CLEVELAND — Sunday was the final day of Cleveland Beer Week, a celebration of local craft breweries that started in 2003, aiming to raise awareness for the vibrant industry.

What You Need To Know

  • Sunday was the final day of Cleveland Beer Week, a celebration of local craft breweries that started in 2003

  • Beloved local brewery Fat Heads will continue to celebrate some new awards year-round

  • Between the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup this year, Fat Heads brewers took home gold medals for the Head Hunter IPA (which won gold at both competitions), Alpenglow Weizenbock and Goggle Fogger South German-style Hefeweizen

One beloved local brewery, Fat Heads, has been gaining national attention at some of the most competitive beer competitions in the nation.

“What differentiates us? I mean, aside from a passionate crew of people working their tails off, it is really our love of what we’re doing,” said Chris Alltmont, head of operations at Fat Heads.

Between the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup this year, Fat Heads brewers took home gold medals for the Head Hunter IPA (which won gold at both competitions), Alpenglow Weizenbock and Goggle Fogger South German-style Hefeweizen.

The brewery started as a small brewing operation, and quickly grew into what is now one of the nation’s most-awarded breweries, with a total of 44 medals.

“We’re fully bought in on the way we like to make beers,” Alltmont said. “And I think that’s why it shows during competitions.”

Alltmont insists the brewery’s success is directly attributed to the passion and dedication and of every member of the crew, from the founders to the packaging line.

“It really, it’s entirely driven by the team,” he said.