Mellotone Beer Project is located in the former Taft's Ale House at 1429 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Photo: facebook.com/taftsbeerco

A new brewery is temporarily opening its doors in Over-the-Rhine this week, just in time for BLINK.

Mellotone Beer Project, located in the former Taft’s Ale House at 1429 Race St., will open for the first time Thursday, Oct. 17 for a sneak peek during BLINK. Dennis Kramer-Wine, the former director of culture and founding director of distribution at Rhinegeist Brewery, and Alexandra Nowell, a career brewer and founding brewmaster at Los Angeles brewery Three Weavers are behind the concept.

Mellotone, which was named after a Duke Ellington album, will offer an elevated yet approachable menu with dishes made from seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Its scratch kitchen will focus on modern American cuisine that will pair well with fresh, uncomplicated beers, said Kramer-Wine and Nowell. The team partnered with Brendan Martin, formerly of Boca Restaurant Group, who will lead the restaurant operations as director of food and hospitality.

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Along with offering a sneak peek of its offerings, Mellotone will also host an interactive art installation by Kemper Sauce Studios throughout BLINK. Arcade of Light, which has appeared in past festivals, features a blend of gaming, art and engineering, drawing on the unique experience of an arcade. It includes three retro-style games utilizing LED light panels, and each piece is both fun and approachable, with an exaggerated scale that creates “a sense of childlike wonder,” according to designers.

“BLINK is such a distinctive Cincinnati event, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be part of it,” Nowell said in a press release. “This is a chance for everyone to stop by, check out our new space before it ‘officially’ opens and enjoy a few drinks while they venture through the neighborhood to see all the different BLINK installations.”

While Arcade of Light is not listed on the BLINK map, it will be listed in the BLONK app, which is an unofficial but extensive guide to both official BLINK installations and “rogue” experiences.

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During BLINK, Mellotone will be open Thursday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight. Following the festival, the brewery will close to put the finishing touches on the space for a grand opening expected in mid-November. You can stay up-to-date on Mellotone’s happenings and progress on its Instagram page.

Mellotone will also be raising funds for Edible Schoolhouse, a nonprofit whose goal is to strengthen the local food system in Greater Cincinnati, during BLINK.

BLINK runs from Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 17-20. Learn more at blinkcincinnati.com.

Mellotone Beer Project, 1429 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. More info: instagram.com/mellotonebeer.

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This article appears in Oct 16-29, 2024.

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...