BEREA, Ohio – Collision Bend Brewing Co. took top honors in the annual microbrew competition at Cleveland Oktoberfest Friday night, with Fredtoberfest winning the coveted Best of Show.

The competition, traditionally held on the opening night of the six-day fest at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, pitted 15 Northeast Ohio breweries pouring beers in several styles.

“Oh, my gosh, so cool,” said the brewery’s Luke Purcell, who shared a celebratory hug with Alex Orsagos, who brews at Collision Bend’s Euclid outpost. “It’s a local, fun competition, but that’s always good to be the ones who get recognized. It’s amazing.”

Fredtoberfest’s name comes from the nickname for a seagull at the brewery’s Flats location.

“He loves to steal French fries and stuff off people’s plates. The staff named him

See Full Page