Guys wearing lederhosen, 20-somethings with their dogs and folks in their 60s all mingle happily at Platform Beer’s taproom on a Saturday night. The decor is little more than exposed brick, communal tables, 10 stainless-steel fermenters and 28 beers chalked on wooden slats above the bar. And yet, here you are. “The places I like to go have some level of authenticity,” says co-owner Paul Benner. “And the people that go there appreciate it because they’re the same way.” Platform has stayed true to that mission while growing from 94 barrels in 2014 to an estimated 20,000 barrels this year thanks to its 120,000-square-foot production facility in the former Leisy Brewing Co. building. Like a mad scientist’s lab, the taproom permits Platform’s brewers to experiment with rotating sours such as the City Boy Berlinerweisse ($5 for 11 ounces) or boozy creations like Pompacious ($6 for 11 ounces), an imperial double IPA. “It’s almost hard for me to remember all the beers we have available at the tasting room,” says Benner. Our Pick: Like a kitchen sink of stouts, Cocoa Suave ($5 for 11 ounces) blends Mexican chocolate, spices, chocolate malt and cocoa nibs to create a sweet and spicy beer that drinks like Mexican hot chocolate. 4125 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, 216-202-1386, platformbeer.co
Beer Guide: Platform Beer Co.
Experimentation and authenticity have been key for Platform's rising success.
beer guide
9:00 AM EST
November 22, 2017
