Visiting Cleveland area for a week..

I'm assuming you have a vehicle and can get around. Definitely hit up Fat Head's and Brew Kettle. I think both will be about a half hour/forty minutes away, but definitely worth it, in my opinion. And, being that far out from them, you're that much closer to the Willoughby Brewing Company.

And I don't know about what good bottle shop would be closest, but I imagine there has to be a Lizardville not (much) more than a 30 minute drive in each direction. However, if you make it to Lakewood, there are a lot of beer choices there, both sit down and drink/eat and bottle shop options. Rozi's and Ross Deli (and I'm sure something I'm forgetting) in the bottle shop arena and Deagan's, Melt, Buckeye Beer Engine (and again, the requisite "forget").

Good luck and enjoy. I'm sure locals can give you much more specific/better info, but some stuff to look up to get you started.

 

Willoughby Brewing is a good place to stop if only for their Peanut Butter Cup Porter (their food is pretty good too). That beer really is better than you would imagine. If you do make it out that far, head to Save On Mentor for the absolute best bottle shop in the area and grab a growler of something from Ohio. If you're lucky you may find Columbus Bohdi on tap, which is one of the top DIPA's in the country, despite the fact it isn't bottled (yet).

 

When I was in Cleveland a couple of weeks ago, they had Bodhi on tap downtown at Pickwick & Frolic. As the previous post said, it is damn good. For me it rates right there with Kuhnhenn DRIPA which is my favorite DIPA.

 

I agree with both Willoughby Brewing Company and Save On in Mentor. I just drive in from upstate NY and hit both places. save Mor has plenty of Alesmith and also has White Rajah, Wulver, and some other nice surprises. A good bar in/around University Heights is Cave du Vin in Coventry. I would pass on Great Lakes and Hoppin Frog, but definitely check out Fatheads, great food and amazing taps.

Cheers

 

I agree with the bk/fatheads/save on statements. There is also warehouse beverage in south euclid that has a really good selection and is really close to univ heights.

 

I do not mean to threadjack, but more like threadpiggyback. I will be coming to Cleveland for the day on via public trans on Thursday, 26 Dec AR 0930 and DP 2035 the same day. It does not give me a lot of time, but I am trying to close the loop and accomplish a BeerFly review in all 51 states and so I am on a mission. Let me know if you would like to meet-up while I am in town.