Beer Guide: Masthead Brewing Co.

Founder and head brewer Mike Pelechaty knows that bold stories make history. So he named his brewery after The Cleveland Advertiser’s audacious move to drop the “a” from city founder Moses Cleaveland’s name when it didn’t fit on the newspaper’s masthead.

“The fact that the name stayed today just speaks to the philosophy of uncharted waters,” Pelechaty says. Last winter, he opened a brewery on a lesser-trafficked downtown block in a 16,000-square-foot former car dealership with bell columns and sandblasted brick walls. Pelechaty nixed servers in favor of freer over-the-bar ordering of chef-driven, wood-fired pizzas.

His 18 beers on tap, such as the 2020 GABF gold medal winning Augenblick Light Lager ($6 for 16 ounces)buck convention. That tinkering means Pelechaty discovers fresh, satisfying recipes like the Underverse Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout ($7.50 for 10 ounces), which soaks up boozy undertones and vanilla and toffee characters of the barrels. “It makes it a little silkier, a little creamier,” he says. Our Pick: A 2017 Great American Beer Festival bronze medalist, the Midwest Red IPA ($6 for 16 ounces) artfully balances hops and malt. 1261 Superior Ave., Cleveland, 216-206-6176, mastheadbrewingco.com