Field Trip: Great Lakes Brewing Co. - Cleveland, OH

No beer-related visit to Cleveland would be complete without a stop at Great Lakes Brewing Co. One of Cleveland's largest breweries, its beer is widely-distributed and available all across the country. As a macrobrewery (or almost a macrobrewery) the whole operation is huge; there's a massive brewery coupled with a gift shop, bar, and restaurant. I didn't get a chance to take a tour of the brewery itself, just their restaurant / taproom. There's a couple of inside bar spaces with cool exposed brick, and restaurant-wise there was pleasant outdoor seating, in which my colleagues and I sat.

I was particularly interested in trying some pub-exclusive beers; oftentimes breweries that have a restaurant might do special beers only available in-house. I've tried most of the beers Great Lakes has to offer (including my favorite, the "Nosferatu" red ale) and so a few caught my eye:

I was particularly interested in their "Luckiest Drinker on Earth", a 7.0% sour ale. Proceeds from this beer go to support research into ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease. The beer itself throws a sour aroma, with a dark red color reminiscent of an Old Guardian barleywine I had a few years back. Taste-wise, it has a burst of sour apple flavors, slightly sugary, with lots of tart grain flavors. It's interesting, definitely worth a try if you like sour beers.

Next up is their "Lake Erie Monster", a 9.10% ABV Imperial IPA. It's their seasonal release, and is a strong and slightly sweet beer with TONS of hops. It wasn't overpowering, but had that bitter fruit hop flavor I've come to expect with the genre (despite only being 80 IBUs.) In the end, a pretty good IPA. Great for fans of strong beer.

Finally, I really wanted to try their "Blackout" stout with mole. It's a 9.00 % ABV Russian Imperial Stout infused with poblano peppers and cocoa nibs. Sounds excellent! Our server also mentioned that this beer was made to commemorate a 2003 rolling blackout in Cleveland. I wonder if the beer wsa brewed during the power outage, and if the blackout changed the consistency at all (for more on that, see my discussion of Port City's "Derecho Common" from 2013.)

It's heavy and smooth, with serious notes of baker's chocolate power and some roasted malts. There's a hint of peppers in there, just a slight hint of spiciness, with a nice lactose mouthfeel. Reminds me a lot of oak barrel-aged stouts. A really solid dark beer that would be great for fall / winter, and one I wouldn't mind having often (and aging as well!)

They also had a crowler machine at the bar, for draft beer to go. You know how some places offer "growler" fills, where draft beer is poured into a jug for you to take home? A crowler is the same principle, just in a can. The bartender will take an unsealed can blank, fill up your beer of choice, and then put in in a special machine that presses the lid on and seals it. You then have a 32oz can of beer to drink whenever you like. Well, not being one to pass that up - I grabbed a fill of the "Blackout" for later. 

And, of course, it's best enjoyed fresh:

Field Trip: Nano Brew Cleveland - Cleveland, OH

Some of you may have heard the term "nanobrew" or "nanobrewery" before. Nanobrewery is a term used to describe a very small brewing production, usually only a couple of barrels, with very limited distribution. It's one step smaller than microbrewery and can be an inviting option for craft brew hounds. Smaller production means smaller overhead, and it gives brewers a chance to try out funky new creations with limited risk. Cleveland happens to have one right on W. 25th Street - Nano Brew Cleveland. We saw this on our way to West Side Market and I vowed to check out it. Here we are!

Nano Brew Cleveland is a pub / restaurant situated on a corner lot. In addition to serving local and distribution beers, they have a 1-barrel brewhouse with four beers currently on rotation. Brewing capacity is measured in barrels, with one barrel equaling about 31 gallons. In terms of production, one barrel is not a lot. To give you an idea, Great Lakes Brewery located just a few blocks from Nano Brew Cleveland has a 100,000 barrel capacity. Sam Adams has passed the 6 million barrel capacity. So Nano Brew Cleveland truly is a nanobrewery - it doesn't get much smaller in terms of production!

I was pleased by the clean and modern look of the place. It has wide open bar area, with both tables, hightops, and ample bar space. Exposed brick is always a nice look. Beyond the tables you see below, there's a set of double doors that lead out into a gigantic, multi-level outdoor seating area.

Here's the tap list. The draft list is pretty extensive, featuring a lot of local stuff, including Platform Brewing Co. (more on that later) and some offerings from Market Garden Brewery, only a block or so away (and home to the tasty "Wallace Tavern" wee heavy.) 

Since it was 95 degrees, and we were sitting out in the beer garden, I wanted something light and refreshing. To start, I ordered Nano's "Wild & Windy", a 5.7% ABV saison. 

Interestingly, this beer is heavier than expected. It's got a medium body, with lots of Belgian spices and yeasty flavors tossed in. Reminds me a lot of Chimay in the floral / yeasty sense. Pretty solid!

I also tried a sample of their "The Gustavo", a black IPA clocking in a 7.2% ABV:

This one was a bit tough for me. It was tasty, but very hoppy and strong. Most black IPAs I have had are a bit more mellow, so this was definitely an interesting take on the style.

If you're ever in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland, give this place a try! It's got a very casual vibe, friendly staff, and tons of seating options. We sat out back in the multi-level garden deck (which has another bar out back) and it was a lot of fun. 

Beer Flash: Market Garden Brewery's "Wallace Tavern" Scotch ale / wee heavy

Beer Flash! Today I'd like to spotlight a rather pleasant Scotch ale, also known as a "wee heavy", that I found at Cleveland's own Market Garden Brewery. My colleagues and I headed here after an afternoon of shopping at West Side Market (where I got some awesome locally-made jerky.)

Market Garden brews their own beer at a facility a few blocks away, but has a  nice beer garden / restaurant right next to the market. They have a generous tap list, around 15 varieties,  and like Molly Pitcher Brewing Co., Market Garden has a good variety of taps. They have everything from a stout on nitro to a weissbier, and many in between, so I had a lot from which to choose.

I decided on their Scotch ale because it's a variety that I don't see too often. Scotch ales are a type of strong ale which originated in Scotland. Traditionally, the ales are medium-dark and of moderate alcohol content. This example is 8.00% ABV.

It's a deep caramel color in the glass, and has little aroma. It was pleasantly sweet, a bit bready, with a maltiness that was very tasty. There was also a slight smokiness in the finish. A nice take on the style, and at 8.00%, not too heavy or boozy to stop with just one. I, however, opted for their brown ale for my second beer.

I enjoyed it. I paired it with Market Garden's Scotch eggs - hard-boiled eggs wrapped in chorizo and spices, battered, and fried. A nice pairing for a nice venue!

Ballast Point Brewing Co.: "Thai Chili Wahoo" witbier

Well, here's another Ballast Point beer. You all may be sick of me talking up the brewery, but I'm sure as heck not sick of drinking their stuff! Everything I try by Ballast Point is good, so no reason not keep on checking out what they have to offer. This time, it's their spring seasonal, the "Thai Chili Wahoo." If you recall, I tried this on draft last April at the fine Brouwer's Cafe in Seattle. That was the one and only time I had it, and I remember liking it, so why not give it a spin? According to BeerAdvocate, it's classified as a witbier and clocks in at 4.5% ABV.

It pours very quickly, with a thin head that disappears almost instantly. It acts more like soda than it does beer. There's a sharp aroma of ginger.

As you can see, the beer is very clear - almost transparent. It's like a light bulb when candled.

I'm really digging this. It's very carbonated, with sharp and "forward" pepper flavors. The ginger is bright and direct, and the fizziness adds a nice texture. It's much thinner than others beers of this type - I think ginger beer is a good example of the texture. The flavor remains long after swallowing, and it presents a very fresh ginger aftertaste. Very nice!

I've so far bought 5 bottles of this stuff - really enjoyable, refreshing, and an stand-out example of a sessionable pepper beer. The ginger is great, basically what I was hoping Foley Brothers' Ginger Wheat should have been. Plus, it's $5.99 for a 22oz, which I still honestly do not understand how Whole Foods can get away charging that price. They could sell it for $9.99 and I'd still buy it. Short answer is that if you want an interesting beer to try, and are not afraid of a little spice, pick this up. It's well worth a shot.