Get ready to 'cheers' for a cause this July during Ales for Trails.
This new beer-focused initiative invites the public to grab a Trial Hop Card passport and drink their way across local breweries to raise funds for the planned 34-mile CROWN urban trail loop.
CROWN — an acronym for Cincinnati Riding Or Walking Network — aims to connect Greater Cincinnati communities to each other and to trails (existing or in-progress) including Wasson Way, the Ohio River Trail East, Little Miami Scenic Trail, Ohio River Trail West, Mill Creek Greenway Trail and the Canal Bikeway. The 100-plus miles will include on-road bike lanes, multi-use trails and a dedicated "34-mile trail loop that's physically separated from car traffic," says crowncincinnati.org.
"This walkable and bikeable network will connect more than 356,000 people in 54 communities to major destinations like parks, schools, and centers for employment, retail, recreation and entertainment," the website continues.
Helmed by Tri-State trails with Green Umbrella, Wasson Way and Ohio River Way, the $50 million project is being funded by both federal dollars and private donations — which is where your drinking comes in.
Grab a Trail Hop Card at one of the participating breweries — MadTree Brewing Company, Fifty West Brewing Company, Streetside Brewery, Listermann Trail House, Big Ash Brewing, Dead Low Brewing and North High Brewing Company — and get stamps from all seven by July 31 to get a free Ales for Trails T-shirt and a chance to win a grand prize raffle.
Buy a beer, get a stamp; it's that simple. (Passports are also available for download at crowncincinnati.org.)
"We’re so excited to partner with breweries along the existing and planned trail route to build support for completing the CROWN 34-mile urban trail loop,” said Wade Johnston, Director of Tri-State Trails at Green Umbrella, in a release. “Just like our neighborhood breweries, the CROWN is a welcoming public space that connects people in our community.”
For more details and to download a Trail Hop Card, visit crowncincinnati.org/alesfortrails.
Or to donate to CROWN without drinking, visit crowncincinnati.org/donate.
*An earlier version of this article stated Listermann Brewing Company would be participating, but it is their Trail House at 3701 Montgomery Road instead.
