Visiting Cleveland

You've got a good list formed already. Great Lakes is a must, simply due to history. Masthead and BottleHouse are probably my favorites in the city. If you do end up going to Masthead, Noble Beast isn't far from there, and is doing interesting things.

If you are down by Great Lakes, that whole district is brewery-centric, you'll find Market Garden and Nano and all that, but personally, Beir Markt can be a cool place to stop. They have a substantial bottle list and a number of old world beers on draft. It's not a brewery, and I know that's what you were asking for, but it can be a worthwhile stop depending on your tastes. The food menu they let you order from (next door's Bar Cento) is pretty great too. There is a German style brewery not too far from there as well, called Hansa, but I personally haven't been.

 

New fat heads brewery should open some time this spring/summer. If you don’t have a car, you can take the train (RTA) west from tower city (center of town) to the end (airport) and get a short uber/lyft/cab a few miles south to the new production brewery/restaurant. It’s only a few miles south of the airport.

 

Fat Head's is hands down the best brewery in Ohio IMO. If you come here and miss them, you've made a huge oversight.

Masthead is good. I recommend Noble Beast as well. Would do those two over Saucy. BottleHouse isn't anything special IMO, much improved compared to several years ago but average overall. Depending on where you are on the East Side (northeast or southeast), head to Willoughby for solid beers or to Lizardville in Bedford for the best bottle selection in town.

 

I really enjoyed the Butcher & The Brewer when I visited last fall.

I thought both the food and beers we well executed and really enjoyed the space, service and the crowd.

 

Their smoked wings are legit.

 

I did not like this place. But maybe that was just me. And I went on a busy Saturday, also the night of a Cavs game. So it was packed. If you went during the week, it may be more enjoyable. Just too packed, and I felt like all the people that I had to sit at a table with were sitting on top of me.

But, everyone above has got it licked. I may also add Buckeye Beer Engine if you just want to go to a nice beer bar, not necessarily a brewery.

I would suggest Willoughby Brewing, but that is far from downtown.

 

I'm not from Cleveland but just outside of it is the best bottle shop I've been to. Hit up red wine & brew in Mentor Ohio if you're looking for a haul back home.

 

Jackie O’s isn’t that far away.

 

Fat heads and masthead are the 2 must see. I’d skip saucy, if you have time check out the bottle house. Noble beast is also solid. Outside of that, market garden and terrestrial are good finishes for the day

 

Terrestrial was HORRIBLE the two times I've been there. The best beers in the sampler were decent, the worst couple were absolutely undrinkable. Saucy is much, much better. MG is OK if you like boring beer and some off flavors here and there - personally I'd pick Great Lakes each and every time over MG.

 

If you're going to be on the east side during the weekend don't miss The Cleveland Brewery on E185th. Only open Friday/Saturday 6-10pm. Doesn't get a ton of love on the forums here and they don't can/bottle/distribute but honestly my favorite brewery in town. +1 on Willoughby- about the same distance east you're going to be.

 

I can respect your opinion, but I haven't had a single beer from saucy that I thought was even average. None of my fellow beer drinkers I'm usually find their beer palatable as well

 

Can someone clarify the difference between Fat Heads in Middleburg Heights vs North Olmsted? Do either sell carryout bottles? Menus look comparable. I went to one location a few years ago (forget which) but had to go down the street to a convenience store to get bottles. Honestly looking for fresh HH. Can’t make it further east than those locations...

 

North Olmstead does NOT sell bottles to-go. Middleburg Heights does and also has crowlers.

 

Thank you! Middleburg Heights it is!

 

I've been to Hansa {Friday for lunch}. It was slightly above average. My transportation to Cleveland involves Amtrak, so I wind up at an after hours bar in Ohio City on Sunday nights as well. (I do have to walk .7 mi. from the closest bus stop to the train station because the light rail isn't running then, and this is the closest a transit bus gets to it. )

 

Hi all, bumping the thread a bit... thanks for the recommendations based on OP's request, lots of great advice.

I'll be in town for one day in a few weeks planning on Rock & Roll afternoon then Indians game that evening. Suggestion on a good bar/pub/restaurant or brewery/brewpub with food that is teenage kid friendly for dinner between the two? Hotel will likely be few blocks from Stadium/R&R.

I see Masthead and Butcher & Brewer aren't too far. Other options?

Thanks!!

 

Noble Beast is a must. Incredible food too. Definitely will not disappoint.