ballatine
No. of beers: 29 drafts, 50 bottles Most exclusive: Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes Douze 750 milliliter ($28) CHEAPEST Beer: Great Divide Denver Pale Ale ($4.25) Best feature: Ballantine does two monthlong beer tours a year. This month's IPAlooza features exclusive IPAs that are first runs from new breweries or aren't available year-round. Why we go: The bar's warm, metropolitan atmosphere melds into eclectic downtown Willoughby, and the fact that 17 of its 29 drafts rotate every three weeks means we're pleasantly surprised every time we walk in. 4113 Erie St., Willoughby, 440-942-5151, ballantinewilloughby.com
buckeye beer engine
No. of beers: 227 drafts, 300 bottles, 10 cans Most exclusive: Buckeye Brewing Co. Hippie IPA ($4.75) CHEAPEST Beer: Pabst Blue Ribbon ($2.50) Best feature: Of the 27 drafts, two handles are always cask-conditioned beers such as Heavy Seas Pale Ale. "Drinking these beers is much like drinking beer directly from the brewery right out of the fermentation tanks," says general manager Michael Frohlich. Why we go: The rotating beer list also includes aged beers such as the bourbon-barrel aged Weyerbacher Heresy that keeps us and our pint glasses at the ready. 15315 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-226-2337, buckeyebeerengine.com
flip side
No. of beers: 14 drafts, 65 bottles, 15 cans Most exclusive: Rockmill Brewery Saison ($26) CHEAPEST Beer: Genesee Cream Ale ($2.50) Best feature: There are always four or five Buckeye State-brewed beers available on draft, according to Flip Side's beer guru and beverage manager Joey Griesing. "We think it's important to support the local breweries and people doing good stuff around home," he says. Why we go: The burgers are a big draw, of course, but Flip Side also has craft-brew favorites Bell's Two Hearted Ale, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and New Holland Dragon's Milk on tap all the time. 49 Village Way, Hudson, 330-655-3547, flipsideburger.com
grovewood tavern and wine bar
No. of beers: 5 drafts, 125 bottles Most exclusive: McChouffe Artisinal Belgian Brown Ale ($22) CHEAPEST Beer: Bass Ale ($3.75) Best feature: Look for themed beer dinners every other month (the next is Feb. 18), with multiple courses paired with beers. Why we go: Belgian beers dominate a choice list of European imports, while the microbrew selection ranges adventurously from the Midwest to California. 17105 Grovewood Ave., Cleveland, 216-531-4900, grovewoodtavern.com
la cave du vin
No. of beers: 6 drafts, 220-240 bottles, 12 cans Most exclusive: Cantillon Belgian Lambic ($35) CHEAPEST Beer: Founders Centennial IPA ($3.50) Best feature: La Cave's bottled beers are housed in an illuminated, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling cooler. "People like to be able to go over and check it out rather than just ordering off of a list," says co-owner Erich Lasher. Why we go: Though the bar's name translates into "the wine cellar," the staff is just as knowledgeable about beer and can help you find a brew to enjoy in its '40s European atmosphere. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-6411, lacaveduvin.com
McNulty's bier markt
No. of beers: 30 drafts, 80 bottles, 15 cans Most exclusive: Deus Biere de Champagne 750 milliliter ($48) CHEAPEST Beer: Oranjeboom ($3) Best feature: "The clothes make the person; the glassware makes the beer," says beer program director Patrick Daniel. The bar has a branded glass to go with nearly every beer it serves. Why we go: Walking into the bar, we can't help but be transported to a European beer palace, and the draft list is of full of Belgian imports and Belgian-inspired-but-American-brewed beers such as those from Ommegang. 1948 W. 25th St., Cleveland, 216-274-1010, bier-markt.com
Melt
No. of beers: 36 drafts, 170 bottles, 8 cans Most exclusive: Rodenbach Grand Cru 750 milliliter ($16.75) CHEAPEST Beer: Melt City Light ($3) Best feature: The Cleveland Heights' location always has Colorado-based Breckenridge Brewery's 471 Small Batch IPA. This double IPA weighs in with a hefty alcohol content of 9.2 percent — perfect for washing down those grilled cheeses. Why we go: It's always good to know that a neighborhood bar like this one has nine taps dedicated to Belgian-style imports and two nitro lines to quench Guinness and Left Hand Milk Stout cravings. 13463 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-965-0988, meltbarandgrilled.com
tremont tap house
No. of beers: 48 drafts, 36 bottles, 40 cans Most exclusive: Bee Nektar Sleeping Giant 750 milliliter ($19) CHEAPEST Beer: Stroh's ($3.50) Best feature: The Tap House breaks its 48 drafts, or handles, into four sets of 12: The first set is a mix of craft styles, the second set is dedicated to hoppy beers, the third is for seasonals and stouts or amber ales and the final set is for imports. Why we go: This is a palace to beer. You're sure to find something to suit your crown on its huge draft list. But when we can't decide, the draft sampler nets four, 4-ounce tastes for $10. 2572 Scranton Road, Cleveland, 216-298-4451, tremonttaphouse.com
xyz the tavern
No. of beers: 24 drafts, 20 bottles, 8 cans Most exclusive: Brooklyn Black Ops 22 ounce ($28) CHEAPEST Beer: Babik Pilsner ($3) Best feature: XYZ will occasionally hold one draft line for special one-keg-only occasions, like it did earlier this year with Zombie Dust, an IPA by Three Floyds that was tapped out in one day. Why we go: We love the friendly, neighborhood vibe and the fact that one of the bar's two nitrogen taps is always reserved for Left Hand Brewing Co.'s Milk Stout, which turns an already great beer into a big, tasty milkshake of a pour. 6419 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-706-1104, xyzthetavern.com
Lizardville
No. of beers: 8 drafts, 700 bottles, 40 cans Most exclusive: Brouwerij Bosteels Deus Brut des Flanders 750 milliliter ($31.99) Cheapest
beer: Alltech Kentucky Light ($1.89) Best feature: Lizardville's 700 bottles and 40 cans are on shelves that take up a good portion of the bar's walls. Nearly every beer has a placard detailing the style and alcohol content. Just grab a brew and hand it to a bartender. It will quickly be chilled and brought over to you. Why we go: As if drinking in the presence of the walls of beer wasn't enough, the knowledgeable staff and saloon feel — rest your beer on a bourbon barrel while talking to cohorts — has drawn us in over and over. 25380 Miles Road, Bedford Heights, 216-364-2337, lizardville.net
