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The Beer Blog

Nano Brew opens Wednesday

By Rick Armon Published: August 20, 2012

nano-logoCleveland’s newest brewpub opens Wednesday.

Nano Brew Cleveland, as its name implies, is a nanobrewery in Ohio City – the same neighborhood that houses Market Garden Brewery and Great Lakes Brewing Co. The brewpub, owned by the folks who operate Market Garden, features a custom-built, 20-gallon brewing system. That’s the perfect size for experimenting – and that’s exactly what brewer Andy Tveekrem plans to do.

“I’m going to do some more experimental styles, I think,” said Tveekrem, the brewer at Market Garden who also will brew at Nano, at least initially. “Our beers at Market Garden have been mainstream, if you want to call it that. This will give us a chance to broaden our horizons a little bit.”

So what’s he interested in experimenting with?

“Umm, that’s a good question,” he said, laughing.

Then he talked about making a beer with rhubarb and duplicating his old homebrew recipe for a honey barleywine that tickles the state's limit of 12 percent alcohol. He also plans to play with different hops and malts.

The first Nano beer, though, will be anything but experimental as Tveekrem gets used to the brewing system. It’s a traditional pale ale appropriately called Pipe Cleaner, because it will be the inaugural beer made on the new system. Tveekrem will likely start brewing Tuesday, meaning Nano won’t have any of its own beers available when it opens at 9 p.m. Wednesday. He expects Nano beer -- which will be available on draft and from firkins -- to be ready in two weeks or so.

There will be plenty of beer available on opening night. Nano has 24 taps with a focus on local breweries. Some Market Garden brews also will be on tap.

The small kitchen will serve a fairly simple menu that’s burger-centric. Nano also will have plenty of outdoor seating in a back patio and out front on the sidewalk, Tveekrem said. He’s excited about Nano joining the growing bar and restaurant scene in Ohio City.

“It’s going to be just another great entertainment option on 25th street,” he said. “It’s good for the street and keeps the place hopping and we’ll be creating a real brewery district.”