A Thirty-Year Gift
Great Lakes Brewing Company announces the creation of an ESOP in celebration of its thirtieth anniversary

CLEVELAND, May 23, 2018 – At its annual company summit this week, Great Lakes Brewing Co. – Ohio’s first and largest craft brewery – announced the creation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), joining a growing community of ESOP-owned craft breweries across the country. Co-owners Patrick and Dan Conway made the surprise announcement to their co-workers as part of the annual awards ceremony that concludes the summit.

“Every year, we give The Conway’s Award – a sort of founder’s award – to recognize one employee for outstanding contributions to the company. This year, we decided the award was the perfect way to announce the ESOP, recognizing everyone in the company as deserving. Instead of the customary hardware, we’re giving them a stake in our company,” says Co-owner Patrick Conway. “Many recognize our company as having a family-like culture – we’ve just expanded the size of the family,” adds Dan Conway.

ESOP’s are in the Conway family’s blood. Patrick and Dan’s father, John F. Conway, a well-known tax attorney in Cleveland, introduced the first ESOP in Ohio – and one of the first in the country – for his client Alloy Engineering. “We think our father would approve of what we’re doing today,” says Dan.

The company has been reviewing the possibility of an ESOP for more than ten years. Support for this endeavor was provided by Brian O’Neill, Ron Stansbury and Corine Corpora of Tucker Ellis, Bill Wildenheim of Hobe & Lucas Certified Public Accountants Inc., and Cathy Ivancic of Workplace Development Inc. The ESOP trustee and administrator will be announced soon. 

As the owners noted in the company’s annual Sustainability Report, they believe the combination of the 30-year anniversary, possible expansion plans in Cleveland’s Flats neighborhood, and the ESOP will provide a strong foundation for the next 30 years and beyond. “It reinforces the idea that we’re all in this together,” says CEO Bill Boor.

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About ESOPs: The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a retirement benefit that enables employees to earn shares of stock in the company where they work. First created in 1974, there are approximately 6,700 ESOP businesses in the United States, employing about 14 million employee-owners. At Great Lakes Brewing Co., the ESOP benefit is being provided in addition to other benefits. According to research compiled by the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), ESOP-owned companies tend to outperform comparable firms in their industry and show more resilience in recessions. Employees in firms with an ESOP have 2.2 times as much in retirement savings compared to employees in non-ESOP companies.

About Great Lakes Brewing Co.: Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) is Ohio’s original craft brewery, now celebrating 30 years of independent, family-owned craft brewing. Founded in 1988 by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway, we celebrate the abundance of the Great Lakes region in every beer, dish, and story we share. For more information visit greatlakesbrewing.com.

To discover more about our ESOP, check out these articles at:
Cleveland.com
Brewbound.com

With Halloween just around the corner, there’s no sense in tricking yourself into thinking that the treats are just for the kids. So, in honor of one of our favorite holidays, we turned to New York and Western Pennsylvania Area Sales Manager and Certified Cicerone Mike Friedle to find out which candies pair well with some GLBC favorites. Have any candy and beer pairings planned for your own spooky evening? Show us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and we might just re-share them!

Eliot Ness Amber Lager with Heath Toffee Bars
   
Mike says: “This is a great complementary flavor pairing. Ness has a sweet, caramel-forward nose to begin with, but when you add the Heath English Toffee to it, the first flavors that I get are very reminiscent of a morning favorite of mine – buttered toast. The butter from the toffee interplays and really draws out the toasted malt bill of Eliot Ness. Lastly, lightly roasted walnuts round out the finish, a flavor not present in Ness on its own, but something that complements the toffee very well.”

Commodore Perry IPA with Sour Patch Kids

Mike says: “The interplay between the bitter and tart/sugary flavors is where we find the magic here. After sipping the beer and popping a Sour Patch Kid into my mouth, I notice the sour/tartness of the candy immediately takes over. The sugary sweet combination quickly follows and at that point, if you have another sip of Commodore Perry, it’s as if you were biting into a bright, juicy orange that floods your taste buds.”  

Barrel Aged Imperial Smoked Porter with Kit Kats

Mike says: “This pairing is decadent. On their own, both of these are high on my list of favorite treats. Together, they become sublime. As the Imperial Smoked Porter chases the Kit Kat, some magic happens and we’re hit with vivid vanilla flavors, which blend beautifully with the milk chocolate and the Porter’s boozy bourbon warmth. Finally, a subtle smokiness cleanses the palate and perfectly set up the next bite.”

Ohio City Oatmeal Stout with Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups

Mike says: “First off, the Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups are key here.They’re richer and less salty than their Reese’s counterparts. This richness (and classic Butterfinger texture) is a sharp contrast to the ever-so-smooth texture and mouthfeel of Ohio City Oatmeal Stout. The finish is like a freshly drawn espresso with a sugar cube in it. Airy, light, and rich all at once.”

Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale with Atomic Fireballs

Mike says: “Nosferatu is a bold beer with aggressive flavors. In order to have any pairing stand up to those flavors, it needs to be equally as bold. This is where the Atomic Fireballs come in. The heat and spice of the cinnamon extinguish the sharp bitterness in Nosferatu’s finish, and allow for the sweetness of the malt to shine through. Upon first sip, neither the bitterness of the beer or the heat from the candy are present, but that brief moment is quickly overtaken by cinnamon heat and invites you to take another sip to extinguish it once again.”    

Other recommendations:
Dortmunder Gold Lager with Orange Starbursts
Burning River Pale Ale with Strawberry Nerds
Edmund Fitzgerald Porter with Tootsie Rolls
Turntable Pils with Sweet Tarts

Words by Adam Ritterspach

By Adam Ritterspach

It’s a humid day in July and two pints, already glistening with condensation, have just been placed at my table. Mike Buckley picks his glass up. “Beer is a living thing,” he says before taking a sip of his Commodore Perry IPA. “It changes if it isn’t properly taken care of”. Buckley would know. Serving as Field Quality Specialist, he helps ensure GLBC is enjoyed fresh by executing quality control and educating retailers and beer fans across the entire GLBC distribution footprint. But how much does beer change, really? Does drinking a beer a few days beyond its freshness date really make that big of a difference? I chatted with Mike to find out.

What do you mean ‘beer is a living thing’?
Well, it doesn’t have a heartbeat or anything, but there are constant, ongoing chemical reactions happening in a beer that can change flavor, aroma, and appearance. These changes become more apparent as the beer gets older.

Why is that?
It all comes down to chemistry. The older a beer gets, the more susceptible it is to oxidization. As a beer oxidizes, the flavors intended give way to less pleasant tastes. Papery, skunky, and vegetal flavors can start to appear. An unpleasant sweetness can be present, too. Hops oxidize quickly and can lead to some real funky, cheesy flavors which is why IPAs and Pale Ales tend to have a short shelf life. Interestingly enough, darker beers tend to hold up better because of higher levels of antioxidants found in roasted barley.

Why is it important to drink my beer fresh?
Because it’s the only way to know how the brewer intended that beer to taste. Fresh beer tastes bright, crisp, and clean. Drinking old beer will not be the same experience as drinking one fresh, and the reaction someone may have to that out of date beer can lead them to unfairly judging the brewer, brewery, or retailer.

How can I ensure my beer stays as fresh as possible?
Keep it cold, keep it dark, and try to store it at a constant temperature. Light and heat both speed up the oxidization process. We think 38°F is the sweet spot for storage. A beer will age 2-3 times faster for every 10 degrees above 38°, but problems can arise if your beer is getting warm and cold and warm again. If there’s no space in your refrigerator, a dark, cool space like a basement can be an okay alternative.

But what if I go to a grocery store that is selling beer in an unrefrigerated space?
That’s the nature of the market right now, but so long as the beer has been kept out of sunlight and at a constant temperature, it will hold up OK. Just make sure you keep it cool and dark when you get it home.

What does GLBC do to ensure freshness?
Our lab monitors our beer during the entire brewing process to assist in limiting certain factors that can speed up aging. They monitor oxygen levels in each batch and determine an appropriate freshness date which is printed on the side of every bottle. Always, always check the freshness date before purchasing. We use dark bottles, wide labels, and high walls on our packaging to help protect the beer from sunlight. We’re also continuously working with our staff, retailers, and accounts to ensure they’re properly storing and serving our beer.

Is drinking beer beyond its freshness date safe?
Yes. Drinking old beer isn’t dangerous, but it may not be as pleasant. The changes in flavors and aromas are nothing more than just that: changes in flavors and aromas. It should be noted that some specialty beers, like our Rackhouse or Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout, get better with age, but I recommend drinking most beer offerings as fresh as possible.

To filter, or not to filter: that is the question. With so many beer styles showing up on shelves today, it can be confusing as to why some beers appear cloudier than others. Mark Hunger, GLBC Brewmaster, sat down to shed some light on this murky subject.

Why filter a beer?
The decision to filter is left up to the brewer, but some of it is done because of tradition. Lagers are traditionally filtered to be bright and clear. Ales, on the other hand, are not always filtered, but can be. We try to have the best of both worlds by brewing a number of different styles.

Are there different ways to filter beer? How does GLBC filter?
There are a lot of ways to filter and many breweries go about it in differently. Many of our beers, but not at all, go through a two-step filtration process. We send our beer through a centrifuge which is our coarse filtration system. The centrifuge filters out the majority of yeast and larger particulates. If we want our beer to be especially clear, the beer will go through a second round of filtering in our plate and frame filter. This filter works by pushing the beer through a series of plate filters which remove fine particulates and haze left over from the centrifuge.

How does filtering affect the flavor of the beer?
That depends on the style of the beer. Our Holy Moses White Ale, for example, is a style of beer that is meant to be unfiltered. Holy Moses is a very cloudy beer, but that’s because the yeast plays a critical role in the flavor profile. Skipping the filtering process is common for White Ales, Wheat beers, Hefeweizens, and other similar styles.

While yeast plays an important role in the flavor profile of lagers, it doesn’t typically contribute enough desired flavor once the fermentation process is complete. This is why we filter our Eliot Ness Amber Lager and Dortmunder Gold completely. Since the yeast doesn’t add much flavor after fermentation, we stick to the tradition and style guidelines of filtering the beer completely.

The amount of filtering done to hoppier beers can vary depending on the brewer’s preference. Our Steady Rollin’ Session IPA is filtered completely, but that’s because it’s a great beer for the summer months and we wanted everything about it to be clean and refreshing. Our hoppier offerings, like Chillwave Double IPA or Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA are only partially filtered because we want as much of the aromas and flavors from the hops to remain.

If I notice sediment on the bottom of my bottle, is it still safe to drink?
Absolutely. More likely than not, the sediment you are seeing is the yeast that has settled to the bottom. Yeast can hold big flavor, so I’d recommend pouring the entire bottle into a glass so that it can be mixed back into the beer. Sediment or not, we recommend serving all of our beer from the glass for the best flavor.

But what if I know my beer is filtered and I still notice sediment or haze?
Sediment, haze, or “floaties” are not uncommon in filtered beer. As beer ages, protein and other natural compounds found in the beer can solidify and coagulate together. Some styles can even take on a haze as time passes.  This is totally normal and does not affect the flavor of the beer. The tendency for sediment to develop can vary widely depending on the style and how old it is. As always, I encourage people to treat their beer like milk. Drink it as fresh as possible, keep it cold, and avoid direct light exposure as failing to do so can compromise the beer quickly.

Words by Adam Ritterspach

Apr. 22, 2016 – Cleveland, OH – Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) announces an exciting beer-infused venture: the release of two new signature BBQ sauces. Edmund Fitzgerald Porter BBQ Sauce and Dortmunder Gold Lager BBQ Sauce will be released this May, just in time for grill season.

Both all natural products made in Ohio, GLBC’s BBQ sauces are proprietary recipes inspired by the beer-infused sauces and dressings created daily at GLBC’s Cleveland brewpub.

Edmund Fitzgerald Porter BBQ Sauce, a signature at the GLBC brewpub, is spicy with roasted pepper flavors and a hot and sweet finish. The newly developed Dortmunder Gold Lager BBQ Sauce is mild and sweet with tangy tomato and subtle hickory smoke flavors.

GLBC Retail Operations Manager Jeff West says, “As part of our commitment to zero waste, we’ve used low-fill beers to create sauces and dressings for decades. We’re excited to bring a part of our pub’s tradition to even more of our customers.” The product launch will be celebrated at the Great Lakes brewpub with a special BBQ-themed menu featuring both of the signature sauces, and highlighting vendors from the historic West Side Market.

Edmund Fitzgerald Porter BBQ Sauce and Dortmunder Gold Lager BBQ Sauce will be available for purchase in 20 oz. bottles at the GLBC gift shop and at select Ohio retailers beginning May 4.

 THE GLBC BBQ RELEASE PARTY

To celebrate our new line of BBQ sauces, we’re throwing an all day BBQ celebration at our brewpub. Stop in as our grill masters fire up our brewpub menu with all-day BBQ specials like grilled BBQ chicken wings, ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and other BBQ favorites worthy of more than just one wet nap.

Throw your name into our month long raffle for BBQ summer prize packages including one grand prize GLBC grill!

Our gift shop will be open so you can be one of the first to bring home these tasty sauces to your own backyard celebration. 

THE DETAILS
Date: May 4th, 2016

Time: 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM (bar open until 12:00 AM)

Where: The GLBC Brewpub, 2516 Market Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113