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This article is part of our Destination Cleveland series. Stop back for more articles about Cleveland and what it has to offer.

 

Q: Aside from the City of Cleveland, what do a burning river, Elliot Ness, and the Edmund Fitzgerald have in common?

 

A: They are also the names of some damn good Cleveland based beers.

Thanks in part to Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland has become a mid-western craft beer boom town. 39 breweries are within easy reach of Downtown Cleveland, so many in fact that Cleveland has its very own Beer Passport. Add to that the 20 breweries on Akron’s beer passport and you have a lot of options in Northeast Ohio.

 

While the rest of the country has gone IPA crazy, Northeast Ohio’s beer scene hasn’t abandoned wheats and maltier beer options. With our palette favoring those non-hoppy beers, we highly enjoy what the region offers.

 

Here are two brewery walking tours that we put together. . .

 

Downtown Cleveland Brewery Tour (6 Breweries)

 

Ohio City Brewery Tour (6 Breweries)

 

And here are the highlights from both tours. . . 

 

Great Lakes Brewing (Ohio City) – The granddaddy of Cleveland craft beer, Great Lakes is a must if you are brewery hopping. Great Lakes is to Cleveland what Sam Adams is to Boston. You can enjoy the brewpub, take a tour and even attend classes. If you get a flight, be sure to include Edmund Fitzgerald and Dortmunder Gold in your selections.

 

Masthead (Downtown) – A favorite brick oven pizza spot with a diverse beer menu, and we do mean diverse. Stouts, porters, IPA’s, and many more, they do it all and they do it really well. You will find yourself starting with a flight and quickly switching to full pours here. They make a killer Margherita pizza. And for a special treat get the Everything Pretzel as an appetizer.

 

Butcher and The Brewer (Downtown) – Savory selections are found on both their food and beer menus. Located on iconic E 4th Street, Butcher is a downtown landmark and a great stop after a Guardians or Cavs win! Their patio makes for some great people watching in Summertime as you enjoy your beer. We highly recommend their Albino Stout! It pairs well with Angela’s favorite food menu item, the Spicy Patatas Bravas.

 

Noble Beast (Downtown) – A smaller brewery slightly off the beaten path, Noble Beast has both great beer and food. We loved their Russian Imperial Stout, brewed with marshmallows and aged in bourbon barrels, the last time we were there.

 

Saucy Brew Works (Ohio City) – Another favorite brick oven pizza and craft beer spot, especially on trivia night, which is every Thursday. Our favorites are the Fauxbia (White Stout) and B.F.heFe (Bavarian Style Hefeweizen).

 

North High Brewing (Ohio City) – One of our favorite date night brewpubs. Based out of Columbus, OH, they have great food and beer to match. We are never disappointed when we visit. Angela says be sure to order the Brussel sprouts if you go for dinner.

 

Collision Bend and BrewDog (The Flats) – Two separate breweries, both with great patios along the Cuyahoga River. Collision Bend’s beer selection is fairly broad, with something for everyone. And BrewDog is most definitely for the hop-heavy beer lover. If you visit either spot be sure to budget some time for the wait. Both are fairly popular.

NOTE: While Collision Bend is a longer but easier walk from Downtown we highly recommend getting to BrewDog by way of car/Uber, especially at night, given that it is a long walk and in a former industrial area currently being redeveloped.

 

Brick and Barrel (The Flats) – A nano-brewery with some great beer, Brick and Barrel is one of our favorite locations to go with friends and out of town guests. Situated at one end of the Columbus Road drawbridge, it’s great to sit back on a warm summer evening and watch traffic roll by on the road or along the river. The beer and the setting rarely disappoint.

 

Market Garden (Ohio City) – Another key player in Cleveland’s craft beer scene, Market Garden is centrally located in Ohio City, just across from Great Lakes. With a solid beer list and a beautiful beer garden to enjoy them in, Market Garden is a great stop on a Friday night, or any night for that matter.

 

Hansa Brewery (Ohio City) – An authentic German experience, Hansa stands out from the other breweries with its traditional bier garden, German music and specialty market with imported goods. We love taking Angela’s dad there for dinner, chatting with the owner and enjoying a flight.

 

Well that wraps up our list of breweries to visit! Checkout Cleveland Traveler’s website for a complete list of Cleveland area breweries, Click Here. And for the adventurous brewery tourist be sure to check out what the Akron / Canton area has to offer.

 

And let’s not forget wine. A short drive from Downtown is Geneva, OH, the Napa Valley of Northeast Ohio. Checkout this great guide for more info, Click Here.

 

And for those wanting enjoy their wine in a more urban setting we highly recommend CLE Urban Winery.

 

We hope you enjoy your visits to Cleveland’s breweries! Let us know what you think of each one in the comments below.