Cincinnati is a real hidden-gem beer metropolis. We wager if we requested you to call the most effective beer cities within the nation, Cincinnati would hardly break your prime 5.
However that doesn’t imply you must give the chilly shoulder to the Queen Metropolis. Actually, you must most likely give her highness some royal respect.
As a result of “Cincinnati just about has one thing for everyone,” says Brian Hatheway, Chief Individuals Officer at Metropolis Brew Excursions and host of Brewvana’s Brews Much less Traveled podcast, which focuses on uncovering the most effective uncharted beer cities throughout america. “There are large breweries, nano breweries, breweries that do traditional kinds very well…breweries specializing in kinds like fruited sours, breweries that do a mixture of each…breweries with dwell music, a brewery with a volleyball league, and a brewery with a circus in it, form of!”
Which is why Hop Tradition Founder Kenny Gould crossed the Pennsylvania border with Hatheway to discover Cincinnati within the latest episode of Untappd’s free YouTube journey present, Subsequent Exit.
The Cincinnati Beer Scene
It’s an eclectic mixture of breweries serving nearly each beer fashion conceivable that garners excessive reward from Hatheway.
And he ought to know.
His travels have taken him to off-the-beaten-path beer cities all throughout the nation.
In every, he meets native brewers and drinks native beer, selecting out the most effective to showcase within the Brewvana’s beer membership known as Brews Much less Traveled.
Sure, to accompany the podcast, the Brews Much less Traveled beer membership helps you really drink together with Hatheway on his adventures. Every month, the beer membership ships its subscribers a field of eight beers from completely different breweries throughout one distinctive metropolis—every hand picked by a crew of beer specialists. Crack into the beers from secretly stellar beer cities like Boise, ID; Missoula, MT; and, in fact, Cincinnati, OH.
In Subsequent Exit: Cincinnati, Hatheway dives deep with Gould within the metropolis’s historic beer caves, performs volleyball in a brewery yard, and drinks at an Asian- and Black-owned brewery making some unbelievable conventional beers with a twist.
Plus, there’s Cincinnati chili. And in case you don’t know what that’s, you’ll simply have to observe to search out out. It’s not what you count on!
Since Hatheway is the king of under-the-radar beer cities, we determined to dig deeper with him.
Learn on for his picks on the highest breweries and bars to go to within the Queen Metropolis.
Polling the Skilled: The Finest Breweries and Bars in Cincinnati
The fantastic thing about Cincinnati is that it’s a metropolis harmoniously pairing its previous with its current and even its future.
Again within the 1700s and 1800s, a bunch of German immigrants settled in Cincinnati. “[And] because the story goes with many East Coast American cities, the place the Germans settled so popped up the breweries,” says Hatheway.
For instance, within the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, the place round 40,000 German immigrants settled within the 1800s. Coincidentally a majority, if not all, of the beer made on the time got here from that space, based on Hatheway.
In the present day, the district has change into one of many hottest locations to play, that includes breweries, eateries, and a thriving nightlife.
Maybe, fantastically showcasing what beer means in Cincinnati.
“It’s a metropolis with a contemporary grasp on craft beer whereas additionally paying a really humbled respect to the historical past that made it the brewing metropolis it’s.”
And folks have began to take discover with main breweries like BrewDog, Platform, and even Hello-Wire opening or planning to open new areas in Cincinnati.
“One of many largest indicators of a robust beer scene…is outdoors curiosity,” says Hatheway. “Particularly when a brewery from Asheville, a type of top-tier beer scenes, acknowledges that is an rising market, a scene that has its personal taste that’s thriving, the place they’ll make investments cash and get in and play, that’s an simple attribute of a robust beer scene.”
We guess you higher get to exploring Cincinnati whereas it’s nonetheless undiscovered. As a result of it sounds prefer it’s reign as a hidden-gem beer metropolis gained’t final for an excessive amount of longer!
The Six Finest Breweries in Cincinnati
Listed here are Hatheway’s six favourite breweries in Cincinnati.
Rhinegeist Brewery
1910 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 | (513) 381-1367
Maybe no different brewery within the metropolis completely encapsulates Cincinnati’s homage to the previous and current than the OG—Rhinegeist.
“They’ve embodied the craft beer scene for thus a few years and nonetheless have a really robust place in craft beer,” says Hatheway. However regardless of being a historic brewery, you wouldn’t realize it from hanging out within the taproom. Hatheway gushes in regards to the “large beautiful taproom..with thirty- to forty-foot ceilings.” Plus a ravishing rooftop beer backyard the place you’ll be able to pull up a seat, order a Reality IPA, which Hathway calls “the right illustration of a traditional West Coast IPA,” and drink whereas watching the entire Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.
If you wish to go to one brewery that actually shines a highlight on what it means to brew in Cincinnati, Rhinegeist must be your first cease. (Oh and it’s additionally one among our favourite breweries close to the Bengals’ Paycor Stadium).
Esoteric Brewing Co.
918 E McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45206 | (513) 214-1987
If Rhinegeist represents the previous and current, then Esoteric represents the longer term. Began by Marvin Abrinica and former MadTree brewer Brian Jackson, Esoteric is an Asian- and Black-owned brewery pushing the boundaries of beer. Technically thought-about the town’s first minority-owned-and-operated brewery, Esoteric Brewing needs to be a pillar for all the neighborhood.
“Now we have to be those to make sure that individuals perceive range and inclusion,” says Abrinica within the episode. “The expansion of this entire trade is in girls, it’s in individuals of coloration—Black, Latino, Hispanic, LGBTQ+—they’re the way forward for this nation and so they’re the way forward for beer as effectively.”
Meaning showcasing “conventional beers with a little bit of a twist,” based on Abrinica.
For example, a historic American fashion like a cream ale will get a spike of espresso.
However you’ll additionally discover a juicy pale ale, a hazy, and a West Coast IPA alongside an American brown ale and even a grapefruit radler.
“With a completely beautiful taproom and actually elegant branding…it’s one of many extra hip breweries in Cincinnati,” says Hatheway. “[But] they’re attempting to be greater than only a place that serves beer. It’s a spot the place you’ll be able to go to hangout that performs a superb function of their neighborhood.”
MadTree Brewing Co.
3301 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209 | (513) 836-8733
Talking of MadTree, Hatheway counts this brewery as one among his favorites from his Brews Much less Traveled adventures. “They had been a type of breweries I simply cherished,” says Hatheway.
Why?
It’s a trifecta: incredible beer, unbelievable out of doors area, and nice mission.
It’s all within the identify for MadTree. A part of 1% for the Planet, MadTree donates a portion of its gross sales to non-profits centered on environmental sustainability, particularly these highlighting timber. Hatheway estimates that, in 2020, MadTree workers volunteered someplace round over 600 hours of time to work with native organizations.
A love for the outside is on full show within the brewery’s taproom, the place an outdated brick wall from the unique constructing serves as a centerpiece. “Outside beer gardens are a dime a dozen,” says Hatheway. “However [MadTree’s] fashionable beer backyard that preserves an outdated constructing is an effective illustration for the Cincinnati beer scene as an entire—preserving that outdated historical past whereas subsequent to a contemporary interpretation of craft beer.”
Sonder Brewing
8584 Duke Blvd, Mason, OH 45040 | (513) 779-2739
Though technically just a little bit outdoors the town, Hatheway needed to name out Sonder Brewing as probably the greatest breweries close to Cincinnati. Principally as a result of the brewery is making “some actually cool beers,” exclaims Hatheway. Along with a strong core lineup—a kölsch, West Coast IPA, NEIPA, and a wit—Sonder churns out a particular collection. Every thing kind “true-to-style representations of traditional beers to wacky collection with high-alcohol beers or closely adjuncted beers,” says Hatheway. Plus a barrel-aging program and even wild beers.
BIRCUS Brewing Co.
322 Elm St, Ludlow, KY 41016 | (859) 740-3118
Should you like your pint with a present, BIRCUS will blow your thoughts. The brewery usually brings in a, for lack of a greater phrase, circus to placed on a present for folk. Now, this isn’t your elephant-jumping-through-hoops affair, however relatively acrobatic performers.
“Generally you need to sit in a dive bar and have a Hamms or Iron Metropolis, however generally you need theatrics along with your brewery go to,” says Hatheway. “I can’t consider something extra theatrical than the circus.”
Drink your beer and watch daring feats that defy gravity. Sounds fairly cool.
Christian Moerlein Brewing – Moerlein Lager Home
115 Joe Nuxhall Approach, Cincinnati, OH 45202 | (513) 421-2337
You’ll discover one of the vital stunning elements of Cincinnati strolling alongside the Riverwalk down by the Ohio River. Hatheway recommends simply taking a stroll down the pathway, stopping on the Moerlein Lager Home for a superb ol’ vogue lager.
This explicit taproom is a resurrected model of the Christian Moerlein brewery, one of many iconic German breweries within the metropolis throughout the heyday of Cincinnati brewing. Whereas now a reasonably up to date brewpub, the Moerlein Lager Home is an ideal place to “get a pleasant lager” and watch the individuals and river float on by.
“Cincinnati very a lot has a Rust Belt really feel that provides a homey Midwest-East Coast vibe, and strolling alongside the river and spending as a lot time there with individuals from out of city exhibits what Cincinnati is all about,” says Hatheway. “Then you’ll be able to go to one of many fifty to sixty breweries and funky dive bars round city and cap off the evening.”
The Finest Dive Bars in Cincinnati
As a result of generally we simply need to drink a Hudy Delight. (In accordance with Hatheway, that is the traditional regional lager!)
Oddfellows Liquor Bar
2014 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 | (513) 258-0475
Some dive bars don’t have to attempt to be dive bars; they’re traditional establishments which were round since your grandfather drank there. Different dive bars attempt to be dive bars, opening not too long ago to attempt to seize that dingy, crusty “aesthetic” with maybe a contemporary twist.
And a few dive bars, like Oddfellows, boldly proclaim, “We’re not a dive bar, we’re stylish AF.” However they’re nonetheless very a lot a dive bar. Situated within the hip Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, Oddfellows is, effectively, form of odd.
Hatheway describes it as having “very cool decorations with black lighting and particular occasions.”
Plus, nice pizza.
The B-Record
343 Division St, Bellevue, KY 41073 | (859) 261-7033
Right here’s the true signal of an old-school dive bar: It doesn’t even have an internet site and even an Instagram web page—only a Fb and Yelp web page.
Cue The B-Record simply throughout the river in Kentucky (fast geography lesson: The Ohio River separates the border between Ohio and Kentucky. Only a fast five-minute drive takes you throughout the border).
“It’s a superb, strong neighborhood bar,” says Hatheway, who describes The B-Record as a galley-style bar with a really skinny lengthy room. “It very a lot has that working-class really feel that embodies the dive bar to me.”
The Finest Date Evening in Cincinnati
The Skeleton Root
38 W McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202 | (513) 918-3015
From dive bars to stylish joints, Cincinnati has all of it. And in case you’re seeking to class it up for a date evening, Hatheway says you need to go to the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. We’ve already talked about just a few different locations on this checklist in that space, so you already know you’ll be able to go and have your self an amazing evening out.
However Hatheway extremely suggests beginning at The Skeleton Root, a cool vineyard and tasting bar. “Simply makes me really feel fancier than I’m,” jokes Hatheway. “My spouse and I are easy individuals, so once we go to dinner, we wish to act like we’re fancier than we’re; the Skeleton Root actually kicks off the vibes for the evening.”
Alcove – MadTree Brewing
1410 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 | (513) 371-5700
Eatswise, Hatheway says you will discover all the pieces in Over-the-Rhine, together with a French bistro, a number of vegan spots, and burger joints galore. But when he needed to (needed to) decide one spot, he recommends Alcove.
A restaurant opened by MadTree, Alcove has what Hatheway calls “a very good scratch kitchen menu.”
Count on contemporary, shareable, consuming meals elevated. For example, a cheese board, charcuterie board, or crudite board to begin. The remainder of the menu is break up in sections like “Greens,” “Gentle & Vibrant,” “Grilled & Roasted,” and “Snacks.”
Some highlights we picked up on included a Inexperienced Goddess Salad, Braised Hen Sliders with jerk-spiced Ohio Proud hen, and Avril-Bleh Bratwurst served on prime of redskin potatoes, pickled cabbage, cucumbers, onions, and mustard.
The Quirkiest Factor to Do in Cincinnati
Fortunate Cat Museum
2511 Essex Pl, Cincinnati, OH 45206 | (513) 633-3923
Each city has its quirks. For instance, in Austin, MN, you’ll discover the SPAM® Museum. And in Darwin, MN, you’ll discover the most important ball of twine (rattling, it’s too apparent that I’m from Minnesota and solely know the kitschy issues to do in my residence state).
Effectively, in Cincinnati, Hatheway gushes in regards to the Fortunate Cat Museum (or ‘Mewseum” because it calls itself). The little statue with the arm that rocks backwards and forwards that you just’ll discover in lots of Asian eating places in america, Fortunate Cats characterize monetary luck and prosperity.
In accordance with Hatheway this museum has lots of of types of fortunate cats to pursue. “As any person that likes a superb kitschy museum, it’s a top-tier kitschy museum,” says Hatheway.
Professional Tip: The museum is just open to the general public by appointment. Signal as much as go to right here or simply ship them a textual content at (513) 633-3923. You’ll be able to schedule forty-five-minute appointments on the hour from 3PM-6PM.
The One Factor You Can’t Go away Cincinnati With out Doing
Wait, there’s something higher to do than visiting a Fortunate Cat Museum?
Sure, effectively at the very least there’s something actually iconic it’s essential to do earlier than you allow the Queen Metropolis.
Eat a bowl of Cincinnati chili.
A dish native to the world, Cincinnati chili is a bowl of spaghetti noodles with a heaping pile of a saucy chili on prime sprinkled with cheese.
The preferred place is named Skyline Chili that gives the dish 3-Approach (regular), 4-Approach (with diced onions or beans), and 5-Approach (with diced onions and beans).
Hatheway hated Cincinnati chili as a child (gasp) however not too long ago loved a bowl once more whereas filming Subsequent Exit: Cincinnati. “Child Brian was an fool as a result of that is wonderful,” he says. “Simply attempt it, it’s actually cool and distinctive.”
