Yeah, Cleveland has a ton of great breweries within the city limits and in the nearby suburbs. But if you want to venture a little further out, places like Akron, Canton, Cuyahoga Falls and smaller, rural towns have breweries and taprooms serving up awesome locally crafted beer as well. Take a half day or day trip and check them out.
Two Monks Brewing Company
352 Massillon Rd., Akron
This no nonsense nanobrewery in East Akron that opened in 2016 is known for not messing around when it comes to beer. All their beers are “true to their style” with their Meancog Irish Stout as a standout. In addition to eight beers on tap, they serve light bar snacks.
Photo via Two Monks Brewing Company/FacebookPortage Lakes Brewing Company
503 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron
This Akron brewery has one of the best draught beer selections around, serving their own beer along with a strong selection of other microbrews. They don’t have a kitchen but occasionally bring in food from surrounding restaurants.
Photo via @PortageLakesBrewingCo/InstagramUniontown Brewing Company
105 West Main St., Ashland
Uniontown Brewing opened in historic downtown Ashland in 2017. They opened in a 167-year old building and made it into their taproom and restaurant, where they serve up some of the tastiest food and brews in town.
Photo via Uniontown Brewing Company/FacebookCodex Brewing
6305 Whipple Ave. NW., North Canton
In North Canton, Codex Brewing opened in October of 2020. They have nine brews on tap with plans to eventually serve food as well. Codex is a book themed brewery, having a faux Dewey Decimal-system drawer behind the bar and their on tap beers displayed on old books.
Photo via Codex Brewing/FacebookMadCap Brew Company.
1422 Mogadore Rd., Kent
With games like pinball, ski ball, cornhole, giant jenga, and other board games, this Kent brewery is one of the more fun taprooms to hang out in. No food but they have delivery menus on-hand. Bullet, an American IPA and Gold Flash, a golden ale named for the Kent State school nickname, are two standouts. MadCap has been open since 2011.
Photo via Scene ArchivesShale Brewing Company
7253 Whipple Ave. NW., North Canton
Shale Brewing Company opened their taproom in the former Scenic Brewing space in 2018 after being in downtown Canton starting in 2015. They also have another location serving up their beers and barbecue (2700 Easton St. NE.) and a coffee shop as well.
Photo via Shale Brewing Company/FacebookMissing Mountain Brewing Company
2821 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
With beautiful views of the Cuyahoga River, Missing Mountain’s patio is one of the nicer places to enjoy a cold brew in Northeast Ohio. Missing Mountain, which opened in 2018, provides Cuyahoga Falls locals and visitors with an awesome atmosphere, great beer and tasty food.
Photo via Missing Mountain Brewing Company/FacebookR. Shea Brewing
1662 Merriman Rd., Akron
Located in Akron’s Merriman Valley, this brewery, which opened in 2015, is known for the maltiness of its beers and has 12 of them on tap. The West Coast Citra IPA and Dunkelweizen, a darker wheat beer, are two of the standouts. There is a food menu as well, consisting mostly of delicious sandwiches.
Photo via R. Shea Brewing/FacebookMissing Falls Brewery
540 S. Main St. Ste. 112, Akron
In Akron, Missing Falls operates under the name of “Making Water Awesome” aka turning it into beer. They opened in 2018 and their top seller is their Golden Zip golden ale, named after the close by University of Akron.
Photo via Missing Falls Brewery/FacebookRoyal Docks Brewing Company
7162 Fulton Dr. Northwest, Canton
Royal Docks, located in Canton, opened in 2015 and is an Anglophile’s dream, fusing British pub culture with the craft brewery renaissance. Baba Yaga, their porter which is brewed with coffee beans from Kent’s Tree City Coffee and Solstice Roasters, is a highlight of their draught beer selection. They have a full restaurant menu.
Photo via @RoyalDocksBrewing/InstagramLockport Brewery
10748 Wilkshire Blvd. NE., Bolivar
Lockport Brewery is Tuscarawas County’s first brewery in over 65 years. Just south of Canton in Bolivar, Lockport opened in 2016 and has a variety of beers and also serves food at their taproom. In 2020, they opened a second location just down the street from their original spot.
Photo via Lockport Brewery/FacebookMuskellunge Brewing Company
425 Fifth St NW., Canton
Originally established in 2015, Muskellunge Brewing opened in the Canton Arts District in 2018. Their beers are inspired by nature and science, combining their love of nature in the ingredients with an artful and scientific method of brewing their delicious beers.
Photo via Muskellunge Brewing Company/FacebookPaladin Brewing
6520 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown
Paladin is a popular microbrewery in Youngstown that opened in 2015. They currently have 25 locally brewed beers on tap.
Photo via Paladin Brewing/FacebookParadigm Shift Brewery
128 North Ave. NE., Massilon
In Massillon, you can find Paradigm Shift Brewery, which opened in 2017. Paradigm is a ten-barrel system craft brewery with 12 beers on tap and a large tasting room with a relaxed atmosphere. Neighbor Girl, their Belgian Tripel, won bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival.
Photo via Paradigm Shift Brewery/FacebookMuffleheads Brewery
4931 Fitchville River Rd., Wakeman
Located in the village of Wakeman in Huron County, Muffleheads opened in 2019. There you can enjoy a laid back, country atmosphere that often has live music and dancing and has a three barrel brewery with a fast rotation of a variety of beers.
Photo via Muffleheads Brewery/FacebookMcArthur’s Brew House
2721 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
McArthur’s, which opened in 2015, is a two-barrel tasting room and nanobrewery located in Cuyahoga Falls. Their Blueberry Wheat Ale is very refreshing and the Hillside Daze Blonde Ale is another standout. They don’t serve food.
Photo via @McArthursBrewhouse/InstagramMucky Duck Brewery
4019 South Main St., Akron
This Akron brewery and restaurant that opened in 2016 has one of the more extensive beer lists around, with 14 different beers brewed in house. The Shmuckster, a lightly malted honey lager with a refreshing hint of citrus and the Muthamucka, a smooth luxurious porter infused with real cocoa and cherries are two standouts.
Photo via Mucky Duck Brewery/FacebookUnHitched Brewing Company
115 South Mill St., Louisville
In small Louisville, just southeast of Canton, UnHitched took a building from 1870 that was most recently a bowling alley that opened in 1945 and opened a brewery and restaurant. They opened in 2019 and serve delicious pizzas and other bar food in addition to their craft beer.
Photo via UnHitched Brewing Company/FacebookNorth Water Brewing
101 Crain Ave., Kent
In Kent, North Water Brewing opened in November of 2020 where they serve a new brews weekly. Their goal is to provide a relaxed environment with a commitment to the environment and sustainability and to work with the community in support of nonprofits. They also provide a venue for a mix of local musicians and artists.
Photo via North Water Brewing/FacebookLake Milton Brewery
126 Main St., Wadsworth
Lake Milton is a small town located just east of Youngstown, and there you’ll find Lake Milton Brewery, a brewery that opened in 2020. The brewery is one of a handful that have popped up in rural locales over the last few years.
Photo via Lake Milton Brewery/Facebook/a>Eighty-Three Brewery
1201 E. Market St., Akron
In Akron, Eighty-Three Brewery was established in 2019 and opened their brewery and taproom that year. They’re located in the former Goodyear headquarters and serve food and a rotating selection of beers on tap.
Photo via Eighty-Three Brewery/FacebookWadsworth Brewing Company
126 Main St., Wadsworth
This lively taproom and brewery opened in downtown Wadsworth in 2016. In addition to their 11 beers currently on tap, they also have a limited menu if you get hungry while you’re enjoying your tasty brew.
Photo via Wadsworth Brewing Company/FacebookJAFB Wooster Brewery
120 Beall Ave., Wooster
If you’re looking for a great brewery in Wooster, JAFB is the place for you. Established in 2012, they currently have 14 beers on tap. While they don’t serve food at their taproom, there’s typically a rotating group of food trucks that are parked outside from Thursday through Saturday.
Photo via JAFB Wooster Brewery/FacebookHoppin’ Frog Brewery
1680 East Waterloo Rd., Akron
One of the more popular breweries in Ohio, Hoppin’ Frog, which was founded in 2006, serves up 10 year round beers, 16 seasonals and 18 specialities, but their signature beer is their Bodacious Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout, better known as B.O.R.I.S. They have a limited food menu but everything they make is tasty.
Photo via @HoppinFrogBrewery/InstagramWadsworth Brewing Company
126 Main St., Wadsworth
This lively taproom and brewery opened in downtown Wadsworth in 2016. In addition to their 11 beers currently on tap, they also have a limited menu if you get hungry while you’re enjoying your tasty brew.
Photo via Wadsworth Brewing Company/FacebookThirsty Dog Brewing Company
529 Grant St., Akron
Founded in 1997, Thirsty Dog distributes all across the country, but they began with modest beginnings close to the University of Akron. Their Siberian Night Imperial Stout and Wulver, a scotch ale, are arguably their two most popular beers but there’s no better named beer than Old Leghumper. They have a small kitchen serving flatbreads, pizza and paninis.
Photo via Thirsty Dog Brewing/FacebookHeadtrip Brewery
1634 Norton Rd., Stow
On the border of Hudson and Stow, Headtrip opened in 2017. This nanobrewery and taproom has eight beers on tap and a three-barrel brewing system. They don’t serve food but patrons can order food from East of Chicago Pizza or Tong Tong which are right down the road.
Photo via Headtrip Brewery/FacebookHiHO Brewing Company
1707 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
Front St. in Cuyahoga Falls is a popular area to find some of the best breweries around, including HiHO, which opened in early 2017. Their Bossy Lady IPA, made from a combination of piney and citrus hop aroma including spruce tips and tropical fruit and Wolfman’s Brother, a weizenbock, are two beers you should try. They only have six items on their menu but they get their delicious bread they use in their pepperoni roll from Brimfield’s Brimfield Bread Oven.
Photo via @HiHOBrewingCo/InstagramIgnite Brewing Company
600 West Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton
Opening in late 2017, Ignite Brewing Company has been serving up beer to Barberton locals for just a few months. They don’t have food but you can bring your own. Ignite Your Adventure, an American IPA and Ignite the Rust Belt, an American amber are two beers worth trying.
Photo via Ignite Brewing Company/FacebookClubhouse Brewing Company
120 W. Chestnut St., Alliance
Out in Warren, Clubhouse Brewing has ten brews on tap and a menu featuring mostly sandwiches. Clubhouse, which opened in 2017, is owned by Zach Dean, a military veteran who opened the brewery with a goal of making it feel like a place where former military members can hang out. They have also partnered with Veterans Outreach, an organization helping veterans in nearby Youngstown.
Photo via Clubhouse Brewing Company/FacebookHoppy Dude Brews
1369 Ridge Rd., Hinckley
In Hinckley, less than 30 miles south of Cleveland, you’ll find Hoppy Dude, a brewery that opened in May of 2021. Zero Beer Thirty, their IPA, is one of their more popular beers they sell.
Photo via Hoppy Dude Brews/FacebookModern Methods Brewing Company
125 Dave Grohl Alley, Warren
For the first time since 1880, Modern Methods is bringing local beer to downtown Warren. Located on Dave Grohl Alley, the brewery originally started in 2013 as Keck and Son’s Brewing Company and opened in downtown Warren in 2018.
Photo via Modern Methods Brewing Company/FacebookMaize Valley Brewery
6193 Edison St. NE., Hartville
This brewery is also a winery, a seasonal event space and a multi-generational family farm. Under 60 miles southeast of Cleveland, the farm also has a fresh produce market, bakery and tons of family activities and has been in operation since the 1960s.
Photo via Maize Valley Brewery/FacebookTwin Oast
3630 N.E. Catawba Rd., Port Clinton
419-573-6126
Like many of the best destination breweries, this one is set on a majestic sweep of land that provides guests with plenty of room to roam. Some 60 acres of prime property are dotted with fruit orchards, flower gardens, percolating water features and enough green grass to host simultaneous baseball games. On warm summer days, the estate is so populated by families that it more resembles a public park than a brewery. But then again, that was precisely the point. Under the meticulous eye of head brewer John Novotny, the “farm-to-fermenter” brewery turns out fruit-laced beers like cherry-vanilla IPA and apricot-infused ApriCatawba and modern American concoctions.
Photo by Doug Trattner
