“I’m really excited to be back into it,” says Malz. “I do enjoy making beer. It’s a hobby that makes me happy.”
Malz’s partner in the project is Ozimba Anyangwe. The two met while working as chemists for the Cleveland Division of Water.
“After years of brewing together in a garage, perfecting recipes, and sharing our creations with friends, we decided to bring our vision to life in Cleveland’s vibrant Collinwood district,” say the “two friends” behind Two Friends.
The brewery is located next door to The Standard in a space that was previously home to the Cleveland Brewery. But the new tenants expanded into the adjoining space to create a spacious 100-seat bar.
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Malz is brewing on a 3-barrel system along with a collection of 1-barrel fermenters. From those the beer moves to bright tanks and then straight into kegs. Two Friends will also can and bottle beers for retail sales. The plan is to sell most of the beer on premises as opposed to distribution, pledges Malz.
“We want to be a neighborhood brewery,” he notes.
Beer lovers can look forward to a wide variety of beers, including pilsners, kölsches, stouts, pale ales, IPAs and seasonals. Fans of Portside’s exceptional 216 Pale Ale can expect a similar concoction, says Malz.
The brewery will not sell food but rather rely on food trucks and neighborhood restaurants. It will be open Tuesday through Saturday evenings, with longer hours on the weekends.
Beer fans don’t have to wait until the brewery officially opens to try the beer; Two Friends will be pouring a selection of brews at this year’s Winter Warmer Fest on Saturday, March 1 at Windows on the River.
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