
On the list of the most popular US cities for craft beer, Cincinnati may not top the list — and that's the way we like it. With dozens of breweries on both sides of the Ohio River, we're happy to keep these hoppy hotspots a secret for Swine City residents only.
Are you looking for the coolest, craziest, and most creative beers Cincy has to offer? From milkshake IPAs to stouts brewed with peppers, peaches, and pies, you'd be surprised at just how tasty beer with beets or bacon actually is. Let's see what excitingly eccentric brews are on tap around The Queen City.
4003 Eastern Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45226
Kicking off our list is Streetside Brewery, a newer brewer that's already claimed their share of awards. When we're craving a milkshake IPA, they're our first stop! The John Lemon is a lemon meringue, while the Yowie Wowie is a sour with pink guava. I Drink Your Milkshake is bursting with blueberry, and the Trouble In Paradise is a fruity blonde that's anything but problematic. Leave room for other tasty taps, like the Interstate Pastry Flight chocolate cream donut stout, the P.U.C. It pineapple upside-down cake Berliner, the Robe red velvet donut stout, or the Doodlebob snickerdoodle coffee brown.
5905 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45224
Speaking of Darkness Brewing, they partnered with Brink Brewing Company to birth Damocles — a black milkshake IPA. Sweeten things up a little more with the Brink Tiramisu Stout, the Pillow Case Candy cinnamon coconut chocolate stout, and the Moozie chocolate milkshake stout. This College Hill brewery has plenty of other brews — like the Kickin' Wing mango habanero IPA — but nothing beats a freshly tapped pint of dessert.
7790 Service Center Drive, Suite B., West Chester Township, OH 45069
Still thirsty? How about a glass of Old Motor Oil or Defroster? If you've ever wanted to taste a Rusty Bumper or a Haybale, Grainworks Brewing Company has a pint ready for you. Their uniquely named beers, such as the Mom Claude Van Damme, are brewed with a range of different hops and malts to deliver full flavors that you won't soon forget.
224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, KY 41073
Darkness is sweeping over Bellevue's brewery scene, bringing a storm of dark beers for your enjoyment. Darkness Brewing prides itself on mixing up new brews with uncommon ingredients. There's a batch of beets in the Witch Head Nebula red IPA. Maple syrup is mixed into the Ike Ike Baby vanilla brown ale. Cold-brewed coffee gives the Coffee Anomaly a smooth taste, while the bananas and cloves of the Beach Park After Dark lend a malty flavor to this dunkelweizen. Don't be afraid to wander into the Darkness — it's delicious.
1621 Dana Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45207
Listermann Brewing Company was founded in Cincinnati long before the craft beer craze hit the city, and you'd better believe that they spent the last 30 years honing their craft. Vanilla, hazelnuts, peanut butter, and chocolate are just a few of the sweet ingredients featured in their bottled brews. We suggest you start with a Shamrock Shake Irish cream stout, a Give Me Something To Bake imperial pastry stout made with raisin pie filling, or a Half Moon Cookie imperial brown ale. Do you need dinner before dessert? Try the Cincinnati Style Stout; it's made with chocolate, spices, and spaghetti!
27 W. 7th St., Covington, KY 41011
Head across the river to Covington and taste the concoctions cooked-up at Braxton Brewing Company. Their year-round and seasonal beers are fantastic, but their limited-release offerings and Braxton Labs exclusives really take the cake. The Braxton Labs Cherry Turnover and Peach Cobbler are fantastic. Braxton's brewers also use Graeter's irresistible ice cream to make their Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Stout. Beer that tastes like ice cream and pie? We know where we're going for a late-night sip.
4831 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45232
1445 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231
You'd be forgiven for missing this small nano brewery in Mt. Healthy, but trust us, they're brewing up something big every day! If you're daring, try a pint of The Tollhouse Caps, a stout infused with the hottest chili peppers on the planet, or The Tollhouse Soma infused with curry powder, cayenne, and cumin. For a sweeter sip, try the Pepo Acer pumpkin porter aged with maple and bacon donuts from Holtman's Donuts or The Tollhouse Mentha chocolate peppermint stout that tastes just like a peppermint patty. Fibonacci Brewing Company's unique nano brews offer global ingredients in every pint-sized pour.
Is it a circus inside of a brewery or a bar beneath the big top? Find out as you step into the surreal world of Bircus Brewing Company just across the river in Kentucky. Take your taste buds for a ride on Unicycle No.3, an oak-aged sour with grilled peaches. Behold the Cosmic Walrus, a golden ale featuring a crisp cranberry snap and a ginger finish. Sip on one of their other thirteen taps and enjoy live performances from jugglers, fire-breathers, and trapeze artists who take the stage in the recently opened Ludlow Theatre.
1910 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
No list of Cincinnati breweries is complete without an appearance from Rhinegeist Brewery. This local favorite produces dozens upon dozens of beers in nearly every style imaginable. Get your fruit fix with the pomegranate, blueberries, and limes in the Slangria, their hoppy Y'all Peachy made with peaches and Lemondrop hops, the UME Farmhouse Ale with plums, or the Centripetal Cherries Wild Ale. Stop into their taproom and seek out Truth, Knowledge, and their other year-round beers. Better yet, take your pint up to the roof and watch the sunshine Over-the-Rhine.
Which Cincy brew is your favorite? Let us know which round we should order next in the comments below.