There’s no denying it; I love Cincinnati craft beer. It’s the beer I drink most often and the reason why this site exists even though most of my articles aren’t Cincinnati focused.
But Cincinnati doesn’t always get the credit it deserves as being one of the great beer cities. And while we aren’t Grand Rapids, Denver, San Diego or Portland; there’s a lot of great things happening around beer in Cincinnati. Not to mention the vast brewing history that Cincinnati has as well.
So I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to discuss a few recent stories that back up my claim that Cincinnati craft beer is the real deal. And from my perspective, it’s a city that is gaining national credibility and recognition among craft beer fans. This is bound to attract those looking to take a “beercation”.
Samuel Adams Taproom
Craft beer isn’t new. While it’s popularity has exploded over the past five or so years, there are breweries that have been working hard to build this industry for decades. One of those brands is Samuel Adams.
What many may not realize is Sam Adams brews a good portion of their beer in Cincinnati. Cincinnati beer fans have wanted more recognition and involvement from Sam Adams for a while and that is finally happening in the form of a taproom.
The 9,000 square foot taproom is expected to open in late 2018 and will be in the popular Over The Rhine (OTR) area just north of downtown.
This is a big deal for both Sam Adams and Cincinnati as the only other taproom they operate is in Boston.
Founder of Sam Adams, Jim Koch said “The goal for our new taproom is to offer beer enthusiasts in the area a cool place to hang out while they enjoy some really unique and interesting beers made right here in Cincinnati. I look forward to sharing a beer with our neighbors in a few months!”
Did you catch the part about “really unique and interesting beers made right here in Cincinnati”? While the taproom is just across the street from their brewery, they will also have on-site brewing. So we can expect taproom only offerings.
Not only will locals be excited to visit but it will also be a prime attraction for tourists. Regardless of how you feel about Sam Adams and their beer, it’s impossible to deny their brand recognition. Cincinnati craft beer will get an instant boost from having this taproom open.
Rhinegeist Makes The Top 50
You can’t talk about Cincinnati craft beer without mentioning Rhinegeist Brewery. They are growing fast and getting a lot of attention inside and outside of Cincinnati.
It was recently announced that they made the list of top 50 craft breweries in the nation at number 33. This list is based on volume and it’s estimated that they will break 100,000 barrels of beer in 2018.
That’s impressive growth for our local brewery and gives credibility to what is happening with Cincinnati craft beer.
Check Out The Full Top 50 List Here
And it’s worth noting that the new Sam Adams taproom will be a short walk from Rhinegeist. So you can visit two of the nation’s top 50 craft brewery taprooms in one visit. That alone should attract more travelers looking to enjoy craft beer in a new city.
Untappd Seven City Tour
Untappd began as a place to let your friends know what beer you were drinking. And you could rate and review it there as well.
A lot has changed since it’s simple beginnings as the app is now a platform for breweries to connect with their customers while beer drinkers discover the next beer they want to try.
One way this happens is through Verified Venues. This service allows venues to post their menu and upcoming events. This makes it easier than ever to keep their fans “in the know”.
To promote this, Untappd announced their Seven City Tour. They tracked check-ins by city and venue during the month of March. The top 7 cities would have an event hosted by Untappd at the venue with the most check-ins.
Cincinnati came in #6.
While this doesn’t represent every important metric, it does point to Cincinnati as a top beer city. The residents of my city love craft beer and their local breweries.
MadTree Brewing is the venue with the most check-ins and the event will be held on April 12th; starting at 6pm. Co-Founder of Untappd, Greg Avola, will be on site and I’m sure it will be a great time. There will be lots of Untappd swag to pass around.
To help make this a special event, MadTree is tapping 6 special barrel-aged beers and giving away free glassware to the first 100 people to order one of those beers.
Check Out The Event Details Here
Make sure you are following Cincy Brewcast as they are planning a podcast at the event that will include an interview with Greg.
Final Thoughts
When I talk to craft beer fans throughout the country, they normally brag on their local beer. I love hearing their passion for local breweries and why everyone should visit their city.
And I’m the same way. Cincinnati is a great beer city. With nearly 50 breweries, there is something for everyone so I constantly encourage others to visit.
A lot needs to happen for a city to elevate to the level of Denver, Asheville, Grand Rapids, and Portland and I’m excited to see Cincinnati’s reputation continue to grow. I suspect that more beer seekers will pick my city for their next “beercation” because of what’s happening here. It’s an exciting time and I’m sure more is yet to come.
