Brick and Barrel
With seven beers on tap, along with a rotating ginger beer or locally made soda, this new brewery in the Flats has a tasting room that matches its industrial neighborhood with salvaged wood tables and local art on the walls. "It's a bit raw but also comfortable and relaxing," says brewer and owner Karl Spiesman. Drink This: Bitter Chies IPA ($5 for 16 ounces), a light copper beer with citrus and grassy notes, and a nice malty finish to balance out the bitterness.
1844 Columbus Road, Cleveland, 216-331-3308, brickandbarrelbrewing.com
The Cleveland Brewery
With dark walnut floors, a stainless steel bar and dim, relaxed lighting, the Cleveland Brewery offers four to six beers on tap in 5-ounce pours. Each beer is inspired by a place or person in Cleveland such as the Celtic Warrior, an IPA named for Irish mobster Danny Greene. "It's not a typical IPA," says co-owner and brewer John Fuduric. "It has more of a malt backbone with a hop bitterness." Drink This: The 185th Street Wheat ($2 for 5 ounces) is a German unfiltered hefeweizen with notes of banana and clove that will remind you of summer.
777 E. 185th St., Cleveland, 216-534-6992, theclevelandbrewery.com
Hoppin' Frog
While this Akron brewery has been in operation since 2006, it opened a tasting room in 2013. Inspired by Dutch-style bars with modern touches such as bold wall colors and a soundproof ceiling to lessen echo, it serves more than 22 beers — half from Hoppin' Frog and the rest from guest breweries. "It's a fresh, clean atmosphere," says founder and brewmaster Fred Karm. "We want people to feel at home and hang out." Drink This: King Gose Home ($4.19 for 8 ounces), an old German beer with a salty, slightly sour component from the salt used in the brewing process.
1680 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, 234-525-3764, hoppingfrog.com
