The Return of Great Lakes Blackout Stout

On the evening of August 14, 2003, an electrical blackout caused by a simple software bug plunged over 50 million people in the eastern United States and Ontario into darkness. While some places had power back within a couple hours, many were left without electricity for two days. Much of the media attention focused on covering the disaster in New York City, but other regional cities were similarly affected, including Cleveland in the northeast corner of Ohio. Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Company immortalized the event by releasing a dark-as-night Imperial Stout they called Blackout Stout later that year. After a three year hiatus, Blackout Stout is now back for 2022.

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Great Lakes Brewing Co. | Crushworthy Collection

In 2021, a dreamy wheat ale entered into the brewing landscape. Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) introduced Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat to our parched lips, and we were all instantly love-struck. Now, after the beer’s one-year anniversary, one of northeast Ohio’s favorite mainstays has returned with three additional versions of this brew just in time for  warmer temperatures. GLBC’s Crushworthy Collection is here, ready to tantalize and titillate the taste buds of picnickers and patio-goers.

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Great Lakes Brewing Co. | TropiCoastal Tropical IPA

The audacity of time, to go super fast! It’s already September, and it feels like summer just got here. Thankfully, one of Cleveland’s finest breweries has a solution, with a new year-round offering to quench your thirst whether grilling for your next backyard BBQ or huddling up around the fire on a cold winter day. Great Lakes Brewing Company TropiCoastal Tropical IPA has a juicy mixture of flavors and hoppiness, enhancing the brewery’s expanding repertoire of spectacular IPAs on tap.

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Great Lakes Brewing Company | Hazecraft IPA

Buckle up! Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) has some exciting new hardware, and they have already released it through the stratosphere. A year-long favorite that will not disappoint has arrived to wet your whistle during these waning summer weeks, deep into winter. I am talking about Hazecraft IPA, available now everywhere GLBC distributes.

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Great Lakes Brewing Company | Midnight Moses

Cleveland-based Great Lakes Brewing Company has created a vast array of beers over the many decades the brewery has been in existence. They recently resumed brewing and distributing an old favorite, Holy Moses Belgian White Ale, year-round in 2018. Not too long after that, raspberries were added to the recipe and we had Holy Moses Raspberry White Ale filling our glasses with fresh fruit and hints of summer. Not to be outdone, Great Lakes is bottling another variation of their original Moses recipe this year. Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Midnight Moses is a dark Belgian-style ale that rounds out the collection of Moses beers for one and all to sip and enjoy.

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Great Lakes Brewing Company Announces 2018 Beer Release Calendar

The hits just keep coming today as Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Company has also announced their 2018 Beer Release Calendar in celebration of the brewery’s 30th anniversary year.
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Great Lakes Brewing Cans Are Now Available!

The wait is over! Great Lakes Brewing Company cans are now available for purchase. The brewery made an announcement in March that it would begin packaging some of its products differently. GLBC has been creating a solid product for 29 years, and what better way to continue this legacy than by promoting some of their newer offerings just in time for the summer season?

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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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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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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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Ultimate 666er | Horror Flicks

Hooray for the spooky chill in the air. Besides the overwhelming benefits of better sleep in a cool bedroom, it’s Halloween time! One of our family’s favorite holidays. Bring on the autumn beer and horror movies!

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The Eight Beers of Chanukah

Put on your yarmulke, it’s time for Chanukah. If you need some ideas for what beers to drink during the holiday we’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of the Eight Beers of Chanukah. Now, whether you drink all eight on the first night or have one each night of Chanukah, make sure you try them all.

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Event Recap | Great Lakes Burning River Fest 2015

Co-authored by Kevin Risner

John’s Recap of Friday, August 28

As I made my way past the sand volleyball pits on Whiskey Island, forged up and down the hills of Wendy Park through clouds of gnats and approaching the Old Coast Guard Station, I could feel a different air to 2015’s version of Burning River Fest. The station’s main tower rises above the line of trees, bearing the projected logo of the festival. A clear evening and setting sun over the lake set the perfect environment for an intimate affair, as droves of locals made their way to partake in local food, enjoy the live music of Brian Johnson, Gretchen Pleuss, The Portersharks (among other acts) and to taste the debut of Great Lake’s newest brew, Steady Rollin’.

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Ultimate 6er | The 6 Stages of Cleveland Browns Fandom

As summer comes to a close and we make our way into fall, one thing becomes more imminent than anything: FOOTBALL. And what better way to celebrate the advent of a new season than with some brews? As a native Clevelander and lifelong Browns fan, I know the football season brings with it a roller coaster of experiences spanning across a wide spectrum. So, in anticipation of another grueling season, I present to you the 6 Stages of Cleveland Browns Fandom, as described by beer.
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Event Preview | Ohio Brew Week

Every summer, Ohio Brew Week takes over my tiny hometown of Athens, Ohio. Unfortunately, I tend to be on vacation for most of it. However, this year, I’m skipping the beach and staying here. The 10th Anniversary of Ohio Brew Week takes place July 10-18, and is bound to be the best one yet!

The brainchild of Dan Gates, former director of Ohio Brew Week, and the late Jon Sparhawk, a local business owner, this week-long “celebration of craft brewing” started as an idea “to attract visitors to Athens in the summertime when Ohio University is not in full session as a way to help restaurants and hotels survive those slower months.” Since then, it has expanded, and now includes more than 76 events, over 276 craft beers and awesome keynote speakers, like Steve Hindy, Chairman and Co-Founder of The Brooklyn Brewery and former Athens paperboy. Read More

$250,000 in 3 Days: How Synek is Reinventing the Craft Beer Packaging Industry

Typically, when I check out a Kickstarter project, I spend some time thinking about whether or not I want to spend the money to get behind it. What level do I want to go in at? Do I think the project will take off? But when I watched the video for Synek’s (pronounced like cynic) Kickstarter, I immediately pressed the ‘Yes Please’ button. And not for my usual T-shirt or widget level participation but for the device itself. The first two and a half minutes got me all excited at the possibilities and the last twenty odd hilarious seconds of grilling and throwing bananas sold me. Read More

12 Beers of Christmas | Day 12 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Christmas Ale

IBU: 30 | ABV: 7.5%

There’s nothing like the first Christmas Ale of the season! Great Lakes Brewing Company started pouring before Halloween. I’ll admit I was a bit spoiled this year, as they were also serving it in a number of places during Christmas in July. With flavors of cinnamon, ginger and honey, it legitimately tastes like Christmas in a bottle. Read More