Something new is brewing off I-75 in Lockland, filling a spot formerly long held by Rivertown Brewing Company (since relocated to Monroe) and near other small businesses like the La Terza Coffee roasting headquarters. The forthcoming Cincy Brewing Co. is taking over the old Rivertown space to create a brewery and taproom where locals can congregate, enjoy a casual atmosphere and drink a pint or three.
Cincy Brewing Co. is the brainchild of owner Rob Rosen. Rosen is originally from Cincinnati, but after spending time in the military, he was looking for a way to reconnect with his home city. Seeing the core ingredients in beer as a great equalizer, he thought a brewery would be a good way to get people of all backgrounds to come together to enjoy a pint, not just people who know craft beer well.
“I think the nature of brewing is that it is an art that is accessible to everyone,” Rosen says via email. “What I mean is the technical aspects and the work that goes into a craft beer can be appreciated by an aficionado, novices, or your mass-produced beer drinker just looking for something good to drink.”
“Community is the whole point of most craft breweries, and (Rob) really wanted to create a place for community,” adds Brittany Shuler, the branch manager getting Cincy Brewing off the ground. “A place where people can hang out, have fun, get away from everything else going on in life, just really enjoy themselves.”
Because the building once held a brewery, the Lockland location was already well suited to the new project, but the Cincy Brewing team, some of whom work outside of Cincinnati and all of whom have other full-time obligations, have been working hard to renovate and prepare the space. The months of construction have led to online buzz, especially on the Cincy Brewing Co. Facebook page. Rosen and Co. still haven’t set a firm opening date, but the goal is this summer.
“We are really excited to be opening in the Lockland/Reading/Wyoming/Lincoln Heights area,” Rosen says. “We really look forward to becoming involved in the community and do not plan on leaving. We plan to have something for everyone, including non-beer drinkers. We really appreciate all the patience that everyone has shown while we try to get open and look forward to everyone coming out and enjoying our beer.”
Cincy Brewing Co. beers will run the gamut, with brews featuring locally inspired names including the St. Clair Saison and the Lincoln Heights IPA. They have also developed a red IPA, a coffee porter and a Belgian light to round out the opening tap offerings.
Shuler is particularly excited about the saison, which will be gluten-free.
“I have a gluten allergy and this is the only thing I can drink here; it is delicious,” she says. “We’re going to have fun with it. We’re going to brew good beer, everyone’s versions of good beer.”
The location will also have plenty to engage non-beer drinkers: there will be food available for purchase, as well as cornhole, giant Jenga, board games and even a board on the wall for magnetic poetry. A side room will be used as a quieter space for conversations. And while Cincy Brewing doesn’t aim to be a sports bar, there will be some televisions available to watch big games.
The brewery will also be family-friendly, with dogs welcome on the outdoor patio, which they hope to have open this summer. Once the space is up and running, they also hope to have events to honor and celebrate veterans, since team members including Rosen and Shuler have served in the Armed Forces.
Shuler and the rest of the team have worked together but also remotely in the creation of Cincy Brewing. They appreciate that their space was once a brewery, but the steps to get it open have still been substantial.
“It didn’t hurt to already have some of the foundational pieces here; that being said, it’s still a lot of work,” she says.
The ongoing work to renovate Cincy Brewing Co. has also been informed by the team’s commitment to focusing on local vendors and contractors as they build partnerships that will carry them into full-scale production after opening.
“It’s a lot of management, design knowledge, knowing that every little aspect makes a difference: the color of bar, table, stools. Everything helps in the big picture because the little details go a long way. I work on the big vision,” Shuler says. “When I walk into breweries and restaurants, I always want to see something new; I want people to not know what to expect and be surprised when they get here.”
She says they also welcome anyone and everyone’s input as the point of the brewery is to “build value in the community.”
As the finishing touches are being put on the space and the team prepares for opening to the public soon, Rosen is reminded of the unique qualities of community in Cincinnati.
“Cincinnati has such a rich beer history and every community is looking for their own brewery,” he says. “The whole community has been super welcoming and helpful. That is probably a Midwest thing, but when you mention you are doing a brewery, everyone wants to help.”
The brewery will open to the public on Aug. 29.
Cincy Brewing Co., 607 Shepherd Drive, Lockland, cincybrewingco.com
