From Munster, Indiana we drove the six hours to Cleveland, Ohio to visit Great Lakes Brewery. Had it not been for my friend from Cleveland who had already visited the brewery, we would have had no idea where to go and when. Thanks to her guidance, we waited in the gift shop with our ticket stubs, just in time for the last brewery tour of the day.
Beer (★★★) - Back in Madison, there was a place called Blue Moon, located on Old University Ave., which I frequented because I could order myself a pitcher of the Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. It has always been among my favorite midwestern porters. As it turned out, though, the other brews I tried on the tour were just subpar: the Dortmunder Gold (their flagship, a lager), Burning River (Pale Ale), and Eliot Ness (Amber Lager). I do however remember thoroughly enjoying Conway's Irish Ale, and have heard good things about their Christmas Ale, which I have yet to try.
Tour (★★★★) - The tour was definitely something interesting. Our guide was this swashbuckling Irishman who gained my adoration with sayings like "two pints are an Irishman's handcuffs." The whole time our group was being followed by a drunken fellow who couldn't quite figure out where he was and where he had to go, despite the numerous phone calls he received all throughout the tour. As a result, the tour was a heck of an adventure -- and the best kind of adventure, since it was led by an Irishman.
Brewery (★★★★) - As the first brewpub in Ohio, this place isn't doing too bad. Great Lakes distributes to Ohio, 12 other states, and Washington D.C. It was started by Irish brothers Pat and Dan in 1988. Of the two, Pat is said to be the crazy one; our tour guide told us of how he once moonwalked in the middle of a meeting. Whatever these guys are doing in their meetings though seems to be working. Never before had I seen that many fermentation tanks all in one place. And it makes sense that they need that much equipment -- since they're producing 100,000 bbls/year.
Beer (★★★) - Back in Madison, there was a place called Blue Moon, located on Old University Ave., which I frequented because I could order myself a pitcher of the Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. It has always been among my favorite midwestern porters. As it turned out, though, the other brews I tried on the tour were just subpar: the Dortmunder Gold (their flagship, a lager), Burning River (Pale Ale), and Eliot Ness (Amber Lager). I do however remember thoroughly enjoying Conway's Irish Ale, and have heard good things about their Christmas Ale, which I have yet to try.
Tour (★★★★) - The tour was definitely something interesting. Our guide was this swashbuckling Irishman who gained my adoration with sayings like "two pints are an Irishman's handcuffs." The whole time our group was being followed by a drunken fellow who couldn't quite figure out where he was and where he had to go, despite the numerous phone calls he received all throughout the tour. As a result, the tour was a heck of an adventure -- and the best kind of adventure, since it was led by an Irishman.
Brewery (★★★★) - As the first brewpub in Ohio, this place isn't doing too bad. Great Lakes distributes to Ohio, 12 other states, and Washington D.C. It was started by Irish brothers Pat and Dan in 1988. Of the two, Pat is said to be the crazy one; our tour guide told us of how he once moonwalked in the middle of a meeting. Whatever these guys are doing in their meetings though seems to be working. Never before had I seen that many fermentation tanks all in one place. And it makes sense that they need that much equipment -- since they're producing 100,000 bbls/year.
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