Sipping on an ice cold brew in a bustling biergarten surrounded by new friends just may be the recipe for a perfect summer day. Cincinnati has a variety to choose from, ranging from authentic Bavarian biergartens to more casual brewery-style drink spots. Regardless of which you choose, these are some must-visit drinking destinations to add to your beer bucket list.
Mecklenburg Gardens 302 E. University Ave., Corryville It’s Oktoberfest all year long at this historic German eatery. Wash down your triple goettawurst and spaetzle with a 1-liter glass boot of doppelbock or hefeweizen in the grape-vine-laden outdoor biergarten. Founded in 1865, it was named one of the best biergartens in America by Travel + Leisure magazine in 2017. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Braxton Brewing Co. 27 W. Seventh St., Covington Braxton Brewing Co. opened their much-anticipated rooftop patio and bar last summer. Guests enjoy an entirely new experience at the brewery with the 5,000 square-foot seasonal patio, which features plenty of seating, shady umbrellas, a full bar, a living wall and some pretty neat views of Covington and downtown Cincinnati. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Queen City Radio 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine The former auto body shop turned multi-level OTR hang features rotating taps of local, regional and national beer, canned and bottled brews, a small cocktail program and adult-themed treats including boozy slushies. Garage doors create indoor/outdoor space and the patio boasts not only a ton of seating, but also the on-site Queen City Whip food truck. Photo: Patty Salas Photo: Patty Salas
MadTree 2.0 3301 Madison Road, Oakley With 32 MadTree-exclusive taps, ambient lighting and an industrial brick façade leftover from the building’s factory days, there’s more than enough space in this 10,000-square-foot beer garden to accommodate all the beer-drinking, cornhole-playing, dog-loving humans that hang at MadTree on the regular. Photo: Phil Heidenreich
Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom 1727 Logan St., Over-the-Rhine The taproom, which features both indoor and string-lit outdoor space, spans nearly 9,000 feet, offering an array of unique beers brewed both on-site and at the Cincinnati brewery across the street. These include fan favorites like the Queen City-inspired 513 lager, Boston Lager and Summer Ale. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Findlay Market Biergarten 1801 Race St, Over-the-Rhine Summertime means extended hours at this Over-the-Rhine drinking destination. Grab a bite, sit on the iconic red Findlay Market chairs and sip on something cold while the sun goes down. On Tuesdays, it’s Mug Club night: get $1 off all drafts (with an additional $1 off during happy hour from 4-6 p.m.). Open through October. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Mecca OTR 1429 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine The big-ass gravel patio, colorful street-art murals, rainbow lighting and plethora of communal seating make this a welcoming spot for those interested in no-frills drinking, L.A. vibes, vinyl tunes and free popcorn. The aesthetic is strong with this one, guys, and so are their San Pell Chunker cocktails, with a mini airplane bottle of booze inverted into a can of flavored sparkling water, in addition to a selection of craft beers and wines. Photo: Brittany Thornton
Fifty West 7668 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township After opening their doors in November 2012, Fifty West has swiftly gained notoriety in a city saturated with craft breweries not only because of their impressive selection of homemade beer, but also their lively events like the Fifty West Punch Out boxing series and Fifty Fest music fest. Take a seat out on their dreamy string-lit patio at their original brewpub location and enjoy a frosty brew. Or head across the street to the Production Works for picnic-style outdoor seating and sand volleyball. Photo: Facebook.com/FiftyWest
Hofbräuhaus 200 E. Third St., Newport Opened in 2003, the Newport Hofbräuhaus was the first Hofbräuhaus brewery and beer hall to open in the United States. Beers are brewed on-site in the original Munich tradition (under the license and supervision of Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München), with a keg tapping of seasonal brews the final Wednesday of each month. Buy a liter of beer and keep the stein for $12. Photo: Susan Keller
Arnold’s Bar & Grill 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown Arnold’s is the city’s oldest bar, in operation since the 1830s. The cheap (strong) drinks and almost daily live music — from Bluegrass and Americana to Jazz — complement the awesome interior courtyard, which used to be a stable and carriage house. They claim to have one of the best bourbon lists in Cincinnati with nearly 40 options on the menu as well as a selection of craft beers. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Darkness Brewing 224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue Longtime friends Eric Bosler and Ron Sanders were homebrewing for years before opening their own taproom in Bellevue. It started with experimenting in their own kitchens, enjoying their strange brews and sharing them with friends. And it was poking and prodding from those friends that led to Darkness Brewing, which opened in July 2016. The microbrewery focuses on the dark and unusual. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Rosedale 208 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine This historic drinkery — once home to Neons — was taken over by new owners in 2017, who have freshened up the interior with industrial-farmhouse chandeliers, bold floral wallpaper (perfect for an Instagram photoshoot), lounge seating and more. Their spacious shaded patio space offers bocce ball, giant Jenga and a laid-back environment to sip on craft beer and cocktails. Photo: Ty Wesselkamper
Listermann Brewing 1621 Dana Ave., Evanston Handcrafted ales, a growler station and contagious enthusiasm for home brewing characterize this owner-operated brewing company. Grab a flight and take a seat out on their cozy patio. The in-house Renegade Grille makes awesome wings. Photo: Megan Waddel
Wunderbar 1132 Lee St., Covington Rhineland ambiance with wooden picnic tables and German signage and a beer garden out back. Food options include giant pretzels, sauerkraut, sausage and doner kabobs, one of Germany’s favorite street-food dishes. The beer menu features staples such as Franziskaner and Warsteiner. Photo: Facebook.com/WunderbarCovington
Rhinegeist 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Head upstairs to this Over-the-Rhine brewery’s giant upstairs rooftop patio. This chill wooden rooftop deck features an upstairs bar with 15 draft beers and ciders — including Bubbles — plus a selection of wine and draft cocktails. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Narrow Path Brewing 106 Karl Brown Way, Loveland Located in downtown Loveland, Narrow Path is beer garden meets bike trail. Bike or skate down the Loveland Bike Trail to have a seat at picnic tables in the yard. It’s a location that fosters a sense of community. With ales reflecting the personality of their crafters, the menu has featured brews like tart cherry, Belgian orange and maple bacon porter. Photo: Narrow Path Brewing Facebook
Arlin’s 307 Ludlow Ave., Clifton This is the Gaslight District’s neighborhood pub for the thinking man or woman. Have a beer on the big back patio and beer garden or enjoy live music and bar food. The no-frills atmosphere includes a pool room, plus 20 taps, sports on TV and a jukebox. Photo: Facebook.com/ArlinsBar
Fries Cafe 3247 Jefferson Ave., Clifton Appealing to everyone from UC students taking a break from exams to Cliftonites and downtown professionals, the first floor features a draft bar with a focus on craft beer and a popular old-fashioned shuffleboard table. The lower level features two billiards tables and the top floor has more darts and billiards with access to the spacious seasonal patio and beer garden. Photo: Facebook.com/FriesCafe
Little Miami Brewing 208 Mill St., Milford Milford’s Little Miami Brewing Company sits on the banks of its namesake river, pouring 11 beers alongside a selection of brick-oven pizzas. The small-batch brewery offers 16 different brews on tap, from classics to experimentals and seasonals made with real fruit, like their Juicy Fruit IPA made with passion fruit. Photo: Little Miami Brewing Facebook
Moerlein Lager House 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown Moerlein Lager House celebrates Cincinnati’s brewing tradition in a giant restaurant and brewery with sweeping views of downtown and the riverfront, plus a spacious patio, with a large something-for-everyone menu of burgers and pastas and fancier dishes like filet mignon and squash wellington. With 24 beers on tap — house brews and other crafts — plus more than 60 in bottles and cans, there’s a drink for every taste. Tours of the in-house brewery available. Photo: Facebook.com/MoerleinLagerHouse
Kreimer’s Bier Haus 6052 State Route 128, Cleves Located in the backyard of Kreimer’s Bier Haus, this Bavarian biergarten on the Great Miami River has three decks, fire pits and a ton of Black Forest-inspired wood features, from picnic seating to a whimsical cuckoo-clock-looking German grill house, which serves snacks like sauerkraut balls, pretzel bread, bier cheese and plenty of juicy metts. Photo viaFacebook.com/KreimersBierhaus
Washington Park’s The Porch 1230 Elm St., Over-The-Rhine With a great view of the dog park, The Porch at Washington Park is the spot to go after your furry friends are tired out after a day of play. The Porch features a full bar, as well as local beer like Taft’s Ale House, Rhinegeist, Christian Moerlein and Fifty West. The Porch is open daily, but be sure to check their website as the hours change seasonally. Photo via WashingtonParkOTR/Facebook