Great Lakes Brewing Co. is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013, releasing
commemorative crowns on bottles, its first real collaborative beer with Deschutes Brewery
and a whole host of other events and projects throughout the next 12 months. Last
night, the Cleveland-based brewery reopened its renovated Rockefeller Room,
which is upstairs in the brewpub restaurant. They hosted an event for the media and the
contractors that helped rebuild the room, and CBB was in attendance.
The old feel of the second floor is now revamped with classy, wood-tinged retreatment.
The new dining and event room (which can hold 50 people) features historical brewery
artifacts, a wall made from bourbon barrel tops (once used to age Great Lakes Bourbon
Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout), vinyl booths featuring Great Lakes label artwork, a
beautiful full wooden bar and tables made from reclaimed Cleveland wood.
Patrick and Daniel Conway were in attendance and said a few words. “Every time we
do something, it’s done with such high concept,” said Patrick Conway, pointing around
the room, going on to explain the history of the venue, named the Rockefeller Room
because it was thought John D. Rockefeller (American industrialist) once worked as an
accountant or clerk in the old feed store that was once housed in the same building.
“We actually found out later that he worked in the warehouse district,” laughed Patrick
Conway, “but it’s still a part of the fabric of Cleveland lore.”
With 25 years under its belt, Great Lakes looks to be adding to that Cleveland lore. We’ll
keep you up to date on the company’s anniversary events as they happen.
