Willoughby Brewing

Willoughby BrewingWilloughby Brewing
Willoughby BrewingWilloughby Brewing
Brewery, Eatery

4057 Erie Street
Willoughby, Ohio, 44094
United States

// CLOSED //

Although this brewpub has an Erie Street address, the building is located off the street and is located behind the businesses that face Erie Street adjacent to a city parking lot.
BEER STATS
Average:
4.17
Beers:
52
Ratings:
1,238
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.95
Reviews:
53
Ratings:
105
pDev:
11.65%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
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Rated: 4.66 by CDBeerDisappear from Ohio

Jan 19, 2020
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Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

4.07/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
Cool brewery/restuarant in old brick trolley repair station, high-ceilings with overhead crane. Huge building with large dining area at the entrance. Three-sided bar on far left seats about 20 and has a glass wall view of the brew house behind the bar. Additional seating opposite bar and on the covered and uncovered patio, which also has a bar. 9 well assorted beers on tap, I had their award winning Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter, and it was quite nice. I did not try the food, but there was a busy local lunch crowd.
Sep 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4.01 by ikidunot from Canada (ON)

Oct 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

Sep 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.49 by Snooprobirob from Ohio

Aug 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.9 by Coho11 from Ohio

Jul 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.73 by MarleyMae from Ohio

May 05, 2018
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Reviewed by West_Chester_Ale_Tester from Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -14.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3 | selection: 3.25
A big, full blown restaurant that brews one really popular beer. That's the peanut butter cup coffee porter and it's pretty tasty. Everything else about this place is not great. Pretty bad service. Big, soulless building that could be so much more. I'd only visit this place if you're looking to pay tribute to one of the old guards. Cleveland the area around it just have too many good places now.
Oct 08, 2017
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Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -10.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 2.5
Wow this place is pretty big for a brewery not many out-of-staters have heard of. There's so much space that it really has a different vibe in each section. The impressively large bar is a mix between brewery culture and sports pub with full cocktail service, the booth-seating area is like a family restaurant, and there's a little comfy outdoor patio for those rare days weather doesn't suck in NE Ohio.

Service is great from the old pros who may be a little over-strained depending on the hour, but some of the newer staff is a little flippant or absent-minded, not getting the attention they need for proper training.

They have a medium to large list of their own beers with a very small selection of guest drafts. Their beers are of a nice quality, and they've always got their flagship PBCCP on draft for those that have yet to have it, or for those that just can't get enough.

Menu seems inspired, but food comes out cold and missing ingredients, like...poutine without cheese curds...? If you don't have cheese curds, don't serve the dish.
Jun 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by NMA from Ohio

Apr 25, 2017
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Reviewed by SomethingClever from Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Huge place with a separate bar area and anot enclosed almost outside bar area. Then it has a restaurant side. Beers are good for the most part, but very over carbonated. Food was good had the smokehouse sampler the pork belly and the ribs were very good the turkey was the loser of the group. I was sitting in the bar area and the place had a garbage smell to it that was off putting. Overall nice place with pretty good beers but nothing astonishing.
Jan 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Sep 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by nater919 from New York

Aug 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Jpinoniemi from Ohio

Aug 16, 2016
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Reviewed by slander from New York

3.83/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3.5
“I saw a thing on a TV show about this place years ago, like when I was first getting in craft beer, and I’ve always wanted to go there”. So said Ed, back in I think ’13 when we were on the ‘burgh-Cleveland roll. Mind you, I had somewhere else to go in mind post-Great Lakes, and he didn’t put up any scrap about it so we didn’t go. Or maybe I was all about denying him his boyhood dream & breaking his spirit, by making him go a place not here, where he will refuse to drink the house beer in open Ed defiance...

Massive standalone hidden in the back of things on the main drag Erie and what is the purpose of a complimentary valet exactly? Enter in the dining side, barside, side barside, and outside something going on. It’s a massive structure, a big brick space, used to be a train repair shop in the once ago. Vaulted rafter ceilings with red I-beams & piping, and a large hook dangling over the brew room. Slat wood floorings, save the block tiling around the bar. Blinded arched windows and the big big arch to the next room.

We take up at the bar, naturally. Half a hex long cornered wood laminate topped with a lip, panel base, & piping foot rail. Seating for 18 on wood chairs. Barback is counter space with tiered booze and 8 tap stainless steel towers on the ends, plus another on the bar. Glassware & growlers below the bar shelved. Glass wall behind the bar offering brew room views, logo copper kettles & barrels there.

10 beers on tap tonight, the Cosmic IPA having kicked. Went through most of them on sampler or shorty (Pucker Up Porter, 4.6%, kettle sour brown porter, more Flemmish Red than porter; Snowbird, 7.7%, Winter Warmer, malt, malt, & malt, sugar, sugar; Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter, 5.5%, their flagship beer, coffee, yes, chocolate, sure, peanut butter, maybe not really; Gutterpup, 5.5%, American Porter, tasty, but a bit thin; Kaiserhof Kolsch, 4.9%, fruity esters, a nice clean kolsch, best of show; Third Planet Pale Ale, 6%, APA, bitter, piney, resin; Pumpkin Ale, 5%, okay, they have a pumpkin beer in February, what gives? It’s more gourd than pumpkin pie; Dave says otherwise, citing allspice and nutmeg and shut up; Wenceslas, 8% spiced ale, cinnacinnamon, Harpoon Winter Warmer circa 1996, milk in the bottom of a bowl of apple jacks nostalgia, thank you; Railway Razz, 5.2%, raspberry ale sweety but not too much so, Kaffee Kolsch, 4.9%, coffee kolsch; just did not sound like I wanted to try it).

Large horizontal framed board over the entrance listing tap selections; beer, style, ABV, IBU, & pricing. Happy hour gets you $3 pints. Question: can you dig it? 3 flats over the bar and more on most walls, and old beer labels painted. Drop dunce hat cone lamps over the bar tracing, drop spots & mounted lamps, and chandeliers down center the length. Model train track running around the room above, most fitting for this space, and a stage in the corner for band play.
Behind me, a half dozen barrel tables, a hightop shared, and 4 tables in a raised pen. Across the room, upwards of a dozen tables & booths. On the dining side up front, a dozen booths across the floor and a dozen tables in the raised area on the end below the massive windows there. I wrote ‘5 car train advertising rail cars’ in my notes but now have no idea what I meant by that, maybe you will. Through to the side bar, a 12 seater with 8 hightops adjacent in two rows up against the garage doors opening over the parking lot. And through the indoor/outdoor to the full on aforementioned outside space behind the fireplace.

Beers weren’t outstanding but some of them were pretty good. The selection is oddball, though. 3 porters, a pumpkin, Winter Warmer, & spiced holiday ale, 2 Kolschs, an APA and fruit beer. Witz mocks the crowler process, he speaks of the crimping. Lots of Dave Matthews (tribute to Ed) and 90’s stuff otherwise. Food menu looked good but it was late and we’d been on the road a long while with Cleveland ahead of us still. It’s a cool old train space out east of Cleveland.
Mar 31, 2016
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Reviewed by J455K from Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Great spot. Vibe was very laid back even though they were doing a big bottle release. Jim was our waiter today and he did a great job for the amount of people that were in the dining area. Food was solid, I had a burger and it tasted great. Guest taps were awesome today as well. Bottle release went very smoothly. Had a great time and wouldn't hesitate to go back again.
Feb 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.03 by GreesyFizeek from New York

Feb 11, 2016
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Reviewed by RayOhioFelton from Ohio

4.56/5  rDev +15.4%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Nice brewery with something for everyone. Food is solid and with peanut butter cup porter on tap non stop worth the trip. Also have a crowler machine! Call ahead and give them a heads up if you want more than 2 or 3.
Jan 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.43 by Brian29 from Ohio

Jan 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.49 by BigAlofOrion from Ohio

Sep 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by Gregf51 from Ohio

Aug 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.31 by jds16 from Ohio

Jul 16, 2015
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Reviewed by OGFGabv from West Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
First time visit was for the Nutsmasher release so it was a mad house. They did the best they could to try and keep up with serving, but I would have to guess on a non event day, this place would be really chill. Great beers and great apps. I do plan on returning to get a full meal and more of that great beer!
Jul 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.3 by indianabeerman from Indiana

Jul 09, 2015
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Reviewed by JArt from Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -19.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 3
My first visit to Willoughby's was for the Nut Smasher release. Given the large turnout, service was extremely slow; however, the bar/restaurant was very nice, and I would definitely return for a non-event visit.
Jul 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.78 by Ns2361 from Ohio

Jun 28, 2015
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Reviewed by SudsTerkel from Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +9.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
Hit the WBC during a biz trip through NE Ohio. It was my 2nd visit and was very pleased both times. The Daisy Cutter is a must have for the IPA fan and their Christmas Ale is one of the best of breed. They generously brew that as part of a 'Christmas in July' celebration, which coincided with one of my visits.

Food here is also excellent; you can really do well if you show up @ Happy Hour, when appetizers are 1/2 price. Service was very friendly and accommodating.

Kudos to the owners on the fine job of converting a former railroad station to a pub/restaurant use which provides a very appealing and comfortable setting to enjoy WBC's good works.
Jun 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.29 by fredmugs from Indiana

Jun 17, 2015
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Reviewed by ryand14 from Michigan

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.75
I only had the Peanut Butter Porter, which was pretty good. I really enjoyed the food. I had the pretzel, chicken spring roll and their version of a corn dog (a kielbasa with a jalapeno & corn batter).
Jun 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.81 by Shandycan from Pennsylvania

Jun 08, 2015
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Rated by Nlandi27 from Ohio

4.06/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.5
Outside patio is awesome when the weather is nice. Cool space.
Apr 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.61 by ChrisMon02 from Ohio

Apr 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by toppoop from Ohio

Apr 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.88 by Brewski from Pennsylvania

Feb 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.86 by _morandi_ from California

Feb 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.8 by dcbobcat from Ohio

Jan 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.91 by Ohiovania from Ohio

Dec 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.11 by WesMantooth from Ohio

Dec 25, 2014
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Rated by doppleb from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +13.9%
Very good beer, good food, inviting atmosphere and extremely friendly staff.
Dec 15, 2014
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Reviewed by MANix73 from Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +20.3%
Great big, spacious bar & restaurant. Ambience is great! This is the kind of place you can go for parties, dates or just beers & football. Very nice & versatile place.
Nov 30, 2014
Willoughby Brewing in Willoughby, OH
Brewery rating: 4.17 out of 5 with 1238 ratings