NEWS
To celebrate our first Brewing Good Day at the brewpub on Wednesday, May 24, we interviewed one of our employee-owners doing great work in his community. We hope you’ll join us at the brewpub to support a good cause!
At Great Lakes Brewing Company, we’ve been brewing good ever since Co-Owners Pat and Dan Conway opened our doors 35 years ago. Yes, brewing good beer (okay, great beer), but also Brewing Good for our community and our planet. And as an employee-owned company, our staff takes this Brewing Good mission to heart. Among our dedicated employee-owners is J.P. Hernandez, First Shift Bottler and operator of the Barrio Boy Garden, an urban oasis, vibrant community event space, and edible landscape in Cleveland’s near west side. We sat down with J.P. after a recent staff volunteer event at the garden to talk about the history and mission of Barrio Boy, how you can get involved, and more.
J.P., thanks for taking the time to chat about the Barrio Boy Garden. First, a little bit about you. What is your role at GLBC?
I’m a Bottler on First Shift at our Ohio City production facility. It’s a tough job that I’m very proud to do (the bottles of low fill beer don’t hurt either!) I’m also a member of GLBC’s Green Team.
Oooh, that sounds interesting. Tell me a little bit about the Green Team and what you’re up to.
The Green Team’s goal is to foster and grow GLBC’s sustainability initiatives through action, education, and advocacy. This involves increasing our employee-owners’ participation in sustainability initiatives, continuing to establish our company as a community and industry leader in sustainable practices, and creating systems that will ensure our sustainability efforts across the company have lasting effects.
We’re working on a lot of projects right now! Just a few of our current efforts include streamlining the recycling of glass used in the brewery and brewpub, increasing the brewpub’s composting efforts, and enhancing recycling efforts companywide. We’ve even started a rooftop garden to grow our own hops!
On the community involvement side, we’re instituting a monthly Brewing Good Day, where 10% of each check during a certain date and time will be donated to a local partner. Our first Brewing Good Day is Wednesday, May 24! We’re also conducting monthly staff volunteer events.
GLBC brewery and brewpub staff after a volunteer cleanup event at Barrio Boy Garden
Wow, that’s a lot – and we haven’t even gotten to Barrio Boy yet! Give us the history of the garden, and your involvement in the local community.
It’s always been a dream of mine to have a community garden. In 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic, I hosted a DJ fundraiser to raise money for art supplies for the Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center. I had mentioned to their Executive Director Letitia Lopez that I wanted to start a community garden but didn’t know how. The following week, Ohio Division of Wildlife Officer Scott Denamen unexpectedly showed up at the Center looking for someone to collaborate with on, you guessed it, a community garden! Letitia linked me up with Scott, and the rest is history.
Barrio Boy Garden’s goal is to illustrate the importance of urban green, from the health of species like the endangered Monarch Butterfly, to the mental and physical health of local neighborhood residents. The garden helps me get involved with my community, whether that be through volunteering with local organizations, speaking to the youth in local schools, or sharing my love of the arts with my neighbors.
Very cool! What kind of community events does the garden host?
All kinds… and lot of them! Some events we’ve hosted include the installation of an event space called Rally CLE, a Yoga Flow & Meditation Celebration Event with Yellow Brick Studio where we planted seeds and flowers in the garden, and the performance of A Las Nubes, an original play in Spanish performed by Walton Elementary in collaboration with Cleveland Playhouse. We’ve given away 200 pumpkins with accompanying art kits, had open mic nights with painting and s’mores, and so much more. My personal favorite was Barrio Boy’s first anniversary, where we gave away almost 30 bikes and helmets, 100 bookbags filled with school supplies, and even free haircuts!
We know you’re passionate about GLBC’s sustainability efforts. What are some of the ways you promote sustainability at Barrio Boy?
Barrio Boy is very big on repurposing anything we can. We had 20-foot-long logs donated to us, out of which we created hügelkultur raised beds. These special garden beds hold moisture, build fertility, and maximize surface volume better than regular beds, making them great spaces for growing vegetables and herbs. We’ve also used some of the logs as seats for when we have events in the garden. We also repurposed all the bricks we dug up during one particular gardening project and used them to create a base for a fire pit. The list goes on!
The colorful Kickaround POG Tart fits right in at the flourishing Barrio Boy Garden
Any particularly touching or fun stories from Barrio Boy?
During that first anniversary I’m so fond of, a mother of three won a raffle for a bike. When I noticed that she had two other sons, we managed to get another two bikes for the brothers, which was really touching. The mother cried and mentioned how she couldn’t afford to buy even one bike for her kids, let alone three! It’s really cool to see how community involvement can so concretely improve the lives of our fellow humans. We now host the bike giveaway annually.
What is your vision for the future of the garden?
I want to keep showing the community how to repurpose things you think you can’t use, how to live a more sustainable life, and to be an inspiration to my neighbors on the importance that urban green spaces can play. It’s so important for all of us to have a space where art, agriculture, and wildlife can connect.
How can folks in get involved in supporting Barrio Boy or community gardens near them?
Reach out to the brewery at glbcinfo@greatlakesbrewing.com and ask to be connected with JP and Barrio Boy to see how you can get involved. You can support Barrio Boy directly by coming to our Brewing Good Day on Wednesday, May 24. I hope to see you there!
If you’re looking to establish a community garden in your neighborhood, the best way to get support is to contact your local councilperson and let them know you want to see these urban oases in your area.
Do you have any other hobbies or passions outside of GLBC and Barrio Boy?
Of course! Some passions of mine include performing poetry at open mics, teaching the youth the art of DJing, and collaborating with artists to create dope events!
Watermelon Crushworthy ready to refresh thirsty GLBC volunteers after cleanup efforts
Before we leave, I have to ask: which GLBC beer pairs best with a day of working and vibing at the garden?
I’m in the garden from March through October, so I have a few pairings depending on the season. I have to say, I have really been enjoying Vibacious Double IPA this spring! In the summer, Mexican Lager with Lime is the go-to. Then in autumn, I gotta go with the classic cool weather beer, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.
J.P., thanks so much for taking the time to tell us the great things happening at Barrio Boy, and with the GLBC Green Team! Cheers!
Words: J.P. Hernandez and Michael Williams
Photos: Haven Hodges
We are excited to share that two Great Lakes Brewing Co. packages have earned “Crushie” Awards at the annual Craft Beer Marketing Awards!
In the category of Best Can Design / Printed Can (All Sizes) our new year-round Vibacious Double IPA 12 oz. Can received the coveted Platinum Crushie Award. According to the Craft Beer Marketing Awards, the Platinum Crushie is the most prestigious nomination within a regional category. The expressive and colorful Vibacious Double IPA Can was designed by illustrator Sam Hadley, with GLBC Creative Manager Jameson Campbell.
In the category of Best Packaging Design / For Cans our 2022 Barrel Aged Christmas Ale 4-Pack received a Gold Crushie Award. This textured, celebratory package was designed by GLBC Creative Manager Jameson Campbell.
The Craft Beer Marketing Awards are a global competition celebrating the very best of beer marketing and the teams and individuals behind them. You can learn more about the awards and judging process here.
We are honored to be recognized by CBMA’s respected team of judges for our packaging, and send our congratulations to all of our fellow winners in this year’s competition.
You can find the full winners list here, where you’ll find Vibacious Double IPA in the BEST CAN DESIGN / PRINTED CAN (ALL SIZES) category, and 2022 Barrel Aged Christmas Ale in the BEST PACKAGING / FOR CANS category.
Want to join our celebration? Use our Beer Finder to track down Vibacious and our other visually stunning (and incredibly delicious) beers near you.
The unofficial start to summer is here, and it’s as crushable as ever! Get your beach blankets ready, because Mexican Lager with Lime is back for another season of lakeside lounging, now with a fresh new can design (and the same great beer within)!
Brewed with real lime peel and purée, this citrus-infused cerveza adds a zesty zip to quenching golden malt flavors and subtle hop aromas. Add a little extra ice to your cooler, because this laid back lager shines as bright as the summer sun.
Mexican Lager with Lime returns in cans to the GLBC gift shop beginning Friday, May 5. Look for Mexican Lager with Lime in cans and draft throughout our entire distribution footprint beginning Monday, May 15. To locate Mexican Lager with Lime and other GLBC beers in your area, visit our Beer Finder.
RELEASE DETAILS
GLBC Gift Shop: Beginning Friday, May 5
GLBC Brewpub: On tap now!
GLBC Distribution Markets: Beginning Monday, May 15
Packages: 6-Pack 12 oz. Cans, 12-Pack 12 oz. Cans, Draft
MEXICAN LAGER WITH LIME
Flavor: Spread a blanket and luxuriate in sunny rays of zesty lime and crisp, clean malt flavors.
ABV: 5.4%
IBU: 20
Pairs with: Baja fish tacos, pineapple salsa, and fruit salad
Want the latest buzz? Subscribe to our newsletter, Much Abrew, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on all of our year-round, seasonal, and limited release beers. Keep up to date with brewpub releases and events at our @GLBCBrewpub Twitter and Instagram.
Questions? Email GLBCinfo@greatlakesbrewing.com for more information.
Tacos and beer: is there a better combo? OK, pizza, we see you… you too, burgers and wings. But returning fan favorite Mexican Lager with Lime is back this May, so it’s the taco’s time to shine. And just as there’s a GLBC beer for everyone under the Midwest sun, so too is there a taco that’s a perfect salsa partner for each refreshing pint. Let’s get this fiesta started!
Of course, when it comes to pairing beer and tacos, no GLBC brew does the job better than our Mexican Lager with Lime. While the iguana on the can obviously loves the Great Lakes, it’d be equally at home in northwest Mexico – also home of the Baja fish taco. Top some fried tilapia or walleye with pico de gallo and a cilantro crema, and wrap in a corn tortilla. The beer’s light citrus acidity will contrast beautifully with the creaminess of the cilantro sauce, enhancing the flavor intensity of each. There’s also resonance between the real lime in each sip of our Mexican Lager and the freshly sliced pico.
Just wait until you try a chicken tinga taco with Vibacious Double IPA. First, how about that color! The bright red of the tomato chipotle sauce is almost as vibrant as Vibacious’ gorgeous can. (No one said there isn’t a visual component to beer and food pairing!) Flavor-wise, this pairing is all about expressive intensity. The smokiness and heat of the adobo sauce; the potent blend of spices; that savory slow cooked pulled chicken. All this goodness is matched by Vibacious’ intense (yet smooth and easy drinking) hop flavors.
Few GLBC beers pair as well with food as the classic Eliot Ness Amber Lager. (Fun fact: the first Mexican Lagers were Vienna-style, the same style that inspired Eliot Ness.) Packed with rich malt flavor, our arrestingly smooth lager pairs beautifully with roasted sweet potatoes and pepitas in a lightly toasted flour tortilla. The roasting process will caramelize the potatoes, creating a complementary flavor link to the beer’s caramel malt character, and the toasted shell will link with the beer’s bready notes as well. An untouchable pairing!
And while we tend to think of paler, more refreshing beers as the best fits for a taco, dark beers like Edmund Fitzgerald Porter work just as well! Dark, smoky mole beef is a natural fit for Fitz, but we highly recommend trying out Chef Richard’s spicy taco rub too. Our Porter’s bittersweet chocolatey flavors meld perfectly with the light brown sugar in the rub, and the sharpness of the beer’s roast malt character matches the potency of the rub’s spicy cayenne and cumin. Check out the full recipe and watch Chef Richard whip it up here.
Hungry yet? ¡Sí! Better yet, if you’re feeling thirsty, use our Beer Finder to track down any of these perfect pairing beers at a retailer near you.
Want the latest buzz? Subscribe to our newsletter, Much Abrew, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on all of our year-round, seasonal, and limited release beers. Keep up to date with brewpub releases and events at our @GLBCBrewpub Twitter and Instagram.
Questions? Email GLBCinfo@greatlakesbrewing.com for more information.
Words: Michael Williams & Richard Basich
Photos and Video: Adam Ritterspach
Kick back with Kickaround POG Tart, our quenching new contribution to your laid-back moments that could use a little zip. With passion fruit, orange, and guava and a hint of tartness on the finish, Kickaround is a refreshing new entry to our seasonal lineup. And speaking of fresh, our approach to brewing it is pretty unique too.
Most beer styles feature the tastes of sweetness and bitterness, with varying intensities of each, and different balances between the two. Beers like Kickaround mix things up by introducing a third taste: tartness. While malt contributes sweetness, and hops bitterness, tartness can be produced by several different microorganisms that primarily produce tart flavors after consuming sugars (instead of alcohol and carbon dioxide, like typical brewer’s yeast). Let’s look at how brewers manipulate these microorganisms to create pleasantly tart flavors in beer.
Some traditional beers, like the famous Lambics of Belgium, achieve their unique flavor profile by allowing airborne microorganisms such as Brettanomyces, a type of wild yeast, to inoculate cooling wort. This yeast will later produce “funky” flavors, alongside some tartness. Another classic Belgian style, Flanders Red Ale will pick up a bit of sharp acidity (the same kind found in vinegar) from the activity of Acetobacter, a harmless bacterium, interacting with a beer fermenting in wooden barrels. The similarly benign Lactobacillus lends softer acidity to Germany’s long-brewed tart beers, Berliner Weisse and Gose (and sauerkraut too, as well as other typical foods like yogurt). In fact, until the advent of modern brewing science, these wild yeasts and bacteria almost always commingled with regular brewer’s yeast, meaning that almost all beers would have had some level of sourness.
But we’re 21st century brewers, so our brewing team takes a carefully controlled approach to produce Kickaround’s pleasing piquancy. As with any other beer, Kickaround’s formulation starts with the grain bill. While malt typically contributes bready, roasty, and sweet flavors to beer, a portion of Acidulated Malt (a lightly pre-acidified grain) in the grist sets the stage for tartness by ever-so-slightly reducing Kickaround’s pH – lower pH, more tartness. However, the bulk of lowering pH is done by our friend Lactobacillus, in an easily observable and predictable process commonly called kettle souring. Using this method, our brewers begin producing wort as usual, but after removing spent grain in the lauter, the brewing process stops, the wort cools, and Lactobacillus is added directly to the wort to complete the job of acidification. It usually takes just around 24 hours to achieve the level of tartness our brewers are looking for, so once that target pH is hit, the brewing process then resumes as usual. And since fruit tends to have a touch of acidity, the addition of passion fruit, orange, and guava gives further nuance to Kickaround’s pleasant tartness.
While the complexity of a Gueuze and the depth of an Oud Bruin have their place, a contemporary tart beer like Kickaround exudes easy-going and accessible enjoyment. No fancy tulip glass needed! Whether you’re hanging with friends at a local festival or grabbing brunch on a sunny patio, Kickaround is there to add some zest to your favorite chill moments.
Kickaround POG Tart is springing forth and available now wherever GLBC beer is sold. Find this perfect partner for however you like to kick it near you using our Beer Finder.
Want the latest buzz? Subscribe to our newsletter, Much Abrew, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on all of our year-round, seasonal, and limited release beers. Keep up to date with brewpub releases and events at our @GLBCBrewpub Twitter and Instagram.
Questions? Email GLBCinfo@greatlakesbrewing.com for more information.
Words by Michael Williams
Pictures by Adam Ritterspach
We are excited to introduce Easy Buckets Blonde, a Cavs-inspired beer named by fans via the Call Your Shot: Name the Beer Sweepstakes. This easy-drinking beer arrives on tap at the Great Lakes Experience at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and select locations just in time for the Cavaliers’ playoff run. Thank you to all fans who voted and helped us name this winning collaboration! The sweepstakes has concluded and the winner will be contacted directly by GLBC.
While Easy Buckets Blonde launches exclusively on draft, its initial release will be followed by a wider draft and limited can release for the 2023-24 Cleveland Cavaliers season. Fans can find updates on Easy Buckets Blonde by following Great Lakes Brewing Co. and the Cleveland Cavaliers on social media and at greatlakesbrewing.com/cavsbeer.
Great Lakes Brewing Co. and the Cleveland Cavaliers launched their official partnership in fall, 2022.The brewery’s Great Lakes Experience bar at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse serves a wide variety of year-round, seasonal, and rotating FieldHouse Exclusive craft beverages on tap. The launch of the fan-named Easy Buckets Blonde represents the first beer collaboration between GLBC and the Cavs.
UPDATE: Voting is now closed. Stay tuned for the winning name and beer release details!
GREAT LAKES BREWING CO. ANNOUNCES CLEVELAND CAVALIERS BEER COLLABORATION
Name To Be Chosen By Fans Via “Call Your Shot: Name the Beer” Voting Sweepstakes
CLEVELAND, Mar. 9, 2023—Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC), the official craft beer of the Cleveland Cavaliers, announces the launch of a Cavs-themed Golden Ale with a name to be selected via fan vote.
The new beer will release exclusively on draft at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and select locations throughout the Cavaliers broadcast network footprint as the 2022-23 regular season draws to a close. The announcement of the new beer coincides with the launch of GLBC’s “Call Your Shot: Name the Beer” Sweepstakes, in which fans can vote for their favorite name for the new ale. The three names on the ballot, selected by Cavs and GLBC employees, are: 3 Pint Line, Easy Buckets, and Clean the Glass.
21+ fans within the Cavaliers broadcast footprint who wish to vote on the beer’s name can do so at greatlakesbrewing.com/cavsbeer now through March 22 for the chance to win prizes from GLBC and the Cavaliers, including tickets to the team’s 2023-24 season home opener. Full rules and restrictions are available at greatlakesbrewing.com/cavsbeer.
The new easy-drinking Golden Ale is lighter bodied with lower alcohol content, and is an approachable yet flavorful offering brewed to pair with the gameday experience. While the beer launches exclusively on draft, its initial release will be followed by a wider draft and limited can release for the 2023-24 Cleveland Cavaliers season. More details will be shared via the brewery’s social media channels in the coming weeks.
Great Lakes Brewing Co. and the Cleveland Cavaliers launched their official partnership in fall, 2022. The brewery’s Great Lakes Experience bar at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse serves a wide variety of year-round, seasonal, and rotating FieldHouse Exclusive craft beverages on tap. The launch of the fan-named Golden Ale represents the first beer collaboration between GLBC and the Cavs.
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Mad about hops? So are we! Hop mania is sweeping the land with the arrival of Hop Madness IPA Variety Pack, a brand new year-round 12-Can Variety Pack featuring four of our favorite IPAs (including one that’s exclusive to the pack)! Tap into the lupulin lunacy and discover your newest hop obsession in this fresh, flavor-packed selection of IPAs, featuring three 12 oz. Cans of…
Vibacious Double IPA
Keep the vibes right and the mood bright with a remarkably smooth Double IPA packed with feel-good hop character. (9.0% ABV)
Hazecraft IPA
Blast into orbit through a hazy galaxy of otherworldly tropical fruit aromas (6.7%)
TropiCoastal Tropical IPA
Slip away to a shimmering cove of refreshment, bursting with ripe tropical fruit flavors. (6.0%)
Small Batch Hazy IPA (new seasonal rotator!)
A Great Lakes Brewing Team special project, exclusive to the Hop Madness IPA Variety Pack! (6.0%)
The Hop Madness IPA 12-Can Variety Pack is available now at the GLBC gift shop. Find it year-round throughout our entire distribution footprint beginning March 6. To locate the new Hop Madness IPA Variety Pack and other GLBC beers in your area, visit our Beer Finder.
Want the latest buzz? Subscribe to our newsletter, Much Abrew, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on all of our year-round, seasonal, and limited release beers. Keep up to date with brewpub releases and events at our @GLBCBrewpub Twitter and Instagram.
Questions? Email GLBCinfo@greatlakesbrewing.com for more information.