Great Lakes Brewing Company is a Cleveland-based craft brewery with a history dating back to 1988. Founded by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, the company has grown from a local brewpub into an independent, employee-owned brewery known for beers such as Dortmunder Gold Lager, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Eliot Ness Amber Lager, Christmas Ale, and other seasonal and limited releases.
For people searching for Great Lakes Brewing Company, there is plenty to discover beyond its beer selection. The brewery has a historic Cleveland location, a popular brewpub, brewery tours, educational experiences, seasonal releases, and a strong connection to the region. This guide covers its history, famous beers, brewpub, tours, distribution, and what visitors can expect.
What Is Great Lakes Brewing Company?
Great Lakes Brewing Company, commonly called GLBC, is a craft brewery based in Cleveland, Ohio. The brewery opened its brewpub in Ohio City in 1988 and describes itself as Ohio’s original craft brewery.
The company was founded by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway at a time when Cleveland had lost much of its brewing industry. Their goal was to create an independent brewery that could bring distinctive craft beer back to their home city and state.
Over the years, Great Lakes Brewing Company expanded its brewing operations, developed a larger beer portfolio, and began distributing its products outside Cleveland. The company remains independent and has been employee-owned since 2018.
Today, GLBC produces year-round beers, seasonal favorites, limited releases, and beers available specifically through its brewpub.
Where Is Great Lakes Brewing Company Located?
The Great Lakes Brewing Company brewpub is located in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. The location is an important part of the company’s identity because the brewery began there and continues to operate its brewpub in the historic area.
The brewpub combines dining, beer, history, and social spaces. Visitors can enjoy rotating beers alongside a food menu featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
The brewery’s campus also contains historic structures connected with Cleveland’s brewing past. This makes a visit about more than simply ordering a beer—it can also be an opportunity to learn about the city’s brewing heritage.
Great Lakes Brewing Company History
The story of Great Lakes Brewing Company begins in the 1980s, when Patrick and Daniel Conway started developing their brewery concept in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood.
The brewpub officially opened in 1988. From the beginning, the company focused on independent craft brewing and building a strong connection with its local community.
1988: The Brewpub Opens
In 1988, the Conway brothers opened the Great Lakes Brewing Company brewpub in Ohio City.
This became the foundation for the company and eventually grew into a larger brewing operation.
1990: Dortmunder Gold Wins Gold
One of the company’s early milestones came in 1990 when Dortmunder Gold Lager, originally called The Heisman, won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival.
The brewery also expanded its production capabilities around this period, helping it move beyond a local brewpub operation and into regional distribution.
1992: Christmas Ale Arrives
Christmas Ale debuted at the brewpub in 1992. It became one of Great Lakes Brewing Company’s best-known seasonal beers and an important part of its yearly beer calendar.
Expansion and Regional Growth
During the 1990s and 2000s, GLBC continued expanding production and distribution. The brewery also became involved in community initiatives, including projects connected to local agriculture and clean-water efforts.
The company eventually surpassed 100,000 barrels of annual production and developed a pilot brewing system to support experimentation and new beer development.
2018: Employee Ownership
Another major milestone came in 2018, when Great Lakes Brewing Company established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. This made employees co-owners of the company and became an important part of its modern identity.
What Beers Is Great Lakes Brewing Company Known For?
One of the biggest reasons people search for Great Lakes Brewing Company is to learn about its beers.
The brewery produces several styles, including lagers, porters, IPAs, seasonal beers, and limited releases. Its long-running beers have become closely associated with Cleveland craft brewing.
Dortmunder Gold Lager
Dortmunder Gold Lager is one of the brewery’s signature beers and one of its earliest successes.
It is a Dortmunder-style lager with a balanced malt character and dry hop flavors. Great Lakes Brewing Company lists it at 5.8% ABV and describes it as an award-winning beer crafted in Cleveland since 1988.
Its history is particularly important because the beer won Great Lakes Brewing Company’s first Great American Beer Festival gold medal in 1990.
Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is another iconic GLBC beer.
The beer was created in memory of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior in 1975. The porter has rich roasted barley character with bittersweet chocolate and coffee notes.
The brewery currently lists the beer at 6.0% ABV.
Its name also reflects the brewery’s close relationship with Great Lakes culture and Cleveland’s maritime history.
Eliot Ness Amber Lager
Eliot Ness Amber Lager is another longtime Great Lakes beer.
The brewery describes it as a smooth and malty amber lager. It is named after Eliot Ness, the famous Prohibition-era law enforcement official who later became Cleveland’s Director of Public Safety.
The current Great Lakes Variety Pack lists Eliot Ness Amber Lager at 6.1% ABV.
Christmas Ale
Christmas Ale is one of Great Lakes Brewing Company’s best-known seasonal beers.
It debuted in 1992 and has become an annual part of the brewery’s seasonal lineup. Its return each year has become a familiar sign of the winter beer season for many GLBC fans.
Midwest IPA
Midwest IPA is part of the brewery’s year-round lineup and represents GLBC’s approach to the IPA style.
The current brewery listing gives Midwest IPA an ABV of 7.0% and describes it as having a noticeable hop character followed by a mild finish.
Hazecraft IPA
Hazecraft IPA is another year-round beer highlighted by Great Lakes Brewing Company.
The brewery lists Hazecraft among its current year-round favorites alongside Dortmunder Gold Lager.
What Is in the Great Lakes Variety Pack?
For people who want to sample several classic GLBC beers, the brewery introduced a year-round variety 12-pack in 2026.
The pack contains three cans each of:
- Dortmunder Gold Lager
- Midwest IPA
- Eliot Ness Amber Lager
- Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
The brewery describes the pack as a collection of its classic core beers. Each can is 12 ounces.
This type of variety pack can be useful for someone who is new to Great Lakes Brewing Company because it provides several different beer styles in one package.
What Is the Great Lakes Brewing Company Brewpub Like?
The GLBC brewpub is one of the most important parts of the company’s visitor experience.
Located in Ohio City, the brewpub combines beer with a food-focused restaurant environment. Its menu includes bar snacks, small plates, and larger meals featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
The brewpub also offers several different spaces, including:
- A tree-lined outdoor patio
- An indoor-outdoor beer garden
- A beer cellar
- Indoor dining areas
- Rotating beer selections
- Pub-exclusive beers
- A brewery gift shop
The brewery also operates a loyalty program through its brewpub, allowing customers to earn rewards based on spending.
For visitors who want a complete Great Lakes experience, the brewpub can be combined with a brewery tour or another educational activity.
Does Great Lakes Brewing Company Offer Brewery Tours?
Yes. Great Lakes Brewing Company offers brewery tours that take visitors behind the scenes.
A public brewery tour provides an introduction to GLBC’s history and brewing process before taking guests into the production facility. Visitors can learn about brewing, cellaring, and packaging while seeing parts of the operation that aren’t visible from the restaurant.
The brewery also offers other experiences, including:
- Public brewery tours
- Cleveland Brewing History Tours
- Guided tasting experiences
- VIP brewery experiences
- Beer 101 Hop College classes
- Private tours
- Seasonal or special history experiences
Tour details, prices, schedules, and sample offerings can change, so visitors should check the brewery’s current information before planning a visit.
What Happens on a Great Lakes Brewery Tour?
A typical public brewery tour lasts about an hour.
The experience begins in the Beer Symposium before moving into the production facility. Guests learn about Great Lakes Brewing Company’s history and get an inside look at how its beer is brewed, stored, and packaged.
For eligible adult participants, beer samples are included with the tour.
Visitors should also pay attention to the brewery’s safety requirements. The brewery states that guests touring the production facility must wear closed-toe shoes. The historic buildings can also have narrow spaces and multiple stairways, while production areas may be hot and loud.
What Are Cleveland Brewing History Tours?
The Cleveland Brewing History Tour focuses more heavily on the city’s brewing heritage.
Instead of simply explaining how modern beer is produced, the experience explores the historic buildings on the Great Lakes Brewing Company campus and their connection to Cleveland’s brewing past.
The tour discusses historic taverns associated with the brewpub and the former Schlather Brewing Company facilities that now house parts of the GLBC production operation.
For someone interested in both Cleveland history and beer, this provides a different perspective on the brewery.
Can You Visit Great Lakes Brewing Company Without Drinking Beer?
Yes. Great Lakes Brewing Company provides non-drinking tour options.
The brewery states that guests under 21 may attend tours when accompanied by an adult, but they cannot consume alcohol. Non-drinking ticket options are available for eligible tours.
This means a visitor can experience the history and brewing process without participating in beer sampling.
However, identification requirements apply to alcohol consumption and purchase, so visitors should review the current rules before attending.
Where Can You Buy Great Lakes Brewing Company Beer?
Great Lakes Brewing Company distributes its beers outside Cleveland and across multiple markets.
The brewery says it currently serves 14 states and Washington, D.C. through its distribution network.
Because beer availability can vary by location, the best way to find a specific GLBC beer is to use the brewery’s current beer-finding resources or check local retailers.
Availability may differ depending on the beer, season, state, and individual retailer.
Why Is Great Lakes Brewing Company Important to Cleveland?
Great Lakes Brewing Company has a strong connection to Cleveland because its story is rooted in the city.
The brewery opened in Ohio City in 1988 and continued developing its production facilities in historic Cleveland buildings. Its beers also frequently reflect regional subjects, from the Great Lakes themselves to Cleveland history and local culture.
The company’s community involvement has also included clean-water initiatives and local farming projects. These activities have helped connect the brewery to broader environmental and community efforts in Northeast Ohio.
Great Lakes Brewing Company and Great Lakes Culture
The brewery’s name is not accidental. Great Lakes culture is woven into several parts of its identity.
Cleveland sits on the southern shore of Lake Erie, and the Great Lakes have played an important role in the region’s transportation, industry, tourism, and history.
Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is one obvious example of the connection. Its name references a famous Great Lakes shipwreck, while other brewery projects and events have highlighted regional water and environmental issues.
This connection gives GLBC a distinctly Cleveland and Great Lakes character rather than making it simply another national craft beer brand.
Great Lakes Brewing Company Employee Ownership
Great Lakes Brewing Company became employee-owned in 2018 through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
Employee ownership means eligible employees can have an ownership interest in the company. GLBC presents this structure as part of its continuing independent identity.
For customers interested in the story behind the brewery, this is an important part of understanding how the company has evolved since its founding.
Great Lakes Brewing Company in 2026
Great Lakes Brewing Company continues to maintain its established beer lineup while introducing new products and experiences.
In May 2026, the company introduced its Great Lakes Year-Round Variety Pack, bringing together four of its classic beers: Dortmunder Gold Lager, Midwest IPA, Eliot Ness Amber Lager, and Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.
The brewery also continues offering tours, tastings, educational programs, seasonal beers, pub-exclusive releases, and special experiences.
Its current operations therefore combine its historic Cleveland identity with ongoing experimentation and new product development.
Frequently Asked Questions About Great Lakes Brewing Company
When was Great Lakes Brewing Company founded?
Great Lakes Brewing Company was founded in Cleveland in 1988 by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway. Its brewpub opened in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood.
Who owns Great Lakes Brewing Company?
Great Lakes Brewing Company remains independent and became employee-owned in 2018 through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
What is Great Lakes Brewing Company known for?
The brewery is particularly associated with Dortmunder Gold Lager, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Eliot Ness Amber Lager, Christmas Ale, and other year-round and seasonal beers.
What is the most famous Great Lakes Brewing Company beer?
Great Lakes has several highly recognizable beers rather than a single beer representing the entire brewery. Dortmunder Gold, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Eliot Ness Amber Lager, and Christmas Ale are among its most established names.
Where is Great Lakes Brewing Company?
The company’s brewpub and brewing campus are located in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood.
Does Great Lakes Brewing Company have a restaurant?
Yes. Its Ohio City brewpub serves beer along with snacks, small plates, and larger meals featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
Can you tour Great Lakes Brewing Company?
Yes. The brewery offers public tours, Cleveland brewing history tours, guided tastings, educational classes, and other experiences.
How long is the Great Lakes brewery tour?
The standard public brewery tour lasts approximately 60 minutes. The brewery’s other experiences may have different durations.
Does the brewery offer non-alcoholic tour options?
Yes. Non-drinking tickets are available for eligible brewery tours, allowing guests to participate without consuming beer.
Is Great Lakes Brewing Company employee-owned?
Yes. The brewery established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in 2018, making its employees co-owners.
Final Thoughts
Great Lakes Brewing Company has grown from a Cleveland brewpub founded in 1988 into an established independent, employee-owned craft brewery. Its identity is closely tied to Ohio City, Cleveland history, Great Lakes culture, and a portfolio of beers that includes Dortmunder Gold Lager, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Eliot Ness Amber Lager, Christmas Ale, Midwest IPA, and other seasonal and limited releases.
For visitors, the experience goes beyond the beer itself. The Ohio City brewpub offers food, outdoor spaces, rotating beers, and historic surroundings, while brewery tours provide a closer look at the brewing process and Cleveland’s brewing heritage.
For beer enthusiasts, history fans, Cleveland visitors, and anyone curious about one of Ohio’s established craft breweries, Great Lakes Brewing Company offers several ways to explore its story—from a classic pint to a brewery tour and a visit to its historic brewpub.
Hi, I’m Henry Ashford, a writer with a lifelong interest in lakes, landscapes, and the natural environment. I love exploring how lakes influence wildlife, local communities, tourism, and history. My goal is to create informative content that encourages readers to appreciate and protect freshwater environments.
Every article I write is based on careful research and presented in a straightforward, engaging style that makes learning enjoyable.
Books I’ve Written:
- Discovering the World’s Great Lakes
- Freshwater Landscapes: Stories from Around the Globe
Charlotte Pembroke