Phoenix & Four Paws/Red Wagon Brewing Bring the Candy Aisle to the Taproom with the Malted Milk Mustache

When winter starts to become a little long, dark, and just too serious, the team at the Phoenix Brewing Company believes it’s the perfect time to introduce something new.

Collaborating with Columbia Station’s Four Paws/Red Wagon Brewing, together, they have designed the Malted Milk Mustache white stout to be a bright spot in the doldrums of winter. The last official Phoenix beer, brewed in 2025, is ready for release.

Brewed as a winter indulgence, this white stout brings childhood nostalgia to your pint glass. The beer will feature layered notes of creamy chocolate, toasty malted milk, and a subtle sweetness capturing the unmistakable flavor of the classic malted milk ball. It maintains the smooth drinkability of a white stout but with a lower 5.5% ABV.

“There’s no guilt in this dessert-inspired beer. It’s playful, familiar, and cozy all at once. This collaboration is all about having fun, and we’re thrilled to partner with Ann Zofchak and Four Paws/Red Wagon.

“We’d been talking about collaborating for most of 2025, and with just days to spare, we finally made it happen. Another collaboration is already planned for this summer, but we’re keeping that one under the wrapper for now,” said Carmone Macfarlane, Creative and Marketing for the Phoenix.”

Unlike traditional stouts, Malted Milk Mustache will deliver stout flavor without the heavy roast and dark color, making it approachable for both stout lovers and those who may be new to the style. You can expect a creamy mouthfeel, balanced sweetness, and hint of subtle roast that still drinks like a light beer.

Will it be similar to Krampus Kandy, Phoenix’s gold-medal white stout? Phoenix Head brewer and Phoenix co-owner, Duncan Macfarlane, says “They are both dry-beaned with local coffee, but that’s about where the similarities end. Ann and I created a grain bill that is lighter than Krampus but complex enough to complement the chocolate and malted milk notes.”

Ann Zofchak, head brewer and co-owner of Four Paws/Red Wagon Brewing, has been brewing since 1995 and professionally since 2020. “10 years ago I tried a malted milk ball stout and I have wanted to incorporate it into another style ever since. We share a love for creating beers that lean into nostalgic flavors. I have always wanted to brew this and what better way than together.”

The collaboration beer will be brewed on December 22nd at the Phoenix Brewing Company. The beer will release to the public on January 31, 2026, on draft and in limited cans at the Phoenix, and will release at Four Paws /Red Wagon on February 4th. You can meet the brewers at the Phoenix on January 31at 1 pm, and at Four Paws/Red Wagon on February 7 at 1 pm.

Are you haunted?

What happens when you mix a mortuary with a brewery? Find out during October, where you might just raise more than your glass.  

Housed in a former mortuary, Halloween is more of a lifestyle than a holiday at the Phoenix Brewing Company. The brewery comes alive with spooky fun, from haunted tours to eerie cocktails, hauntingly good live music, and maybe even a ghost spotting or two. Over the next few days, the taproom will transform into the Fright Nights Pop-up bar; part hops, part spirits, part haunts, and all fun.

October highlights include:

Pop-up Fright Night Bar from October 8 to November 2: A chilling transformation of our brewery and taproom spaces.

Special Boos & Brews menu: Bring out your inner ghoul with seasonal beers and cocktails, including the Caramel Apple Pop, Midnight Margaritas, and Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini.

Haunted Brewery Tours: October 11, 18, 25, and 31: Peek into the dark corners of our historic mortuary and brewery spaces.  

Fall Pop-Up Market: October 18, Noon to 5 pm. Find unique items from artisans and craftsmen while sipping on seasonal favorites and cocktails.

Char-BOO-terie workshop with Mrs. Charbougie: Artful arrangements of nibbles and bites on Monday, October 20.

Boos & Boogeymen: Spooky Bourbon Tasting in the Spirit Room on Wednesday, October 22.

Live Music & Costume Parties: Scarily good musicians and a chance to show off spooktacular costumes for prizes, with two ways to win.

Camp Crystal Lake at the Phoenix: ANNUAL HALLOWEEN BASH: Keys to the Camp Store, Saturday, October 25. We are turning the patio into Camp Crystal Lake. Our spooktacular judges will award 100 keys between 6 pm and 10 pm to their favorite costumed guests, giving them a chance to open the Camp Store Vault and win. Or guests can stick around for the costume contest at 10 pm with best costume categories.

As October 31 creeps closer, the question “Is it really haunted?” haunts the staff. Some stories can be explained away, while others cannot. Guests have documented orbs in photographs taken near the former casket elevator. And there are a large number of people who have felt someone tapping their shoulder near the stairs, only to turn around and have no one there. Staff have heard whispers, felt otherworldly presences, and even witnessed items falling.

Don’t miss your chance to sip, celebrate, and maybe even have your own ghostly encounter. As Halloween nears, the Phoenix Brewing Company becomes the place where community and spirits connect.

Crafting More than just Beer for the Community

The Phoenix adds a New Game to Their Tuesday Night Game Lineup

Community members have gathered at the Phoenix Brewing Company in Mansfield every Tuesday the last couple of years to participate in games like Trivia, BINGO, Board Games, and Euchre. Now, they have a new option.

The Phoenix is excited to announce their debut and the addition of Wrong Answer Trivia to their rotating lineup of Tuesday night games. Wrong Answer Trivia will be held on the first Tuesday of every month, debuting on July 2nd, 2024.

Wrong Answer Trivia is a combination of Cards Against Humanity and Trivia. Participants give their best “wrong answer” to trivia-like questions curated by the Tuesday night Game-Master and co-host, Joanna Riffle and co-host Sarah Fernandez. Wrong Answer Trivia is perfect for those who are bad at regular trivia, are the sarcastic member of the trivia team, or prefer to inject a little humor into the round. At the end of each round, the hosts will award tiered points for the best incorrect answers. The team that accrues the most points during the game will be declared the winner, have their photo taken with the Wrong Answer Trivia Trophy, and will receive a Phoenix prize pack for their efforts. Sign-ups begin at 6:15 and gameplay commences at 6:30. Teams are limited to 4 players with a cap of 10 teams, and participants must be 21 or over. Don’t worry, if you don’t get a team spot, the evening still promises to be entertaining for spectators as well.

Joanna Riffle is the Tuesday Night Game Master at the Phoenix, managing all the Tuesday night community gaming events. “We love Tuesday nights! We offer a different game for those 21 and over, for FREE, each Tuesday of the month. I am most excited about Wrong Answer Trivia because it is new and fresh.  It’s a game that hasn’t been done in the area before. I think people will really like it. Plus, I get to co-host with Sarah Fernandez.” Riffle continued, “I grew up playing games and my role on Tuesday nights allows me to not only play but provide others with the opportunity as well.”

Each Tuesday the Phoenix rotates their game nights:

1st Tuesday of the Month: Wrong Answer Trivia

2nd Tuesday of the Month: Euchre Night

3rd Tuesday of the month: Trivia hosted by the Mansfield-Richland County Public Library

4th Tuesday of the Month: Bingo Night Hosted by Jason McManes

Previously held on the first Tuesday of the month, Board Game night will now be held on the first Sunday of the month to make space for Wrong Answer Trivia. Guests are encouraged to borrow one of our board games from behind the bar or bring their own.

Guests can find all the Phoenix events, including game nights, live music, events, and food trucks by visiting our events page here.

One Fantastic (9 Year) Voyage

Nine, is just one more than eight, but for the Phoenix Brewing Company the difference between those two numbers is much more than just 365 days. It is the culmination of the last nine years into one fantastic journey.

One of their favorite parts of the journey has been the craft beer community.

“We didn’t really know what to expect when we opened. We were hopeful people would fall in love with craft beer as much as we had. It has grown into a larger community that has really embraced craft beer. I still get goosebumps.” Co-owner and head brewer Duncan Macfarlane commented.

“It is difficult to quantify community. How do you do that? It is easy to see growth in numbers addressing barrelage and production. But we have seen relationships begin, marriages, 5Ks, golf outings, trivia, bingo, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, dog adoption, book clubs, new friendships, philanthropy, collaborations, goals met, 5ks, and so much more. The craft beer community has grown. We get to be a part of it every day. What could be better than that.”

In 2014 the Phoenix brewed on a 5 bbl (150 gallons) system. That quickly expanded to include a 2nd 20-barrel (600 gallons) brewhouse. 10 barrels of fermentation tank space went from 10 barrels to 150 barrels and purchasing a 25,000 sq. foot warehouse. Delivering kegs from personal vehicles expanded to 2 delivery vans, and draft only transitioned to include bomber bottles and then 16 oz cans and owning their own canning line.

The staff has grown from 5 to 22, with 7 of those positions being full-time. Originally the positions were just brewer and bartenders. Now they include sales, distribution, brewers, cellarman, creative and marketing, safety, accounting, IT, bartenders, and bourbon stewards. Many work in dual positions, and many also serve on community organizations, community boards and committees, and with the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, and the Brewers Association.

The taproom only space expanded to include a patio, and then a second patio, or seasonal beer garden. And in 2023 the long-awaited renovation of the unused space into the Spirit Room at the Phoenix. The upstairs renovation into the Spirit Room at the Phoenix allows them to offer something different to patrons, but it also is a great space for private rental.

The beer portfolio started with only 4 offerings. The portfolio adjusts every year, but there are typically over 70 offerings throughout the year including collaborations with other breweries and non-profit organizations.

Since their beginnings, the Phoenix has tried to support and raise awareness for a variety of causes with local non-profit charities and non-profit national charities and organizations in the brewing industry through sponsorships, donations, special beer releases, fundraising events, apparel sales. In May of 2021, the Phoenix transitioned to a non-tipping establishment, in order for staff to secure a more fair and even wage with COVID disruptions.  Employee hourly wages were raised, and staff were able to also cross-train in different areas of the brewery. Any cash left behind is donated to a designated charity each month.

The Phoenix Brewing Company, in Mansfield, Ohio is celebrating its ninth anniversary this week with events all week. Macfarlane said, “We aren’t just celebrating ourselves; we are celebrating our whole community.  This journey really has just been fantastic. We even named a beer for it.”

ANNIVERSARY WEEK SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Tuesday, April 25th at 3 PM,

The DISCO BANANA BLOND ALE will RELEASE on Tuesday,  APRIL 25 at 3 pm

The Disco Banana will release on draft at 3 pm with cans available later in the week Carapils, honey malt, 2-row, and just a hint of hops combine to create a delicious blond ale, infused with banana and chocolate. The Disco Banana is pale golden hue with a light malt sweetness. A fun flavor profile, and a low hop bitterness, the Disco Banana is delicious any time of year but available just in time for the 9th anniversary.

Tuesday, April 25 is BINGO night at the Phoenix, with prizes, great beers, and fun. Best of all it is FREE to play! The evening will consist of 5 total rounds of Bingo. Jason McManes is the BINGO MASTER for the evening.

Wednesday, April 26th, the Flight Club: Run/walk/Jog will meet at 5:30 pm in the Beer Garden for their weekly run starting at 6 pm. Chad Vanderpool will be leading the group on their weekly 5k and fun!

The celebration continues Thursday, April 27 with a Brewhouse Disco with DJ B-Rad emceeing. The production brewery opens to the public at 6:30 pm with limited seating, plenty of space to move and groove, a tented outdoor area, and of course, a disco ball. The Disco Banana might even make an appearance. Disco attire appreciated, but not required.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28: Live Music from Jeff Ritz and Friends at 7:30 pm.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28: FERRYMAN FRENZY

The Ferryman is taking over the taps in the Spirit Room on Friday, April 28th. Cross over to the Craft Beer dark side with the Ferryman. Brewed with chocolate and roasted malts, flaked oats, and lactose, this creamy and rich milk stout is easily drinkable and sure to become a favorite no matter which variant you try.

The Ferryman Oatmeal Milk Stout, 2020 Silver medal winner Ohio Craft Brewers Cup, and one of the original Phoenix Flagships starting in 2014 has a bold ABV of 7.2% and mild bitterness with 30 IBUs.

The Spirit Room at the Phoenix will have 4 exclusive Ferryman variants available for in-house consumption only including:

·       Ferryman with Maple & Bacon

·       Ferryman with Mint & Chocolate

·       Ferryman with Coconut & Chocolate

·       Coffee Ferryman with Baba Budan from Relax Coffee House in Mansfield

The Phoenix Taproom will offer for in-house and limited crowlers to go:

·       Orange Chocolate Ferryman

·       Buckeye Ferryman

·       and the original Award-Winning Ferryman Oatmeal Milk Stout, also available in 4 packs to go

SATURDAY, APRIL 29: The Big Bash in the Beer Garden, Noon until 11 pm:

Doors open at noon. Over 30 beers will be available, with 16 taps inside and 16 taps out in the Beer Garden including 2 specialty cask ales, and limited can offerings. Included in the 30 plus beers are flagship beers, seasonal favorites, limited editions, and one-off infusions. Some of the beer garden exclusives and specialty beers will also be available for take-home, while they last.  

NOON: The FANTASTIC VOYAGE HAZY IPA will RELEASE APRIL 29 at NOON in can and Draft. The Fantastic Voyage is a Hazy IPA infused with passionfruit for sweet and twangy citrus notes.  It is medium-bodied and brewed with Belma, Barbe Rouge, Idaho Gem, and Cryo Pop hops for citrus and berry aromas and flavors. This batch is brewed with a special terpene blend to maximize their dankness and a little bit of lactose for a creamy mouthfeel. Terpenes are the compounds in hops that give the plant its aroma and flavor

3:30 pm: CAKE CUTTING Cake from the Sugar and Magic Cake Company, Mansfield, Ohio. The Sugar and Magic Cake company creates cakes that are too fantastic to cut, but too delicious not to. The cakes are edible art.

LIVE MUSIC:

12:30 pm to 3:30 pm: Avenue Blue featuring Sarah Blubaugh.  

4 pm to 7 pm: The McIan’s Duo, Central Ohio’s best Celtic duet featuring a mix of traditional and modern Celtic music.

7:30 pm to 10:30 pm: Tom’s Kitchen Table.

FOOD TRUCKS: Noon to 7 pm:

Along with live entertainment, local Mansfield food truck favorites, Cell Block Café and The Fry Guys, will be on hand serving their delicious fare starting at noon and Two Cousins Pizza will also be available from the in-house pizza warmer or for delivery directly to your table when ordered through them.

For more information about the celebration week please visit: phoenixbrewing.com/nin

For more information about designated philanthropies, please visit phoenixbrewing.com/phil

That was a cake???

The opening night of the Spirit Room was a blur for most. But if you made it out on February 17th, you more than likely saw a barrel sitting on the bar. But it wasn’t a barrel. It was a cake.

The “wooden” barrel, perched on a stand, it even had a tap promising something delightful within. And it actually poured bourbon! It greeted guests as they came in to explore the Spirit Room at the Phoenix at the opening on February 17. Most people didn’t even suspect it was a cake. It was so realistic, even some of the staff didn’t realize it was edible at first.

It weighed over 60 pounds, took over 40 hours to create, and 2 people to carry it up the stairs. And it actually poured Bourbon. The incredible barrel cake from Sugar And Magic Cake Company.

It wasn’t just cake, it was art. And, it was delicious.

The decadent chocolate cake was smothered in layers of vanilla cream buttercream, covered in a layer of chocolate ganache, and encased in marshmallow fondant. It was airbrushed with food coloring and hand-sculpted to that look like aged wood and metal. Embossed of the front of the cake was the Spirit Room logo. Cutting the cake seemed almost criminal but Samantha “Sam” Macfarlane, Master Cake Artist and owner of the Sugar and Magic Cake Company, said “ Cut it! It’s meant to be eaten!”

Sam moved to Ohio from California almost a year ago. She was ready to get out her cake pans and start creating again, the opening was the perfect reason to get started. “The straps (on the barrel) were initially all silver,” Sam said, “but I hand-painted them to tone them down. Everything was made from scratch. It was so much fun just to play with sugar again. “ Sam started Sugar and Magic in 1997 while living in Puerto Rico when her husband Jack, was stationed there for the Navy.

If you didn’t get a piece of the barrel cake, we are betting you will be seeing cakes from the Sugar and Magic Cake company popping up around the area soon. Thanks, Sam for making the opening to the Spirit Room complete.