Beer gardens — or biergartens, if you want to get technical — originated in Bavaria as a place where the masses could gather to share locally brewed beer, light bites, good times and bask in the general warmth of gemutlichkeit. With Cincinnati’s strong German heritage and respect for our brewing roots, we take our biergarten game seriously. While we wait to say willkommen to Queen City Radio, here are several other nearby and notable outdoor drinking destinations to socialize and imbibe al fresco.
1. Mecklenburg Gardens
One of the city’s oldest beer gardens (in operation since 1865) and one of the best in the country, as ranked by Travel + Leisure, Mecklenburg was once a hang for local German immigrants to socialize and learn about the American way of life. Today, the restaurant holds true to tradition by serving authentic German cuisine, like spaetzle, sauerbraten and wiener schnitzel, alongside steins of traditional lagers, dunkels and hefeweizen — all under an arbor with more than a century’s worth of climbing grapevines. 302 E. University Ave., Corryville, mecklenburgs.com.
2. OTR Biergarten
In the early 1900s, OTR’s population was almost 75 percent German/German-American. And plenty of our ancestors hung out in the Brewery District and nearby Findlay Market, where today’s Bavarian-inspired OTR Biergarten sits, nestled among the market’s bright red tables. Open Tuesday-Sunday evenings through September, Findlay’s OTR Biergarten highlights regional craft beer, with a weekly selection of Moerlein brews on tap plus a local guest brewery every weekend. 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, findlaymarket.org.
3. Hofbräuhaus Newport
Tourist spot or not, Newport’s Hofbräuhaus was the first authentic haus in America modeled after Munich’s 400-year-old icon. Bavarian beer is brewed on site according to the Reinheitsgebot purity law — with seasonal keg tappings the last Wednesday of every month — and served by dirndl- and lederhosen-clad staff. Grab a giant soft pretzel and head for the gravel-lined biergarten, with seating for you and 400 of your closest friends. 200 E. Third St., Newport, Ky., hofbrauhausnewport.com.
4. The Famous Neons Unplugged
You could argue that OTR mainstay Neons is mostly patio, a fact that has earned the bar the nickname “OTR’s backyard.” The L-shaped outdoor oasis features ample seating at tables and along the patio bar, yard games, TVs and a grill curated by Northside’s Melt — now serving Sunday brunch. Beer specials like seasonals, rareities and experimental brews are listed on a chalkboard inside, along with weekly craft cocktails and house-infused spirits. 208 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, wellmannsbrands.com/neons.
5. Arnold’s Bar & Grill
Another Cincinnati classic. Arnold’s has been serving up comfort food, cheap drinks and live music for 150-plus years. The brick-lined outdoor courtyard, once a stable and carriage house, opened in 1976 and is the perfect place to grab a pint of local beer or attend a rare keg tapping; check their Facebook page for upcoming bottle releases and tap takeovers. 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, arnoldsbarandgrill.com. ©
This article appears in Jun 15-22, 2016.