CLEVELAND — Beer lovers love BrewDog because of its brash, high-spirited brews, which have propelled the once-small Scottish upstart into one of the fastest growing breweries in the world.
But you don't have to love – or even like – beer to enjoy the brand’s latest brewery, which opened its doors in Cleveland two weeks ago.
Located on the Scranton Peninsula in the Flats, the brewery unfolds over 10,000 drama-filled square feet. What was a cold, stark, neglected warehouse space is now a visually appealing, comfortable and spacious brewpub.
There is plenty of seating throughout – in cozy couch-filled nooks, at communal high tops, at the hopping bar, and around a blazing fire. Those seating options expand considerably outdoors, where a sprawling riverside patio with killer city views more than doubles the bar’s total occupancy.
The Cleveland location is the Scotland-based brewery's ninth in the States, joining approximately 100 spots worldwide that include bars, brewpubs and even hotels.
"It's a great town," manager Brooke Walton says of Cleveland. "It's a lot of down to earth people who love great beer, and we wanted to be a part of that, especially in this area, and be a part of the revitalization down here."
For the time being, all of the house beer is coming from the Canal Winchester, Ohio brewery, but visitors will observe a smaller, prominently displayed brewhouse in the main room that will be used to produce distinctive small-batch brews. A large selection of BrewDog classics – like Punk IPA, Hellcat and Elvis Juice – will be joined by local and regional beers for a total of 28 taps.
A full kitchen is preparing "farm to table junk food" like giant soft pretzels, loaded fries, wood-fired pizzas, burgers, tacos, salads and bowls. The brewpub strives to offer at least 50% vegan and/or vegetarian options.
For those looking to pick up some suds to go, there's a retail section for carry-out beer and merchandise. You can learn more about them and check out the menu here.