Visting Cincinnati

While this has been answered previously, I'll do what I can, being that I haven't been down there in a while.

The best shops are Jungle Jim's and Dutch's. However, Ohio has an ABV cap of 12%. IF you are willing to go across the river to Kentucky, there is The Party Source, which is one of the largest selections anywhere in the US, no cap, and has a brewery inside of it, Ei8ht Ball Brewing. If you go on Google Maps and search for it, you can see pics inside the place. It's pretty crazy.

As for breweries, I'd make stops at Rhinegeist and 50 West.

As for "bars", I've never took the time to find any, although there are people who will chime in.

Hope this is a decent start.

Cheers,
Kef

 

I will add that if you go to Mad Tree on a weekday during after work hours, be prepared for a large crowd.

 

Use this to narrow your search down and get back to us:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/place/list/?city=Cincinnati&c_id=US&s_id=OH

 

If pressed for time the Party Source is can't miss. Bottle shop megastore, brewery, and bar all on one

 

Dutch's is not only a $ bottle shop but a great beer bar as well.

 

Party Source is awesome, no doubt. However, I would definitely hit at least one on the Ohio side as you're not going to find things like Sculpin or Flower Power in KY.

 

I'll be in Cincinnati for the All Star Game next weekend. I've done a decent amount of research and have some ideas of where I'd like to stop. I'll be staying near the convention center downtown and will have limited, if any, access to a vehicle so places like MadTree, FiftyWest, and Jungle Jim's are likely out. I generally prefer walking to taxis when possible. Is it relatively safe to walk to places like The Lackman and Rhinegeist from my hotel? With that information about my trip are there other stops I should consider making? Any beer related events happening next weekend that might be worth looking into? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

If you are downtown, look at Neon's, Liberty's and Halfcut in OTR for draft and bottles. Rhinegeist, Christian Moerlein Tap Room, and Taft's Ale House are all very good and in OTR as well. The only place I'd hesitate walking to is Rhinegeist in the evening. The other places are clustered together. The walk from the others to Rhinegeist can get sketchy. It would be a very cheap cab ride.

The Christian Moerlein Lager House closer to the river is right across from the ballpark and is worth checking out too. It's also adjacent to Yard House which is a chain but has a ton on draft). Everything close to the river is plenty safe to walk around and the banks is very nice. The true gems are going to be found in OTR, however.

It would also be very easy to shoot to the other side of the river (either a long walk or rent a bicycle at one of the many bike sharing stations). There is Newport on the Levee, Hofbrauhaus, Beer Sellar and the Party Source (amazingly huge liquor store - although people go goo-goo for this place I find lots of REALLY stale bottles so watch for that).

 

Where in Cincinnati will you be? I'd be happy to narrow down the choices based on what I prefer based on your location.

Cappy's in Loveland is among the best bottle shops in the city (along with Jungle Jim's and Dutch's). Dutch's is rough as you can't look and see what they have. As far as the Northern 'burbs go, Firehouse Grilland Sammy's Gourmet Burgers and Beer have great selections on tap. They are also right by Blue Ash Shell which has a phenomenal selection for a gas station.

My favorite breweries to visit are MadTree and Fifty West. Fifty West tends to be my favorite, and for my money have the deepest and most consistent lineup. MadTree's taps rotate a lot which is why I think locals love it, but for a visitor I'd tend toward 50W. Their food is also phenomenal.

 

I recently visited the Over the Rhine area and found some good bars. I asked a bartender what he had good in an IPA and he offered me an Alpine Duet!

 

I checked out a spot called Urban Artifact that does sour beers, they were pretty cool.

Half Cut in the OTR neighborhood was nice, and there's a taco joint called Gomez around the corner that is solid & will deliver to your seat. Its very close to Rhinegeist who do not sell their cans at their brewery.

Jungle Jim's is outside the city but has an amazing beer selection,as other have noted.

 

Half Cut. Half Cut. Half Cut.

Such a cool little space.

 

@goast8127 Visited last summer and if you have an hour or two to kill and don't mind driving 10 minutes, you have to hit up Incline Public House. The restaurant overlooks the entire city and has a solid craft beer selection. Breathtaking views for someone from an area with no hills/mountains, etc.