Beer Guide to Cleveland Beer Week BREWzilla 2011

We’re lucky in Cleveland.  We have a great beer scene with a tight-knit, welcoming community of passionate beer drinkers and one of the top three beer weeks in the country.  Cleveland Beer Week 2011 continues until Saturday (10/22/11), and then it will end like every beer week before it, in a celebration and grand tasting at the Galleria called BREWzilla.  In the past, the various beer blogs in the area have featured previews and ‘can’t miss’ lists of the best beers pouring at the grand-daddy of all beer tastings, but this year we wanted to consolidate.  So, I teamed up with Bobby of Bobby Likes Beer to offer this list – our picks for the best beers at BREWzilla.  This list came about by both of us ranking our beers and then cross referencing them against each others list.  We both hope you find our information useful and we hope to see you at BREWzilla!  Cheers!


Brad Says: I've attended my fair share of craft beer events over the past year and each time I go to an event I go in with a plan.   What I mean by a plan is that I look over the beer offerings very carefully and plan out ahead of time what Beers I must try.  Today I'm going to come up with a few lists for you and hopefully these lists can guide you around BREWzilla.

Bobby Says: This year’s BREWzilla promises to be the best one yet, with some outstanding beers.  I totally agree with Brad that a plan helps, so pick the handful of beers you have to try.  Then you can explore - perhaps my favorite part of any festival – and try some new-to-you beers you come across.

If are you are attending with a Brewer's Circle pass (now sold-out!), most of the options in there are "can't miss", but there are a few notable standouts:

Brad’s Picks for the Brewer’s Circle:

1. Ommegang: Barrel Aged Adoration
2. Victory: Coffee Brown Ale
3. North Coast: 2006 Old Stock Ale
4. Stone: 2006, 2007, 2008 Imperial Stouts

Bobby’s Picks for the Brewer’s Circle:

1. Great Lakes: Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Out Stout
2. Bells: Oracle
3. Goose Island Minx
4. Smuttynose: 2005 Wheat Wine

The General Admission Beer list this year is staggering.   In fact, for someone who doesn't regularly attend beer events it can even be intimidating.  We looked over the massive list and created two sub lists that you might find helpful in planning your night at BREWzilla.

Brad Says: These Brews all represent something pretty special.  These beers are either rare to Cleveland, or simply a beer that is at the top of the class.  These are ones that I won't miss out on!

Bobby Says: We’re lucky to have so many awesome options for the general admission part of the event!  I’m thrilled to see some favorites and some beers I’ve always wanted to try on the list!

Brad’s Top-Tier Picks for the General Admission Beer List:

1. Columbus: Bohdi Double IPA
2. Sierra Nevada: Bourbon Barrel Aged Fritz & Ken
3. Stone: Double Bastard 2010 Vintage
4. Troegs: Perpetual Pale Ale
5. Bell's: 2010 Expedition Stout
6. Rivertown: Bourbon Barrel Aged Hop Bomber
7. Hoppin' Frog: DORIS Double Imperial Stout

Bobby’s Top-Tier Picks for the General Admission Beer List:

1. Founders Harvest Ale
2. Sierra Nevada: 2x4 Belgian Ale
3. Rivertown: Lambic
4. Brew Kettle: Bourbon Barrel Aged Jack Hammer Barleywine
5. Southern Tier: I-90 Pale Ale
6. North Peak: Hooligan Hoppy Pumpkin
7. Epic: Big Bad Baptist

Finally, we selected another group of beers that we’re looking forward to trying, but we also won’t mind if we miss! These beers are every bit as good as the rest of the lists, but they’re a bit more available or they’re something we’ve had before.

Brad Says: Although there are a few that are rare to our area, most beers on this list can be found around town either on draft or in bottles if you don't get a chance to have them during BREWzilla.

Bobby Says: While I like ‘rare’ beers, I also think we have so many great year-round options in this state that we are truly lucky.  If you haven’t tried something on this list or you’re just getting started in craft beer, BREWzilla could be a great opportunity to have a beer revelation!

Brad’s Honorable Mentions for the General Admission Beer List:

1. Three Floyds Alpha King
2. Founders Breakfast Stout
3. Fat Heads Head Hunter IPA
4. Chardon Brew Works Pride of Geauga Maple Porter
5. Hoppin' Frog Frogs Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale
6. North Coast Old Rasputin

Bobby’s Honorable Mentions for the General Admission Beer List:

1. The Brew Kettle White Rajah IPA
2. Buckeye Cleveland Beer Week 2011
3. Willoughby Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter
4. Three Floyds Pride and Joy 
5. Green Flash: 30th Street Pale
6. Southern Tier  Pumpking
7. Victory Headwaters

Whatever you choose, BREWzilla is one of the best beer tasting events anywhere.  We’re lucky to have such a great community in Cleveland, and I’m glad my good friend Bobby at Bobby Likes Beer is a part of it.  Hope to see you at Brewzilla – get your tickets now so you don’t miss out!  Cheers!!

If you need more information please seek out Bobby or myself at:

Twitter: @CleFoodAndBrews

Twitter: @BobbyLikesBeer