I've been in the mood for some good German food lately. That's not easy to find in the Cleveland Metro area. I mean real, authentic, German food. Well, years ago a good friend of mine, who was born and raised in Germany, took me to a great German grocery store off west 25th and Lorain on the west side of Cleveland. I never forgot that store. But since he's been gone I really had no reason to revisit it. The other day someone told me the owner of that store opened a restaurant attached to it. And that was when I first heard about "Hansa Brewery". I couldn't wait to go there and tonight was the night! We arrived this evening and were greeted by a very pleasant gentleman who quickly seated us in the all glassed in dining room. The view out one side is onto Lorain Ave. Out another side looks out upon St. Ignatius High School. Out another side looks into the brewery itself, filled with giant stainless steel equipment. The menu is brought to your table written on a large chalkboard... one for the whole table. It has a marvelous selection of German specialties... everything you could possibly want. I ordered the lamb chops (very nicely priced). They came out, much to my surprise, all as double cut chops. So I didn't just get 4 lamb chops. I actually got 8. And wow! they were beautiful, meaty, perfectly seasoned, and cooked exactly as I requested. The red cabbage and green beans were excellent as well. It was a wonderful meal. My wife ordered the Weiner schnitzel with spätzle... absolutely fabulous... perfect. Our guests ordered Weiner schnitzel and Chicken paprikash and they were thrilled with the quality of their meals also. We all followed up with coffee and homemade strudel that was to die for. What a great evening. I can't wait to finish my doggy bag for lunch tomorrow. If you like German food. Or you think you might like German food. Do yourself a favor. Go to Hansa Brewery. You'll be glad you did... I guarantee it. read more

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We stopped into Hans's Brewery. To tell the truth I can't believe it took us this long to get there. It was the first stop on our Brewery tour for the year. They had a good beer selection and despite not having an IPA the server recommended a Kolsch and it was very tasty. The server was very attentive to us and it appeared he was covering the bar and dining area. The dining area was spacious and had a view of the brewing equipment. We did not order off the menu but plan to return to get dinner. There is street parking but we didn't have to park very far. read more

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My husband, daughter, and I visited Hansa Brewery for dinner and the food was exquisite. It was both high quality and authentic. The staff was all extremely welcoming and friendly as well. There weren't a ton of people in the brewery despite it being a Friday night which I felt was a shame! We will definitely be visiting again! read more

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Just the place for all your German needs. One side is restaurant and the other side is a German grocery store.the have meats and cheeses candy and chocolates and beers and wines all from Germany. Owner is very nice and helpful. Didn't eat at restaurant because it was closed next time. read more

Hansa Brewery - Outside - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Incredible! Food was outstanding. We had weinerschnitzel, cabbage, potatoes. My friend had spatial. Wintertime was little business on a Wednesday, but the patio gets filled in the summer. Food was incredible. Beer has won several awards and was just as special. This will be a stop whenever I'm in town. read more

Hansa Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Very, very slow service. Nothing special about the food. The burger had salty spots like it wasn't seasoned properly. They were out of pretzels. Overall, not a good experience. I've tried it twice and will never go again. The people with me didn't like it either. read more

Everything was SO good! This place has the BEST Wiener Schnitzel in Cleveland!!! I've tasted many in Cleveland and this place is LEGIT the best. The food was great. Our group tried a little of everything: Pretzel app (SO GOOD), Weiner Schnitzel, Chicken Paprikash, Sausage Platter, and a daily special Ossobucco dish... and beer of course. The delicious butter spaetzles accompanied many dishes and was great. Can't wait to go back! read more

Hansa Brewery - Sausage Platter with spaetzle and sauerkraut - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Nice brewery in the heart of Ohio City! Very calm and relaxed patio been here many times over the years and it's very pleasant and cozy. Just have to go at a good time so you don't catch the boys from St. Ignatius getting out of school read more

Stopped in for dinner. Cannot comment on dinner because they did not have much of a selection the night we visited so decided to skip dinner and go to another German restaurant afterwards. Had appetizers (pretzels and potato pancakes) and both were good as was the beer. Service was non no nonsense, order get your food, get your food -no smile just the basics. Not sure if i would come here for dinner but is a good place to grab a beer ( or 2or 3) and some appetizers. read more

Every year for the last few years, I have added Hansa to my birthday brewery tour - this year I made it the one and only stop. I called the day before and was able to make a reservation for 16 people without any issue. We arrived at 7 PM and our table was prepared and set for our party. We were greeted by the owner, who is wonderful and so funny and we had a great server as well. We had excellent service that night, and I even was able to get my picture with the owner! It is a German brewery and restaurant and it definitely has that feel to it. There is a bar or there are tables to sit. There is also a patio. I started off with their Oktoberfest which was delicious! Some of my friends got flights, or tried some of the other beers on the menu. I did try a taste of their hefe , and it was delicious! I have had different appetizers in previous visits, but this was the first time I had a meal. I chose the chicken paprikash- it was perfect. The chicken was so juicy and the paprikash was extremely flavorful. Several of my friends had the pork schnitzel, and they absolutely loved it. They had daily specials and the dessert of the day was crème brûlée. I was able to get the very last one! I love crème brûlée and this was delicious. I have had great experiences here in the past, but my birthday this year was definitely the best time I've had at Hansa! Thank you so much to the Hansa staff for working so hard and being involved in my birthday :) read more

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Always great German food and great well made beers! Very nice atmosphere and highly recommended! read more

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Located in Ohio City, great place to stop and grab a drink. They had several beers on tap, the kolsch was our favorite. There is indoor and outdoor seating and though we didn't eat, the food smelled delicious. read more

Hansa Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Went with a group of friends and can't believe we've never been before. Cozy atmosphere. Great service and an amazing menu of traditional, old world cuisine. And yes, it is a brewery! read more

Had a great German dinner. The French Orly Schnitzel is tender and flavorful. I chose German Potato salad and Sauerkraut as my sides . The German Potato salad was a huge portion . For dessert my husband and I shared the apple strudel which is homemade and definitely worth a try. It was a slow night for the brewery but I encourage everyone to try this restaurant. read more

You definitely get the German vibe upon entering the building. It seems like a bar in Bavaria. The service started out slow, but it was great once we were seated. All of food was good, and everyone liked the beer! The pork schnitzel is the best I've had in Cleveland. The desserts were absolutely delicious (we tried the napoleon and apple strudel). read more

Hansa Brewery - Beer flight - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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The food here is always great but the beer is why we keep coming back. The Black Flag is my absolute favorite and I do not even like beer all that much! The Kolsch is also really good. Usually I get the Wiener Schnitzel but this visit I decided to try the Legendary Chicken Paprikash with spaetzle! It was also excellent. read more

Hansa Brewery - Chicken Paprikash with spaetzle - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

We got to the restaurant about 15 minutes before closing so we really felt bad and not sure if we would be able to have dinner. The host came out and went back to the kitchen to inform the cook. Once we sat down and ordered we were relieved that all was available. Very accommodating and terrific service. The food was delicious and plentiful. The ambience brought me back to my time in Germany just chatting with the server. We had a great time and will definitely be back. read more

Hansa Brewery - Stout ale - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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We had tried to come here previously, but they close their kitchen around 8pm. This visit we made it in time. Tried all of the beers on tap and settled on the kolsch. Fabulous. Staff was super nice and helpful when suggesting food and beer. The preztel appetizer was my least favorite- super dry pretzel. The dips were outstanding. I had the jager schnitzel- delicious and a great "un breaded" choice. Friends had the chicken paprikash special, the Wiener schnitzel and the sausage plate. All raved about it. Fun little European grocery next door as wel. read more

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A solid spot, unassuming from the exterior. It's definitely a family owned joint and the hospitality was great from the get go. They had an unexpectedly busy day prior to us arriving so a lot of beers and appetizers were sold out even for our 7 pm dinner time. We started with potato pancakes which I am always hypercritical of since my grandma makes the best Polish potato pancakes. I was actually pretty impressed! They managed to maintain flavor and crunch, they were just a tad thick for my liking. My partner and I shared the pork schnitzel and the paprikash dish. Pork schnitzel with the cabbage was very solid. However, I personally wouldn't get the chicken paprikash again--too watery of consistency compared to what I'm used to. Our friend got the burger, which has a unique but flavorful patty. Our server was wonderful, super easy to chat with and really friendly and fun. I would definitely come back here with some friends or family. Also! There's a great little German store attached with chocolate, pickled vegetables, beers and wines, jams, and more! read more

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A portal into central Europe, Hansa provides a refreshing space to spend some time with a buddy or two. The staff are welcoming, if not a little gruff, and they pour some mean brews. Based on the clientele we saw, and the giant pretzels coming out of the kitchen, I can only imagine this place gets *really* busy. We were happy to have found it on our adventures through Cleveland and look forward to another visit. read more

Hansa Brewery - Try the BSIPA or Rauch Bier! - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS! I visited towards the end of October 2019 for my friend Lesly's final celebration before her husband and her celebrate the welcoming of their first baby. The baby boy has not arrived yet by the way (as of 3 December 2019)....haha. FOOD -- I had the Risotto with shrimp and asparagus. The meal was actually really good but a bit expensive. I believe I paid $22 for it but listen, I may just be cheap...haha. I guess in my head I was thinking that this is a brewery where people come to drink alcohol so why would the food be expensive? Anyway, I recommend the Risotto. Also, I heard from people on the table who ordered the meatballs that those tasted good too. DRINKS -- I didn't buy any drinks because I never drink alcohol but I tried a sip of someone's wine, the Blackberry Sangria. Oh my word, that drink was sweet and perfect. I am coming back here just to order this drink. I think a glass of it cost $8. LOCATION -- Hansa is located in the Ohio City neighbourhood of Cleveland across from Saint Ignatius High School. PARKING -- I parked at the High School parking lot for free when I visited on a Saturday evening. I can't wait to return to Hansa. P.S. The friend who invited me to dinner here, well, we met through a Yelp event back in 2018 when we were also Yelp Elites. Goes to show, you can meet friends on Yelp. Thanks Yelp :) Also, she no longer finds the time to write Yelp reviews and she is no longer a Yelp Elite member....LOL. So start 'liking' and commenting on someone's Yelp review and maybe you'll meet a new friend. **** - 146 total reviews in 2019 - 355 total overall Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 3 December 2019 read more

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Made me feel like I was back in Eastern Europe. Beer was great and then food was even better. They make a perfect weiner schnitzel. Prost!

Although expensive, here you will find legitimate German fare. The jaegerschnitzel was delicious!! It had a nice creamy gravy with tons of flavor and mushrooms. The two pork cutlets weren't exactly tender at all but were saved by the delicious gravy they swam in. The sides of spaetzle and sweet shredded beets/cabbage were also super delicious and fresh tasting. read more

Hansa Brewery - JUG Weiss (Hefeweizen) - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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What a fun place!! while visiting other breweries in the area this one popped up and we knew we had to stop in. The entrance is fun, you really feel like your walking into a German pub. I had a chance to try quite a few beers and was happy with each one. They have fun names and great flavor. They even have a very inventive bar with some things I've never heard of and the staff was very helpful in helping us understand what things were. I then got a chance to go into the attached store afterwards. They have a great selection of wine and treats to take home. The women who owns the store and brewery was super sweet and kind and for that reason alone i'll be back. read more

Great beer and really good food. Spend some time with the award-winning brewer and hear the amazing story of his beers!

When you have off work and in your 30s, day drinking is always a fun idea. After a Friday morning of perusing Westside Market, hubby and I wandered over to Hansa Brewery to hang out. I went with the classic Weiss Beer and snacked on the German pretzel. I enjoyed both the accompanying mustard and IPA cheese sauces. Though we really did enjoy our food and beer selections, the highlight of the visit was getting to chat with the owner, Boris. He was very friendly and kind, even giving my husband a beer mug from the Hansa beer club when he asked to purchase one. If we were local to Cleveland, this would definitely be one of his go-to hangouts. read more

A lot of the complaints about this place have to do.with the service. It's a family-owned establishment with an owner that has very old country vibes. Having grown up as a second generation American, my grandpa coming from Yugoslavia and my step-dad straight from Germany, my wife and I may have more tolerance than some for the service you might get here. Is he a little gruff at times? Certainly. He's proud of what he does and what he's built. If you respect that, you get to the next level where service will be tremendous because you have that shared empathy and respect for one another. That was our experience. The food was phenomenal. We started with the pretzels and they were absolutely delicious. I had the mixed grill and the cevaps were some of the best I've had. The pepper spread was very good. My wife had the veal wiener schnitzel and she said it was the closest she's had to Germany. We tried three flights of beer and enjoyed much of what they have to offer. The hefe with notes of banana and clove was great and then he brought us the mango version and it was just as delicious. The best of the bunch was the Belgian Quad that's called Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal. It's like 12% but it's far from boozy. It's sweet but not too sweet and you just crave more. So, so good. So, look past the gruff exterior, give a little praise, and have yourself a tremendous meal and some very solid beers! read more

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Ya'll. Really? Starbucks gets 4.5 stars but a German-style bar with German-style food and German-style staff gets 4? Nah, nah. Okay, gonna throw my cred out the window right away here by saying I'm not a big fan of German beer. I mean, it's good, don't get me wrong, but it kinda makes me understand why there was a New Word to begin with (besides religious persecution, imperialism, exploitation, etc). German beer keeps to a set of rules. Delicious rules. But ask a German what they think of a Key Lime and Hibiscus Sour. Right? That said: Solid German beer is pretty untouchable. There's a set of very distinct, complex flavors in there. So it's pretty stunning to have some of the best German beer I've ever had coming out of a brewery in America. Cleveland, no less. Not only that, but also some of the best German food! I had a sausage platter which was just the right choice. Sauerkraut that took me back to the vaterland. I wasn't even really hungry but I demolished that enormous plate. And the food that was on it. I think I tried everything, but the maibock was particularly memorable. Also, the owner let me try this special holiday ale they have ("Merry Christmas you Filthy Animal", a name you gotta appreciate) which was straight up bread liquor. And amazing. And I didn't even really touch on the atmosphere. Just go, it's such a good place to have in the neighborhood. I want one. read more

I'll start by saying that I'll definitely be back and re-review since the kitchen was closed for remodel and they were out of sour beer and Hefeweizen, so I don't feel like I can review the whole place at this time. What I can review is the patio. I was surprised at how much space there is, and love that it's dog-friendly. The bartender brought out a dish of water for my dog which was so sweet. I tried the blueberry gose which was delicious and very refreshing - it was spicy and lemony and really nice on a warm afternoon. I had scoped out the food menu online before getting here, not knowing the kitchen was closed, and there were several things I wanted to try. Like I said, I'll definitely be back. Prost! read more

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It was our first time there and the food was excellent! They were a little understaffed, but both servers were rotating around to each table frequently so we didn't have to wait too long. We ordered the schnitzel with spaetzle and the soft pretzel. The cabbage that came with it was the best I'd ever had. Everything seemed very authentic- simple, but perfect. Will definitely be back! read more

Great food and great service. Beer is also exceptional. I went with three other friends and we did a round robin tasting with food and beer. The pills and loggers were delicious as well as the Dunkle. Dunkle was not too heavy. We had the carpaccio and it was simply amazing. Also had the liver and onions. The liver was cut thicker than what I've had before and was probably the best I've ever had. The Wiener schnitzel was also very good ranked ride up with the best I've had in Cleveland. Our server was Michael and he was Michael on the spot. We did not want for anything. I would recommend this place to anyone. Make sure you check out the joining European store. Spending two tours in Germany. They had the majority of staples that we used to get. read more

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I stopped here with my wife, son, and daughter-in-law around 6 on Saturday evening. We waited just a few minutes for a table. I chose the J.U.G. Weiss Beer, and it was served in a proper weizen beer glass. The beer was very close to a German hefeweizen which is my favorite. For dinner I shared a German and Slovenian sausage platter and an order of potato pancakes with my wife. The potato pancakes were the thickest I have ever seen and they were excellent. They were crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The sausage platter was also very good. My son got the wiener schnitzel and it looked quite authentic. I highly recommend the Hansa Brewery for a very authentic European dining experience. read more

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First the good: The beer. Which isn't surprising because brewery. The server kindly brought tastes since my partner and I weren't sure which ones we wanted. Also, the potato pancakes. They were a little underseasoned and probably could've used a bit more time in the pan but they were hearty and satisfying. Now for the bad, and friends, it's really bad: We ordered the beef goulash and the chicken paprikash on the server's recommendation, both of which came with spaetzle. When the bowls arrived, the spaetzle in both was just barely warm. Same with the beef. This tells me the food was reheated, probably in a microwave, which, OK, not great but not a deal-killer. Thing is, not knowing how the food was stored + not getting it up to temp before plating = food safety red flags. So we let the server know and he took the plates back. When new ones came out, nothing had changed. The beef and the spaetzle in both dishes was STILL just barely warm, only now the spaetzle was tough and chewy (likely from being microwaved twice). The chicken paprikash was warmer, though not as hot as it should've been. But wait, there's more! We suddenly realized that there was *no actual paprika* in the paprikash. It was the color of the sauce in a chicken pot pie - not even a hint of pink. I asked the server about this and he said that people had complained there was too much paprika so they put less in now. Huh. Less, I get, but none? Yikes. So we decided just to get the check because neither of us wanted to risk food poisoning from eating under-heated meals. And whadda ya know, the server didn't offer to comp either of the entrees. So yeah, we effectively paid $75 (plus tip, because we're not a-holes) for 3 potato pancakes and 2 beers. Needless to say, we won't be back. read more

The weather warmed up. Time to visit one of my favorite Cleveland Westside restaurants for a couple of beers on their outside deck. Good selection of beers. Owners and staff are friendly. Love their food. Worth a visit when in Cleveland. On Lorain & W 28th. read more

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European restaurant/brewery with good beer and food. We have been here before to drink, but never to eat until recently ,and really enjoyed our experience. Coming late on a Saturday, you may need a reservation, as it was very busy, but they were able to seat our party of 4 in a different area pretty quickly. Beer wise nothing too special, but everything is solid. If you're looking for the newest, off the wall, milkshake IPA or flavored stout not your place. If you want a solid brew with some venturing into newer styles, you'll be satisfied. Food wise, I had the standard pork schnitzel with spaetzle. My wife had the French Orly Schnitzel, a turkey schnitzel. Both of these were very good. We have gotten the potato pancakes which are a bit thicker than normal, but exceptional. Food is definitely worth a try. Good food, good beer, and well worth a visit when in the Ohio City area. read more

Hansa Brewery - French Orly Schnitzel - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Love the beer, love the Old World European food - beef carpaccio is the best! Turkey schnitzel! The cute European store next door is awesome. Boris and Susie are great hosts! I am glad they are open again and the new chef is superb! read more

Can we talk about how great this place is? I'm sitting here practically in a food coma from the food and drink spread my family and I demolished. What we ordered: The sausage platter, jägerschnitzel, potato pancakes, german pretzels, reuben rolls, german meat loaf, Hansa burger, and shrimp risotto. The flavor was outstanding and the portions were sizable. Everyone loved what they ordered, especially the Napolean cream cake. The only misfire was the burger, ordered by a notoriously picky eater, so take that with a grain of salt. Service: Our server was nice, personable, and hustled to make sure our needs were met. We never lagged on drink refills or had to request extra napkins. Boris, the owner, came by to check on us and we enjoyed talking to him about Slovenia and the history of the restaurant . If you're seeking authentic German, Austrian, or Slovenian fare, look no further. If I lived nearby I would be here at least once a week. It's *that* good! read more

Just got back from dinner at the Hansa Brewery. Avoid eating here at all costs. The first bad sign was the smell of old frier oil when we entered. Which means they're too cheap to replace the oil on a regular basis. The potato pancakes were... fine. Slightly undercooked and under-seasoned. The real problem was the entrees. We ordered the Beef Goulash and the Chicken Paprikash. When the meals arrived a couple things were clear on the first bite: Neither meal was hot. In fact the goulash and the spaetzle were room temperature. Clearly they made the spaetzle ahead of time but didn't bother to sauté it in some butter to heat it up before serving. We sent the dishes back, the waiter said the cook would remake them. Ten minutes later they came back and the goulash was still cold. But now the spaetzle seemed stiffer, as if it had been microwaved then sat for ten minutes before being returned to us. I'm pretty sure the Chicken Paprikash had zero - and I mean ZERO - paprika in it. It looked & tasted exactly like chicken pot pie filling, or something else that came from a can. Nope, not gonna risk food poisoning with improperly prepared food. So we asked for the check. The waiter DID NOT offer to comp us for the entrees which we sent back. Twice. 75 bucks for a crap, undercooked meal. read more

Off street parking galore. Recommend reservations for the weekend. Wonderful beer! Lovely patio. Extremely clean. Knowledgeable staff. Delicious food. read more

Hansa Brewery - The bar. The bar doesn't like to be open past 10am. Very cold staff. A little tooo German?!? - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Good German brewery. Excellent selection of beers. Very ethnic decor of the place with hints of St Ignatius Wildcat memorabilia to remind you that the high school is just across the street. Owner is frequently present and loves to chat it up with everyone. Great service. Great beers. Food looked amazing and look forward to trying it next time. read more

Hansa Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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