Great Lakes Brewing Co. recently turned 38-years-old and the Cleveland, Ohio brewery continues to innovate and grow. CEO Chris Brown sits down for a conversation about taking on macrobeer, getting into THC, and the juggernaut that is Great Lakes Christmas Ale.

Visit AllAboutBeer.com for more podcasts, to read original articles, and to get info on upcoming events.

Click here to support independent journalism covering the beer industry.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

John I. Haas
When every pound of hops matters, brewers need products that work harder in the brewhouse. LupoMAX® was engineered to deliver concentrated lupulin, intense aroma expression, and reduced process loss, helping breweries improve yields while maintaining true-to-type hop character. Available in standout varieties like Citra®, Mosaic®, Krush®, and more, LupoMAX gives brewers a smarter path to bold flavor and operational efficiency. Talk with your Haas Sales Representative or visit lupohops.com for details.

Berkeley Yeast
Our Tropics yeast is based on a London Ale strain, but we added a new gene to its genome that codes for a unique thiol-releasing enzyme. The enzyme converts the precursors in barley to free thiols that smell and taste like passionfruit and grapefruit. It’s super clean. No off-flavors like burnt rubber or other sulfurous notes. Just tropical aromatics. You don’t have to do anything unusual either, like mash hopping. Just pitch dry Tropics and supercharge your hazy IPA.

All About Beer
At All About Beer, we’re honored to share the stories that define the beer community, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our underwriting sponsors. Their commitment helps sustain independent beer journalism, allowing us to highlight the people, places, and passion behind every pint. Their partnership ensures these stories continue to inspire, connect, and celebrate the craft we all love. Join our underwriters today and help make an impact on independent journalism covering the beer industry.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Chris Brown

Sponsors: John I. Haas, Berkeley Yeast, All About Beer

Tags: Cleveland, Brewing, THC, Lager, Porter
Photo: by Andy Crouch