USA, OH: Collision Bend Brewing Co. two months from opening in Cleveland

It has a name, and soon it will have beer: Collision Bend Brewing Co. - the Zack Bruell-Luke Purcell brewery and brewpub on the East Bank of the Flats - is two months from opening, Cleveland.com reported on February 14.

Restaurateur Bruell and brewer Purcell are targeting tax day, April 15, as their opening, in time for patrons to enjoy sitting outside on warm-weather days and watching boats swoosh by amid the backdrop of bridges.

Recently, a 15-barrel fermenter from Oregon was put in place in with a pair of 30-barrel fermenters coming along with a 30-barrel brite tank for holding or kegging. Walls are up, the kitchen is being constructed, and major work on the flooring has been done. Collision Bend is in the old Watermark restaurant.

In addition to the infrastructure work, the owners are in the process of getting the name 'Collision Bend Brewing Co.' on signage, glasses, coasters and other restaurant accoutrements.

To Bruell, Purcell and Julian Bruell, Zack's son and director of service for his father's restaurants, education of the staff will be paramount, with emphases on beer flights, food pairings and communal small plates.

"There'll actually be a dialogue with guests" to find what they like in food flavors and beer styles, Julian Bruell said. "The beer culture in Cleveland is really great."

Added Zack: "The focus is the beer; the food accompanies the beer. We're trying to make it simple but great. The food that we do will have a punch to it."

As for the beer, Purcell will keep an eye on using "local grains and some local malts." Sours are planned. Crowlers will be available. And beers will have specific names and not go simply by style, Purcell said. So expect water, river and ship references.

"Watching them go through here has always been fascinating to me," said Purcell, who worked at Great Lakes Brewing Co. for more than 20 years.

"There's things we'll all learn together as we go," he said of the partnership with Bruell.

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