In the 1870’s Cleveland had 30 breweries but by the early 1980’s the last one had closed its doors, so when Great Lakes Brewing Company was opened by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway on September 6, 1988 it was not only the fist microbrewery in the state of Ohio but a new era in Cleveland brewing. Cleveland quickly embraced the idea of a craft brewery and patrons hurried in for a pint in the styles of old. The patrons also appreciated the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices and before long Great Lakes Brewing Company had become one of Cleveland’s most popular destinations.

 

When Master Brewer, Thaine Johnson and engineer, Charlie Price joined the Conways during the early days of the Great Lakes Brewing Company they brought with them not only their three decades of brewing and managing experience at various U.S. breweries but the use of raw materials used by European brewers (malted barley instead of corn and rice) which were incorporated into the craft brewing process. They also only used the freshest ingredients and no preservatives or chemicals or pasteurization, which ultimately compromises flavor. They produced approximately 1,000 barrels in the first year. GLBC’s original beers were the Heisman, a Dortmunder-style beer named for the famed football player (and future trophy) who lived around the corner from the Brewery and Eliot Ness Amber Lager. Both beers were an immediate success and were soon joined by an exceptional family of award-winning year round, seasonal and pub exclusive beers including Burning River Pale Ale, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Commodore Perry India Pale Ale, Conway’s Irish Ale, Blackout Stout, Oktoberfest, Nosferatu and Christmas Ale. The Heisman was later renamed Dortmunder Gold for its golden color and for the gold medal it won at the 1990 Great American Beer Festival.

 

The Great Lakes Brewing Company became so successful that in 1992 they expanded the brewery to the adjacent Fries & Scheule Building just to meet the growing demand and then again in 1998 they moved into what now consists of six buildings that were once horse stables, keg facilities and bottles storage for the 1879 Schlather Brewing Company. The Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Brewpub now hosts a Brewhouse which hosts smaller brewing tanks that were used in the early days of the GLBC and are currently still being used to brew “pub exclusive” brews. The GLBC grounds also hosts a taproom, beer cellar, gift shop and beer garden.

 

While GLBC has become one of the most celebrated and award-winning brewers of lagers and ales, producing upwards of 100,000 barrels a year, their commitment to brewing the freshest exceptional family of beers hasn’t changed. Not only does GLBC have an unwavering commitment to exceptional beers but is an environmentally respectful and socially conscious company on the threshold of greater things to come.