tour center. Take a free tour of the production brewery and go inside the historic underground malt house from before Prohibition. Offers trivia, fowling and the Wienerwurst Mike Frankfurtary, serving up sausages, Bavarian pretzels and stuffed sandwiches. 1621 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-827-6025, christianmoerlein.com.
Darkness Brewing
Longtime friends Eric Bosler and Ron Sanders were homebrewing for years before opening their own taproom in Bellevue. It started with experimenting in their own kitchens, enjoying their strange brews and sharing them with friends. And it was poking and prodding from those friends that led to Darkness Brewing. The microbrewery focuses on the dark and unusual — stouts, porters and browns with ingredients like coco nibs, lactose, coffee and roasted peppers. 224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky., 859-815-8375, facebook. com/darknessbrewing.
different kind of enlightenment: one in the world of craft beer. To the brewery’s founders, the fi g leaf is a symbol of learning and improvement. The 20-barrel brewhouse boasts a large taproom and patio — a comfortable place to experience enlightenment for yourself. 3387 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Middletown, 513-832-1422, figleafbrewing.com.
The Growler House
Focusing on growlers but also offering tastings, the Growler House is one of the new guard bringing East Walnut Hills back to life. With 30 taps of fresh beer, it’s not exactly a brewery, but it’s pretty darn close. 1526 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills, 513-580-8277, thegrowlerhouse.com.
taproom and beer garden. Unwind and enjoy the splendors of MadTree 2.0. 3301 Madison Road, Oakley, 513836-8733, madtreebrewing.com.
March First Brewing
Named for the first day our home was recognized as a state, March First Brewing is an ode to Ohio. It crafted its inaugural batch on March 1, 2017 and now produces “Ohio’s most drinkable craft beer.” With a taproom that opens directly to the brewery, guests get a front-row seat to the brewery’s daily operations. Brewers are always ready to interact and answer questions. Though March First thrives on classic brews, like the popular craft lager or Denali IPA, it still finds room for experimentation
Carmel, 513-240-BREW, mtcarmelbrewingcompany.com.
Municipal Brew Works
You’ll enter Municipal Brew Works through the garage door of a municipal building in Hamilton. Bring your friends, your dog or your whole family; this brewery has a place for everyone. It also has a brew for everyone. Play some cornhole or hang on the patio with your favorite food trucks. Pair your brew with eats from trucks like Caravasos Mexican Fusion, Packhouse and NonStop Flavor. 20 High St., Hamilton, 513-6422424, municipalbrewworks.com.
Narrow Path Brewing
Located in downtown Loveland, Narrow Path is beer garden meets bike
Dogberry Brewing
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An ever-expanding nanobrewery helmed by two former scientists and passionate homebrewers. The new taproom and brewhouse serves up craft beer and plays host to local food trucks, complete with picnic tables, couches and skee-ball. Staple beers include On the Aisle Kolsch, a classic German blonde twisted with modern hops, and Maiden Flight RyePA, a spicy modern rye ale. 9964 Crescent Park Drive, West Chester, 513-847-8208, dogberrybrewing.com.
Fibonacci Brewing
A nanobrewery with a focus on science, math and nature and brewing non-traditional and hybrid beer styles. Their Foundational Series is offered year-round with numerous additional seasonal and rotating brews, available to sample in the taproom or in growlers to go. Fibonacci also makes wine, with varieties on tap and in bottles. 1445 Compton Road, Mount Healthy, 513-832-1422, fibbrew.com.
MARCH FIRST BREWING
Fift y West Brewing Company
Located in a historic home, this craft brewery and taproom doubles as a restaurant with a focus on beer pairings to match dishes like pork chops, blackened mahi mahi and a wide array of meaty and veg-friendly sandwiches. Find their signature orange VW bus, Penny, parked out front. Across the street, the expanded Fift y West Pro Works is home to additional fermenters to produce thousands more barrels of Fift y West beer each year, and an event space that can be rented out for larger parties. Pro Works also includes sand volleyball courts and canoe and kayak rentals. 7668 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, 513-8348789, fiftywestbrew.com.
Figleaf Brewing Co.
Thousands of years ago, the Buddha achieved Nirvana under the Bodhi Tree, a large and sacred fi g. But FigLeaf Brewing Co. seeks a
Listermann Brewing Company
Handcrafted ales, a growler station and contagious enthusiasm for home brewing characterize this owner-operated brewing company. Also offers frequent brewing classes, home-brewing supplies and winemaking ingredients and equipment. The new in-house Renegade Grille makes awesome wings. 1621 Dana Ave., Norwood/Evanston, 513-731-1130, listermannbrewing.com.
MadTree Brewing Company
Ohio’s first craft beer in a can, MadTree is run by good friends with a passion for creative brews; they’re always experimenting with new recipes. Stop by the taproom for a fresh pint or a wood-fired pizza from the in-house Catch-a-Fire Café. MadTree recently moved into a multi-million dollar expansion for more space, a production brewery, A N N UA L M A N UA L 2 01 7-1 8
in its taps. The Dry Limed Cider offers something different. 7885 E. Kemper Road, Blue Ash, 513-718-9173, marchfirstbrewing.com.
Mash Cult
Jon Wells and Tony Harrell are the brewmasters behind experimental nanobrewery Mash Cult. The duo brews small-batch weird beers like Ramathorn, a smoked maple syrup coffee stout; an unfiltered and raw mango gose; and a Mic Drop double IPA. Located inside Party Town. 6823 Burlington Pike, Florence, Ky., 859371-4466, mashcult.com.
Mt. Carmel Brewing Company
Founders Mike and Kathleen Dewey started brewing out of the 1920s farmhouse storm cellar in 2005. The oldest craft microbrewery in the area, they now produce 900 gallons of exceptional craft beer a year. 4362 Mount Carmel-Tobasco Road, Mount 83
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trail. Bike or skate down the Loveland Bike Trail to have a seat at picnic tables in the yard. It’s a location that fosters a sense of community. The brewery also takes pride in supporting nonprofits — it wants to make the world a better place, and a portion of sales are shared with local and global charities to accomplish that goal. 106 Karl Brown Way, Loveland, 513-2915503, narrowpathbrewing.com.
Nine Giant Brewing
A brewery and snackery in the heart of Pleasant Ridge, Nine Giant is the stuff of legends. Its story begins with a giant named Nine. Though many don’t know, these mythical creatures once called Cincinnati home, guzzling the great brews of the city’s past. The giant found a place among the shimmering taps and glistening blue walls of what would become his namesake. There are no flagship