Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland

I’m from Ohio, and some may find it shocking that I have never seen Cleveland.

Yes, I have technically been to the city for basketball games, to row in the Head of the Cuyahoga regatta during my crew era, and once I flew out of Cleveland on my way to Ireland.

But, I have never truly been to Cleveland, to explore the city the way a city should be explored.

We went to Cleveland this past weekend for a Christmas party, and while we were there I had to stop at Great Lakes Brewing Company, a place that has been on my bucket list for years.

I grew up with Great Lakes’ Christmas Ale being a part of our holiday traditions. Before I could drink, I would watch as my crew coach would gift my dad a case of Christmas Ale for the holiday season. That case would last my dad the entire year. Even in the summer after a hot, sticky afternoon of mowing the lawn, my dad has always said that there is no better way to cool off than by sitting on the back patio to enjoy a cold, crisp Christmas Ale.

It was nothing like I had imagined… it was better.

The pub was packed full of the brewery’s cult following, throwing back buckets of Christmas Ale.

Downstairs in the cellar, we enjoyed a couple of beers while waiting for our table.

When we got to eat, we sat back, relaxed, admired the Christmas lights while enjoying the Bavarian pretzels with beer cheese and the Fitz Burger.

The best surprise of the night was discovering the Winter Fitz, one of my new favorite beers. It is the Edmund Fitzgerland porter infused with cinnamon and ginger. It tasted like a snickerdoodle in a subtle, amazing, drink-all-night kind of way.

See ya next time, Cleveland.