Founded in Cleveland in 1988 by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway, Great Lakes Brewing Co. is an employee-owned craft brewery producing beer at its Ohio City brewing campus. Ohio’s original craft brewery, it has been employee-owned since 2018 and distributes its beers across 14 states and Washington, D.C.
Certified Independent (Brewers Association)
Union Craft BrewingFounded in 2011, Union Craft Brewing makes beer in Baltimore’s Medfield neighborhood, where its brewing operations began with the 2012 release of Duckpin Pale Ale. Now housed in a former Sears warehouse within the Union Collective hub for small local manufacturers, the employee-owned brewery balances brewing tradition with new ideas and operates a taproom and beer garden built around its belief that beer unites people. Its Zadie’s Lager also carries a family story, honoring co-founder Henry “Zadie” Benesch, who worked at the brewery until age 101.BALTIMORE, MD
Sonder BrewingSonder Brewing is a craft brewery in Mason, Ohio, where its 15,200-square-foot brewery and taproom houses a 30-barrel brewhouse and on-site beer production. Led by Head Brewer Chase Legler, its brewing team brings more than 40 years of combined craft brewing experience; the company also operates a West Chester Taphaus and Kitchen.MASON, OH
Earnest Brew WorksBorn from the shared passion of two homebrewers, Earnest Brew Works is a brewer-owned brewery and taproom company making beer in Toledo, Ohio, since 2016. Its brewers balance traditional styles with fresh ingredient ideas, producing more than 50 unique recipes each year for a community-focused taproom experience across four locations.TOLEDO, OH
The Dayton Beer CompanyFounded in 2010 by owner and brewmaster Peter Hilgeman, The Dayton Beer Company makes handcrafted beer in downtown Dayton, where its 2012 taproom and production brewery became the city’s first locally owned and operated brewery in 50 years. DBC grew from a one-barrel pilot system to a 15-barrel production brewery in less than three years, pairing its award-winning beers with a European-style beer hall, rotating Ohio craft taps and spaces for gatherings. The brewery also emphasizes giving back to its hometown as it continues to grow with Dayton.KETTERING, OH