Archive Site: Beer Outisde of Pittsburgh
Great Lakes Brewpub (Cleveland)
As painful as it is for a Pittsburgher to admit, Cleveland is the site of one of the countries great brewpubs, the Great Lakes Brewery. Great Lakes brews fine beers from all three of the world's great beer cuisines: German, British, and Belgian.
Great Lakes bottles about half a dozen or so varieties, including Burning River Pale Ale, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Commodore Perry IPA, and the Elliot Ness lager. They also have other varities on draft. The last time I was there, they had a very nice Belgian White and a Belgian Ale. For more information, see The Great Lakes Brewery Web Page.
They are located in the market area of town (about a five minute drive from Jacob's Field) and are open 7 days a week.
Victory Brewing Company
The Victory Brewing Company is located near Philadelphia, in Downington. They produce several beers, including the wonderfully hoppy Hop Devil India Pale Ale. They also feature some nice pizzas and other food on the menu.
Stoudt's Brewing Company
Stoudt's is located in Adamstown, PA, which is a couple of exits west of Philadelphia on the turnpike. They are only about a mile and half from the pike and well worth the stop. The menu features both German food and burgers and the beer menu is outstanding. They brew German, English, and Belgian beers (their Abbey Trippel is outstading and often available at The Sharp Edge). The bar itself is also interesting, featuring a nice wooden bar and room full of classic decorative beer steins.
West Virginia Brewing Company
The West Virginia Brewing Company is located in Morgantown at 1291 University Avenue. The have a nice variety of beers--pale ales, lagers, stouts, and so forth.
Sunset Grill and Tap
Ever go to Boston? The Sunset Grill and Tap is the best beer/food bar we've ever been to. Just outside of downtown in Allston, it is a big student hangout, but it's huge, with a huge menu and something like 500 different beers/ciders in bottles and 105 on tap. Like all restaurants and bars in Massachusetts, it's non-smoking.