CLEVELAND, Ohio - Great Lakes Brewing Co. served up the first tastes of Christmas Ale on Thursday at its First Pour bash. The annual party is the unofficial start to the holiday season. The line wrapped around the corner along Carroll Avenue more than an hour before doors opened. Ivan Zambrano of Mansfield got up about 4:30 a.m. to drive to the brewpub and was first in line. “We have been talking about doing this for 10 years,” he said. Jim and Valerie Schmitz of Columbia Station won the brewery’s annual contest and were awarded the first pour.
Once again, the festive occasion has moved us to pen a few verses. Happy Christmas Ale Day, everyone:
Gather 'round and hear a tale
Of Cleveland's famed Christmas Ale
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As if we need a reason
Today begins the holiday season
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Christmas Ale is from a place called Great Lakes
One of many ales the Ohio City brewery makes
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A line forms after the sun rears its head
Sippers get up early, losers stay in bed
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Have one too many and you'll start to giggle
A barrel-aged version was made with Whiskey called Wigle
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At the First Pour bash servers are equipped with special beer powers
A pint is poured every five seconds for 12 straight hours
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Pint after pint it's seasoned so nice
Just the right flavor, just the right spice
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Brewers use 6,640 pounds of ginger, a flavorful root
The brewery likes organic ingredients, gives others the boot
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Cinnamon comes in the same number of pounds
Its flavors zing your palate by leaps and bounds
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Almost 200,000 pounds of honey come from that northern state
All for this Cleveland drinkers wait
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So thank you, Michigan, for your sweet touch
We like your honey - your football team, not so much
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The brewery likes to say it pairs with "roast duck, spiced desserts and ugly Christmas sweaters"
With a holiday meal, what could be better?
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Santa brings the ceremonial keg amid a few cheers
It never gets old, after all these years
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Things you can count on from lovers of beer:
Some will cry 'It tastes different this year'
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The ale has been around since 1992
Brewed with the same recipe, tried and true
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It's not too strong in alcohol, at 7.5 percent
But sip don't chug, or you'll get bent
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The day is a party, festive attire, Brewnuts galore
Jim and Valerie Schmitz of Columbia Station raised the First Pour
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Yule logs for sale, holiday tunes spin 'round
Beer lovers pack the pub, pound for pound
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The gods shined on the thirsty masses
Temps approached 60 before beer flowed into glasses
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The brothers Conway were on to something, they knew
As drinkers queued up on Market Avenue
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To be sure, Christmas Ale is a beer, not a hot toddy
Great Lakes folks were nice enough to bring in port-o-potties
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• It's a big seller, just a tad behind Dortmunder Gold
Nothing better when you come in from the cold
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Once a year craft-beer lovers put aside their IPAs
And sip this tasty seasonal ale on its launch day
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Enjoy the ale while you can, it lasts about eight weeks
So find a barstool and plop down your cheeks
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A bottle as an ornament? Your Christmas tree would sag
Crack a beer and use #MerryChristmasAle as your hashtag
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Soon it will be out in bottles as well as kegs
And thirsty beer drinkers will borrow and beg
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A six-pack with a bow makes for a nice gift
A fine present, an emotional lift.
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Better yet, double up for two six-packs
Twice as much beer, that's a fact
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The label is back with red balls and a green train car
If you see me out and about let's belly up to the bar
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One wets the whistle as soon as you walk in the door
As Oliver Twist once said 'Please, sir, I want some more'
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The ale says happy holidays to Cleveland in a great way
Not a bad way to start the season, wouldn't you say?
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And at Christmas dinner it comes in handy if politics cause a flap
Uncle Bob, be quiet, have an ale or shut your trap
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Thanks for putting up with our doggerel verse
Without Christmas Ale, it would have been worse
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If you like our rhymes here's a few more
Words from past years, etched in lore: (2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018)
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Our final wish we offer to you
Be safe and have fun as you sip one or two