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The inaugural Cleveland Winter Beerfest kicked off Saturday, Jan. 31, 2014, at the Cleveland Convention Center.
(Marc Bona, The Plain Dealer)
Cleveland, Ohio -- The inaugural Cleveland Winter Beerfest kicked off the first of two sessions over two nights at the Cleveland Convention Center on Friday, Jan. 31. Here are five things to know about the fest, which continues 7:30-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1. Tickets are $45 (general admission) and $55 (VIP). The center is at 300 Lakeside Ave.
1. Beer, beer, beer
Partygoers – and the fest took on a party atmosphere almost immediately – strolled and sipped through several aisles in the center's more than 175,000 square feet of space. About 338 craft beers from 21 states representing 80 to 90 breweries are being poured. Virtually all are from American craft breweries. The cavernous space is large enough to hold a band at one end and a DJ at the other.
"It's gone smoothly," organizer Craig Johnson of Festivals Unlimited told The Plain Dealer. "You expect kinks, but there really haven't been any kinks."
Johnson said he was "ecstatic" about the center's space, and said the last two days in particular were fantastic for ticket sales.
"The break in the weather really helped," he said. "People had cabin fever."
Johnson predicted 6,500 patrons would come through the center's doors by the end of Saturday.
2. What's different?
The emphasis on this particular beer fest, and what sets it apart from many others, is draft beer. Hundreds of kegs were tapped and pouring a variety of ales. The center offers a couple of eateries on the outer edges of the fest, and $10 special-event, outdoor parking is across the street.
3. What's not to miss?
- One of the newest breweries to distribute in Ohio is in attendance. Oregon's Deschutes Brewing was pouring five of the six beers it has in the Buckeye state.
- The night's biggest seller for Cellar Rats in Madison was Re-Gifted After Christmas Ale. "We brought something fun," owner Joel Sandrey said. The ale has cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and orange peel – but no honey, so it's not sweet at all. And it's only 5.2 percent alcohol.
- Unibroue of Canada offered its popular La Fin Du Monde, but Chambly – a 5 percent fruity white beer with a slight taste of pear – was surprisingly refreshing on a cold night.
- Mountain Living Pale Ale from Crazy Mountain Brewing Co. in Vail Valley, Colo. yield a smooth, citrusy flavor that wasn't over-the-top hoppy.
4. Seen ...
Best t-shirts:
- "If you tap it, they will come."
- "I only drink beer in days that end in 'Y.' "
- "Give me Cleveland or give me death."
- "Cleveland: Still against the world."
... and heard:
- Ohio Craft Brewers Association Executive Director Mary Martineau attended, saying she was pleased with the venue. "It's fabulous," she said. "It's a great space." She was particularly impressed with a coffee stout from Main Street Grille & Brewing Co. from Garrettsville.
- An elated John Najeway from Thirsty Dog Brewery in Akron showed up. Not only was he serving and sipping beer, but he said as of Friday all of his brewery's beers are now being distributed in New York City. "I'm psyched," he said. "The dogs are running loose in New York City."
- Portside's Dan Malz took a break from getting ready to can Man O' War, his imperial India Pale Ale. Canning is Saturday for the 9.6 percent ale, which he said is the "highest alcohol canned beer in Ohio." Portside was pouring a delicious vanilla stout, which also is available at Michael Symon's B-Spot restaurants, Malz said.
5. More fests!
If you love beer fests, Festivals Unlimited is putting on a couple more within a few hours' drive. (Cleveland's is the second of four; Columbus' was held Jan. 17-18.) The Cincinnati fest is Friday-Saturday, Feb. 14-15 at Duke Energy Convention Center. Pittsburgh's follows on Feb. 28 and March 1 at David L. Lawrence Convention Center.