Whether you’re a hophead, lager lover or saison sophisticate, Goldhorn Brewery welcomes every breed of craft beer fan. “I believe [in] trying to have a broad spectrum of different flavors on draft at the same time,” says head brewer Joel Warger. Part of Hub 55, the new St. Clair Superior neighborhood spot opened in July with an eight-barrel brewhouse that produces approximately 1,500 barrels a year. It lets Warger experiment while also putting out stellar European and American classics. “We’re not trying to reinvent beer,” he says. “No matter what your favorite kind is, you can find something you’ll like. The beer will speak for itself.” Here’s what we’ll be drinking this month.
Fire Plug Pale Ale: For this aptly named pale ale ($5 for 16 ounces, $3 for 10 ounces), Warger uses the piney, citrusy notes of Azacca and Chinook hops to create a brew with a campfire kick of smoked malts. The Fire Plug is Warger’s understated take on a rauchbier, a pungent, smoky style that generally uses a much higher percentage of smoked malts, which he loves but many find abrasive. “I just put a little hint of the smoked malts in there so it’s not overwhelming,” he says.
Numbered Street Wheat: Warger directs fans of Blue Moon and German wheat beers — his favorite style — to the Numbered Street Wheat, the name is a shoutout to Goldhorn’s ordinal-address home base. The hefeweizen ($5 for 16 ounces, $3 for 10 ounces) uses Vanguard hops but owes its distinctive, cloudy appearance and fruity aroma of banana and cloves to yeast. “It’s got a lot of common, pleasant flavors that people would recognize and enjoy in what they’re drinking,” says Warger.
Polka City Pilsner: Warger pays homage to the neighborhood’s Eastern European roots with this classic pilsner ($5 for 16 ounces, $3 for 10 ounces). The crisp, clean lager features Styrian Golding Hops grown in Slovenia — a refreshing and appropriate sip for out-of-breath patrons coming from polka nights at Sterle’s Country House, Goldhorn’s next-door neighbor. “It’s a throwback to that era of Cleveland’s history,” he says. “We’re hoping to be the start of getting people more interested in the neighborhood.”
