Coop Ale Works

COOP Ale Works featured at Choctaw Oktoberfest: A first for local beer

For the first time in the 19-year history of the event, a locally made beer will be tapped as the ceremonial keg to kick off Old Germany Restaurant’s 2009 Oktoberfest.

The tapping of the first keg is a ceremony borrowed from the annual Oktoberfest event in Munich, Germany, where the mayor of the city of Munich taps the ceremonial keg to begin the festivities.  Following that tradition, the COOP Ale Works Oktoberfest lager keg will be tapped by Choctaw mayor Randy Ross at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9^th.

As many as 50,000 attendees are expected at this year’s festival.

COOP Ale Works, a new microbrewery based in Oklahoma City, provided the ceremonial beer for the 2009 event.  “Old Germany is proud to have the COOP Ale Works Oktoberfest for the ceremonial tapping of the keg,” states Mike Turek, owner of Old Germany Restaurant and organizer of the festival.  “We requested this beer because it’s an excellent quality brew.  It is faithful to its German origins but offers a local twist.”

Chase Healey, Head Brewer for COOP Ale Works, describes the Oktoberfest beer as “a very popular style, especially for traditional light beer drinkers who prefer a crisp flavor.”

“We brewed the first batch of the Oktoberfest lager in February of this year,” said Healey.  “The beer being poured at Choctaw’s Oktoberfest was brewed in early summer, giving it enough time to age and develop a full-bodied flavor.”

COOP Ale Works Oktoberfest lager follows the traditional German beer purity law of reinheitsgebot, which dictates the use of only barley, hops and water in the production of beer.  COOP Ale Works co-owner JD Merryweather describes the lager as “a fitting way to say goodbye to the long, hot Oklahoma summer.”

“It is a seasonal release, so when it’s gone, it’s gone!” said Merryweather.

Choctaw Oktoberfest will last through Saturday Septermber 12^th.  Admission to the festival is free each day before 5:00 p.m.  For more information on the festival, visit www.oldgermany.com.  For more information on COOP Ale Works, visit www.coopaleworks.com or contact JD Merryweather at (405) 833-0516.

7.21.09       Heidi Brandes

Oklahoma City brewery owner explains how iPhone software makes for a successsful B2B tool.

J.D. Merryweather, co-owner and marketing director for Oklahoma City-based COOP Ale Works, is betting that people want to know where to drink his brew.

With more than 35 locations in Oklahoma carrying the COOP Ale Works brands on tap, the fledgling brewery already has a fan base. So much, in fact, that Merryweather is betting that beer fans will download an iPhone application that not only describes his beer selections, but shows them exactly where the closest COOP brand is from their present location………

See the entire story here.

On May 1st, Gran Sport Porter joined the COOP portfolio of local craft beer.  A robust porter with hints of chocolate and roasted nuts, it’s bound to satisfy those looking for a darker, more flavorful beer.  Ask for it at your favorite watering hole and let us know what you think by leaving a review here.

The High Plains draughters, Oklahoma’s premier homebrewing club, hosted their April 17 meeting at COOP Ale Works.  After tending to club affairs, Head Brewer Chase Healey gave the group a tour of the COOP facility and quality control activities were commenced shortly thereafter.  COOP sends a big thanks the Draughters’ club members who volunteered during our start-up and we hope to see you again soon.