August 14, 2003. A day that many, many people in our region remember quite clearly – despite (or, rather, because of) the lack of light caused by one of the largest blackouts in world history. The sprawling Northeast blackout shut the lights off for three days, affecting over 50 million people from our home of Ohio, all the way to northern Michigan, through Pennsylvania, to New York City, and beyond. 

It’s an event so singular for our region, we had to name a beer after it! And after a three year wait, plus just a couple of requests from our fans, Blackout Stout is back in all its rich, robust, roasty glory. To mark the return of this beloved GLBC beer, we asked a few folks at GLBC to illuminate us with their recollections of that infamous day. Here are their stories, in their own words.

Pat Conway (Owner)

When the blackout hit Cleveland, friends poured in to the brewpub from out of nowhere. They knew that no electricity meant no glycol, and no way to keep our serving tanks cool, meaning there would eventually be warm beer. Not only does warm beer not taste the best, the warmer beer gets, the foamier it becomes, and the more difficult it becomes to pour. So they wanted to do us a favor and drink the beer before we would lose it to the warm temperatures.  

What they didn’t expect was that the cash registers were down as well, meaning we couldn’t ring in the beers they wanted to help us move. Our close friends ended up drinking in the Beer Garden for a “reduced price” right up until night fell. 

Crazy days indeed. Thankfully, the power was back on just a day or two later. If the blackout had gone on any longer, we would have lost thousands of barrels of fermenting and conditioning beer!

Luke Purcell (Pub Brewer in 2003)

That day, I was brewing Loch Erie Scotch Ale, one of our classic pub exclusive beers, on the 7 Bbl. system. The wort was just about to come to a boil when the power went off. As a brewer, there’s no worse feeling than knowing you’re about to lose a batch of beer, but thankfully the power came right back on about 30 seconds later. As that feeling of relief was setting in, out the power went again. It actually was not uncommon for the power to go out in the pub back then, so we didn’t think much of it until Derek Wilson, our chef at the time, called us from his Florida vacation. He was able to watch the news coverage of the now-massive blackout and had us rush to ice down all the food in the coolers!

After shutting down, I went to the pub, where Pat was standing there with a beer (in a snifter, of course) talking with some customers. He looked at me and said, “Guy, how long do we have until we can’t pour beer?” I estimated that we could pour for two or three hours before the beer would get too foamy to pour. Looking much like the Grinch when his heart grew three sizes, Pat grinned and said, “Let’s lock the front door. Beers are on the house for anyone that wants to stick around.” We all hung out in the bar and on the patio for the next couple of hours. There was quiet discussion about what the cause of the blackout might be, but also lots of stories and plenty of laughter going around the room. Most notably, there was no television or music in the background – just the sound of folks drinking, talking, and having a good time.  

The next morning, at around 3 AM, I woke up in a panic, realizing that I had left the steam valves open on the still-full kettle in the pub. If the power came back on, it would have started to boil again and well, who knows, we may have had a great Barleywine on our hands. I will always remember driving down to the brewery in the middle of the night. The sky was completely lit up with stars! Everything was so quiet and peaceful. I went into the pub in the dark and shut off the steam valves to the brew that I would be dumping the next day when it was cool enough. While it was a bummer to lose the brew, the rest of the experience was something I will always treasure. That dark, peaceful night full of stars, and folks drinking and talking with no sense of urgency, is what truly inspired Blackout Stout.

Original Blackout Stout label art, featuring people enjoying GLBC beer and good conversation on the porch

John Blystone (Manager of Engineering and Maintenance)

Blackout Stout is not only my second-favorite GLBC beer (right behind the barrel-aged version), but it also speaks to my personal and professional background. The blackout was largely instigated by computer software issues at an electricity provider’s facility near Akron, OH, which is where I was studying for my bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the time. This unusual event quickly became a case study in the engineering world. Our profession examined the system’s response to smaller issues within the system, and how those slowly built to a catastrophic and wide-spread event. 

I find Blackout Stout to be the perfect blend of extreme malt body and sweetness, with just enough hops to round it out, working together to create a rich, smooth blend of flavors that lights up my palate. Of all the Imperial Stouts I’ve tried, Blackout Stout remains my favorite. I recommend cracking one open and pairing it with dark chocolate, deep thoughts, or a full reading of the NERC report that shares in great geeky detail how the grid fell apart that day. You won’t be disappointed!

Blackout Stout is back, but only for a limited time! Use our Beer Finder to find some near you.

Word by Michael Williams

Photos by Adam Ritterspach

O’Zapft is! This week, people from around the world will travel to Munich, Germany for the world’s largest folk festival: Oktoberfest. Over the course of 16 days, an estimated six million festgoers will fill historic bier halls and consume an astounding amount of beer (over 7 million litres to be exact!) at an annual event that has been running since 1810. Rich with tradition, Munich’s Oktoberfest is a cultural experience unlike any other.

But you don’t have to book a flight to Bavaria to get in on the fun. The true spirit of Oktoberfest lies in its celebration of community, which means Oktoberfest can be celebrated anywhere and with anyone. So crack open an Oktoberfest and follow these 5 steps for throwing your own oom-pah-pah bash.

Step 1: Don’t wait until October!
We know, we know… the name is a little confusing, but waiting until October 1 to start your Oktoberfest celebration is starting too late! This year’s Munich celebration begins September 17, but if you’re from Cleveland, you already know our own kicked off Labor Day weekend. With the heat and humidity (mostly) gone in September, now is the perfect time to hoist your stein in the sunshine. Just remember: starting early doesn’t mean you can’t go late!

Step 2: Find your Bier Garden!
You don’t need a massive beer hall to celebrate Oktoberfest (though it’d be pretty cool if you have one!) Grab some bunting, hang a few flags, and drop your cooler wherever you feel like celebrating. A pop-up canopy tent in the backyard is perfect, but use what you have! A keg in the garage? Ach ja. Lawn chairs around a bonfire? Über fantastisch!

Step 3: Set the Mood!
Wherever you decide to hold your Wiesn, you’ve got to make it feel festive. Decorations and a great playlist will go a long way, but we’d argue your “floorplan” is even more important. Maximize a feeling of Bavarian camaraderie or gemütlichkeit, by arranging your tables and chairs in a communal way. The perfect Oktoberfest setup is one where you can easily prost! another festgoer without leaving your table, so get cozy! Another idea: a community cooler is a great way to share (and taste!) the many frothy libations your guests may bring that day. We recommend tossing in a few German-inspired offerings like Dortmunder Gold Lager and Eliot Ness Amber Lager for a bit of variety!

Step 4: Make Your Fest a Feast!
Packed with toasty autumnal flavors, the smooth and malty character of Oktoberfest makes it one of the easiest beers to pair food with! If you’re starting early, skip the bacon and cook up a plump and juicy Weisswurst for a hearty Bavarian twist on the classic kegs-and-eggs breakfast. But don’t stop there. You’ll need plenty of snacks to munch on throughout the day, and our Bertman Original Dortmunder Gold Lager Beer Mustard is a great accompaniment for pretzels and sliced Gouda. Brats, roasted chicken, and potato cakes are a safe bet for dinner, but if you really want to flex your culinary skills, our Pork Schnitzel with Oktoberfest gravy is sure to impress your guests.

Step 5: Have Fun!
Oktoberfest is, and we can’t stress this enough, a party, so find ways to let loose! Bust out the lederhosen and award prizes to your best-dressed guests. Test your strength with a stein holding competition. Stand up on a table and get a “Sweet Caroline” sing along going. It doesn’t necessarily have to make sense, but it does have to be fun, so don’t take yourself too seriously, drink responsibly, and you’ll be celebrating Oktoberfest like a pro in no time.

Oktoberfest, one of our most celebrated and critically lauded brews, is available now for a limited time. Use our Beer Finder to find 12 oz. Can 12-Packs, 12 oz. Bottle 6-Packs, 12 oz. Bottle 12-Packs, and Draft at a retailer near you.

Words and photos by Adam Ritterspach

Game, set, hops! Great Lakes Brewing Co. (GLBC) is proud to return as the Official Craft Beer of Tennis in the Land presented by Motorola Edge. Now in its second year, Tennis in the Land is part of the U.S. Open Series, taking place a week prior to the U.S. Open, and brings the world’s most-watched women’s sport to Cleveland’s Jacob’s Pavilion at Nautica August 20 – 27.

Tennis in the Land attendees can expect to find a variety of canned GLBC beer at stands throughout the venue, as well as GLBC photo opps with chances to win prizes. 

Want to crush it courtside at Tennis in the Land? Fill out the entry form at https://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/glbctennis for a chance to win two courtside box tickets to the Tennis in the Land final on August 27. Runners up will receive tickets to Tennis in the Land.

Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) is proud to announce our sponsorship of the 2nd Weekend of Cleveland Oktoberfest, September 9 and 10 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea, Ohio.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. is a longstanding participant in Cleveland Oktoberfest, most recently taking home a Silver Medal for Dortmunder Gold Lager in the event’s annual craft brewery competition. At this year’s Oktoberfest, GLBC beer will be the primary offering throughout the event on September 9 and 10, though GLBC beer will be available in the Bier Garten both weekends. 

As the featured craft beer sponsor for 2022, GLBC will have a large presence at the event including a variety of draft offerings like our award-winning Oktoberfest pouring throughout the entire fairground on the 2nd weekend. Be on the lookout for GLBC giveaways and photo opps, and sign up for the Great Lakes 5K Bier Run & One Mile Walk on Monday, September 5, benefiting University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. To learn more and register, visit: https://www.clevelandoktoberfest.com/entertainment/attractions-activities/5k-run/

With a variety of live entertainment, games, cultural performances, and attractions, Cleveland Oktoberfest is a late-summer tradition you won’t want to miss. 

Find tickets here: https://www.clevelandoktoberfest.com/tickets/

About Cleveland Oktoberfest: 
The mission of Cleveland Oktoberfest is to promote and support the arts by conducting live musical and artistic cultural performances for the general public. This serves to preserve, promote and perpetuate European Heritage within the Cleveland area, while at once advancing and fostering education and general awareness. Numerous charitable groups and organizations benefit from Cleveland Oktoberfest.

We love lagers. Ales, you’re great too, but we think bottom-fermenters are tops. In fact, when we first opened in 1988, the first two beers we brewed were our longtime favorites Dortmunder Gold Lager and Eliot Ness Amber Lager. We didn’t stop there either, with our award-winning Oktoberfest joining GLBC’s lager family in the 90’s, followed by newcomers Mexican Lager with Lime and Rally Drum Premium Lager. See? We’re really not kidding when we say we love lagers!

Back in 1988, brewing craft lagers wasn’t a common choice. Lagers typically take longer to ferment and condition, and it’s often said that it’s more difficult to hide flaws in lagers than ales. Still, co-owners Pat and Dan Conway were enamored with the flavorful, full-bodied lagers they’d enjoyed in their European travels, and wanted to bring that experience to American craft beer.

So how different are our three longtime lagers? Let’s explore!

Dortmunder Gold Lager

About the Style:
First brewed in mid-19th century Dortmund, Germany and frequently shipped internationally, earning it the nickname “Exportbier”. Due to its hometown’s water chemistry, Dortmunder-style lagers are both distinctly malty and firmly hoppy, while striking a perfect balance between the two.

About Dortmunder Gold Lager:
Brewed with our proprietary lager yeast, Dortmunder Gold hauled home our first (but certainly not our last!) medal at the Great American Beer Festival. We’re partial to Dortmunder Gold for its balance of sweet malt and dry hop flavors, which have served as many a Clevelander’s introduction to craft beer since 1988.

The Best Time to Drink a “Dort”:
Perfectly suited to any social occasion, from Guardians games to backyard barbecues, Dortmunder Gold is a certified crowd pleaser. “Dort” pairs well with salads, fish, chicken… pretty much any food you can think of! Enhance your perfect Dortmunder food pairings with our Dortmunder Gold Beer Mustard made in collaboration with Bertman.

Eliot Ness Amber Lager

About The Style:
While we call Eliot Ness an Amber Lager, the beer is inspired by Vienna Lager, the style perfected by Anton Dreher in 1841. Vienna Lager was the world’s first lighter-colored lager, and Europe’s most popular style for a number of decades. Interestingly, it’s now more commonly produced by Mexican breweries. Vienna Lager sports a reddish hue and toasty, bready malt flavors. 

About Eliot Ness Amber Lager:
Fun fact: although Dortmunder Gold is our hometown hero, Eliot Ness is actually the first beer GLBC ever brewed under original Master Brewer Thaine Johnson. With its untouchable blend of lightly toasted malts and earthy Mt. Hood hops, Eliot Ness has our current Brewmaster Mark Hunger’s stamp of approval as his favorite go-to brew. 

The Best Time to Drink a Ness:
Thanks to its caramel malt flavors, Eliot Ness is our favorite beer to pair with food, almost always finding a spot on a Brewmaster’s Dinner menu. And while it’s hard to think of somewhere that the smooth, approachable Eliot Ness would feel out of place, our favorite spot for a Ness has to be the GLBC taproom’s historic Tiger Mahogany bar – after all, Eliot Ness was known to have a beer there himself!

Oktoberfest

About the Style: 
Not to be outdone by his childhood friend Anton, Gabriel Sedlmayr released his own lighter-colored lager in Munich later in 1841. The German brewer managed to outdo his Austrian counterpart, as his even richer, more robustly malty lager was named the official beer of Munich’s Oktoberfest celebration in 1872. It’s remained a staple of Oktoberfest celebrations around the world to this day.

About Oktoberfest:
Speaking of staples, our Oktoberfest is often regarded as one of finest American examples of the style. No surprise there, as our brewers take extra time crafting our Oktoberfest using a decoction mash, an additional step in the brewing process that intensifies the beer’s deep bready, toasty malt character. So raise a stein of Oktoberfest and give a hearty “prost” to our hard-working brewers!

The Best Time to Drink a “Festie”:
It’s right there in the name! Whether it’s those last warm sunny days on the beach, or the first cool, crisp evenings around a bonfire, Oktoberfest is perfect for anytime a late-summer celebration is called for. And since Munich is a bit out of the way, we hope you visited us the 2nd Weekend of the Cleveland Oktoberfest, where we poured Oktoberfest (and more) all throughout the grounds as the official beer sponsor!

Fall in love with lagers again! Use our Beer Finder to locate Oktoberfest, Dortmunder, and Eliot Ness near you.

Words by Michael Williams

Photos by Adam Ritterspach

Great Lakes Brewing Co. has been named a 2022 Top Workplace by the Cleveland Plain Dealer for the 3rd time. Our independent, employee-owned craft brewery employs over 200 driven, enthusiastic people, and we are honored by this recognition. 

Throughout our history, we have aspired to grow our innovative and resourceful team of employee-owners with high standards, integrity, and vision, and have prioritized our team’s wellbeing by offering competitive benefits, growth opportunities, loads of perks, and a fun, engaging culture. We are grateful for this recognition, particularly because this recognition comes largely thanks to the feedback of our own employees.

Administered by a third-party platform, the survey measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, to name a few. The Plain Dealer’s Top Workplaces list continues to reflect companies in the region that cultivate a connection with their workforce. This year’s Workplaces list ranks 220 companies, nonprofits, schools, and other employers. These organizations share a commitment to providing support and an environment that makes employees feel valued and respected. You can find the full list here: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/06/see-the-list-of-all-220-northeast-ohio-top-workplaces-for-2022.html

If you are interested in joining our team of employee-owners, find more information and apply here: https://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/employment

We are proud to share that our TropiCoastal Tropical IPA can is the winner of the 2022 Colored by INX Can Design Contest! This is the second consecutive year we have received this honor, following Crushworthy’s win in 2021.

2022’s contest was judged by a panel, who selected TropiCoastal as the winner. GLBC Creative Manager Jameson Campbell took home the honors for bringing illustrator Sam Hadley’s colorful beach scene to life, along with his creative team collaborators, and with help from INX’s metal color catalog.

Learn more about the contest here.

Pictured: Creative Manager Jameson Campbell, Brand Marketing Manager Marissa DeSantis
Photo by Vicki Campana

Celebrate Pride month in Cleveland and raise a glass to our 2023 HOMAGE Pride collaboration tee! Returning for a limited time, this rainbow gradient Great Lakes logo tee will benefit The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.

The Center strives to enrich the lives of the diverse LGBTQ+ community through advocacy, support, education, and celebration. The Center provides programs and connections to the region’s best support groups and health resources, and also provides a safe and affirming space for all individuals who may otherwise feel uncomfortable seeking these services elsewhere.

As proud planners of Pride in the CLE™, The Center realizes the awesome responsibility to deliver to the community a Pride event that not only celebrates, but advocates and elevates our community’s voices so that we can all march in-step towards a socially just and equitable society. Learn more about Pride in the CLE™, taking place June 3, here.

Both Great Lakes Brewing Co. and HOMAGE will donate a portion of proceeds from the sales of this tee to The Center. Purchase at the Great Lakes Brewing Co. gift shop, or online via HOMAGE here.