Did you know that Surfrider has a Great Lakes Friendly Restaurants Program? This is a regional spin off of Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program.
The Northern Ohio Surfrider Chapter spoke with Lexie St. Denis, the Local and Responsible Food Coordinator for Great Lakes Brewing Company to discuss all the ways they reduce waste, source local ingredients, and partner with local organizations to protect the environment.
Images provided by Great Lakes Brewing Company.
Tell us a little bit about Great Lakes Brewing Company.
Great Lakes Brewing Company, founded in 1988, is Ohio's original craft brewery and has grown to become a key player in the Cleveland community, known for its commitment to quality beer, sustainability, and community engagement. We now distribute our beverages to 16 states and D.C., and are a top 20 American craft brewery, still independent since 1988.
Our brewery’s campus has an inviting, lively vibe in Cleveland’s bustling Ohio City neighborhood that combines an authentic pub experience with a focus on thoughtful and innovative brewing. In our brewpub we put local, seasonal ingredients at the forefront, creating an experience that reflects our love for the Great Lakes region and the people we serve. It’s more than just a brewery – it’s a place where sustainable practices, local partnerships, great beer and great people come together.
Images provided by Great Lakes Brewing Company.
What inspired you to follow sustainable practices and to become a Great Lakes Friendly Restaurant?
Sustainability has been part of our ethos from the beginning, rooted in the Conways' dedication to preserving the natural beauty and resources of the Great Lakes region. My role as Local Food Coordinator involves partnering with regional farmers and food producers to ensure we’re supporting local agriculture and reducing food miles. We aspire to make a tangible impact on the environment by reducing our waste and promoting regional agriculture to create a more meaningful dining experience. Our proximity to Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River has inspired us to be stewards for these natural resources over our nearly 40 years.
Since clean, quality water is important for brewing great beer, every meal and every pint we serve reflects our commitment to sustainability. We want our customers to understand that sustainability has always been a part of our identity.
Images provided by Great Lakes Brewing Company.
Do you find that customers are receptive to your mission and eco-friendly practices?
Yes, absolutely! Customers today are more mindful about the impact their choices have on the environment. Many people come to Great Lakes Brewing Company because they know they will be enjoying fresh, local ingredients and supporting a place that views waste as an opportunity. Patrons really appreciate learning about the stories behind our efforts to reduce waste, whether it is through composting, community-driven glass recycling, or the unique ways that we repurpose our low-fill beers. For example, our low-fill beers become handmade soaps, salad dressings, sauces, jams, and more. Our community effort resonates with our guests.
Do you have any advice for restaurants looking to make more sustainable choices?
Reducing plastic waste is one of the most impactful steps a restaurant can take. Start by auditing your current plastic use by identifying where single-use plastics are most prevalent in your operations. Replace plastic straws, cutlery, and to-go containers with compostable or reusable alternatives. Partner with local recycling programs and community compost organizations to ensure proper disposal and educate your team about minimizing waste at every step of your processes.
Images provided by Great Lakes Brewing Company.
Anything upcoming you'd like to plug?
Each month at our brewpub, we host a Brewing Good Day benefitting a local non-profit organization, where a percentage of guest checks are donated to the charitable organization partner. During this event, customers can support a good cause by simply coming to Great Lakes and enjoying a meal and a freshly brewed beer. We strive to be leaders in our community by amplifying causes dear to our mission, and making donation opportunities a regular and accessible part of our space.
Because we want to be a community hub for Clevelanders and visitors alike, there’s always something happening at our brewpub, from our tours and hop colleges to specially curated brewmaster’s dinners, trivia nights, pop-up experiences, and of course beer releases!
In addition to being the first place customers can try new Great Lakes beers, it’s also where we serve many small-batch, R&D, and pub-exclusive offerings. Brewing these innovative pub-exclusive brews at a smaller scale allows us to integrate more experimental ingredients which is another way we’re able to feature local partners—locally grown pumpkins, paw paws, and elderflowers have featured in recent pub exclusive brews. Our brewpub is also a perfect place to taste Great Lakes favorites like Midwest IPA, Vibacious Double IPA, our classic Dortmunder Gold Lager, or beloved seasonals like our Christmas Ale, fresh from the source.
Is your local restaurant Great Lakes Friendly? If not, encourage them to sign up and join the movement to end single-use plastics!
Want to help Surfrider stop plastic pollution at the source? Consider donating today!