Great Lakes Brewing Partners with Harpoon Brewery to Launch Canned Packaging

(CLEVELAND, OH) —Just in time for summer, Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) beer is prepped to go where it’s never gone before—into cans.

Beginning in May 2017, year-round Turntable Pils and seasonal Lightkeeper Blonde Ale will be available in 12 oz. can 12-Packs. Former pub exclusive Rally Drum Red Ale will be available in 16 oz. can 12-Packs. Turntable Pils 16 oz. can 12-Packs will follow in Aug. 2017.

For 28 years the independent family-owned Great Lakes Brewing Company has offered a diverse portfolio of award-winning year-round and seasonal brews in bottle and draft. GLBC is excited to introduce a new package their customers and partners have asked for, featuring three brands and styles that perfectly fit can-friendly venues and activities.

In order to craft high quality and consistent canned beer while considering longer-term expansion opportunities, GLBC established an interim partnership with Harpoon Brewery. Great Lakes and Harpoon will be working closely together to produce and package three canned brands at Harpoon’s facility in Boston.

Bill Boor, CEO at Great Lakes comments, “Getting Great Lakes’ beer into cans so it can be enjoyed in places and situations where bottles are not viable has been our intention for some time. We have great respect for the Harpoon organization and feel our values, culture, and commitment to great beer fit very well together. So the opportunity to work in partnership with them is the right initial step in our can strategy. We’re very excited about what this means for our products and customers and we’re excited to be working with Harpoon to make this happen.”

Mark Hunger, Great Lakes Brewmaster adds, “What’s most important to me is making sure the quality and taste of any beer we put our name on is what our customers expect. We are very confident in Harpoon’s process and quality standards and I’m looking forward to working closely with them, especially with these three excellent beers.”

Each package features artwork by award-winning illustrator Darren Booth and represents celebrated stories and figures from the Great Lakes region. GLBC’s canned brews will be available everywhere GLBC beer is sold beginning in May 2017.

GREAT LAKES BREWING CO. 2017 CANNED BEERS:

Turntable Pils, a classic Czech-style Pilsner named in honor of Ohio’s music legacy, made its seasonal debut in April of 2016. In 2017 Turntable Pils joined favorites like Dortmunder Gold Lager and Edmund Fitzgerald Porter as GLBC’s sixth year-round offering and earned a Silver Medal from the Beverage Testing Institute.
ABV: 5.4%
IBU: 35
RELEASE: May 2017 (12 oz. can 12-Packs), Aug. 2017 (16 oz. can 12-Packs)

Lightkeeper Blonde Ale made its debut in GLBC’s Fridge Filler Variety Pack in Mar. 2017. A refreshing Blonde Ale guided by light malt and dry, fruity hop flavors, Lightkeeper Blonde Ale’s label features Lake Erie’s iconic Marblehead Lighthouse.
ABV: 6.6%
IBU: 30
RELEASE: May 2017 (12 oz. can 12-Packs)

Rally Drum Red Ale is a longtime GLBC brewpub favorite inspired by infamous Cleveland baseball fan and bleacher percussionist John J. Adams. The label artwork features a painting of his iconic drum and mallets, and the beer fields a double header of bitter hop and roasted malt flavors.
ABV: 5.8%
IBU: 45
RELEASE: May 2017 (16 oz. can 12-Packs)