US Senator Visits Ohio Craft Brewer

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From Great Lakes Brewing Co.

On Monday, December 19th, US Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) spent the afternoon of his birthday touring Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) in Cleveland and spoke with employees, local merchants and media about the proposed payroll tax cut and small brewer excise tax bill.

Senator Portman is a self-proclaimed fan of GLBC and the craft beer industry (he even bought a 6-pack of GLBC’s Christmas Ale for a recent Secret Santa gift exchange on Capitol Hill). Senator Portman commended GLBC’s recent successes and highlighted the company as a business that can grow under tax reforms, which includes a graduated excise tax (the Senator is an original co-sponsor of the issue). Recalibrating the by-the-barrel rate for small brewers can help companies like GLBC bring jobs and money to the local economy. The Senator even has high hopes that GLBC will export beers in the future!

After the tour of the brewery, representatives from the Senator’s office, GLBC, Ohio City Incorporated (OCI) and Mitchell’s Ice Cream met to discuss the future of the Ohio City neighborhood (GLBC’s neighborhood) and possibilities for GLBC’s expansion in the area. GLBC is reaching maximum capacity and is working with OCI and city officials on the next steps for expansion. The evening ended with birthday cake for the Senator and pints of GLBC’s Christmas Ale.