Biblical scholars know how it goes.
Heck, many people are familiar.
Irad begat Mehujael. Mehujael begat Methusael. Methusael begat Lamech.
The Northeast Ohio brewing scene is sort of like that — only Great Lakes Brewing Co. seems to have begat everybody.
That begating was on full display Thursday night when the venerable Great Lakes invited five former brewers who are making names for themselves elsewhere back to the brewery for a special Alumni Brewmaster’s Dinner.
The intimate gathering, held in the dimly lit tasting room at the production brewery as part of Cleveland Beer Week, featured a five-course pairing dinner showcasing beers from Fat Head’s, Goldhorn, Hofbrauhaus Cleveland, Market Garden and Thirsty Dog — and Great Lakes, of course.
The brewers at those places — Matt Cole, Joel Warger, Josh Jones, Andy Tveekrem and Tim Rastetter — all got their start or spent time at Great Lakes. And they took turns Thursday sharing stories about their experiences and thanking the Cleveland brewery and each other for being supportive of their passion.
“Great Lakes has its stamp over everything in Cleveland brewing,” said Jones, who heads the brewing operation at Hofbrauhaus Cleveland.
Great Lakes co-founder Dan Conway also dropped in to welcome the guests.
“This is a wonderful event because it speaks to the fraternity of brewers,” he said at the outset of the meal. “We think everyone here makes wonderful beers. We’re humbled that they came from here.”
Here’s a peek at some of the memorable moments:
Luke Purcell
Great Lakes brewer Luke Purcell served as host for the evening.
He was asked if Great Lakes is working on any high-alcohol brews now that Ohio has no limit on alcohol in beer. “I’m sure we will,” he said.
But he also shared a story about wanting to make a barley wine when the limit went from 6 percent to 12 percent. He called Tveekrem, who was at Dogfish Head Craft Ales at the time, for advice.
Tveekrem told him it’s not so easy.
“You have to have space and time so they mellow out so they are not burning your throat like whiskey does,” Purcell said.
He also reminisced about his first few days on the job back in January 1996. He was an out of work landscaper when Tveekrem hired him. He was so excited about what lay ahead.
But that first day, Tveekrem handed him a shovel.
“For the next four days, I had to shovel out the snow,” Purcell said. “That’s how I got started in the brewing industry.”
Matt Cole
Cole, the brewmaster at Fat Head’s, brought Hop Stalker Fresh Hop IPA to the dinner.
He talked about how obsessed he is with hops, noting that he flies out to Yakima, Wash., several times a year just to evaluate the crops.
With restaurateurs promoting “farm to table,” Cole said using fresh hops is “ranch to brewery.”
“Fresh is better,” he said.
Josh Jones
Jones brought Hofbrauhaus Red Lager, noting that Great Lakes Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale served as his inspiration.
While working at Great Lakes, he tried to soak up as much as he could. He thanked Warger for sharing his brewing knowledge and praised Rastetter for his technical know-how.
Joel Warger
Warger, who heads the brewing operation at Goldhorn, brought Numbered Streets Wheat.
It seems that Cleveland breweries are always naming their beers after numbered streets so, with tongue in cheek, he named his hefeweizen Numbered Streets.
Warger also talked about how he admired Great Lakes for helping to revitalize the Ohio City neighborhood, saying that Goldhorn wants to serve as a similar catalyst for the East 55th Street area.
Tim Rastetter
Rastetter, the brewmaster at Thirsty Dog in Akron, brought Rail Dog Smoked Black Lager. He explained that he originally made it to duplicate Xingu, a Brazilian black lager.
He and Purcell also talked about the truth behind the story of Rastetter stealing the Christmas Ale recipe. Many beer drinkers in Northeast Ohio debate whether Great Lakes Christmas Ale or Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas is better.
Rastetter recalled plans he had in 1992 to talk with Dan Conway about how the brewery could make Christmas Ale even tastier. The changes were never made.
When Rastetter left for Liberty Street Brewing in Akron in 1994, he ended up making the Christmas ale that he wanted to at Great Lakes. That beer is now 12 Dogs of Christmas.
He added that the legend about him being a recipe thief has benefited both beers.
“I will let the legend stand,” he said with a laugh.
Andy Tveekrem
Tveekrem, who oversees brewing at the neighboring Market Garden Brewery, brought Franklin Castle Pumpkin Spice Ale.
Over his career — he started at Great Lakes in 1991 — he has helped build six breweries. Five of them were in the Ohio City neighborhood.
“I’m very happy I’ve been a part of this,” he said.