Downtown's Moerlein Lager House and Hamilton's Municipal Brew Works have received top honors at the recent New York International Beer Competition.
Both local spots took home Ohio Brewery of the Year accolades — Moerlein for overall brewery and Municipal for Ohio Fruit Beer Brewery of the Year.
In terms of specific brews, Moerlein snagged gold medals for its Barbarossa Munich Style Dunkel, Saengerfest Maibock and Barrel Aged Baltic Porter, and a bronze for the House Lager. Municipal Brew Works took home the silver for its Orange Agave Blonde.
All of Moerlein's winning brews are on tap, except for the Barrel Aged Baltic Porter, which will be back this fall.
The Orange Agave Blonde is currently on tap at Municipal.
At the end of last year, the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company shuttered its historic Moore Street brewery and taproom in Over-the-Rhine. Cincinnati Beverage Company — which now owns Moerlein, Little Kings, Hudepohl and Burger Beer — said that as a result of the temporary closure of big beer movers like bars, stadiums and events due to COVID-19, they had to sacrifice the historic facility and its production team.
However, Moerlein Lager House at The Banks is a fully functioning microbrewery for the brand that produces all of their craft brews for consumption on-site; it also offers a high-end brewpub and Ohio River views.
In Hamilton, Municipal Brew Works has set up shop in a former municipal building. The big patio is family- and dog-friendly.
The New York International Beer Competition offers a trade-only blind judging panel — complete with a retail store buyer, cicerone, sommelier, restaurant beverage director, hotelier, distributor and importer, according to the website. More than 800 submission from around the world were sent in for judging.
Learn more at nyibeercompetition.com.
