North Water Brewing opened inauspiciously in late 2020 in the midst of a pandemic, with the vaccine only a distant rumor. But it wasn’t an overnight decision: owner Don Schjeldahl was a location selection consultant who, in the mid ’90s, learned about craft beers and began visiting breweries in both North America and Europe, later working to help open a brewery. By 2015 he’d moved back to Kent, where he went to school, and began exploring the idea of opening his own brewery.
North Water is more than a brewery. It’s also committed to environmental sustainability, nature and the outdoors (it’s close to the Cuyahoga River) and presenting events (bingo, trivia, yoga, talks) that make it a community gathering place, as well as a spot to enjoy some unique locally made microbrews. Menu also features hot toddies, a few canned cocktails and a short list of wines. It’s open every day but Monday.
101 East Crain
330-778-4677