Decisions, decisions. Final Four beer bracket voting closes Friday night ??
And then there were four.
The Final Four brews are set in the quest for the Cincinnati's Favorite Beer 2024 title. We have two previous champs (one's a two-time winner), a high-seed bracket staple and a diaper-dandy rookie that is tearing through the field.
?? Ready? VOTE HERE on Final Four March 28-29 ??
Some juicy final matchups could be in the making here. We could have a rematch of last year's final between No. 1 Bohemian Special (Wiedemann) and No. 3 Helles Real (Grainworks). Grainworks took that victory in 2023, preventing a Wiedemann three-peat. Could they duke it out again in 2024? (Rhetorical. Vote!)
And my wife (shoutout!) pointed out the possibility that the final match for the title of Cincinnati's Favorite Beer ... could be between two Kentucky breweries. Could we see No. 2 Dunkel (Hofbrauhaus) vs. No. 2 Crazy Norse (Barleycorn’s)? I'm sure we'd get roasted in the comments. But I'll preempt all of that by saying CVG ? the CINCINNATI airport ? is also in Kentucky. So, there. (The Cincinnati Area's Favorite Beer just doesn't roll off the tongue.)
Or, heck, maybe it'll be a mix-match of those possibilities. Either way, it's up to YOU to vote.
Let's take a look at these matchups so you can be a well-informed voter.
?? VOTE HERE on Final Four matchups March 28-29 ??
Hofbrauhaus vs. Wiedemann
*The battle of the tried-and-true beers.
No. 1 Bohemian Special (Wiedemann) has been here before. It was our champion in 2021 and 2022, and the runner-up in 2023. It is 4.6% ABV, and the brewery website describes it as "a crisp, thirst-quenching Bohemian lager brewed in the Old World style with noble Czech hops and Pilsner malt." The brewery is in St. Bernard.
No. 2 Dunkel (Hofbrauhaus) has been a No. 1 seed three times since 2019, but has not reached the Final Four since that inaugural year, when it lost to Nellie's from Taft's. It is 5.5% ABV and is the darkest of the remaining beers, with "simple roasted malt flavor and slight caramel undertones," according to the brewery's website. The brewery is in Newport.
Barleycorn’s vs. Grainworks
*The battle of the sports team-themed beers.
No. 3 Helles Real (Grainworks) was the come-from-behind champ in 2023. This is THE beer to drink for FC Cincinnati supporters, themed around the Hell Is Real sign we all know from the drive to and from matches against the Columbus Crew. It is claimed to be 4.666% ABV, and according to the brewery's website, "this Munich-style German Lager has a rich, bready malt character balanced by a mild Bavarian hop bite, with a refreshing finish." The brewery is in West Chester Township.
No. 2 Crazy Norse (Barleycorn’s Brewhouse) is a rookie to our bracket, having opened in August of 2022 just down the road from Bobby Mackey's Music World. Crazy Norse is THE beer to drink for NKU sports fans (Norse is the team name). It's our strongest beer remaining by far, coming in at 6.8% ABV. It's a New England (hazy) IPA, and the brewery site says it's "Gold to Orange in color, nebulous haze with a tropical-fruity aroma and mild-medium malt sweetness." The brewery is in Wilder.
?? VOTE HERE on Final Four matchups March 28-29 ??
CFB Elite Eight final scores
1 Bohemian Special (Wiedemann) | WINNER
Votes: 779
3 Vlad (Fretboard)
Votes: 464
–
2 Dunkel (Hofbrauhaus) | WINNER
Votes: 552
4 Happy Amber (MadTree)
Votes: 495
–
3 Helles Real (Grainworks) | WINNER
Votes: 607
8 Untapped Potential (Third Eye)
Votes: 516
–
2 Crazy Norse (Barleycorn’s) | WINNER
Votes: 1,481
4 Coast to Coast (Fifty West)
Votes: 523
Final Four voting guide
Voting begins at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, March 28, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 29.
You can vote once per day, per matchup.
Voting for the Finals begins Monday, April 1, featuring winners from the previous round (duh).
Dates to know
Round of 32: March 18-19.Sweet 16: March 21-22.Elite Eight: March 25-26.Final Four: March 28-29.
THE FINALS: April 1-2.
Winner announced: April 7.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Final Four revealed in Cincinnati's Favorite Beer bracket. Vote now!