind of trying to lean into that aspect,” said Ian Cardwell, one of the brewers at Phoenix. “With us being a brewery, it’s hard to, but we found our way with Athletic Brewery Company, which is kind of like a Craft brewery that specializes solely in non-alcoholic beer.”
“On Tuesdays, the Phoenix offers a variety of recurring programming throughout the month. The first Tuesday of the month is the game night which is hosted by Ian Cardwell and Gus Phillips. On the third Tuesday of the month, we offer Trivia, designed and hosted by the Mansfield Richland-County Public Library. The MRCPL team designs all of the questions and runs the entire trivia night,” Phoenix Creative and Marketing Chair Carmone Macfarlane said.
The recurring game nights, which are typically held on the first Tuesday of the month, and apart from the Dry January focus, is the brainchild of Cardwell and one of his friends, Phillips. They tapped into the idea after hosting trivia nights on the third Tuesday of every month at the brewery.
Cardwell, who moved back to Mansfield after college to specifically work for the brewery, and does a little bit of everything for the company from bartending to delivering beer to sales and production, said the trivia nights had been quite successful and they were looking for some additional activities to engage their customers. Plus, they wanted to have a little bit of fun because Tuesday nights can be kind of slow.
“We were thinking about how we can do something on a different Tuesday, we both like to play those, we had a small collection ourselves and it just kind of grew from there,” Cardwell said. “We just kind of just gather and play and just choose what’s available for that night. We are still kind of growing it (and seeing) what works and what doesn’t.”
While the brewery has its own collection of board games, on site, for players to choose from, the hosts also encourage people to bring their own board games. Outside food is welcomed for the game nights, but drinks from other establishments are not.
The local microbrewery has been hosting the game nights for about five or six months, Cardwell said he gets assistance with the events from his colleague Carmon, who handles the brewery’s social media and booking. She will also assist with giving an overview of the non-alcoholic selections in February.
“It seems like more people are coming as it goes on. And it has been slowly growing each time,” Cardwell said, noting “a board game is kind of more of a niche hobby for some, so people show up knowing they are going to find other people who are into it.
“You are going to find people who enjoy that same hobby as you do. I think it helps with that, so, I myself have met a few people that I have never seen in the community before.”
Cardwell also acknowledged the game nights provide additional opportunities for customers to get to know new people. He thinks it is the main reason behind it. And it’s definitely fun,” he added.
The February game night at Phoenix Brewery Company is being sponsored and hosted by Operation Fandom/Black Bird Music.
Phoenix offers four types of non-alcoholic craft beers from Athletic Brewing Company. The offerings include a Golden Ale, two different types of IPA’s (India Pale Ales) and a Stout.
“We don’t have very many other traditional non alcoholic beverages. We have not made one ourselves, although we have been looking into it. In the meantime, this offers both (and) a wide palette of craft beers,” Cardwell said.
He also explained what an IPA is for those unfamiliar with the lingo.
“An IPA is probably one of the most popular styles of craft beers,” Cardwell said. “In addition to being an Old English style type ale, it’s just a ‘hoppier’ version of the beer, so where the Golden Ale is more light and approachable, it is more ‘hoppier’ and has bitter notes.
“It kind of gets the full spectrum of craft beer flavor all while being non-alcoholic which is pretty fun to have. While the Stout is rich and dark and roasty.”
Seating for the game night on Feb. 1 will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the 131 N. Diamond St. microbrewery. A discussion about the brews is slated to begin around 6 p.m. Players should have played their last round of games and cleaned up their spaces by 10 p.m.
For those looking to avoid the temptation of a bar or their favorite restaurant, which may trigger a desire to have their favorite glass of wine with their meal during Dry January, there’s always the supermarket.
Can local residents find the Athletic NA offered at Phoenix in stores?
“They are available in many different locations in the area including J & J’s Mart, Waynes Country Market, the Cleveland Avenue Market and Buehler’s in Ashland, Macfarlane said.
Besides Dry January or Sober October, what’s the appeal of a non-alcoholic beer?
“Craft beers offers, to me, the richest flavor profile, so if I am dieting and want to cut back on calories or if I’m trying to cut back on alcohol and I really enjoy that flavor of beer, this is a great way to do it,” he said.
“I know it is a good way for people who don’t drink anymore, who used to; who never did, for whatever reason it may be, they can still enjoy the social aspect of hanging out at a bar or whatever and still have that, especially at brewery, get that craft brew feeling and flavor profile that you expect with a traditional beer that we would brew.”
There isn’t a cover charge for the event, but participants are encouraged to mix and mingle and have a good time as well as find new people to play with.
“Invite people to play games with you or try and go and play someone else’s game with them, and that way build a little community with that,” he said.
“It’s just a good time, if you like playing board games. If you enjoy board games, we got a little bit of everything for you, at least, hopefully, that is our goal,” he added.
Furthermore, patrons, who are interested in continuing their sobriety after January and February’s game night will have access to the non-alcoholic brews year round.
Cardwell said the non-alcoholic beer is offered all of the time.
“We will carry that brand or at least a style of non alcoholic beer will be offered from here on out and anytime we’re open. It doesn’t have to be a special event or game nights or anything like that,” he added.
Sobriety movements are catching on around the U.S. and UK and so are non-alcoholic beverages
There are additional bars, restaurants and pubs in the U.S. as well as the UK, who, similar to Phoenix Brewery Company, that are offering non-alcoholic options during Dry January.
Some business owners are hoping the non-alcoholic offerings will retain some of their regular customers, whose seats might go vacant, during Dry January, which is coming to a close soon.
That’s because the beverages also known as near beers or “mocktails” or buzz-less spirits are a growing industry fueled by Millenials — and they are expected to continue to do well.
According to Nielsen IQ data, sales of non-alcoholic beverages grew more than 30% last year. In addition to raking in a whopping $331 million in sales, non-alcoholic beers and wines are projected (thanks to Millenials and Gen Zers who reportedly drink less and participate in Dry January more), to become a double-digit, billion-dollar industry in the next three years.
Dry January is a health initiative which has spawned a global community of participants in a health campaign that was founded by the British Charity, Alcohol Change UK. The initiative began in 2012 and launched its first campaign in 2013.
According to the charity’s website: https://alcoholchange.org.uk, Dry January started in 2013 with 4,000 people and it’s come a long way since then, with around 130,000 people taking part in 2021. Now, millions of people participate in the challenge.
Furthermore, the charity’s website noted, independent research conducted by the University of Sussex in 2018, has shown dry January helps people to drink more healthily year round.
Participants and practitioners have praised the challenge, noting that abstaining from alcohol for 30 days or longer has helped to regulate their sleep patterns. Abstaining also has other possible health benefits such as lowering blood pressure as well as reducing caloric intake in addition to helping people to lose weight or save money.
Dry January also has its detractors. There are also professionals, who work in the substance abuse prevention field as well as physicians, who are concerned about people quitting drinking cold turkey, who they think, probably shouldn’t participate.
Experts including Alcohol Change UK have issued warnings (at their website) that it could be dangerous for some people, especially those who are dependent on alcohol, whether they are aware of the dependency or not, to suddenly stop drinking.
Quitting cold turkey could possibly affect mild to heavy drinkers in a myriad of ways that range from uncomfortable to dangerous. Participants in Dry January should be mindful of any pressing symptoms such as sweating, nausea and vomiting.
Dry January is a time to reflect and/or reevaluate a person’s relationship to alcohol or to continue to stop drinking long after the challenge is over.
Still, experts have advised that anyone who suspects that he or she may have a dependency on alcohol to seek professional help first — whether from a physician, psychologist or drug and alcohol counselor-before embarking on the challenge, if at all.
Finally, if you or anyone you know are in crisis or in need of immediate assistance for a substance abuse disorder, contact one of the sources listed on the Richland County One Pager https://richlandmentalhealth.com/richland-county-contacts-1-pager/. To learn more about Dry January visit: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january.
To find out more about the game night or to access the brewery’s menu, click here:https://www.phoenixbrewing.com/events?view=calendar month=01-2022
