The Queen City is well-equipped when it comes to our craft brewery options. And in the age of COVID-19, finding a patio where you can sip a frosty brew is common desire. Lucky for us, most breweries in the Greater Cincinnati area are synonymous with socially distant outdoor spaces. From rooftop spots to beer gardens or breezy breweries overlooking the river, here’s where to head when you want to enjoy your beer al fresco.

*Note: Obviously, check each brewery’s COVID guidelines and policies regarding things like mask use and party size before heading out.

Braxton Brewing Company 27 W. Seventh St., Covington Braxton Brewing Co.’s 5,000-plus-square-foot seasonal patio features a living wall and some pretty neat views of Covington and downtown Cincinnati. Guests can head to the rooftop to enjoy an entirely new experience when visiting the brewery, with plenty of seating, shady umbrellas and a full bar. To ensure proper social distancing, the rooftop will only offer limited seating and hosts will only be seating parties of up to eight people on a first-come, first-served basis. Entire party must be present to be seated. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Urban Artifact 1660 Blue Rock St., Northside Located in Northside’s historic St. Patrick’s church, Urban Artifact has plenty of room to enjoy one of their uniquely sour or fruity brews in the breezy courtyard. They themselves say that it is “one of the best places in the city to sit outside with a beer,” with umbrella-ed picnic tables and huge trees to provide shade. Photo via Facebook.com/urbanartifactbrewing
Moerlein Lager House 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown Moerlein Lager House created their Backyard Beer Garden this summer to adhere to social distancing guidelines. With the new beer garden came Moerlein’s MOER-to-Go window where you can grab your favorite brew or mixed drink and a brat, hot pretzel and other options without stepping inside. Cozy couch seating and chairs are scattered all along the grassy area behind Moerlein, giving that backyard cookout feel to go with your cold drink. Dogs are welcome. Photo via Facebook.com/moerleinlagerhouse
MadTree Brewing Co. 3301 Madison Road, Oakley MadTree’s massive 10,000-square-foot beer garden is a fun family hangout. 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 to accommodate all the beer-drinking, cornhole-playing, dog-loving humans that hang at MadTree on the regular. The taproom is first-come, first-served and is using the Yelp Waitlist app for when they reach capacity. Parties of up to eight are allowed and all members must be present for you to be seated. Photo via Facebook.com/MadTree
Little Miami Brewing Co. 208 Mill St., Milford Little Miami Brewing Co. began construction on their new patio in the winter and is now ready for guests. Stop by the popular Milford brewery to enjoy craft beer and pizza while overlooking the scenic namesake river. Photo via Facebook.com/littlemiamibrewing Photo: Facebook.com/littlemiamibrewing
Rhinegeist Brewery 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Rhinegeist’s 25,000 square-foot brewing facility is arguably the most notable in the city, drawing guests from all over the tri-state and beyond. You can catch a neat view of the Cincinnati skyline from their rooftop while sipping on a Rhinegeist brew straight from the tap or in a can. Check the website to verify the rooftop is open; it’s weather dependent and social distancing is enforced. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Narrow Path Brewing 106 Karl Brown Way, Loveland Narrow Path is a beer garden-meets-bike trail. Bike or skate down the Loveland Bike Trail to have a seat at picnic tables in the yard. The brewery also takes pride in supporting nonprofits — it wants to make the world a better place; a portion of sales are shared with charities. Photo: Savana Willhoite
Big Ash Brewing 5230 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township Big Ash Brewing is known for their expansive beirgarten — socially distanced patio seating in what used to be part of the parking lot. They’ve turned this part of the lot into an outdoor drinking destination, complete with live music in the evenings and bratwurst and metts fired up on the grill, plus beer of course. Their newest creation is Pineapple Guava Gose, a traditional German sour with a tropical taste. Brewed with Himalayan sea salt, coriander and a hint of pineapple and guava, the 4.8% ABV brew is a perfect drink for summer sipping. Photo via Facebook.com/BigAshBrewing
13 Below Brewery 7391 Forbes Road, Addyston Cool off with a flight on 13 Below’s large covered patio. If it’s hump day, bring your pup for dog-friendly “Waggin’ Wednesdays.” Go classic with a Submerged witbier, or mix it up a little with Lock & Dam #37, a Scotch ale. Photo via Facebook.com/13belowbrewery
Darkness Brewing 224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue This Bellevue Brewery has a unique, garage-lounge vibe and a recently revamped patio with indoor-outdoor capabilities. The brewery, which specializes in dark brews but offers a little bit of everything, sports a range of aesthetics pertaining to their design as well as their brews from the mythical and science fiction to humorous. Try their Man on the Moo milk stout, a crowd favorite, or the Mayan Sacrifice, a golden imperial stout. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
BrewDog Cincinnati 316 Reading Road, Pendleton The Cincinnati location for the Scotland-based brewers sits right across from the forthcoming Hard Rock Casino downtown. They opened their highly anticipated rooftop with picnic, dining and barstool seating in May, with plenty of shade, warm lights for when the sun goes down and a nice view of the streets below. Photo via Facebook.com/BrewDogCincy
Streetside Brewery 4003 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum Streetside may be known for their colorful and funky cans, but you can grab your favorites on tap and enjoy one on the indoor-outdoor patio at the brewery in Columbia Tusculum or their newly expanded biergarten. Photo via Facebook.com/streetsidebrewery
Northern Row Brewery & Distillery 111 West McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine You may have seen Northern Row brews popping up on taps around town over the past year, but the taproom and patio are now officially opened. With 13 taps of their own beers including an oatmeal stout (The Banker), peach fruit beer (The Preacher) and a slew of rotating IPAs (ex. The Wanker English IPA), the brewery also offers a full bar and cocktail menu — soon to feature their own spirits as well. Worlds collide with their signature “Preacherito,” a classic mojito topped with the Preacher beer. Chef EJ Monroe has curated an “elevated picnic” menu featuring his grandma’s beanies and weenies, roast beef and cheddar sliders and vegan stuffed peppers. Photo: Savana Willhoite
Brink Brewing Co. 5905 Hamilton Ave., College Hill Brink’s outdoor patio may be a bit smaller than your typical outdoor seating but there’s plenty of shade and plenty of cold beer to cool you off. Their Pina Colada Milkshake IPA is perfect for beating the summer heat with cold, tropical fruitiness. Photo via Facebook.com/BrinkBrewing
Dead Low Brewing 5959 Kellogg Ave., California Dead Low’s outdoor patio is perfect for a summer night and a cold beer. Resting a block away from the river and in perfect view of Riverstar Ballpark, you can get a good look at some of the action going on in the local games. Not to mention some killer burgers, like the Pappy — a pepper jack cheese burger topped with bacon, fried jalapeños and honey-Sriracha sauce. Photo via Facebook.com/DeadLowBrewing
Fretboard Brewing & Public House 103 Main St., Hamilton This Hamilton public house offers first-come, first-served rooftop seating, weather permitting. With 14 on-tap selections, everyone can find a good beer fit, from the Island Style tropical red ale, to the Rockin’ the Rhein Oktoberfest lager, to Juicy Improv grapefruit IPA. Photo via Facebook.com/FBPublicHouse
Hofbrauhaus 200 E. Third St., Newport Hofbrauhaus brings guests back to the German roots of Cincinnati with their Bavarian-style lagers, stouts and witbiers. There’s plenty of shaded seating on the outdoor patio where you can enjoy a giant stein of beer and a full menu of German delicacies. Photo via Facebook.com/hbhnewport Photo: facebook.com/hbhnewport
Fifty West 7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township For Fifty West, it’s easier to list things they don’t have available for guests because of all the activities the popular brewery hosts. There’s the retro-inspired Burger Bar, where state-themed burgers come topped with regionally themed delicacies, and the attached sand volleyball courts (currently closed for free play due to COVID), or the running groups, cycling groups and, oh yeah, the beer. At Fifty West, you won’t have much of a choice but to enjoy one of their craft brews in their sprawling outdoor campus. Photo: Savana Willhoite
16 Lots Brewing Company 753 Reading Road, Mason Considered to be Mason’s first craft brewery, 16 Lots has been serving up beer (and housemade pizza) since 2016. Their outdoor patio is doggo friendly, and the perfect spot to enjoy a Lulu blonde ale or a Soak City juicy IPA. Photo via Facebook.com/16lots
Sonder Brewing 8584 Duke Blvd., Mason The outdoor seating at Sonder Brewing is not only welcoming, it’s spacious with a turf layout that’s easy on the feet and gives a crisp and clean feel to the space. The seating is comfortably distanced throughout the patio area — all that’s left to have is a cold beer in your hand. Sonder recently finished their 10th rendition of their locally loved Frosted Milkshake IPA, brewed with natural peaches and apricot pureés that makes for a fruity, smoothie-like beer. Photo via Facebook.com/SonderBrewing
The Common Beer Co. 126 E. Main St., Mason The Common Beer Co. is happy to welcome guests to their two patios — one in the in the back and one in the front utilizing part of their parking lot — with plenty of shade and space to enjoy a cold beverage. Located in the heart of Mason, they serve beer by the glass, flight or growler, like their EMP (East Main Pilsner), Common Denominator doppelbock and their Muzz pale ale. Photo via Facebook.com/thecommonbeerco
Third Eye Brewing Co. 11276 Chester Road, Sharonville The brand new Sharonville brewery might as well have been designed for social distancing as it “blurs the line between inside and out.” With a massive patio that offers seating both in the open and under a shelter, there is plenty of room to enjoy a beer while staying six feet apart. Third Eye asks that customers keep masks on unless seated, and wait on designated marks on the floor to order drinks to ensure safe distancing. Photo: Savana Willhoite
Fibonacci Brewing Co. 1445 Compton Road, Mount Healthy Fibonacci offers an expansive outdoor beer garden and urban farm next door to its microbrewery. They have two taprooms, a covered patio, grassy garden space, friendly goats and chickens and plenty of craft beer and wine to sip on while enjoy the open outdoors. Photo via facebook.com/fibonaccibrewing
Alexandria Brewing Company 7926 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria “Brewed in Cincinnati tradition and proudly made in Kentucky,” ABC offers an expansive patio with picnic tables and umbrellas for your outdoor drinking needs. Swing by for a bite from one of their regularly scheduled food trucks and a pint of one of their many rotating beers. They most recently tapped Murk, a milk stout. Photo via Facebook.com/AlexandriaBrewingCo
Braxton Barrel House 5 Orphanage Road, Fort Mitchell Braxton Brewing Co. has several locations placed throughout Cincinnati, and their quaint Barrel House in Fort Mitchell has all of their best brews and creations. Whether you’re feeling a lager or a stout, like the 13.7% alcohol by volume Dark Charge Mandarin, or their recently popular stake in the seltzer game in the form of VIVE, you can sip it on their outdoor patio. Seating is first-come, first-served via a host. Photo via Facebook.com/braxtonbarrelhouse