Get Your Meat and Beer at Butcher and the Brewer #ThisisCLE

Greetings, Great Beer Now fans and followers! This is the sixth entry in a multi- part series of blog posts relating to the Great Beer Now Rock and Roll Out the Barrel Beer Tour 2018, which took place in Cleveland, Ohio. I traversed the Cleveland, Ohio area making my way to some of the best known and most award- winning breweries in the United States, along with several hidden gems and up- and- comers. Open a can or bottle of your favorite beer and follow along on my journey through one of Ohio’s largest cities. Cheers!

 

Cleveland, Ohio is a city on the mend. I have been to Cleveland in the distant past and as I recall, there wasn’t much action going on in the central city. Well, times have changed and the downtown is far more vibrant than before with entertainment, food, and drinking establishments to serve you even into the late hours of the day. One place I visited for late night dinner, beer, and sports viewing when I was in downtown is Butcher and the Brewer, located at 2043 E. 4^th Street in Cleveland, Ohio.

Meat and Beer

Butcher and the Brewer is a brewpub known by locals for both its beer and food. The establishment specializes in meat of all types, complete with dishes and appetizers featuring beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and other meats. They also serve several seafood options and even a few meat- free veggie dishes for the vegetarians among us.

Inside Butcher and the Brewer, guests will notice that the interior is divided between the restaurant/brewpub on one side and a butcher shop on the other. The atmosphere is loud and lively with dim lighting and the interior is long and narrow, with the brewhouse situated in the rear of the building.

My Cut of Brew

Butcher and the Brewer intends to satisfy on every level, with a beer list that is just as tempting as the food items on the menu. Here is a listing of the beers I tried, listed alphabetically by name, followed by the style and my Untappd rating on a five point scale:

• Albino Stout, White Stout, 4.25
• Changing Leaves, Farmhouse Ale, 4.25
• CLE Pils, German Pilsner, 3.75
• The Hop Grinch, Red IPA, 4
• Repeater Kolsch, Kolsch, 4
• This Space is Getting Hot, New England IPA, 4.25
• Stop Hop Kaboom, American IPA, 4
• Sugaree’s Pumpkin Pie Sweet Stout, Milk Stout, 4.25

Overall Average Rating: 4.09

The beer brewed and served at Butcher and the Brewer is varied and complex. I found myself studying each beer more than I usually do; examining the colors, nose, and layers of flavor present in each. Most every beer was equally good in overall quality and there would be no way to choose a single standout in the bunch.

Natural Companions

Butcher and the Brewer is a great place for the carnivorous members of the beer loving public. With a full service restaurant featuring meaty foods and a butcher shop right next door, Butcher and the Brewer is a meat and malt lovers dream come true and one of the few brewing establishments I know of where you can eat a heaty meal and then grab a few cuts of meat for the road.

I visited Butcher and the Brewer as part of my Cleveland, Ohio beer tour and I selected this establishment to add to my tour for two good reasons: Recommendations and location. I inquired with others about breweries that were good for both food and beer and Butcher and the Brewer was the one most frequently mentioned. I also knew that it was located within walking distance from my hotel, the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. This was enough to convince me to add Butcher and the Brewer to my visitation list and while I was at it, I even arranged to have an old college pal join me at the establishment, for a Saturday evening of food, beer, and reminiscing.

One thing about Butcher and the Brewer that makes it unsuitable for some guests is the noise level. I had to speak loudly for my friend to hear me talk and more than once, we both had to repeat what we said to overtake the high decibels surrounding us. Another issue that some visitors might have with Butcher and the Brewer is that most of the tables are communal in nature. That means you could very well end up seated next to complete strangers and this fact may not sit well with those who are looking for a private and more intimate meal.

Aside from these factors, Butcher and the Brewer is a cool place overall and since I wasn’t necessarily looking for a calm atmosphere and didn’t have a romantic date planned, the atmosphere suited me perfectly fine.   To add to the fun, the Cleveland Browns just happened to be playing a night game when I was there and it was broadcast on all five televisions behind the bar. I don’t think I need to mention the added level of noise that this arrangement created. Cleveland Browns fans are known for their intensity and their loyalty was easy to comprehend following each first down, touchdown, and field goal.

Butcher and the Brewer emphasizes its “Old World Cuts, Hand Built Brews” and I enjoyed my time here, sampling beer, eating a flatbread pizza, and chatting with my college pal. I did like every beer I tried and wasn’t partial to any specific one. The New England IPA, White Stout, and Milk Stout were all noteworthy and easily deserving of a full pint serving each. The fact that none of these beers is normally the style one would consume with flatbread pizza didn’t matter to me one bit. When you love the food, beer, entertainment, and good conversation in a brewpub or restaurant, the so- called “standards” quickly fade away. You forget about what you are supposed to be doing and enjoy the moment.

Downtown Cleveland has certainly changed since I first visited more than thirty years ago. There is much more going on than in the past and things remain hopping until late in the evening. Butcher and the Brewer is a great place to go for your evening dinner, beer, and sports viewing needs and the added bonus of packaged butcher meat to go makes this a unique establishment among brewpubs. It’s a place where you can kick back, seize the moment, and leave your troubles behind while chatting with old friends or possibly meeting new friends in the process. I’m glad I took the time to take the quick trek from my hotel to this downtown Cleveland landmark and I recommend that you do the same. So be sure to pay a visit to Butcher and the Brewer the next time you’re in the Cleveland, Ohio area. And tell them Great Beer Now sent you.