Short History of Collision Bend
For over a century, large barges and commercial vessels have painstakingly navigated these twists and turns with surgical precision in order to receive and deliver their precious industrial cargo to foundries and mills.
In the early years of the Industrial Revolution, at one point on the river at a very tight turn, was scene to several accidents involving bridges and other ships, thus the name Collision Bend was born.
While great big ships still slowly and precisely navigate the crooked river delivering tons of cargo, teams of engineers and seamen have all but eliminated the risk for weary sailors.
We celebrate the crooked river and its large vessel passengers today as a toast to our city’s past and the progress that Cleveland has through its industrial roots. Come see this feat of skill yourself while enjoying a cold hand-crafted beverage and tantalizing small plates at Collision Bend Brewing Company.
About Our Brewery
Collision Bend Brewing Company is an artisanal brewery and full-service restaurant, featuring crisp, bright beers brewed on site, served alongside a menu inspired by Cleveland’s melting pot.
Located on the banks of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland’s Flats District, the brewery is housed in the newly renovated Hausheer Building on Old River Road. Built in 1863, the site first served as a chandlery, where Civil-War era-merchant ships stockpiled supplies before setting sail onto the Great Lakes.
Today, beer is handcrafted by one of Cleveland’s preeminent brew masters, Luke Purcell, who helped launch the Great Lakes Brewing Company into national fame. Luke, and his team of brewers, carefully pair a variety of beers with an eclectic menu of food prepared from scratch that includes small plates to share and pizza from a wood-fired oven.
Many of the brewing and food ingredients are locally sourced. A menu of fresh, natural food was designed specifically to compliment the unique flavors of beer and will continue to change as Luke releases new batches.
Across an expansive, waterfront patio, diners can watch iron-ore freighters carefully inch themselves around the infamous Collision Bend – a U-shaped turn in the Cuyahoga that has tested ship captains for more than a century and sparked citywide debates about redirecting the river.
Exclusive parking and private dock space for boats make Collision Bend Brewing Company the most accessible destination in the Flats.
Collision Bend Brewing Company is setting new standards in modern microbreweries. With an unrivaled fresh, natural menu and beers destined for national awards, the brewery is quickly becoming a Cleveland landmark on the Cuyahoga River.