There’s no shortage of craft breweries in Cincinnati and each has their own unique story. Part of that story is how they’ve chosen to grow their business. The other part is the history behind their brand and location. Fifty West Brewing has a great elements to both parts of their story but all of it has been focused on building community.
Let’s see what makes this brewery different than the rest and uniquely positioned to do great things.
Origin Story
The story starts way back in 2012 . . . ok, that isn’t that long ago but compared to many craft breweries, Fifty West Brewing is a veteran operation.
Back then, 3 guys with varied backgrounds in restaurant management and brewing decided that they wanted to open a brewery. One of those guys was Bobby Slattery who had spent most of his life living and working in the Mariemont, Ohio area.
He was very familiar with the community and the decision was made to make Mariemont the home of their brewery. And what seemed to be the perfect building was available on US Route 50.
Built in 1827, it was originally the home to a wealthy family but that changed when it became a speakeasy during prohibition. George Remus, famous bootlegger, had connections here and spoke of how he was able to make money by selling alcohol headed West down US Rt 50. Which is where the brewery gets its name.
After prohibition, changes were made to the building and it became a restaurant which is what it remained for decades.
Fifty West Opens And Expands
When Fifty West Brewing opened up in 2012, they renovated the bar /dining area and converted the kitchen into the brewery. This created a great pub-like space. In 2018, additional renovations are being done to make the rest of the 1st floor and much of the 2nd floor usable once again.
And while the brewery started with a 3 person partnership, it wasn’t long until only Bobby Slattery was left. The reality was that the other two didn’t share the same vision for growing the brewery into what it’s now becoming.
Luckily, Bobby had a vision, tons of passion and a great team to help Fifty West mature.
After spending time with Bobby, it’s obvious that he’s got passion for life and his community. I have no doubt that he was meant to own a business like Fifty West Brewing. His vision is providing a place for his community just as much as it is about beer.
In fact, he admits that he worried that being “just a brewery” could be bad as it may lead some to over-consume and develop an addiction to beer. This is one of the reasons that a restaurant was included in the original plans.
And it is why opening Production Works in 2016 was so important to his vision.
Production Works is located across the street from the original BrewPub. It was an existing building that housed a bar that Bobby worked at and actually managed for years prior to buying and renovating it.
This expansion / second location accomplished two things. First, it provided the space to put in a larger brewing system and canning line. Second, it provided a place for activities that encouraged connection and healthy lifestyles. More on that below.
What To Expect
Fifty West Brewing has two locations that sit across the street from each other. To properly tell this brewery’s story, I must address each separately.
BrewPub
Located on the North side of US Rt 50 in Mariemont, Ohio, the Fifty West Brewing BrewPub appears to be a quaint while house when you first approach.
It is their original location that houses a bar, restaurant and brewing facility.
Once inside, you’ll quickly notice that the space continues to open up as you travel through it. The low ceilings provide a very home-like or tavern setting. The bar area is just inside the front door while the dining area is down a few steps. There’s also a nice size patio as well. I love how the patio is fenced in to make if feel private and removed from the worries of life.
This is one of the coziest taprooms you’ll ever visit; I have no doubt about that.
To the left of the bar is a hallway where you can see the brewing area and appreciate the tight area that they’ve been brewing in for years.
Production Works
Sitting across the street is Production Works. This is a building has a completely different feeling.
The first thing you notice is the silo out front with the Fifty West Brewing logo on it. Immediately to the left of that are a number of outdoor sand volleyball courts – more on that later.
Once inside, you’ll first notice the floor to ceiling fermenters lined up along the width of the building. It’s quite the sight and you immediately know that they are making serious quantities of craft beer here.
There’s a handful of tables in front of the fermenters and a bar to the right. To the left, you’ll be able to watch their canning line fill up cans for you to take home and enjoy.
Compared to the size of the building, there is not a lot of seating but that’s intentional. This location is more about having an active lifestyle and the majority of their customers are outside on the patio or volleyball courts.
It’s rare to find a brewery with multiple buildings this close to each other and even more rare that they would be so different. But each serves its own purpose.
More Than A Brewery
The most important thing to know about Fifty West Brewing is that they are more than just a brewery.
They’ve built and developed a community that loves an active lifestyle just as much as beer. To support this, they offer a wide variety of activities to enjoy while there.
First off, you can go just for the beer or grab a bite to eat with family and friends. You’ll have a great time and appreciate Fifty West for providing a great venue for socializing.
However, if you want to do more than just eat and drink then this is the brewery for you. Here’s what they offer:
- Volleyball
- Canoeing / Kayaking
- Bicycling
- Running Groups
The sand volleyball courts are part of Production Works so you can enjoy a beer and some food while playing. They offer leagues so make sure you sign up.
Fifty West Cycling is a partnership with one of the best known bicycle shops in Cincinnati, Oakley Cycles. You can get everything you need right there and then hit the Little Miami Scenic trail.
The canoeing and kayaking are done on the Little Miami River – ending at Fifty West Brewing Production Works.
And if you just want to keep it simple and run, they offer running clubs.
Fifty West wants to be the brewery that people love because they are more than just a brewery – they are part of the community.
Related Post: Building Community At The Neighborhood Brewery
The Brewery
As we’ve discussed, Fifty West Brewing has grown and expanded over the years. This has resulted in two brewing setups. This gives them lots of brewing capacity as well as flexibility.
Here’s what they are working with:
- BrewPub – Original System
- 10 bbl Brewhouse
- 9 Fermenters
- Production Works
- 20 bbl Brewhouse – 3 vessel
- 13 Fermenters
And new in 2018, they are having a canning line installed. This gives them the ability to distribute beer into retail stores. This is an exciting step in the history of Fifty West – more on their canned beer later.
The canning line also gives them the ability to do canned beer releases at the brewery. There’s lots of potential for special, limited release craft beers from Fifty West.
The Beer
So it’s easy to see that Fifty West Brewing has a lot going on . . . but what about the beer?
Have no fear, their beer is great and they always have a wide variety of styles on tap to ensure you can find something you’ll enjoy.
Here’s a few of the craft beers you’re likely to see on tap when you visit:
- American Lager
- Coast To Coast IPA
- Doom Pedal White Ale
- Coffee Please Stout
- Punch You In The EyePA
- Paychecks’s Porter
- 10&2 Barleywine
- Going Plaid Scotch Ale
The last two on the list have won multiple awards so I wouldn’t pass up on those.
And I can’t help but mention that they recently started canning their beer. As of early 2018, these are the three beers you can find at local retailers from Fifty West Brewing
The can design is brilliant too. It’s minimal but you’ve got all of the needed info including tasting notes.
The design that wraps around the top of the can, it includes landmarks you would see when driving from the West coast to the East coast along US Rt 50.
Related Article: Pint Or A Flight?
What To Eat When You Visit
If you are looking to grab a bite to eat when you visit, then make sure you visit their BrewPub on the north side of the road.
It features a wide variety of high quality options from small items to full entrees. The Pork Belly Tacos and Shrimp and Grits are two items that I have on my must-try list.
They even offer a Sunday Brunch menu for those looking to take their Sunday morning to the next level.
If it is a nice day and you want to spend time at Production Works, they offer food there as well.
And they use their craft beer in many of the dishes making it a perfect fit.
Location
7668 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45227
(513) 834-8789
BrewPub Hours
Monday     11 am – 9 pm    Tuesday    11 am – 10 pm
Wednesday  11 am – 10 pm   Thursday   11 am – 10 pm
Friday       11 am – 11 pm   Saturday   11 am – 11 pm     Sunday   11 am – 9 pm
Production Works Hours
Monday     3 pm – Close    Tuesday    3 pm – Close
Wednesday  3 pm – Close    Thursday    3 pm – Close
Friday       3 pm – 2 am     Saturday   11 am – 2 am     Sunday   11 am – 9 pm
Connect With Fifty West Brewing
Website    Facebook    Twitter    Instagram    Untappd
Final Thoughts
Many breweries have been in a hurry to expand and get their beer into cans. But Fifty West Brewing decided to take a different approach.
They first focused on quality beer and building a community in their area. Then they worked on increasing brewing to ensure they could meet the demand for kegged beer. At the same time, they developed opportunities for people to be active and connected.
It’s easy to see that Bobby cares about his customers just as much as he cares about growing his business. And now they are canning their beer and have big plans to get it out to more and more people.
Fifty West Brewing is a great example that there are many ways to build a brewery. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all business plan in craft beer. Instead, it’s all about knowing yourself, your customers and having a vision.
If you haven’t been yet, make time to visit them. You’ll be impressed with all of the ways you can choose to have a great time at Fifty West Brewing..
What’s Your Favorite Beer From Fifty West Brewing?
Feature Image Courtesy Of The Fifty West Facebook Page
