Great Lakes Brewing Company of Cleveland

Great Lakes Brewing Company is a brewery in Cleveland, OH. Ohio's original craft brewery, it has been brewing award-winning beers in Cleveland since 1988. The company is independent and employee-owned, and it is rooted in the city. It holds a rating of 4.50 based on customer reviews.

The brewery offers public tours that run approximately 60 minutes and include four 5-ounce beer samples, led by guides who cover the company's history and brewing processes. Guests must be 21 or older with a valid ID to receive samples, and children under 21 are welcome on tours when accompanied by an adult. The brewery is housed in a 19th-century building with narrow spaces and multiple stairwells, and visitors must wear closed-toe shoes for safety. The company also offers guided tastings led by its Beer Education Team, which last 45 minutes to an hour and include five 5-ounce samples of GLBC beers, plus a take-home tasting glass. In its history, Dortmunder Gold Lager, originally called The Heisman, won the brewery its first Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival. The brewery has also served as the official craft beer of the Cleveland Cavaliers and opened the Great Lakes Experience at Rocket Arena. It is the Official Craft Beer of Cleveland Oktoberfest, which takes place at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea, Ohio.

The brewery is located on Market Ave, just steps from Market Square and Market Square Park, and about a tenth of a mile from the West Side Market, Lorain Avenue, and the Produce Arcade, with West 25th Street nearby.

The brewery's positive rating reflects the satisfaction of the customers who have reviewed it. As Ohio's original craft brewery, independent and employee-owned for over 30 years, it has built a reputation as a longstanding and respected name in Cleveland's craft beer scene. Its long history in the city, dating back to 1988, and its role as the official craft beer of Cleveland Oktoberfest demonstrate its deep roots in the local community.