CLEVELAND, Ohio - A beer trail in Cuyahoga County is close to becoming a reality in the next few months.

What is determined about the trail is that "it will launch in coming months, probably beginning of the second quarter," said Emily Lauer of Destination Cleveland.

But the specifics are still in the works, including which breweries would be included and whether a passport-like program will be implemented, and whether it will target Cleveland only or cover all of Cuyahoga County.

"It went from exploration in the fall to dotting the I's and crossing the T's at this point," Lauer said.

The trail could be a boon for both residents and visitors, she said.

"When friends and family want to visit and say 'What are we going to do in Cleveland?' They can say 'We've got this new beer trail' "

The Columbus Ale Trail has been around for a few years with more than three dozen breweries. Summit County started its Summit Brew Path almost a year ago through the Akron-Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Summit trail was an overnight success, with breweries reporting lines of beer tourists hoping to get their passports stamped. While larger ones like Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. and Hoppin' Frog Brewery are well known among craft-beer fans, it brought attention especially to smaller breweries.

More than 2,600 people completed the Summit Brew Path last year, and this year's version launches in 2018. More than a dozen breweries are part of the program.

"I'm totally for it," said Wally Weiss, a brewer at Sibling Revelry Brewery in Westlake and an Ohio Craft Breweries Association board member. "We (OCBA) do have the Ohio On Tap app for people to gather the breweries, check in, and reward themselves." Weiss was one of several hundred brewers and others who are attending the organization's annual convention, which is in Cleveland. It runs through Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Unlike Summit Brew Path, the OCBA's passport is paperless. Beer lovers visit a brewery and check in with the app, receiving a virtual stamp. More brewery trips means more stamps, and more stamps means more swag. Weiss even said "two to four people have visited every brewery in Ohio."

For perspective: There are 399 member breweries in the non-profit organization's domain. Last year there were 292, he said.

The app, which Weiss said has been downloaded 11,000 times, "gives people an opportunity to explore our breweries."

That exploration can directly affect breweries, who look for ways to distinguish themselves in a marketplace that is growing more competitive by the day. Local breweries pop up regularly, and Ohio is included in the distribution ranks from a majority of the country's largest 25 craft breweries.

"

I definitely think it could be a way to market ourselves," said Mike Pelechaty, brewer at Masthead Brewing Co. "Anything we can do to separate ourselves and market ourselves is important."