Malley’s Chocolates, Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC), and Heinen’s Grocery Store today, Friday, Oct. 3, unveiled their first-ever local collaboration: Toffee Amber Lager, a rich, indulgent beer inspired by Malley’s iconic Bordeaux chocolate. The limited-edition brew brings together craftsmanship, community, and Cleveland pride in every sip, says its creators.

Cleveland’s beloved Malley’s Chocolates Bordeaux inspired the rich chocolate and nutty English toffee flavors of this limited edition Toffee Amber Lager.The three companies are long-standing family businesses. Heinen’s first opened in 1929, Malley’s was established in 1935, and Great Lakes Brewery opened its doors in 1988.

Toffee Amber Lager is now on the shelves at Heinen’s on draft and in 6-pack 12-ounce cans, and at Great Lakes’ Ohio City brewpub and gift shop in limited quantities.

“When three long-standing brands all start imagining the same concept, you know it’s going to be something meaningful,” says Great Lakes Brewing marketing director Vicki Campana. “We’ve had successful collaborations over the years, and this one feels uniquely special—driven by the kind of local love you only find in Cleveland.”

Additionally, Malley's is debuting its new Toffee Bar—now available in Malley’s retail stores and at Heinen’s.

For three generations, Malley's has made its crunchy, buttery English toffee by hand, using copper pots in its candy kitchen. After cutting the toffee into bars, it's drenched in premium Malley's milk chocolate. The finished product is an irresistibly sweet and nutty candy bar.

Taste of tradition
The 6.1% ABV Bordeaux Toffee Amber Lager boasts a layered flavor profile crafted to evoke the beloved richness of Malley’s Bordeaux English toffee, says Malley’s chief strategic officer Mike Malley. Expect strong notes of toffee, supported by gentle chocolate undertones and a subtle almond-nut aroma from caramelized malts. Malley says the result is a brew that’s elegant, smooth and unmistakably Cleveland.

Malley's gourmet Toffee Bar pairs with the Toffee Amber Lager.“This beer is more than a beverage, it’s a toast to generations of Cleveland tradition and continued innovation,” he says. “It pairs the indulgence of our signature Bordeaux with the craftsmanship of Great Lakes Brewing Company and Heinen’s deep community connection. But more than that, it’s what happens when three hometown favorites come together to create something bold and fun.”

While many beer-and-chocolate collaborations tend to go the route of heavy stouts or peanut butter flavors, Heinen’s packaged goods director Kim Heinen says the team behind Toffee Amber Lager wanted to take a different approach. With toffee gaining popularity in seasonal products, it felt like the perfect way to put a fresh twist on a familiar combination.

“With more than 220 years of combined history, each of our businesses has deep roots and loyal fans,” says Heinen. “Coming together felt like a natural way to show that, even after all these years, we’re still finding exciting and meaningful ways to do what we do best—together.”