The Queen City is home to dozens of breweries — some small in size and others which produce on a much larger scale. Stretching from downtown all the way out to the suburbs, there’s a brewery for everyone, everywhere it seems. Here’s a few sure-shot destinations for local craft brew enthusiasts who’d rather avoid the hustle and bustle of the city center.
Brink Brewing Co. 5905 Hamilton Ave., College Hill “Good beer is about the people, the stories and the experience,” according to Brink’s co-founders John and Sarah McGarry. That is something the McGarrys learned from family — specifically their Uncle Jack. It was his fridge, chock full of artisan beers, and his neighborly values that led Brink to open its doors in College Hill in February 2017. The taproom’s communal table sits 20 and a brick wall stands covered in framed photos of the customers and community. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Fifty West 7668 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township Located in a historic home, this craft brewery and taproom doubles as a restaurant with a focus on beer pairings to match dishes like pork chops, blackened mahi mahi and a wide array of meaty and veg-friendly sandwiches. Just down the street, you’ll find the brewery has turned the corridor into a veritable outdoor activity destination with a nearby Fifty West Production Works with sand volleyball courts, as well as an adjacent bike rental and canoe rental facility to tackle the Little Miami River and bike trail. Photo: Scott Dittgen
Municipal Brew Works 20 High St., Hamilton You’ll enter Municipal Brew Works through the garage door of a municipal building in Hamilton. Bring your friends, your dog or your whole family; this brewery has a place for everyone. It also has a brew for everyone. Play some cornhole or hang on the patio with your favorite food trucks. Pair your brew with eats from trucks like Caravasos Mexican Fusion, Packhouse and NonStop Flavor. Photo: Khoi Nguyen
DogBerry Brewing 9964 Crescent Park Drive, West Chester Founded in 2015 by brewers Tony Meyer and Chris Frede, two science professionals turned stay-at-home dads, DogBerry was built on a search for happiness and a passion for sharing good beer. With fresh ingredients from local and regional producers, DogBerry’s menu, which includes almost 20 beers on tap, provides truly local flavors. After the opening of an all-new expanded taproom and brewhouse in 2017 — complete with picnic tables, couches and skee-ball — DogBerry is ready to serve craft beer to more patrons and host more local food trucks than ever. Photo: Khoi Nguyen
Fretboard Brewing 5800 Creek Road, Blue Ash Bradley Plank, Jim Klosterman and Joe Sierra, the trio behind Blue Ash-based Fretboard Brewing Company, seek the perfect marriage of their two passions — music and beer — by providing creation spaces for local musicians to rattle off riffs while grabbing brews at the taproom. Photo: Brittany Thornton
Little Miami Brewing Company 208 Mill Street, Milford Founded by brothers-in-law Dan Lynch and Joe Brenner, 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 RJ Express is the menu’s most inventive offering: it’s topped with pepperoni, sausage, banana peppers and toasted almonds. Ponder what to order over a glass of Bike Path, a European-style lager with spicy, noble hops, or Blackbird Fly, unfiltered American wheat blended with real blackberries. Photo: Megan Waddel
March First Brewing 7885 E. Kemper Road, Blue Ash Named for the first day our home was recognized as a state, March First Brewing is an ode to Ohio. It crafted its inaugural batch on March 1, 2017 and now produces “Ohio’s most drinkable craft beer.” With a taproom that opens directly to the brewery, guests get a front-row seat to the brewery’s daily operations. Brewers are always ready to interact and answer questions. “All in all, we want our customers to feel like part of our family when they visit us,” says Lauren Haney, director of marketing. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
FigLeaf Brewing Co. 3387 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Middletown Thousands of years ago, the Buddha achieved Nirvana under the Bodhi Tree, a large and sacred fig. But FigLeaf Brewing Co. seeks a different kind of enlightenment: one in the world of craft beer. To the brewery’s founders, the fig leaf is a symbol of learning and improvement. “It’s about seeking enlightened options,” says Tasha Brown, brewery owner and marketing head. FigLeaf opened its doors in October 2016. The 20-barrel brewhouse boasts a large taproom and patio — a comfortable place to experience enlightenment for yourself. Photo: Khoi Nguyen
Common Beer Company 126 E. Main St., Mason The Common Beer Company opened its doors in downtown Mason on Oct. 5, 2018. Owned by Amy and Mark Lortz, the nano-brewery’s beer is only available in the taproom at present, which means you’ll get to enjoy the family’s hospitality if you want to sample their fresh drinks. Photo: Sean M. Peters
16 Lots Brewing Co. 753 Reading Road, Mason The brewery’s name is taken from a historic land purchase by Revolutionary War officer Major William Mason, who bought the sixteen lots of land that later developed into modern day Mason. Just as their beer is steeped in historic tradition, their name also pays homage to the history of the city where they brew. The taproom also houses Mad Monks Pizza Co., operated by the owner of Habanero in Clifton. Photo: Sean M. Peters
Nine Giant 6095 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge Nine Giant is the stuff of legends. Its story begins with a giant named Nine. Though many don’t know, these mythical creatures once called Cincinnati home, guzzling the great brews of the city’s past. But when the city’s once-great brewing ceased, the giants slept, fields and flowers growing over them. Long after, Nine was awakened in Pleasant Ridge; he rubbed his tired eyes, trees still growing atop his head. The giant found a place among the shimmering taps and glistening blue walls of what would become his namesake. There are no flagship beers at Nine Giant — its 10 taps are subject to endless experimentation. You’ll find that general styles remain, but each batch offers an opportunity to swap out flavors and ingredients. Photo: Jesse Fox Photo: Jesse Fox
Sonder Brewing 8584 Duke Blvd., Mason Sonder Brewing built its brewery and taproom on what was a vacant lot consisting of a 40-foot mound of dirt and a fire hydrant a few miles away from Kings Island. Their grand opening was Oct. 27, 2018. Photo: Sean M. Peters
Narrow Path Brewing 106 Karl Brown Way, Loveland Located in downtown 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. It’s a location that fosters a sense of community. The brewery also takes pride in supporting nonprofits — it wants to make the world a better place and a portion of sales are shared with local and global charities to accomplish that goal. Photo: CityBeat Archives
Fibonacci Brewing Company 445 Compton Road, Mount Healthy Named by co-founders Bob and Betty Bollas for the Fibonacci Sequence — a concept found in math, nature, classical architecture and even the hop plant itself — the nanobrewery’s Foundational Series pays homage to its roots. Oberhausen, a pale, bitter kölsch with a grape finish, finds its inspiration in 12 families who moved from the Oberhausen area of Germany to Mount Healthy in the 1840s. Whereas the Tollhouse, an American stout crafted with coffee and cocoa, gets its name from The Toll House Gang, which kept Mount Healthy’s past alive by swapping stories over a cup of joe at the old toll house. Today, locals go to Fibonacci to swap stories of their own over a pint of beer. Photo: CityBeat Archive
Rivertown Brewery and Barrel House 6550 Hamilton Lebanon Road, Monroe Part brewery, part lab experiment. Rivertown produces high-quality beers with a focus on spontaneous fermentation, wild yeast and funky flavors. The Monroe Barrel House offers 30 taps at the bar, 24 taps on the patio, guest brews, cocktails, wine and Barrel House BBQ, beer-infused slow-smoked hickory barbecue, plus tours and free all-day-play on vintage arcade consoles. Photo: CityBeat Archive
Swine City Brewing 4614 Industry Drive, Fairfield Swine City is Fairfield’s first and only brewery — so far. Helmed by owners Dan and Debby Ebben, both native Fairfielders, the 5,000-square-foot open layout and acre-and-a-half of land are a family-friendly community space. ”They have two children of their own and know how hard it is to find a place to bring the kids and hang out after a long day at work,” says taproom manager Christopher Schulz. The brewery fre-quently plays with sippable styles, so taproom selections vary from IPAs and stouts to sours and cream ales. Photo: Swine City Facebook