Eat*Drink*Cleveland: beer

The Happiest Hour with Great Lakes Brewing Co

One of the best parts of the week is Friday night. When Friday comes, I get a rush of excitement just thinking about having the whole weekend ahead of me. As the clock ticks down, my toes start tapping as the anticipation builds. No matter what my plans are, I'm always super excited at the prospect of not needing to use an alarm clock or sit in rush hour traffic. As I drive home, the only thing I can think of it kicking off the weekend. One of my favorite ways to do that is Happy Hour. I love all kinds of happy hour, but my idea of a Happiest Hour is hanging out with friends (outdoors if possible) with a tasty beverage in hand.

We love to get together with friends, rotating houses each week.

high school friends, craft beer, happy hour

Sometimes we'll have appetizers on the deck; other times we'll be cozied up by a roaring fire. It may be a pizza party or turn into a full-blown feast.

buffet, party food, homemade food, dinner at home

If the weather cooperates, we'll have a patio party or make a bonfire.

grilling, grilled hot dogs, hot dogs, campfire cooking, fire pit

Sometimes our happiest hour takes place at the ballpark before a baseball game. Go Tribe!

Cleveland, Cleveland Indians, baseball, beer

The only things that are an absolute must are cold beverages, delicious food, and some of our favorite people.

Great Lakes beer has been a part of many of my happiest hours. There's a beer for every season, but summer happy hours are the BEST happy hours. Some of my summery GLBC favorites have been Glockenspiel, Grandos Lagos Lager and She Drives Me Hazy IPA - but these are not in their regular rotation. When I heard that they were releasing a new year round IPA, I couldn't wait to try it.

The new Great Lakes IPA celebrates the GLBC family of employee-owners. They crafted a lightly filtered, citrus-forward IPA that’s as bright and fun as the folks that work there. The label is one of their best - it features the family of employees, who became GLBC co-owners in 2018 thanks to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan introduced by founders Pat and Dan Conway. Doesn't this make you love Great Lakes even more?

This IPA is crafted with four different types of hops: Simcoe, Mosaic, Lemondrop, and Azacca. They enhance the citrus flavor even more by adding a bit of lemon. I really enjoy the brightness of the citrus balanced with the hoppy bitterness. It's refreshing but not sweet.

But you don't have to wait until the weekend for Happy Hour, and you definitely don't need to hold out until Friday for a nice cold beer. The Great Lakes IPA is light enough that you can enjoy them all week. It's a great thirst quencher after doing yard work, mowing the lawn, or a tough game of corn hole. Check out my hubby earning his Great Lakes IPA:

The flavors are not too bitter or overwhelming so it goes great with food too. Or IN the food. You can try my Boozy Beef Soup recipe for some cooking with beer inspiration.

Boozy Beef Stew, cooking with beer, beef stew

Or just use it as a sipper while grilling up a feast. My friend Michelle definitely deserves a Great Lakes IPA!

Grilling out, cookout, fun with friends, rooftop dining, party food

Head over to my Instagram page to find out how you can win some fun swag to make your Happy Hour even happier. Included in the swag bag are a t-shirt, pint glass, bottle opener and other surprises!

If you're in Cleveland, OH you can stop by the Great Lakes Brewpub for Happy hour Monday - Friday from 4-7 PM. You can also use this handy Beer Finder to stock up for your very own Happiest Hour. Follow Great Lakes Brewing Co on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Cheers!

** Disclosure: This post is part of a partnership with Great Lakes Brewing Co.

All thoughts and opinions are my own. **