NEWS
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.
But of course, even the Germans made exceptions to the rule, the biggest of which was brewing with wheat. After all, enjoying a cloudy Weissbier in a sunny biergarten wouldn’t be possible without one of one of the world’s most important cereal crops. So what’s the good word on wheat, and why has it become a go-to ingredient for brewers across the world?
Wheat contains a higher level of protein compared to malted barley, the primary grain used in brewing. That protein contributes to a beer’s appearance, making it hazier, as well as a beer’s body, making it fuller. For many beer styles, such as typical American IPAs and lagers, clarity and drinkability are key, so wheat doesn’t have a home in their ingredient lists. Certain beer styles, however, have unique characteristics that wheat can provide for – and we make a number of those styles at GLBC. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
On Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day, I rolled up to Brewhouse No. 1 just after 7AM where Pub Brewer Steve Forman, Lab Tech Victoria Bonca, Marketing Events Coordinator Colleen Ashkettle, and Brewpub Manager Ashley Likavec had already grained in. Office Coordinator Darlene Lurie was on her way. “Sorry, sister,” they joked. “We started without you.” Thankfully, I’ve had the pleasure of participating in a few Pink Boots Collaboration Days during my time at Great Lakes Brewing Co., so I didn’t sweat their teasing. Pink Boots Collaboration Days are always special, and even more so when new faces, voices, and ideas are involved.
New faces, voices, and ideas are invaluable to craft beer, a world driven by new trends, flavors, and innovation. The Pink Boots Society is especially equipped to forward this mission, providing women networking, growth, and educational opportunities in a space where they unfortunately remain underrepresented—for now. A nonprofit industry organization, Pink Boots Society works to assist, inspire, and encourage women and/or non-binary individuals in the fermented/alcoholic beverage profession through education.
L to R: Darlene Lurie, Victoria Bonca, Colleen Ashkettle, Ashley Likavec, Marissa DeSantis
We hear that people “can’t be what they can’t see,” and every year around International Women’s Day, the Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day and fundraiser brings empowering visibility to women in the industry. Pink Boots Society Partners with Yakima Chief Hops to develop an exclusive hop blend, which is then sold to participating breweries (like GLBC!) with proceeds benefiting the organization. Everyone in the industry—regardless of gender—is invited to participate and craft their own special brew utilizing the proprietary hop blend.
For this year’s brew, none of our participants have “brewer” in their job title (yet) but all possess a passion for beer and brewing knowledge. “I’m glad I got my hand in it and made something I actually want to drink. I really liked the creative aspect of it. I like that I got to make it what I want,” said Victoria, who early in brew day recommended highlighting the special hop blend’s aromas by brewing a lighter style perfect for patio season, like a pilsner. This year’s hop blend features bubblegum, citrus, pine, and tropical notes (some of the crew even noted a “candy peach ring” aroma), and she preferred to play up the aromas v. leaning into bitterness.
Usually interacting with beer samples in the lab, Victoria was locked into the brewing process. “I like being very hands on. If I’m going to observe something, I’m going to treat it like something I’m going to have to do tomorrow.”
Victoria graining out
Brewpub Manager Ashley, who applies her beer knowledge daily when recommending pairings, curating beer cocktails, and answering customers’ questions, echoed a similar sentiment. “I just wanted to see the whole process come to fruition. The brainstorming, the execution, and the final product. I learn about brewing at our Hop Colleges but to be part of it is really cool.”
The women of the Pink Boots brew crew were certainly a part of it, participating in every step of the process from developing the recipe, to graining in and graining out (everyone’s favorite steamy activity), to adding hops to pitching yeast. It wasn’t lost on me that our group got to brew on the original Brewhouse No. 1, a 34 year-old original brewing system that so many beloved and storied beers were crafted on, dating back to a time when there were even fewer women were visible in the world of craft beer. As the hours wore on, the excitement, camaraderie, and positive energy surrounding this unique opportunity became infectious.
“It’s very cool to see other women so passionate about the industry. I have a little extra pep in the step today. I love it,” gushed Ashley. Victoria agreed. “It was very refreshing to work with a crew of women. Having the feminine energy around is like a breath of fresh air.” Even Steve, who’s brewed countless batches of beer in this space felt a difference. “This was a fun crew. And I realize you made me very efficient because I was very focused, talking about the process with you as we went through it.”
Darlene and Steve sniff the hop blend
While brewing together was a fun and meaningful experience for this group of GLBC women, the real fun will begin when it comes time to taste. “When we go to drink the beer it’s going to have a true meaning to it,” said Darlene. Colleen added “It made me excited to drink my beer. I feel like I’m doing my part,” then laughed, “and now I have an excuse to drink it all.” You heard it here first. If you don’t beat Colleen to the bar to taste this beer, you might be hearing, “sorry, sister!”
The Pink Boots Pils, a crisp, crushable, aromatic dry-hopped pilsner with low bitterness, is expected to tap in early May, just in time for patio season. Along with the funds donated by purchasing the hops, GLBC plans to donate an additional $1 per pint sold to the Pink Boots Society to support their mission. Stay tuned to GLBC social media for an official tapping announcement.
To learn more about Pink Boots Society, donate, or get involved, visit pinkbootssociety.org.
Marissa graining out
Words by Marissa DeSantis. Photos by Marissa DeSantis & Adam Ritterspach.
Following Crushworthy’s 2021 victory in the Colored by INX Can Design Contest, our Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat can continues to earn accolades. We are excited to share that Crushworthy has received the honor of a Platinum “Crushie” Award at the annual Craft Beer Marketing Awards, in the category of Best Packaging Design. According to the Craft Beer Marketing Awards, the Platinum Crushie is the most prestigious nomination within a regional category. Only one, the highest achieved ranking from each category in each region, receives a Platinum award.
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 Crushworthy packaging, and send our congratulations to all of our fellow winners in this year’s competition.
You can find the full winners list here, and you’ll see Crushworthy in the BEST PACKAGING / FOR CANS category.
Feeling thirsty? Use our Beer Finder to track down Crushworthy Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat and the Crushworthy Collection Variety Pack!
There’s a moment in late September Clevelanders know all too well. After months of warm and (mostly) sunny weather, a wall of dark clouds forms over Lake Erie. With it, a rush of cool air jets down from the northwest, riling up our once peaceful lake into a frenzy. The temperature drops and the sky turns grey. Pack up the beach blanket. Summer is over. The season for fun on the lake is done.
Or is it? For a small but passionate community spread across the Great Lakes, these chilly conditions can mean only one thing: surfing. While the thought of a polar plunge is enough to make some shudder, the most dedicated of Great Lakes surfers will gleefully throw on their wetsuits, grab their boards, and enter the frigid water for an adrenaline rush few can comprehend. It’s an activity so uniquely bonkers, our brewers couldn’t help but name a beer after it.
Born and raised in Mentor, OH, brothers Sam and Caleb Skelton have fully embraced the North Coast lifestyle our Chillwave Imperial IPA so colorfully depicts. Their cold water antics and frozen beards have garnered a sizable following on social media, and they’re hoping the extra attention will get more people interested in their favorite winter sport. We caught up with them at the brewpub to learn more…
GLBC: We’ve been brewing Chillwave for a while now, but the concept of surfing on Lake Erie is still hard for a lot of people to wrap their minds around.
Sam: The most common response we hear is, “you can’t surf Lake Erie.”
Caleb: Yeah, we’ll be in our wetsuits, carrying our surfboards, and people will still be like, “wait… are you going surfing?” But that’s because most people don’t go to the lake when it’s surfable. They only go when it’s nice and warm and flat and it’s good to swim or go boating.
Sam: The season is really fall, winter, and spring. September and October is when you start getting consistency.
Caleb: You can get lucky in the summer, but it’s rare.
GLBC: How did you get started surfing?
Sam: It started with me in 2004 or something? I was hanging out with friends and they started talking about lake surfing and I was like, “you can’t surf the lake,” but they were like, “yeah, you can.” And after that, my buddy and I found a surfboard in Mentor Headlands that someone was selling on Myspace. We bought it, and we started going during thunderstorms. I caught my first wave on Lake Erie in July or August that summer.
Caleb: I went with you when I was probably 14. I borrowed your board and got absolutely destroyed by a Lake Erie wave.
GLBC: I have to imagine catching your first wave on Lake Erie, rather than on an ocean, is pretty unique, even for the diehard surfers that live around here.
Caleb: Yeah, a lot of people moved here from someplace where they could surf, or they tried it while on vacation someplace.
Sam: It became my little obsession. I would skip school and stuff for it, but usually it was just a big failure. It kind of went on the backburner as something we did here and there over the years. But right before the pandemic, Caleb had really started showing an interest in surfing.
Caleb: I lived in North Carolina for a bit and was able to surf every day.
Sam: But then the pandemic hit and we had nothing to do, and we thought, “I wonder how much you can surf here.” And last year it ended up being? What? 80 or so days?
GLBC: Wow!
Caleb: Yeah, they weren’t all great days, but you were still able to get out, paddle around, and get some sun.
GLBC: You mentioned that the early days were a “big failure.” Why?
Caleb: We weren’t good at tracking storms until recently.
Sam: You have to get really familiar with meteorology. It’s a lot easier now with all of the apps out there, but we started pre-smart phones. I would look at the marine forecast, see that there’d be four to six feet waves and think “great! Let’s go!” But we wasted a lot of time not understanding how the wind direction affects everything.
Caleb: We’d go to just one beach all the time and sometimes get lucky. Now, if we’re going out, we’re most likely going to be surfing.
Sam: We have spots all along the coast of Lake Erie. It’s super rewarding. The more you go, the more you learn, and the more days you get.
GLBC: It sounds like surfing the Great Lakes is a game of patience.
Sam: The lake is funny because it’ll give you bad day after bad day for a month straight, and then it’ll give you one day where it’s warm, the sun is setting over the city, and you’re getting these crazy waves that you just can’t believe you’re surfing.
Caleb: But it’ll only be for a 30 minute window. It’ll be choppy or flat all day, and then all of the sudden there’ll be these beautiful clean waves.
Sam: It’s that moment! That’s what keeps you going out.
Caleb: You’ll be ready to go home, and then you catch a wave, and then you just want to paddle right back out to get another one.
GLBC: I’ve heard Great Lakes surfers can be a secretive bunch, but you two don’t seem that way at all.
Sam: There are so many benefits to getting people stoked on Lake Erie. People who live in the Cleveland area aren’t necessarily “lake people” even though they live so close to it.
Caleb: If we hide the spots and make it a secret, then the sport is never going to grow.
Sam: Economically, there’s a lot of potential for there to be surf tourism in Cleveland.
GLBC: And it seems like getting people to the water helps them understand why it’s important.
Caleb: And we love the lake. It’s way more valuable and way more fragile of a resource than a lot of people realize. Protecting it is such a big deal.
Sam: And we’ve seen what happens when people don’t.
GLBC: What’s your favorite memory of surfing Lake Erie?
Sam: Oh, that’s easy.
Caleb: The pandemic messed up my wedding plans twice, so my fiancée and I decided we’d get married on the beach instead. The weather had been terrible all day, but the sun came out and these waves just started rolling in.
Sam: So it’s an hour before the wedding is supposed to begin and we run back into the house to ask his fiancée like, “Please! Can we please go out?” And she was like, “yeah, for sure!”
Caleb: I’m supposed to be putting my suit on and instead I’m like, “wait, I’m gonna go catch a wave real quick.” *laughs*
Sam: I watched Caleb catch this awesome wave, and we ran back in, got showered, and man… it was just sick. I loved that day.
Chillwave Imperial IPA is available now in 16 oz. Can 4-Packs and Draft for a limited time. To locate Chillwave Imperial IPA and other GLBC beers in your area, visit our Beer Finder.
Words by Adam Ritterspach. Photos of Sam and Caleb Skelton provided by Sam Skelton. Photos of Chillwave Imperial IPA provided by Adam Ritterspach.