Posted By: CSmith

This is a guest post by Cassi Smith, former host for Sackets Harbor Brewing Company and current South Carolina beer lover.

Competition between the wine and beer industry has harbored a snobs against the slobs sort of tone. Beer drinkers are the lower huddled masses against the higher sophisticated wine drinking class. However, the tone is beginning to change as the craft beer industry constantly brings more complexity to beers with ingredients such as nutmeg, ginger, chocolate, juniper, and even grapes.

What may be the most glaring evidence of this competitive break down sits east of Cleveland in Madison, Ohio. To the outside observer Debonne’ Vineyards looks and acts like a winery offering a variety of award winning wine, a warm fireplace, and friendly staff. But pure wine enthusiasts may argue that there are pests in the basement.

Through a window cut in the beer tasting room’s floor one can watch Cellar Rats Brewery operate in the basement of Debonne’ Vineyards making a variety of ales for craft beer enthusiasts. While a relatively small operation, they are making their name known throughout Northeast Ohio by working with other breweries in the area on collaborative brews. Cellar Rats boasts a seasonal selection of beers with Field Rat Wheat, Rat Tail Ale, and Rat Trap Lager offered year round.

Cellar Rats Brewery and Debonne’ Vineyards offers the perfect lunching option for friends or family members who stand firmly on either side of wine and beer industry divide. Once inside the winery, however, it may be difficult to acknowledge that such a chasm exists.

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