MOUNT HEALTHY, Ohio -- Fibonacci Brewing Co. owners Betty and Bob Bollas will celebrate the Mount Healthy brewery's first year in business with a party on Saturday.
“We’re calling it a birthday party, rather than an anniversary, because I like birthdays,” Betty Bollas said.
Bob Bollas home brewed for eight years prior to opening Fibonacci, whose name is inspired by the famed mathematical sequence.
“The hop cone is an example of the Fibonacci sequence in nature, the way the cones spiral,” Betty said. “Plus, while we were on a brewery tour in Indiana, we stayed at the Indigo hotel, and they had a book about Fibonacci. We registered the name then and started looking for property.”
The first year entailed a lot of hard work and long hours for the Bollases. Betty, who acts as president of Fibonacci, still works full time, and Bob worked full time until only a month ago.
Though Fibonacci technically has been open a little over a year (it opened July 11, 2015), the Bollases wanted to ensure they had enough beer to last through a party. So, they are having their celebration Saturday, instead of on Fibonacci’s official anniversary date.
Bob worked 25 straight hours last week to help ensure the brewery would be well-stocked for their party, his wife said.
“About a month ago, Bob started working full time at the brewery, so running out of beer shouldn’t be a problem,” she said. “He’s still working 80 hours a week, but now it’s closer to 70 hours of brewing.”
The birthday party will feature two new beers: The Noid, an Irish red with honey, and Estivus, a summer ale made with grains of paradise and lemon zest. Also on tap will be year-round offerings Oberhausen (Kolsch), Earth Daisy (Double IPA), The Tollhouse (stout) and Dummy Tripel (Belgian tripel), along with seasonal brews Marty’s Hamilton Avenue (IPA with honey) and The Tollhouse Caps (stout made with Carolina Reaper peppers).
The Nonstop Flavor Caribbean food truck will sell food at the party, which also will feature live Fibonacci-inspired art, Brewhaus Dog Bones and live music. Singer Rachel Lee will perform in the afternoon, and Hunting Agnes, an alt-rock indie group, will perform an acoustic set from 6-9 p.m. There will be other eats and entertainment, too.
Though Fibonacci is one of the smaller breweries in town, it has earned a place in the community over its inaugural year.
“Business has really picked up over the last year. People that know beer are coming and saying, 'This is an excellent beer,'” said Justin Chaney, who tends bar at Fibonacci and also works full time at Rivertown Brewery. “The beers are very consistent; the recipes are down pat.”
“The owners are super friendly, I love coming in and talking to Bob,” said customer Myron Engelke, of West Harrison, Indiana. “I love the coffee stout, but Tollhouse is a close second.”
Betty Bollas said Fibonacci has plans to grow, but don't expect the brewery to become the next Sam Adams.
“Distribution may increase, but it will still be limited,” she said. “We want to stay small, and serve the neighborhood.
“It was definitely friends, family and community that helped us get here,” she added.
The Bollases plan to eventually increase the number of beer taps from six to eight, as well as add a beer garden on the property next door, with some urban farming in the back.
In the meantime, Betty said they would like to continue to produce good beers and possibly inspire some other folks to follow in their footsteps.
“We are a way to give people hope,” she said. “If you’re a home brewer, you can do this. There’s a never-ending market for neighborhood breweries.”
If You Go
Fibonacci Brewing Co.’s First Birthday
Noon-10 p.m. Saturday
1445 Compton Road, Mount Healthy
Free admission
For updates, check the event's Facebook page.
