by Aaron Fowler
While Northeast Ohioans may be dreading the harsh winter that lies ahead, the colder climate brings forth one of the best craft beer events of the year: Cleveland Beer Week.
From October 10 to 18, Cuyahoga County will feature hundreds of keg-tappings and festivities at more than 125 bars, restaurants and grocers throughout the city.
This year marks the sixth anniversary of this highly anticipated extravaganza of craft beer. More than 350 events are planned and include beer tastings, food pairings and dinners, limited edition tappings, leisure activities and educational programs.
As with previous years, Cleveland Beer Week includes a variety of flagship events that raise funds to support the local charity, Jimmy Malone Scholarship Program. These events include:
• “Collaboration Kickoffs” featuring local crowd-favorites (Fat Head’s, Great Lakes, Thirsty Dog) collaborating with world-renowned breweries (Oskar Blues, Brooklyn Brewery). Advance tickets for “Collaboration Kickoffs” are required at $25 per person. Included are 10-ounce samples of all collaborative beers across retail locations in one of the five select neighborhoods.
• “Ales on Rails,” a delightful ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad that includes a boxed supper and seven craft beer selections. Advance tickets are required, and attendees must be 21 years old. Tickets range from $49 to $82.
• “BREWzilla: A Monster of a Beer Tasting” is the closing night must-attend event which features 80 breweries pouring hundreds of beers including Ohio favorites, a Belgian beer garden and appetizers that pair well with great craft beer. Tickets must be purchased in advance and range from $50 to $75. Admission includes a tasting glass, 25 drink tickets and complimentary food. Designated driver tickets are also available.
Keep your eyes glued to ClevelandBeerWeek.org for constant updates to all of the week’s exciting events or stay up-to-date via the official Cleveland Beer Week app.
/ Writer Aaron Fowler is a bit of a craft beer geek. Though he may deem himself a bona fide hophead, he never passes up a well-defined stout.
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