If you love Pittsburgh's craft brewery scene and are looking to try something new, plan your next weekend getaway around these four great spots to grab a beer in Cleveland (based on my…personal research):
Come for the beer, stay for the perfect view. This spot in The Flats neighborhood lets you take in so much of the city right from your seat. While you can sit indoors at their spacious and bustling taproom, you should absolutely snag a spot out back if the Cleveland weather will cooperate with you. Sip on a German Kolsch or a New Zealand Pilsner while watching boats float down the Cuyahoga. You can even dock your boat at the brewery!
It would feel like sacrilege to leave out the spot that not only pioneered craft beer in Cleveland but was instrumental in launching a craft brewing movement all over the country. Founded in 1988, it was the first microbrewery in the state of Ohio and is in the top 30 breweries in the country in terms of production. The Dortmunder Gold Lager and Edmund Fitzgerald Porter are classics — enjoy a glass in their spacious, brick-laden taproom, right in the middle of the thriving Ohio City neighborhood.
Three cheers at Noble Beast Brewing. (Courtesy of Noble Beast Brewing Co.)
This cozy, greenery-filled taproom in Downtown can go toe-to-toe with any brewery in the region. Their ales and European-influenced beers are crisp, refreshing, and beautifully balanced. I’d recommend the Union Pils Bohemian Lager as a staple, and if you get a chance to try one of their very rare We Don’t Rat, We Don’t Run series of barrel-aged beers, you’re in for a treat. Oh, and don’t skip their pepperoni bread!
Trendy, innovative, and full of options for every flavor of beer drinker, Terrestrial Brewing is everything you’d hope a modern brewery would be. It’s nestled into the rapidly growing Edgewater neighborhood right along the water and is a perfect spot to hang with friends, family, or your pup. There's indoor and outdoor space, a robust food menu beyond your typical pub fare, and an impressive beer lineup. Try the peach sour or the Wheat IPA, ranked one of the best in the country by Untappd earlier this year.
This article was written as part of a series sponsored by Downtown Cleveland, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Ohio Wines.
