Cleveland Beer Week

Clevelanders' fondness for local breweries and brew pubs has taken Cleveland Beer Week to new heights this year. The calendar of events during the week of 10/16-24, renamed Cleveland Beer Week, is truly amazing: http://www.clevelandbeerweek.org. Every venue that serves beer seems to have gotten on the bandwagon to celebrate Cleveland's brewing history.

Hard to resist, it is. After all, Cleveland has been the home of some great breweries, going back to at least 1897 when the Gund family purchased Jacob Mall Brewing Company. Our grandfathers and fathers drank locally-brewed Carling Black Label, Pilsner, and Liesy. Recently, breweries like Crooked River Brewing Company have come and gone, but many breweries have become Cleveland mainstays--Great Lakes Brewing Company comes to mind because it's hard to go into a Cleveland restaurant or bar and not find Dortmunder on tap.

Festivities of the craft beer festival start on Friday with a $15 bucket of craft beers at 1899 Pub downtown--head to the elegant bar overlooking Superior Avenue in the Old Arcade before going home for Hook-n-Ladder, Troegs Troegenator and Southern Tier IPA. Or head out to Austin's Wood Fire Grille where Rogue Dead Guy and Napa Smith Wheat are among those offered during a supper of craft buckets of beers with appetizers for $25. Local brewery choice is the Buckeye Brewing Company's Beer Engine in Lakewood, where they will tap into De Dolle Delle Teve at 10:30.

Our local beer specialists, The Winking Lizard, is offering a Founder's Breakfast of Stout and brunch buffet for $15 at the Bedford Heights and Lakewood locations on Saturday, October 17. Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon in North Olmsted is hosting a professional IPA judging with barbecue, live music, and awards for $25, starts at noon at the old Danny Boy's farmer's market on Lorain Road.

Heinen's features brewery talks and tastings all week long at 4 p.m., but on Sunday, they host Tailgate Brews and Brats, a demonstration of the top 40 brew picks served with brats at all their locations. Head to Lilly Handmade Chocolates for chocolate paired with beers like Hitachino, Unibroue, and Piraat for a Sunday afternoon adventure. Later that night, the Beachland Ballroom is hosting the Belgian Jamm where you can enjoy bottles of beer, including Stella and Hoegaarden for $4.50.

Monday may be a good day to stop in at the Flat Iron café for their Ommegang Promotion or at the Rusty Barrel for Brooklyn Pumpkin Ale. On Tuesday, Fox and Hound will serve $2 points of all yoru favorites from Sierra Nevada to Magic Hat and Johnny Malloy's is selling Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat 20 ounce drafts for $1.99. Wednesday could mean a trip to Muldoon's for a bucket of beer or to The Jolly Scholar to get educated on Rogue Dead Buy and Hofbrau. You'll need to pace yourself so you can be part of Cornerstone Brewing Company's four house beers and one guest beer paired with Artisan cheese and sausages on Thursday in downtown Berea. By Friday, you'll have tried lots of good beers and a light Belgian ale at Blind Pig's Best of Belgium Happy Hour might seem like the perfect thirst quencher. End your beer tasting week on Saturday with Cleveland Brewzilla, the official beer tasting close to Cleveland Beer Week, to be held at The Arcade. Or enjoy seafood with Belgian-style beer at Termont's Parallax.

When Cleveland's Beer Week is over, commit to brew your own beer. The Brew Kettle, home of the Ringneck Brewing Company in Strongsville, decorates its walls with brewery serving trays from around the world and allows novice brewers to make their own beer. The Beer Engine on Lorain Road in North Ridgeville also provides equipment for brewing your own beer; get on the wait list soon to begin your own story in the art of brewing.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia Taller, whose passion for words has led to creation of the Lakeside Word Lover’s Retreats, an outgrowth of her work with Skyline Writers. Her favorite foods are red wine, salmon, ice cream, and chocolate. She loves to read, write, tour wineries, ride her bike, ease into yoga, and cook gourmet meals for friends. Find her at http://www.claudiatallermusings.blogspot.com.

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