As the popularity of craft beer and brewing has exploded across the United States, Ohio has certainly not lagged behind. The number of breweries in the state of Ohio has grown to more than 200 and the Ohio Craft Brewers Association was founded in 2008 to organize craft beer makers across the state. The association currently publishes an annual magazine, “On Tap," and has developed an app by the same name to help thirsty patrons find beer, breweries, gastropubs and all things beer related anywhere throughout the Buckeye state.

When I was recently passing through the fine city of Cleveland, OH, I decided to ask around about local breweries and even downloaded the On Tap app. Truthfully, the options were overwhelming for my limited time frame, but I was able to make it to 4 breweries, all of which I would wholeheartedly recommend to any beer enthusiast.

Butcher and the Brewer flights, pints and meat.

Butcher and the Brewer

I tried a lot of great beer at Butcher and the Brewer, but the Stop Hop Kaboom IPA and Repeater Kolsch were the standouts in my opinion. The Albino stout is described as a "full bodied white oat ale with chocolate and coffee overtones." It was a tasty ale, but I'm not sure it registered on my palate as a stout. It's gold in color and doesn't have the same richness as a dark stout, but it does deliver chocolate and coffee overtones as advertised. It's one of those beers I would like to go back and try again, and I always find a brewer particularly clever when they make something I have to think about. In this case, the Albino Stout.