Platform Beer Co. | Shanghai Noon Gose

ABV: 4.2% | IBU: 4.3

When people think of Cleveland beer, the first name that comes to mind is Great Lakes Brewing Company – and rightly so. However, as the craft beer market in Cleveland has flourished, other names are coming to the forefront.

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Great Lakes Brewing Begins Canning, Adds Rally Drum Red to Rotation

Canning beers, so hot right now. Even for an old guard Midwestern stalwart like Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC), the practice of canning beers has become so ubiquitous and widely adopted that after 28 years, the Cleveland-based brewery has shifted to offer a new option toward their packaged beer products.

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Rhinegeist Is Expanding to Pittsburgh | Launch Parties March 20 – 25

Rhinegeist had a great 2016: The Cincinnati brewery was part of the New Belgium Fat Tire and Friends Colla-beer-ation, expanded to Massachusetts and Cleveland, increased production by 80%, from 31,470 bbl in 2015 to 56,500 bbl in 2016 and grew from roughly 50 employees in 2015 to more than 200. Rhinegeist also opened a rooftop deck, the Annex and — the best part — married more than 100 couples in the new brewery.

It appears that 2017 might include the same success story. The first step involves an expansion to Pittsburgh. Folks in the Steel City can enjoy brews as early as March 6, but Rhinegeist will arrive on the 20th to help kick-off the a week’s worth of launch parties to help make it official.

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Great Lakes Brewing Company | Turntable Pils

Turntable Pils graphic courtesy of Great Lakes Brewing Company, artwork by Darren Booth.

ABV: 5.3% | IBU: 35

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Blank Slate Brewing Company | Fork in the Road

ABV: 6.8% | IBU: 70

Blank Slate Brewing Company was my first exposure to the Cincinnati Craft Beer scene when I arrived in 2011, when you could only find its brews on draft. Safe to say, both Blank Slate and I have matured a bit since then. Now, in addition to having a tap room of its own, one of the Blank Slate Brewing stalwarts, Fork in the Road, is available in cans. Read More

Streetside Brewery | Raspberry Beret

ABV: 4.2%

What a year 2016 has been! Cincinnati has welcomed multiple new breweries all throughout the Queen City. While I haven’t been able to make it to them all, … Read More

12 Beers of Christmas | Great Lakes Brewing Company | Christmas Ale

ABV: 7.5% | IBU: 30

My friends who know me well know that I love food and I love to cook. From trying different restaurants or expanding my tastes with different cuisines to just staying in and making something for dinner, I’ve always had a knack for knowing my way in the kitchen. Cooking has been something I’ve loved to do for a long time, to the point where I considered going to culinary school after undergrad. I owe a lot of what I know and what I love about cooking to one person: my mom.

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Ultimate 6er | Surviving the Snow Days

The snow is falling in parts of the country. While some states have yet to see its first flurries, others got over 20 inches of snow over night this month. Before the snow piles so high we give up and resign ourselves to the couch, filling our days with binge watching Netflix, we’d like to offer a few choices for provisions to stock up on. Better prepared than sober, I say.

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Platform Beer Co. | Yammy Yammy

ABV: 7.7%

Pair with: Friendsgiving gatherings. Thanksgiving leftovers.

‘Tis the season to embrace all things fall. If you’re burnt out on pumpkin-spiced everything, Yammy Yammy by Platform Brewing Co. features another … Read More

Great Lakes Brewing Company | Barrel Aged Christmas Ale

It is Christmas ale season: a festive time of year many people anticipate with a frothy fervor! However, it may be that you would rather hide away from the hubbub of ginger and cinnamon and all things Christmas. I enjoy a little bit of holiday cheer in my beer from time to time, and the weather has finally become chilly enough around these parts to warrant a few Christmas ales in my tummy. This year, Great Lakes Brewing Company is not simply rolling out their most popular beverage for all the good little boys and girls. They are also bottling their barrel-aged Christmas ale right after Thanksgiving for everyone to sip around the mistletoe. I received a nice 22-ounce bottle to try in advance of the bottle release later this week, and I am here to give you the details about the beer and what will take place very soon.

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Rhinegeist | Hugh Hefeweizen

Let’s talk about a beer that any bunny can appreciate — Hugh Hefeweizen, from Rhinegeist. Hugh likes the finer things in life: Silk lederhosen, pretty junge Fraus, and sitting by the pool in a palatial Bavarian castle — where else would you find a noble hop? One sip of Hugh Hefeweizen and beer drinkers will immediately realize what Hugh is all about — pleasure.
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Great Lakes Brewing Company | Oktoberfest

ABV: 6.5% | IBU: 20

On Tuesday October 25, 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers opened their season by raising their championship banner and receiving their championship rings for winning the 2016 NBA Finals. No more than 100 yards away at Progressive Field, the Cleveland Indians began the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs – and no more than two years ago that would have been the longest of long shots in baseball (aside from a Mike Napoli rocket over the left field wall). Yet here we are, and frankly it’s a helluva time to be in The Land. The feeling in the city is exciting and electric as we embark on an unprecedented time in Cleveland sports history (except for the Browns – the Browns are horrendous, as is tradition). Not even the most biting breeze off of Lake Erie can temper the mood around town.
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Craft Beer News | Rhinegeist Expands to Massachusetts

Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist is headed for Massachusetts.

The “Ghost of the Rhine” brewery that breathed life into the old Cincinnati brewing district resides in the old Moerlein bottling plant (1895) – a facility so large it hosts motorcycle shows, dances, concerts, and wiffle ball tournaments. But, even that expansive space wasn’t large enough to contain Rhinegeist. The brewery needed to expand, and Massachusetts is where it is landing.

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Rhinegeist Brewery | Trips American Wild Ale

ABV: 7.5% | IBU: 12

A few weekends ago, Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio had their anniversary party celebrating “Three Years of Thirst!” Located in the historical Over the Rhine Brewery … Read More

Taft’s Ale House | Culebra Cut Coconut Brown Ale

ABV: 6.1% | IBU: 12

Pair with: A Hawaiian shirt, shades, and a laid-back island attitude

Summer is in full effect in Cincinnati.  With the arrival of these hot summer months, Taft’s Ale House has graduated their Coconut Brown Ale, Culebra Cut, from a draft-only offering to easily-portable cans. Just the kind of six-pack I’ll be bringing poolside. Read More

Event Preview | Fifty West Punch Out Beer Festival and Boxing Event

This Saturday July 9th, Fifty West Brewing Company in Cincinnati, Ohio is hosting a one-on-one amateur boxing night featuring ten fighters from eight different local breweries at their Production Works facility. Along with the five matches, there will be food trucks, a live DJ, guest taps, and the release of their Punch You in the Eye-PA bottles. The tickets are $15 and can be purchased here. The event goes from 4-11pm and the proceeds go to various charities that each brewery has selected. Read More

Rhinegeist | Streaker Rye IPA

ABV: 6% | IBU: 60

Streaker Rye IPA from Cincinnati’s up-and-coming  Rhinegeist provides insight into why this Queen City brewery is enjoying such rapid success. Rhinegeist recently celebrated its third anniversary, only days after partying with friends from New Belgium Brewery to help kick off the release of the Fat Tire and Friends CollaBEERation 25th Anniversary project (as reported by PorchDrinking’s Jasmin Hudacsek). In a crowded world of craft brewing, Rhinegeist is making beer enthusiasts take notice. Read More

MadTree Brewing | Galaxy High Imperial IPA

ABV: 10.2% | IBU:120

‘Tis the season for Imperial IPAs! MadTree Brewing in Cincinnati, Ohio is kicking off their High series this year with Galaxy High in cans. It was released … Read More

Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. | Plum Street Wheat Ale

Summer is on the horizon which means it’s time for endless sunshine, pool parties, and most importantly, day drinking. With the rise of sessional style beers, breweries are coming up … Read More

MadTree Brewing | Rounding Third Red IPA

ABV: 6.5% | IBU: 51

With opening day less than two weeks away, MadTree Brewing Company has released cans of their Rounding Third Red IPA for the second year in … Read More