Got a buddy living in the Cleveland area who is willing to ship some bottles/cans out to SoCal. He's not so much into the craft scene yet. So he really doesn't know what to look for. I am a IPA & stout drinker and know & love my IPA's. He suggested Fat Heads & Great Lakes. I've heard of GL before but never had any of their beers here in SoCal. I recently had a glass of Columbus Bohdi DIPA here in Oceanside, CA. at Bagby Beer Co and thought it was great. But they don't bottle it. Does Columbus bottle any of their beers and if so is it as good as Bodhi? I've recently been enjoying Other Half ipa cans, Sip Of Sunshine, Bissel Brothers IPA's and of course Heady Topper on trades for some SoCal great IPA's. So like I said I love me some great IPA's. Any suggestions from the Ohio area? Or bottles you guys get that I can't get here in SoCal? I see you get Founders, and Hoppin Frog(which I never had). Thanks in advance.
Fat Heads Head Hunter & Brew Kettle White Rajah are the best two IPA's in Ohio IMO. JAFB in Wooster also makes excellent stuff but it doesn't make it to Cleveland often. Columbus does bottle their IPA, but it's not as good as Bodhi. If your buddy can get you a growler of Columbus Thunderlips, you'd be very happy with it, but shipping growlers is a PITA.
Couldn't agree more ⬆️. I'd also have him send some Fatheads Trailhead cans out to you. It's a seasonal release and pretty tasty too. If you did want a stout or two have him send anything from Jackie O's. Their BA program is top notch, but as usual it's not as easy to track down as non BA stuff (the non BA is still great). Hoppin frog is also well known for good stouts. He should be able to grab you some BA Boris and Doris without too much trouble.
Hoppin Frog, although pricey, makes some great IPAs including Gangster Frog and Goose Juice. Those are certainly worth having your friend ship to you. Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster will be out in July. I think you'd enjoy trying that too.
I echo the above but really stress not sleeping on Hoppin Frog Gangster Frog. If you love Citra hops, that is a must try, even at an overpriced $8-10 per bomber. I still buy it as a ZD alternative (not clones by any means, but some similarities in hop character) because I love it so much. See if your buddy can find Great Lakes Blackout Stout. It's still on the shelves here, even though it was a seasonal. Edmund Fitzgerald is one of my favorite porters by GL too. Also Thirsty Dog Siberian Night is one of my favorite Russian Imperial Stouts and you should be able to find. BBA version is pricey but may be worth trying it, especially if he can find singles.
Coming to Cleveland for a Chris Cornell concert in October. Definitely love Fat Heads and Brew Kettle, any good bars that might have a good selection of Ohio stuff on tap? Was hopin for some Jackie O's, Columbus Brewing, Fat Head, Brew Kettle stuff. Or any brew pubs around Cleveland/Lakewood I should check out?
