NEWS
They say you can’t improve a classic. We say lighten up! Introducing Dort Light, a reimagined version of our classic Dortmunder Gold Lager. Brewed with the same malts, hops, and proprietary yeast that earned Dortmunder our first Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 1990, Dort Light has the taste of its pedigreed predecessor, but at just 2.9% ABV and 90 calories per 12 oz. pour.
This lighter yet still full-flavored version of our year-round flagship brew is our first example of the newly emerging “mid-strength” beer category in the United States. While long popular in the UK and Australia and having roots in “session” strength beers of recent decades, American craft brews with roughly 2.5-3.5% ABV but a more robust flavor experience are just now entering the spotlight. Whether your goal is extending a social occasion or moderating calorie intake, mid-strength beers like Dort Light get the job done without sacrificing flavor. Even better – why not both? Start the night with a full bodied Dortmunder and keep the hangout going later with Dort Light. Or, grab a few Dort Lights at happy hour, then pair dinner with the more robust Dortmunder Gold without feeling overindulgent.
Dort Light delivers the signature flavor profile of the Dortmunder Gold Lager beer drinkers in Ohio and beyond have enjoyed for almost 40 years. Affectionately called “Dort” by longtime fans, the original Dortmunder strikes a perfect balance between sweet malt and dry hop flavors, with a full-bodied but smooth drinkability (even at 5.8% ABV) from our proprietary house lager yeast. Dort Light uses the exact same malts, hops, and yeast as its elder sibling, but to a lower final alcohol content of 2.9%, meaning you can enjoy the perfect malty, hoppy balance and flavor profile of a robust Dortmunder Gold Lager without getting weighed down. When the original literally won a gold medal, you know Dort Light’s flavor profile is going to be a winner, too!
It can’t be understated how important Dortmunder Gold Lager is to our brewery. As one of our first two beers upon opening our brewpub doors in 1988 (alongside Eliot Ness Amber Lager), Dortmunder is the foundation upon which our Top 50, regional craft brewery was built. And as the first craft brewery in Cleveland and one of the largest in the Midwest, Dortmunder literally put Cleveland and Ohio on the craft brewing map. There’s no Midwest IPA, no Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, no (gasp!) Christmas Ale without Dortmunder leading the way. As we grew from a humble brewpub, to packaging our beer in bottles and kegs in the mid 90’s, to regional distribution throughout the 2000’s, Dortmunder fueled the growth, becoming literally ubiquitous throughout greater Cleveland as the years rolled on. Walk into any given bar, restaurant, grocery store, you name it – you’re finding Dortmunder Gold Lager there.
Indeed, Dortmunder Gold Lager has meant a lot to Great Lakes fans for decades. Our day one patrons still give a wink and call it “The Heisman,” referring to the beer’s original name, a tribute to the legendary football coach who was born in the Ohio City neighborhood we call home. While a “polite disagreement” from another party moved us to rename the beer for the style (Dortmunder-style Lager) and its winning ways (that GABF gold medal!), the story lives on in our original supporters, and our trusty brewery tour guides.
Dortmunder Gold Lager is many Clevelanders’ first craft beer, and continues to be their reliable, quality, go-to option when picking up a 15-pack for a cookout or enjoying dinner with family out on Friday night. Indeed, for our longtime partners at the Winking Lizard Tavern (recently named Best Sports Bar by USA Today), “Dort” is their number one selling craft beer. With patrons who care about local and quality, it’s no surprise we launched Dort Light exclusively at Winking Lizard’s 15 locations throughout Ohio before its full release leading up to Fourth of July.
When the game goes extra innings or you want a tasty but lighter option next to that 20-pack of wings, reach for a bottle of Dort Light. And if you’re hosting for Independence Day festivities, best to pick up a pack of each (okay, maybe a couple) to make sure the cooler is full of the right brew for the right mood all day long. You’ll find both right next to each other on the shelf, with Dort Light sporting the red, white, and blue ribbon of its predecessor along with other reimagined elements of the classic’s label.
Experience Dort in a new light! Dort Light is available year-round in 6-Pack Bottles and Draft everywhere Great Lakes beer is sold. Get Dort Light, Dortmunder Gold Lager, and any of our brews near you using our Beer Finder.
Words by Mike Williams
Photos by Marissa DeSantis & Lily O’Brien
Great Lakes Brewing Co. Introduces Dort Light Lager
Low Alcohol, Low Calorie Edition of Classic Dortmunder Gold Releases in June
CLEVELAND, June 3, 2026 – Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) introduces Dort Light, a 90 calorie, 2.9% ABV version of its award-winning flagship Dortmunder Gold Lager, in 6-Pack Bottles and Draft.
Brewed with the same classic, balanced Dortmunder Gold Lager recipe that put Great Lakes Brewing Company and Ohio craft beer on the map in 1988, Dort Light has the character and taste of its pedigreed predecessor, with only 2.9% ABV and 90 Calories per 12 oz. bottle. Currently, the brewery distributes its Cold Rush Premium Light Lager throughout Northeast Ohio, but Dort Light is the first of its kind for the storied brewery: a mid-strength yet full-flavored version of a year-round flagship brew, available everywhere Great Lakes beer is sold.
The Time Is Right For Light
“Mid-strength” and lower calorie beverages are a trend GLBC leadership has eyed, seeking the right entry into the category, and Dortmunder’s brand recognition makes it a contender. “Dortmunder Gold has had a reputation as Cleveland’s #1 craft beer for over 30 years, but today’s consumer has different preferences. Dort Light gives a new option for beer lovers who still want a beer, but can moderate with a superior light beer rather than an NA. Dort Light will be known as the best tasting low-calorie option–it truly tastes like a craft lager,” says GLBC CEO Chris Brown.
Brown adds, “We’re leaning into the legacy of Great Lakes with this beer and positioning it alongside its much older but still cool sibling. To the Ohioan, Dortmunder just became “Dort” and we are leaning into that familiarity while creating its own brand. Dort is a short Dortmunder in calories and ABV, but long on flavor.”
Dortmunder Gold Lager is the top craft lager in Ohio Food over the last 13 weeks (Nielsen).
The label itself features Dortmunder’s common call name “Dort” with “light” in script, and incorporates Dortmunder’s classic red, white, and blue ribbon among other recognizable elements. GLBC Marketing Director Vicki Campana notes, “these two beers will be positioned together in the market, so there’s a nice visual harmony between them. Whether you’re opting for the original or the lighter version, each package is undeniably Dortmunder—your trusted go-to for any occasion.”
On-Premise Introductions
Dort Light will launch in bottles and draft exclusively at the GLBC brewpub and Ohio’s Winking Lizard Tavern’s 15 locations in early June before its broader release throughout the brewery’s distribution footprint. A longtime partner of Great Lakes, and recent winner of USA Today’s 10Best “Best Sports Bar”, Winking Lizard’s popular craft-forward taverns are a perfect fit for Dort Light’s debut.
“It is exciting to roll out Dort Light with our number one craft beer partner, Great Lakes Brewing Company. Dortmunder Gold is our #1 selling craft beer and I am confident that Dort Light will be a huge seller as well. Our customers care about local and quality, and Dort Light is a great, approachable craft light beer alternative that will fit right in with our menu and clientele. As one of the top-selling Dortmunder Gold accounts, we are looking forward to showcasing the two together in our restaurants and continuing our strong partnership with Great Lakes,” says John Lane, Co-Owner, Winking Lizard Tavern.
Liquid Gold, Coming Soon
Brewed with the same malt, hops, and proprietary yeast that earned Dortmunder Gold its first gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 1990, Dort Light is just 2.9% ABV and 90 Calories. It releases in 6-Pack 12 oz. Bottles and Draft this June.
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About Great Lakes Brewing Co.:
Great Lakes Brewing Co. (GLBC) is Ohio’s original craft brewery, founded in 1988 by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway in Cleveland, Ohio. GLBC is independent and employee-owned and serves 19 states and Washington, D.C. with its award-winning portfolio of fresh, flavorful, and innovative crafted beverages including Vibacious® Double IPA, Midwest IPA, Dortmunder Gold® Lager, and a robust selection of seasonal and limited release offerings. Learn more at greatlakesbrewing.com.
Great Lakes Brewing Co. has partnered with Pinter, an award-winning brew and tap machine, to revive the classic Burning River Pale Ale for countertops around the world.
Fans can now brew Pinter’s “remixed” take on the old school Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale Recipe, which features the beer’s signature citrus and pine aromas and flavors. Launching May 26, the throwback Pale Ale will be available to order exclusively via Pinter for their innovative at-home brewing system. For Great Lakes, Burning River Pale Ale was a natural introduction to Pinter’s audience.
“Burning River Pale Ale is one of our most requested beers from our die-hard fans, but unfortunately it was no longer holding its own in the market. This Pinter collaboration is exciting for us because it provides a different way for those passionate fans to reconnect and make some new memories with Burning River at home, while introducing the Great Lakes story to a wide audience” says Chris Brown, CEO, Great Lakes Brewing Company.
The Pinter packaging includes Burning River Pale Ale’s label artwork, illustrated by Sam Hadley. GLBC Marketing Director Vicki Campana notes the significance of the imagery, “Burning River Pale Ale’s artwork shows an interpretation of the 1969 Cuyahoga River Fire that inspired the Clean Water Act. It speaks to Cleveland’s history and brighter future, and a sustainability story that’s become a point of pride for our city. The artwork and story mean a lot to Great Lakes fans, so we made sure to keep it as part of this fresh collaboration.”
For Pinter, the history and brewing chops are a highlight as they expand their portfolio of iconic craft brewery recipe collaborations.
“We’re thrilled to work with Great Lakes Brewing Company to resurrect one of Ohio’s most cherished beers,” said Paul Benner, Pinter US CEO. “Being a Cleveland native, I know how special Burning River is to Midwest beer drinkers, and we’re proud to help bring it back in a completely new way, plus introduce Great Lakes to Pinter customers nationwide and in the UK.”
The Burning River Pale Ale Pinter Pack will be available for order exclusively through Pinter’s website. The Pinter machine is available for free when you sign up for one of their flexible beer plans (full Terms & Conditions apply).
This product is available exclusively via Pinter, and will not be available for purchase via Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Reignite Your Senses
With bright notes of grapefruit and pine layered over smooth, biscuity malt character, Burning River Pale Ale Remixed delivers a fresh take on a cult-classic. Balanced and approachable at 6.0% ABV, it’s an easy-drinking pale ale for longtime craft fans and anyone looking to discover a legendary Great Lakes brew for the first time.
We are excited to announce that Great Lakes Brewing Company is the Official Beer of Pride in the CLE, 2026! Pride in the CLE takes place Saturday, June 6 from 11AM – 6PM at Public Square and Malls B & C in downtown Cleveland.
Meet us after the march in the Drink Garden on Mall C to find a selection of fresh, cold GLBC beers for purchase in cans, photo opps, and GLBC ambassadors with samples and giveaways.
You’ll also see members of our team marching with the community at Pride in the CLE.
We are proud to support the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, and send cheers to our LGBTQ+ friends and family. We look forward to raising at toast with you at Pride in the CLE!
Our Homage x GLBC Pride Collaboration tee is available in our gift shop and online store, with a portion of proceeds donated to the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.
Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) shines a spotlight on its celebrated classic and core brands in May, 2026 with its new Variety 12-Pack, featuring Dortmunder Gold Lager, Midwest IPA, Eliot Ness Amber Lager, and Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.
A Classic & Core Selection
Now in its 38th year, Great Lakes Brewing Company celebrates the brands that built its storied legacy and continue to drive its future in the new Great Lakes Variety Pack which includes three cans of each:
Dortmunder Gold Lager:
The brewery’s original award-winning Dortmunder-Style Lager and Cleveland’s original craft beer since 1988. Named for its early gold medal success at the Great American Beer Festival, the 5.8% best-selling Dortmunder Gold is an American craft lager pioneer known for its signature flavor and balance.
Midwest IPA:
GLBC’s core IPA since 2024, Midwest IPA is a “nice”, approachable 7.0% brew crafted with Triumph, Cascade, Strata, and Citra hops for expressive aromatics, and balanced with smooth malt character. An early example of the burgeoning Midwest IPA style, GLBC’s sets the tone for an everyday drinking IPA.
Eliot Ness Amber Lager:
Brewed since 1988 and inspired by the prohibition agent and former Cleveland safety director, the beer’s namesake. A smooth, medium-bodied 6.1% Vienna-Style Lager, Eliot Ness is a highly drinkable and enduring representative of GLBC’s lager legacy.
Edmund Fitzgerald Porter:
The brewery’s most decorated beer, Edmund Fitzgerald is a robust 6.0% Porter with roasted coffee and chocolate notes thanks to a blend of Chocolate Malt and Roasted Barley. Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is named in honor of the ship that tragically sunk on Lake Superior in 1975, inspired by Co-Owners Pat and Dan Conway’s personal connection to a crew member’s family.
The new year-round variety pack complements GLBC’s seasonally rotating Party Packs and delivers a trusted mix of quality craft brews. CEO Chris Brown breaks down the strategy. “In recent years we’ve mixed different innovation brands in the year-round variety pack with varying success, but we are seeing more customers reaching for known commodities. The craft consumer wants four beers in their variety pack that are all beers they would drink on any given night. This Great Lakes Variety Pack gives them just that by providing different but tried and true craft beers in a single, economical package.”
Great Lakes Variety Pack releases throughout the brewery’s distribution footprint beginning in May.
The birds are chirping. The warmth of the sun shines down on you. In a few short hours, your yard will be filled with friendly faces, the smell of burgers flipping on the grill, and lively conversation. The big day has finally arrived: it’s your first patio party of the season!
At Great Lakes, we believe in the art of the party. After all, beer is the ultimate connector: it brings people together over a shared love of the craft and desire to occupy the present. As spring gives way to summer, we’re here to help you live out your cookout dreams—whether you’re a seasoned host or a rookie on the scene. Let us guide you through creating the perfect atmosphere for the party your friends will talk about all season long, with a beer in hand each step of the way.
Step One: Secure the Bevs
Welcome to our area of expertise! While many of our seasonal brews are perfect for an indoor-outdoor gathering, there’s none quite as fitting as the Sunshine Party Pack. The new 12-pack was built for moments just like this: a melting pot of neighbors, friends, and family bonding over sunshine and fantastic beers. Stuff your cooler with this mix of seasonal flavors and styles sure to appeal to everyone in your crowd.
Local to Northeast Ohio? It never hurts to pick up an additional 12-er of Cleveland’s Light Beer for fans of a classic, low-ABV lager. We make it easy to track down our brews with a beer finder tool, so you’re not stuck checking every grocer in town an hour before the first guest rolls in.
Step Two: Set the Tone
The greatest parties aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets. You don’t need anything fancy to kick off the season just right. Focus on where you can spend your time, not money, to make the best experience for your guests.
But first: crack a Mexican Lager with Lime while you set up! The party is just starting for you. Here are some easy swaps to keep the costs friendly.
- Make cleanup easy and opt for colorful paper plates and compostable cutlery to save time washing dishes once the guests head home.
- Break out those citronella candles you may or may not have left in the rain a few times last season. Their citrus scent and warm glow will keep the magic going into the evening.
- Skip the DJ and curate a playlist. We’ve built you some options that pair with your beer of choice: old school beach vibes inspired by Mexican Lager, yacht-rock chill for crushing a Cold Rush, classic rock to get Dad tapping his toe while sipping a Dortmunder Gold, and high-energy club beats for the Vibacious Double IPA enjoyer. Don’t overthink it! Peruse our Spotify for more beer-inspired music ideas.
Step Three: Warm Welcome
The doorbell rings, and your first guests are here! What better way to greet them than with an Orange & Lime Shandy? You’ll make them feel special with a sip of something exclusive—this brew is only available within the Sunshine Party Pack. Give ‘em a hug and hand them a frosty can as they settle in.
Step Four: Fire Up the Grill
Now you’re cooking with gas (literally). People are mingling, the dogs are running in the yard, and you hear the familiar slosh of ice shuffling in the cooler as they reach for an Orange & Honey Wheat. It’s time to get some burgers, hot dogs, and veggie skewers smoking! Your topping repertoire isn’t complete without our beer-infused ballpark mustard.
Think of this brew as your mid-party anchor: the sweetness of honey pairs perfectly with grilled meats, while its twist of blood orange brings a refreshing zest. Put that together with a highly drinkable wheat base, and Orange & Honey Wheat will keep you cool while you man the grill. Curious how we pull off that balance? Explore the behind the scenes process that goes into the brew, just like the intention that went into planning your summer bash.
Step Five: Let Loose
The sun dips lower into the sky, casting a golden glow on your friends’ smiling faces. Take off your apron and pick up a Rally Drum Lemon Shandy as you relax into an Adirondack chair. Congratulations—you’ve arrived at the moment where you can join the fun with that oh-so-sweet crack of a can. You built this party, and now you finally get to take it all in!
As the rush subsides, your guests will forget to check the time. Instead, they’ll reach for one more to top off the night and linger—in true Midwest goodbye fashion.
Step Six: The Midwest Goodbye
If you’re from the Midwest, you know what happens when someone says, “Alright, I think we should probably get going.” Sometimes it looks like an hour-long conversation in the doorway or chatting in the kitchen while packing up the leftovers. If you’re cracking one more open, it’s gotta be a Midwest IPA.
Sure, it’s not part of the Sunshine Party Pack, but it’s a friendly nightcap for those who stay late to help clean up the chairs and bring the cooler inside. Send your buds on their way with a 6-Pack of Midwest or Midwest Hazy to show them just how thankful you are.
Whether you’re commemorating a milestone or seeking a casually cool hang this season, make every party a celebration with the Sunshine Party Pack, available everywhere you find Great Lakes beer.
Words and photos by Lily O’Brien, Marketing Communications Specialist
There’s a new wheat beer in town, and it’s bringing refreshment year-round. Orange & Honey Wheat debuts this Spring in 6-Packs and draft, and in our new Sunshine Party Pack. Unlike limited seasonals Cran Orange Wheat and Strawberry Pineapple Wheat, Orange & Honey Wheat is crafted to stand the seasonal test of time, with refreshing balance and satisfying flavor that invites sip after sip in any occasion.
So how did we craft such a perfect brew? Great Lakes Brewing Co. Sensory Specialist Jacob Eaton shares some insights into his process, from employing special tools to ace that perfect orange and honey blend, to hosting a co-worker “kegger” for the ultimate taste test. Read on to learn about our new Orange & Honey Wheat and how it came to be.
Tell us a little bit about your role at GLBC. How were you involved in developing Orange & Honey Wheat?
My role is the somewhat ambiguous (although cool) title of Sensory Specialist. I help with day-to-day quality checks and everything that has to do with sensory panel, and I also help develop the recipes for our flavored beverages. I was involved in the creation of Orange & Honey Wheat before we even knew it would include orange or honey! After we came up with the concept, I created small tasting batches to tweak the recipe (more than 50 of them!) and presented them to staff to decide on changes we might want to make to get it to be the balanced, refreshing beer that it is.
Why Orange & Honey Wheat? How is it different than our other fruited wheat beers?
We use quite a bit of honey at Great Lakes, because it’s a key component of our Christmas Ale, boosting ABV and adding subtle honey notes to complement the beer’s warming spices. We wanted to take our experience with honey and pair it with a flavor that’s both refreshing in warmer weather and appropriate in winter as well–hence the addition of orange. This makes for a delicious year-round wheat beer in any weather.
This honey is the key differentiator between this beer and our other fruited wheats. We add the honey right before packaging in order to preserve as much of the ingredient’s aromatics as possible, which is a relatively unique use of honey in beer.
What was your goal in developing the flavor profile for Orange & Honey Wheat, and how did you accomplish that?
It is very much a cliché to say this in reference to the development of beers, or really any food or beverage product, but I was really concerned about the balance of all aspects. When I added orange juice, I would boost the aroma a little but I would also add tartness and some pith-like bitterness. If I added honey, I would increase those aromatics, but also increase the sweetness.
One way to help put this into proper balance was using a tool that allows me to control variables. When I added orange extract, I could increase the aroma of the fruit, but without the increase in tartness or bitterness.
After tasting multiple juices and finding extracts that would allow me to adjust the aroma profile, I got to work creating samples and sharing them with my coworkers to dial in the recipe.
Tell us about the kegger in the lab! What inspired that staff tasting and why did you take this approach with this particular beer?
Developing this beer was a delicate balancing act, and it’s very easy for those of us involved to get a bit of palate fatigue or just be so close to the project that we forget to take a step back and think about the big picture with a new brew. It can also be difficult to make a truly refreshing beverage that includes something as sweet as honey.
Once we felt we had the recipe dialed in, I mixed up a keg around happy hour time and told everyone at Great Lakes, “come to the lab for a full beer, at the cost of just telling me if you want another one.” Soon enough, our lab was packed! This was a great way to get more tasters involved, really test the drinkability of the beer, and see if the product scaled up into a larger batch in a predictable way. While it wasn’t the only tasting centered around this product, it was a fun one and something that we intend to do in the future as well.
How has feedback been so far for this beer?
From what I hear, people are enjoying it! People have mentioned that the honey is obvious but not cloying and does not take away from the refreshing qualities of the orange. I personally was surprised by how much I like it–despite my involvement in making lots of beers with fruit and other flavor additions, I tend to order IPA’s and craft lagers. When we did the Drinkability Test (or “kegger” as we called it), I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was for me to drink a few. So even if this isn’t the type of beer you usually reach for, I recommend giving it a shot.
Where and when are you personally most likely to crack open an Orange & Honey Wheat?
I’ve got a toddler, so I can see myself enjoying Orange & Honey Wheat at home during our family gatherings this summer. I also am happy to have it as a lighter drinking option during the fall and winter with the orange keeping it seasonally appropriate then as well.
Anything else you’d like to add?
This beer took the most testing to get right out of any beer I have made so far, including my first few when I was still just learning which tools I had to make the changes I wanted. I had to force my colleagues in the lab to be tasters far more frequently than we anticipated and had to host several special tastings with other staff as well. And I just handled the recipe! Marketing, sales, operations, even engineering had to find and purchase a new heat exchanger to be able to handle thick and sticky honey… it took a lot of people’s time and energy to put out this great new beer. Enjoy it!
Thanks to Jacob for his expertise and commitment to crafting the perfect go-to, all-weather wheat beer. Have you taste-tested our Orange & Honey Wheat yet? What are you waiting for? Find Orange & Honey Wheat now everywhere Great Lakes beer is sold in 6-Packs and draft, and in the new Sunshine Party Pack. Share your thoughts with us by tagging us on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
Words by Jacob Eaton and Marissa DeSantis
Images by Marissa DeSantis and Lily O’Brien
UPDATE: the Save Ohio Bevs campaign has now surpassed 16,000 Supporters!
Ohio Brewery Collective’s SaveOhioBevs.com Campaign Surpasses 13,000 Supporters
Ohioans show early support urging legislative override vote on THC Beverage Bill
CLEVELAND, Mar. 27, 2026 – A growing coalition of major breweries across the state continue to drive the effort to override Governor DeWine’s line-item veto of portions of Senate Bill 56, effectively banning production and sale of THC beverages in Ohio.
Breweries including Great Lakes Brewing Company, Fifty West, Rhinegeist, Urban Artifact, Seventh Son, Land Grant, Wolf’s Ridge, Saucy Brew Works, Jackie O’s, MadTree, Nine Giant, Third Eye, and Rambling House launched saveohiobevs.com on March 23. In under 30 minutes the site surpassed 1,000 supporters, and broke 10,000 supporters in three days. The growing collective now includes 13 Ohio craft breweries who have joined forces to grow awareness and support.
These Ohio businesses, employees, and consumers are mobilizing to protect the future of hemp-derived THC beverages in the state, launching a coordinated advocacy campaign encouraging residents to visit https://www.saveohiobevs.com/ and contact their elected officials about overriding the Governor’s veto in SB 56, which removed provisions allowing for regulated hemp beverage sales. As support grows, brewery leaders stress urgency and continued engagement.
“We are so grateful for the collaborative efforts of our fellow Ohio breweries, and encouraged by the overwhelming early response to this campaign. As support continues to grow across the state, our goal is to keep the momentum and continue to make noise ahead of May when our representatives are back in session. We need more folks to send emails and pick up the phone to stay top-of-mind, to show that this matters to Ohioans and that we are not going anywhere.”
– Steven Pauwels, Co-CEO, Great Lakes Brewing Company
The campaign follows Governor Mike DeWine’s line-item veto of portions of Senate Bill 56 that had established a regulatory framework for low-dose THC beverages. The language had previously passed both the Ohio House and Senate with bipartisan support and was designed to create clear standards for manufacturing oversight, age restrictions, and distribution through licensed establishments.
Advocates say the veto disrupts lawmakers’ efforts to regulate an already active consumer market. Industry stakeholders believe sufficient legislative support exists to override the veto, but legislative leadership must first bring the measure to the floor. The advocacy initiative aims to demonstrate broad public and business support across Ohio.
A Renewed Call to Action for Ohio Residents
Through SaveOhioBevs.com, Ohio residents can identify their State Representative and State Senator and send a message urging legislative leaders to schedule an override vote. The platform also enables constituents to contact House Speaker Matt Huffman and Senate President Rob McColley to emphasize the urgency of action. In addition to sending emails, 21+ residents are
encouraged to follow up with phone calls.
Economic and Workforce Impact
Supporters point to the growing role of hemp-derived beverage manufacturing in Ohio’s economy, with over 700 jobs and meaningful local investment tied to the category. According to the Whitney Economic Impact Study, the line-item veto has a $130 million revenue impact. Advocates argue that clear, enforceable regulations—such as those included in SB 56—are essential to maintaining responsible adult access while supporting Ohio businesses.
The Float Shoppe Social Sodas and Local Industry Response
Local producers, including GLBC, makers of The Float Shoppe THC-infused Social Sodas, say the veto has created immediate uncertainty for employees, retail partners, and customers. They emphasize that the proposed regulatory framework would have ensured low-dose products remained available exclusively to adults 21 and older under strict oversight.
“It’s imperative that independent craft breweries in our state continue to evolve and innovate as we always have, in order to meet consumer demand and remain competitive. We are simply seeking common-sense regulations for low-dose THC beverages, just as we have in place for our craft beers, seltzers, ciders, and other 21+ beverages.”
– Chris Brown, Co-CEO, Great Lakes Brewing Company
Business leaders are encouraging Ohioans who support regulated access to participate in the advocacy effort and help ensure lawmakers revisit the issue.
Make Your Voice Heard
Ohio residents who wish to support bringing an override vote to the legislative floor can learn more and take action by visiting:
https://www.saveohiobevs.com/