Urban Artifact

Urban ArtifactUrban Artifact
Urban ArtifactUrban Artifact
Brewery, Bar, Beer-to-go

1660 Blue Rock St
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45223-2554
United States

(513) 542-4222 | map
artifactbeer.com
BEER STATS
Average:
4.05
Beers:
216
Ratings:
1,886
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.05
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
29
pDev:
7.16%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TVail:
Photo of TVail
Rated by TVail from Texas

4.38/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25

Dec 01, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -12.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3
The building being an old church was COOL! However, the bar is located in the basement and it is small. Upstairs had an event going on so I am not sure if additional seating is used there when sans events. There was outdoor seating under a circus tent but not conducive to crappy Ohio winter weather....luckily is was a gorgeous day for our visit and we sat outside. The quality I guess was good...I am not a sour fan....so.....best to decide for yourself. The service I thought was pissy....not really looking to develop or promote the sour lineup that they serve....more or less just taking orders. I thought the beer was overpriced.....$32 for four tap beers seems high to me. The selection....is fantastic if you are a fruited sour person.....shitty if you want something else. Must stop for sour lovers......everyone else.....the building is cool.
May 18, 2022
Photo of nlmartin
Reviewed by nlmartin from Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +10.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
The venue has been covid locked down.

Previously the venue is a converted church into a bar. Very comfortable seating a nice wooden bar. Outdoors seating is available and a fire pit is lit many nights. I am a bit of a fan boy. Some of the best sour and tart beers I have drank are from Urban Artifact. Note if you don't like sour, tart or funky beers this is not a place for you. The bartenders know and understand the beers they are serving. They will frequently offer beer cocktails in addition to what is on tap. They typically have 10+ beers on tap. Again if you don't like sour, tart or funky beers this place isn't for you.
Feb 14, 2021
 
Rated: 3.83 by Manta200 from Kentucky

Dec 28, 2019
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.26/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
In what's basically the basement of a large church, they have a nice, uniquely creative space that's kind of steampunky, a little rustic and a little modern, with a larger room for live entertainment.

The taplist varies between more juicy, slushy-like "Midwest Tart Fruit Ales" and more refined, old world oak aged sours, all of which are unique and thoughtful, most of which are quite worth your while.

The vibe is super chill and cool, and there's plenty of beer to go that you might otherwise have trouble finding in your local beer shop.

They work with some local businesses to promote BYOF, or ordering to go, and it works well.
Aug 07, 2019
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

4.32/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25
A lot going on here, sour beers, event space, music, community

The tasting room is in the bottom floor of a church, with a large area for events upstairs and a music performance area next to the bar area.

For beers the focus is on sours, gose, saison and sour IPA...all I tried and took home were quite tasty and enjoyable...cans, bottles, growlers and crowlers to go. super friendly staff is always a plus...funky, eclectic, different and well worth a try if you are from, visiting or passing thru the ‘natti
Jan 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.36 by Jmar25 from Ohio

Dec 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.18 by Zonian1 from Ohio

Nov 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.86 by jt_thomas18 from Tennessee

Nov 19, 2018
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.82/5  rDev -5.7%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75
mixed fermentation beers. mixed vibes. until 10 pm on sunday laid back and better service. when music got loud all heck broke loose
high price point of si gle bottles like 16 to 20 a 500 ml. they havent proven their reputation of these things. interesting beers but so far no place in cincinatti worth a special trip.
Jul 30, 2018
Photo of deadonhisfeet
Reviewed by deadonhisfeet from Kentucky

4.28/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
One of my favorite brewers and very easy to get to. Service is outstanding and the bartenders are extremely friendly. They are in the basement of an old Catholic church, so you can tell your significant other "I'm going to church" with no shame whatsoever. There is very little traffic in their neighborhood with ample street parking, so the brewery is very accessible. They only brew sour beers, so if you don't like sours, I'm afraid they're stuck drinking guest beers. But oh, what sours they brew! You might even find yourself being converted (to sours, not Catholicism). Unlike a lot of brewers, their sours do not all taste the same (are you reading this, Wicked Weed?). They use ridiculous amounts of fresh fruit in their beers so you can really smell and taste the fruit. Plus, their beers are very, very reasonably priced. There is no food at the brewery, but there will be a pizza place opening up next door soon, so that will be remedied. If you go there, try to visit on a Saturday. Every Saturday they have a "beer parfait" which is definitely worth trying. They take a barrel of their Flash Lamp beer, add a stupid amount of fruit, some sugar, whip it up and sell it. The fruit may vary from one Saturday to the next and because of the post-fermentation sugar added, they will not let these leave the brewery. It's worth visiting on a Saturday for this reason alone.
Jul 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4.01 by Coco15 from Ohio

Jul 10, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by camman007 from Ohio

Dec 06, 2017
Photo of wingedeel
Reviewed by wingedeel from Indiana

4.23/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
Located in an old church in the NW part of Cincinnati. Just a short drive off I74/75. The vibe is not really church-like, big open area. The mens room was huge.

We got there on a Friday around opening. Not too busy, save for the appreciation club folks picking up their bottles. Lots of sours, and their variants, and they were very well done. Around 12 taps if memory serves. No guest taps. Beers are served in 4 oz , 8 oz, and pint sizes. They also do growler fills and flights. Our server, while busy loading up others bottles, was nice, and efficient. No food served.

I would imagine the place is hopping in the evenings, large stage for a band.

Will return on my next Cincinnati visit.
Apr 24, 2017
Photo of RockRuler
Reviewed by RockRuler from Mississippi

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
Located in the basement of a former Church. Tile floors and tile walls make for a fellowship hall / school cafeteria feel. Small bar area. The servers were very helpful and patient. They specialize in sours with many variants. Even though a band was not playing while I was there, they do have a separate area where one can perform. A cozy indoor space. They also have an outdoor area. Parking could be tricky if they are busy.
Apr 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.05 by ArkyVaughan from New Jersey

Sep 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.64 by rydev24 from Pennsylvania

Jul 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.29 by rjp217 from Massachusetts

May 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.77 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

May 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.64 by zimm421 from Ohio

Apr 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.18 by buschbeer from Ohio

Apr 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.36 by chrismattlin from Ohio

Feb 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.97 by Eziel from Ohio

Dec 01, 2015
Photo of Lukass
Reviewed by Lukass from Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4
Good selection of sour/funky beers. Love the fact that they have rasberry/blueberry syrups to add to cut the sourness if needed. Will definitely be back for the Blue Whisp jazz band, which was amazing. The beers were pretty darn good as well. As for the space, it looks like an old cafeteria.. which it probably was at one point. It needs a theme.
Aug 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.26 by Tylertut from Ohio

Jul 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.15 by meanmutt from Ohio

Jul 07, 2015
Photo of West_Chester_Ale_Tester
Reviewed by West_Chester_Ale_Tester from Ohio

4.04/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
My local sour brewery. The old church setting is probably the best out of the surprising number of breweries I've visited inside of old churches. They do some pretty crazy and wonderful things with styles you know and styles you don't. They do a lot of live music and community events. Not the best place to bring your friend that doesn't really like beer, but outstanding for the friend that appreciates the funky and tart side of things.
Jun 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by MaximumYuks from Oregon

May 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.93 by Enochase04 from Ohio

May 06, 2015
Urban Artifact in Cincinnati, OH
Brewery rating: 4.05 out of 5 with 1886 ratings