Great Lakes Brewing Co.- Cellar Rats Brewing Berlot Strong Ale

Golden amber color. Baked peach compote and creamy warm tapioca aromas with a supple, frothy, fruity medium-to-full body and a banana-raisin bread pudding, delicate spice, and grassy hop twang on the generous, warming finish. Delicious and stylish.

WORLD BEER CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARD: Gold Medal

RATING: 91 points (Exceptional)
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 9.0%
CATEGORY: Strong Ale, Ale
TASTING LOCATION: In Our Chicago Tasting Room
TASTING DATE: Jan-05-2011
BEER ID: 193900

More information at www.tastings.com

Ashtabula, OH - June 19, 2008

Brewing a new niche to add a micro-brewery to operation

Debonné Vineyards first winery in Ohio

By CARL E. FEATHER - Lifestyle Editor

When Anthony and Beth Debevc started Chalet Debonné in Madison Township 36 years ago, it was the first new winery to start in this area since prohibition.

Today, Debonné vineyards is the largest estate winery in Ohio. Along the way, it has blazed a path for at least 20 other winery starts that collectively are redefining the tourism economy of Ashtabula and eastern Lake counties.

Given the Debevc track record of being an industry pacemaker, one can’t help but wonder where the winery’s latest venture, Cellar Rats Brewery, will take the family, as well as the industry and region.

Debonne Vineyards is the first winery in Ohio to add a micro-brewery to its operation, although these dual operations are common in the Pacific Northwest and New York. Tony Debevc says it makes sense – winemakers know the chemistry of fermentation, and while making beer involves different ingredients and steps, the principles of controlling the outcome of the product with different yeast cultures and fermentation temperatures/times remain the same.

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Mikes 3 Favorite Microbreweries Located in Northeast Ohio

Published April 20, 2010 by: Michael MrTechnical Hewitt

Microbreweries Are Popping Up All Over the State of Ohio and Here Are My Top 3 in Northeast Ohio

Northeast Ohio is home to a great many microbreweries and some are not quite as renowned as the big ones in Cleveland, but they are really special in their own right. For this article I have selected three of the Microbreweries that I feel are quite special and unique. These are worth visiting if you are interested in exploring different tastes beyond the run of the mill conglomerate suds that you can get almost anywhere.

The first one I feel is really cool is called "Cellar Rat Brewing" and it is a part of the Chalet Debonne Vineyards which is located at: 7703 Doty Road in Madison Ohio. This clever offshoot of the winery is a very wise and logical move for this ever changing family owned business. The Cellar Rat Brewery is the creative beer making dream from a dynamic duo of wine men Tony Debevc Jr. and Ed Trebets. Tony's family has owned the Chalet Debonne Vineyard operation since 1971. Tony Jr. is co-owner and assistant brewer for Cellar Rats Brewing Company, and is also the VP of operations for Chalet Debonne vineyards. Ed has his roots firmly in the local wine making industry as the Chemist and Wine maker for Chalet Debonne Vineyards, South River Vineyards, and Grand River Cellars. These guys are busy but they are also very accessible to their customers.

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