Great Lakes Brewery - Cleveland, Ohio

LTH,

This Friday I will travel to the Mistake on the L---, ur, I mean, fabulous Cleveland, Ohio, for my brother's wedding.

The highlight of the trip, between you and I , is the Friday night Rehersal Dinner at Great Lakes Brewery. I'm eagerly anticipating a perusal of the many offerings at GLB. But, given I'm co-best man, I can't get too dr--- , ur, I mean, have too much fun the night before the wedding .

So, I am looking for any recommendations of about 3 to 5 of their very best beers that I can try. Given I rarely drink Porters or Stouts we can throw those out the window along with anything considered a Weiss or Wheat beer which type I loathe . I am very familiar with their Commodore Perry and Burning River options which are both Pale Ales that I love. I am not a huge fan of "Red" ales.

With these guidelines might my LTH friends have any beer recs for me at GLB? I'll probably try 2 or 3 I've never had and then barring any new found treasures, will revert to the aforementioned CP or BR for the duration of the night.

Bster


Great Lakes Brewery
GLB Beers on Tap This Week
2516 Market Avenue | Cleveland, Ohio 44113 | 216.771.4404

Bster wrote:This Friday I will travel to the Mistake on the L---, ur, I mean, fabulous Cleveland, Ohio, for my brother's wedding.

Hey, now...

People interested in beer, Cleveland, or food porn may wish to check out this eGullet thread which started earlier today. The first menu described (in lavish photographic detail) was all paired with GLB beers. The food was not from GLB, although I think they do alright; I'm not sure I've ever eaten there since they've come into their own long since I have lived in Chicago.

You probably know this, but the West Side Market is right down the block from the GLB. If you can sneak over there earlier in the day, do it.

Bster wrote: Given I rarely drink Porters or Stouts we can throw those out the window along with anything considered a Weiss or Wheat beer which type I loathe .

Pity - their Edmund Fitzgerald porter is excellent. However, hopefully their Eliot Ness will be to your liking, though you can't go wrong with Burning River...

I've heard the EF is nice, and I may have to try it, thanks. I should have clarified my parameters: it's not that i do not like Porters and Stouts, I do, it's just that I don't drink them often except for the winter months. It will be in the 60s apparently this weekend in CLE so I'll stretch my grounds a bit.

Bster

I grew up in Akron, just south, and make it to Cleveland about once a year for the West Side Market and the Brewery, oh, and friends.
Their Conway's Irish is a wonderful beer--one of my favorites, has a smoothness to it that is great. (I know these are not on the "on tap this week" list, but that list may change Friday.)
Their Dortmunder Gold is a very popular beer--I think it's good, but not exceptional; if it were me, I'd skip it. (Of course, if your tongue is growing sick of the strong micro brews, this is a good fall back.)
Their Moondog Ale I recall as being a pleasantly hoppy experience.
You may wish to start off with their Anniversary Ale, which will set you in the right mood, your tongue and mind both abuzz. (Wow, it's a little early for bad poetics.)
They always have beers only available in the pub, which they rotate--ask what they are and ye shall find some good ones.
It's a pity they won't have their holiday ale up yet--that's in my top-five list of beers I would like to have on tap at my home at all times. (Other four: GLB Burning River Pale Ale; Dogfish Head 90-minute IPA; GLB Edmunt Fitzgerald Porter; Budvar (the original, Czech Budweiser).
Their food is actually very good--I enjoyed the brat with caraway kraut the last time I was there; of course it's difficult to enjoy your meal much when you have a trunkload of pierogies and polish sausage in the parking lot from your trip to the West Side Market.
Enjoy your time there; bid my beloved Tribe hello,
parker

If they have the seasonal Nosferatu on tap you absolutely have to get it. It is red in color but definitely not a typical "Red." Sweet hoppy goodness.

KSeecs wrote:If they have the seasonal Nosferatu on tap you absolutely have to get it. It is red in color but definitely not a typical "Red." Sweet hoppy goodness.

I saw Nosferatu at the store known as "Rogers Park Fine Wines and Beer (or some such thing)" at the corner of Columbia and Clark in (yep) Rogers Park.

Not on tap, of course. I didn't buy it, but perhaps I should give it a shot. (This store is getting better and better, especially for beer, including a lot of very good stuff already refrigerated.)

Might be a little late but their Dortmunder Gold is a great warm weather/summer beer. I have never had it but their Octoberfest/Marzen is supposed to be outstanding; they don't distribute it, only available at the pub.