Voodoo Brew Pub opens in downtown Cincinnati; here's a look inside

Voodoo Brew Pub is now open at 120 E. Eighth St. downtown.

By Liz Engel – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Aug 23, 2023

 

A new downtown Cincinnati brewery has opened its doors, and we have your look inside.

 

MORE

 

Braxton Brewing reopens Pendleton space as part taproom, part private event center

 

Braxton Brewing Co. is up and running again in Pendleton, following a weekslong renovation project that has subdivided and repurposed a large portion of its space. 

 

The craft beer maker – one of the region's largest – reopens Friday, Sept. 22, at 331 E. 13th St. following a six-week closure.

 

Braxton founder and CEO Jake Rouse said the building has been split for dual purposes. One half will serve as a private event space, called the Point. The other, which includes the bar and seating along the heavily windowed 13th Street side, will continue to serve as a taproom open six days a week to guests. 

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/09/22/braxton-brewing-pendleton-private-events-taproom.html

 

Email from Taft’s Brewing Company:

 

 

We are very deeply saddened to announce the upcoming closure of Taft's Ale House. We've made the painfully difficult decision to close our beautiful flagship location after 8 years of serving the OTR community. Our final day of operation will be Saturday, November 25, 2023.

 

The pandemic, a significant decline in tourism, and large increases in material goods costs have contributed greatly, but ultimately, we could not indemnify for the significant loss in sales since Covid began. We have self-sustained daily operations for the past couple of years, and it's clear our business model is unable to financially support the location in this new landscape.

 

Our main concern right now is our Ale House team's future. At the core of Taft's Ale House has always been our incredible staff. Their hard work, commitment and cheer brought to the Ale House and OTR will be greatly missed. We've given everyone notice of the closure and will pay severance to each individual employee.

 

We're offering employment opportunities wherever we have them, at our Brewpourium locations and contract beverage business. Additionally, we've compiled local hospitality job openings that have been shared. If you know of a favorite local bar or restaurant that is hiring, please share with us. We'd love to refer our talented team members, who, in our opinion, really are the best in the city.

 

Taft's Brewpourium Cincinnati and Columbus will continue to operate as normal. We want to wholeheartedly thank our loyal patrons, friends, OTR and the city of Cincinnati for all the love and support over the years. Prior to our closing, please stop in and enjoy a pint with us at Taft's Ale House, as we give a final sorrowful, heartfelt goodbye.
 

Very sad news.

Was not expecting this. 
 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/11/13/tafts-ale-house-craft-beer-over-the-rhine-closing.html

57 minutes ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

Was not expecting this. 
 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/11/13/tafts-ale-house-craft-beer-over-the-rhine-closing.html

Yeah very interesting closure. But also oddly not surprised I honestly never hear about the place at all and forget it’s even there. It’s a very nice and unique space will be interesting to see what goes in there.

From Cincinnati.Com:

 

” Reasons cited for the closure included the coronavirus pandemic, a significant decline in tourism, and large increases in material goods costs. Ultimately, Taft's said it could not overcome the significant loss in sales since the pandemic began.“

 

Copy and Paste the same reasons over and over again from these restaurant owners to the media. The truth is people just didn’t go there anymore the place got very stale while competition in OTR increased.  My last memory of the place was during the The Bengals AFC championship game my group tried to get some food and drinks around 945ish (during Halftime) and they where closed they only had the small FC Cincy bar area on the outside lower level open. Was very strange.

Edited November 14, 20231 yr by 646empire

4 minutes ago, 646empire said:

Yeah very interesting closure. But also oddly not surprised I honestly never hear about the place at all and forget it’s even there. It’s a very nice and unique space will be interesting to see what goes in there.

From Cincinnati.Com:

 

” Reasons cited for the closure included the coronavirus pandemic, a significant decline in tourism, and large increases in material goods costs. Ultimately, Taft's said it could not overcome the significant loss in sales since the pandemic began.“

 

Copy and Paste the same reasons over and over again from these restaurant owners to the media. The truth is people just didn’t go there anymore the place got very stale while competition in OTR increased. 

It always seemed to be decently busy when I went. I do hope something goes in there relatively quickly. I’d assume not till spring though.  

More on that...

 

Taft's Ale House permanently closing OTR craft brewery after 8 years in business

 

One of Over-the-Rhine's oldest craft breweries is closing its doors after eight years in business.

 

Taft's Brewing Co. announced on social media Nov. 13 that it will close its first and flagship location, the Ale House at 1429 Race St., after a final day in service Nov. 25. The brewery first welcomed guests on Reds Opening Day in April 2015.

...

Taft's Brewporium in Spring Grove Village, which opened in 2017, will be unaffected by the closure of the Ale House. The Columbus Brewporium, which opened in 2019, also remains open.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/11/13/tafts-ale-house-craft-beer-over-the-rhine-closing.html

 

5 hours ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

Posted this on the restaurant forum but thought I’d also put it here since it’s sad big news. https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/11/13/tafts-ale-house-craft-beer-over-the-rhine-closing.html

 

I mentioned this news to two people tonight and neither of them had heard of Taft's Ale House.  I never had the sense that this place marketed itself well, and if lifelong Cincinnatians haven't even heard of a place that has been open for 8 years, that tells you everything. 

 

 

6 hours ago, Lazarus said:

 

I mentioned this news to two people tonight and neither of them had heard of Taft's Ale House.  I never had the sense that this place marketed itself well, and if lifelong Cincinnatians haven't even heard of a place that has been open for 8 years, that tells you everything. 

 

 

Exactly what I said in the restaurant thread.

The good news is that a formerly condemned church is now a beautiful space that can hopefully be repurposed by something else. I will miss Taft's beer, their food has gone downhill in recent years, but I will still miss the space in general. I just really hope that it remains a space that is open to the public and turn into yet another event space. 

The beer will still be available as they do the vast majority of their brewing and all of their canning at their other Cincy location which is staying open. 

Edited November 14, 20231 yr by Cincy513

I just always thought their business model was weird, it was a restaurant first that just happened to have a brewery attached. That means more cooks, more wait staff more bar tenders for the upstairs and downstairs bars etc. I don't know why they didn't just have the whole space open seating style, like Rhinegeist, and then maybe have a little self-serve food area in the back for people who want it. As it was it needed like 8 people working at any given time just to function, and for people who wanted to just grab a drink before the FCC game or for happy hour the space was weirdly limited. 

I always liked Tafts, it was a cozy beer hall and not has big of a feeling as Rheinghiest. I think it has a purpose there, but seems like whomever takes over the concept would need to invest into a cool concept. It was a great place to stop before FC games and even Reds games. It was also just a cool beer hall to drink on a Saturday afternoon. I know competition certainly has affected their success but it has a cool setup, I find it hard to think that nothing will go into that space

I think there have been a few signals over the past few years that they're more interested in their beer distribution and Brewpourium locations than the original Taft's Ale House. I feel like they never made any major changes to the menu during their 8 year run.

 

I went back to the first Business Courier about Taft's Ale House to see who the owners/investors were, and saw:

 

Quote

It will be co-owned by [former Listermann Brewing Co. brewer Kevin] Moreland, investor David Williams and David Kassling, the proprietor of Tri Tip Grill, which has two locations in New York City.

 

It looks like both of the Tri Tip Grill locations have been closed for at least a few years, and Moreland stepped down as Taft's head brewer and became an independent consultant in 2016, and now works for Fretboard. It's unclear whether any of those three are still investors in Taft's or have sold off their ownership.

From what I have been told from someone who works for a local brewery competitor in social media, a lot of the breweries are struggling due to the fact the college crowd is turning away from them. The mindset is that generation grew up in breweries and doesn't want to spend their time doing what they did with their parents.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That may be true to some extent, but how many college students can regularly afford a pint for $7? If your business model needs individuals with little disposable income to purchase high priced products that is a problem. 

3 hours ago, lobanio0 said:

From what I have been told from someone who works for a local brewery competitor in social media, a lot of the breweries are struggling due to the fact the college crowd is turning away from them. The mindset is that generation grew up in breweries and doesn't want to spend their time doing what they did with their parents.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

BORG drinkers killed the Craft Brewing Star

Edited November 17, 20231 yr by GCrites

Third Eye Brewing opens second taproom in former Hamilton Pepsi plant

 

Third Eye Brewing is opening its second taproom this weekend.

 

Doors open in Hamilton at a 12,000-square-foot former Pepsi bottling plant on Erie Boulevard at noon on Nov. 17. The official grand opening celebration will take place on Saturday with limited beer releases and live music from Cincinnati cover band Abe’s Lincoln, the company said in a social media post.

 

Owner Tom Schaefer started Third Eye Brewing Co. in Sharonville in June 2020 with his daughter. He said talks of a second spot started once the taproom hit its capacity of 2,000 barrels of beer annually and needed more room to grow.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/11/17/third-eye-brewing-opens-second-taproom-in-former-h.html

 

MadTree's Blue Ash location lands key financing

 

The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority has approved a capital lease with MadTree Brewing, which will help the region’s second-largest brewer to construct a third location at the site of an old airplane hangar in Blue Ash’s Summit Park.

 

MadTree announced June 7 it's planning a brewery and restaurant called MadTree Parks & Rec in a 15,000-square-foot former airplane hangar. The Port’s capital lease structure gives it ownership of developments while leasing them back long term to developers and/or owners. The structure allows a developer to save money by avoiding having to pay sales taxes on construction materials.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/12/19/madtree-blue-ash-location-lands-key-financing-port.html

 

The ultimate DadTree location.

Listermann Brewing Co. nears completion of first-ever taproom kitchen

 

Keep an eye out in early 2024 for the launch of Listermann Brewing Co.'s new kitchen.

 

Terrie and Steve Ipson purchased the brewery, which is located at 1621 Dana Ave. in Evanston, in February after founders Dan and Sue Listermann announced their retirement. It will be the first time in Listermann’s history that they’ve taken over the kitchen and actually owned the experience, Terrie Ipson told me.

 

Historically, the brewery has contracted with third parties to run its food service. Most recently, the space was home to a Tickle Pickle. The burger joint announced it was closing the location in August. Ipson used the opportunity to help push her vision forward. She said the kitchen is small but mighty, and not a large investment.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/12/20/listermann-brewing-company-new-kitchen-to-open.html

 

Rhinegeist Brewery installs Mac's Pizza Pub vending machine at OTR taproom

 

Rhinegeist Brewery now offers piping hot pizza – and soon wings, quesadillas and tater tots – from a vending machine.

 

The Mac’s Pizza Pub vending machine, located in the southeast corner of Rhinegeist’s Over-the-Rhine taproom, sidles up against the subway-tiled vendor booth previously inhabited by Columbus-based Tex-Mex chain, Local Cantina, which closed at the end of 2023.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/01/11/rhinegeist-brewery-pizza-vending-machine.html

 

For as popular as Rhinegeist's taproom is, I'm not sure why the food options have struggled so much there.

I think part of the challenge is that the restaurant space isn't directly connected to the taproom and the entrance from the street is somewhat hidden inside the loading dock area. Many people visiting the taproom probably don't realize there is an entirely separate restaurant space in the same building.

 

I think their best bet for that space would be to reimagine it as a Rhinegeist-branded bar that also serves good pub food. People would learn that if the main taproom is too crowded, there's plenty of space in the "downstairs bar" and you can order burgers/wings/etc. down there too.

 

Alternatively, take advantage of the somewhat hidden entrance and make it a speakeasy.

New Riff Distilling reopens Aquifer bar following year-long $3M renovation

 

New Riff Distilling is celebrating the grand reopening of its Aquifer bar following a year-long multimillion-dollar renovation at its Newport facility.

 

The $3 million project included some major changes to its rooftop patio, a refurbished first floor and a complete relocation of its Aquifer bar from the first floor to the third floor. It’s the first major update to the space, which is located at 24 Distillery Way, since the business opened a decade ago.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/01/22/newport-new-riff-distilling-reopens-aquifer-bar.html

 

'Are we closing?': 16 Lots Southern Outpost shuts down kitchen, seeks larger brewery partner to save Newport on the Levee location

 

One of the newest Newport on the Levee tenants could potentially close its doors for good by the end of the week – less than one year into its 10-year-long lease at the development.

 

Craft brewery 16 Lots Southern Outpost, at 1 Levee Way, closed its kitchen over the weekend and is going to operate the 10,700-square-foot location as a taproom only for the rest of the week. [...]

 

“We’re on our fourth general manager,” he said. “Now, the leadership team is phenomenal … but it’s too little too late.”

 

The brewery is out of operating capital, and this is the slowest time of the year for the industry. Hall recently cut the staff at the Newport location from more than 20 to just four. But despite the dire situation, Hall isn’t giving up yet.

 

“Are we closing? Are we not? Truth: this could be our last week,” the company wrote on social media. “More truth: we’re hoping not – a few more irons are still in the fire.”

 

 

Yikes.

People are clearly becoming bored with the taproom concept. It was bound to happen since it's been 15 years. Think about how short all those '90s concepts lasted: The Cocktail Lounge. The warehouse club with burn barrels and chainlink fencing. The mirrors, tile and jade green marble dance clubs with bars with brass railings. The NASCAR Bar (peaked in 2000).

7 minutes ago, GCrites said:

The warehouse club with burn barrels and chainlink fencing.

 

They have a pool table too:

 

 

The problem with microbreweries is that kids were allowed to go to them (unlike real bars), and nothing happens there (like foam dancing and fights).  College students and high schoolers aren't trying to sneak into microbreweries with fake ID's. 

 

 

I never felt that 16 Lots was going to be successful at this location.

 

NOTL has expensive rent, there isn't a ton of foot traffic, and 16 Lots is not a household name like MadTree or Rhinegeist. 

 

It's the same reason I'm worried about March First at Fountain Square. They do have high foot traffic, but they need to do a lot of business to keep it open, and I'm not sure they'll get it. Rent is surely expensive, and the brand is not a household name.

12 minutes ago, Lazarus said:

 

They have a pool table too:

 

 

The problem with microbreweries is that kids were allowed to go to them (unlike real bars), and nothing happens there (like foam dancing and fights).  College students and high schoolers aren't trying to sneak into microbreweries with fake ID's. 

 

 

 

I'm not really in to bar fights but one thing those did do was keep narcissists in check. Back in the old bar days those guys would get all smooth with every girl in there and of course they got their asses kicked enough times to beat it out of them. Now narcissists can run free because the only consequences are sad emojis and getting blocked.

19 minutes ago, GCrites said:

I'm not really in to bar fights but one thing those did do was keep narcissists in check. Back in the old bar days those guys would get all smooth with every girl in there and of course they got their asses kicked enough times to beat it out of them. Now narcissists can run free because the only consequences are sad emojis and getting blocked.

 

There are two types of bar fights: fights inside the bar and fights outside the bar.  The big problem with strips of college bars is that guys who had agreed not to fight earlier in the night might run into each other out on the street at closing time.  You yourself can be drawn into the fracas if you tell the two to get a room.   

 

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, GCrites said:

People are clearly becoming bored with the taproom concept. It was bound to happen since it's been 15 years. Think about how short all those '90s concepts lasted: The Cocktail Lounge. The warehouse club with burn barrels and chainlink fencing. The mirrors, tile and jade green marble dance clubs with bars with brass railings. The NASCAR Bar (peaked in 2000).

 

I don't think people are bored with them, the market is just saturated. Places like Rhinegeist and Madtree are packed to the brim every evening and all day on the weekends. But there's so many options now, it sucks to be a Tier 2 taproom.

I occasionally go to the AMC at the Levee, I've been to the box park bars, I've been to Wooden Cask. The people at the one box park bar told me to go to Beeline around the corner for a happy hour deal, so I went there once but otherwise wouldn't have known to go there. All that is to say, I just had to lookup where 16 lots is, and the answer is in the old Jefferson Hall space that is only visible if you are walking across from the Purple People Bridge. It's a terrible location and I've been to NotL probably 6 times this past year and didn't even know it existed. This isn't a "breweries are dying" news story, this is a "foot traffic matters" news story. After looking into it, I'm also worried about Amador, because I didn't know they existed either.

The costs for all that square footage are brutal if not filled. That's probably why so many turned up in non-prime locations such as '80s industrial parks next to the local bagged ice and motor oil distributors. 

True, wasn't Madtree's first location in a vacant exterminator building? I think there's something to the authenticity of a real brewery as well. If there aren't large vats nearby making smells and noises then its just a beer focused bar/restaurant with no service. These "outposts" haven't done as well, from Braxton to Platform (even Taft's did most of their brewing off site and felt more like a restaurant first) and now this one. I think Voodoo will fail for that same reason, it just doesn't feel like a brewery, so your asking someone to eat pricey decent food at a generic restaurant space with tall seating and expensive beer. 

 

The exception to that I think is the Fretboard outpost at Factory 52, that space feels unique and it also seems to have a symbiotic relationship with the food hall above so people want to hang out and eat there. 

LIGHTNING IN A CAN

Rhinegeist was never a lightweight in the market, but the brewery’s newest line could take it to a whole new class

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Jan 26, 2024

 

Applause peppered Rhinegeist Brewery’s Over-the-Rhine taproom May 16, 2023, as Rhinegeist CEO Adam Bankovich and Brian Fox, board chairman of Cincy Reigns, lifted the red sheet off a large cardboard cutout of a Cincy Light can.

 

Neither knew at the time how important the unveiling would become – that this humble light lager would not only sell, but that it would blaze a path for the brewery’s second phase of growth. Seven months later, as the craft beer industry cools around it, there’s a fire back in the belly of the beast on Elm Street. Rhinegeist, already Cincinnati’s largest craft brewery, is preparing for nearly 50% production growth – 150,000 barrels of beer in one of the next few years – and it will likely need to expand operations to do it.

 

The story of Cincy Light begins with Fox, who founded Cincy Reigns in June 2022 to become the University of Cincinnati’s official name, image and likeness (NIL) collective, through which community members might subsidize UC student athletes with sponsorship opportunities. At the start of 2023, he approached local breweries about an NIL beer that would generate proceeds for the collective.

 

MORE

I'm not a huge UC fan, but if I'm in the mood for a lighter beer I prefer Cincy Light to Garage Beer and if all else is equal I will choose the one that supports local teams instead of a national light beer. I think the "lighting in a bottle" aspect they left out of their story was the sudden backfire that so many had against Bud Light, they were able to capitalize on the Kid Rock crowd that went looking for an alternative light beer. 

 

With how many Salt Life bumper stickers there are around Cincy I'm shocked they don't distribute to South Carolina already. I'm pretty sure there are a couple of Bengals / Cincinnati bars in Hilton head that would definitely put Cincy Light on tap.

1 hour ago, ucgrady said:

I'm not a huge UC fan,

 

But...screen...name...uhh...?

 

On 1/23/2024 at 10:10 AM, taestell said:

'Are we closing?': 16 Lots Southern Outpost shuts down kitchen, seeks larger brewery partner to save Newport on the Levee location

 

One of the newest Newport on the Levee tenants could potentially close its doors for good by the end of the week – less than one year into its 10-year-long lease at the development.

 

Craft brewery 16 Lots Southern Outpost, at 1 Levee Way, closed its kitchen over the weekend and is going to operate the 10,700-square-foot location as a taproom only for the rest of the week. [...]

 

“We’re on our fourth general manager,” he said. “Now, the leadership team is phenomenal … but it’s too little too late.”

 

The brewery is out of operating capital, and this is the slowest time of the year for the industry. Hall recently cut the staff at the Newport location from more than 20 to just four. But despite the dire situation, Hall isn’t giving up yet.

 

“Are we closing? Are we not? Truth: this could be our last week,” the company wrote on social media. “More truth: we’re hoping not – a few more irons are still in the fire.”

 

 

Yikes.

 

Not so fast!!!

 

Newport on the Levee's 16 Lots Southern Outpost operating on a week-by-week basis as community support grows

 

Craft brewery 16 Lots Southern Outpost is currently operating on a week-by-week basis following an announcement last week that the business may close its doors for good – less than one year into its 10-year-long lease at Newport on the Levee.

 

Earlier this month, the brewery, which is located at 1 Levee Way, closed its kitchen and began operating the 10,700-square-foot location as a taproom only.

 

Del Hall, 16 Lots co-founder and chief commercial officer, wasn’t sure if the brewery would be able to last past the end of the month. But things seem to be trending in a positive direction.

 

"The outpouring of support was amazing and unprecedented last week. Minus the kitchen, our bar and beverage numbers were some of the best we've seen since our opening week and enabled us to stay open another week,” Hall told me. “Half of the folks coming in saw us in the press and made (a) dedicated effort to support our business."

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/01/30/brewery-16-lots-southern-outpost-open-another-week.html

 

Nine Giant Brewing expands in Cincinnati's Pleasant Ridge neighborhood

 

Nine Giant Brewing is announcing a much-needed addition to its Pleasant Ridge space.

 

The brewpub, located at 6905 Montgomery Road, recently expanded its kitchen and dining room into 6907 Montgomery Road, an adjacent storefront in the development that also houses a Goodfellas Pizzeria. The spot used to be an American Family Insurance branch.

 

The expansion has been a long time coming, Nine Giant co-owner Michael Albarella told me. It was written into his original contract that if the space ever became available, he would get first right of refusal.

 

“Just having that little extra space in the neighborhood for the pub has always been something we've wanted,” Albarella said.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/03/03/nine-giant-announces-pleasant-ridge-expansion.html

 

Newport on the Levee’s 16 Lots Southern Outpost announces grand reopening following months of uncertainty

 

After months of uncertainty, Newport brewery 16 Lots Southern Outpost is here to stay.

 

In mid-January, the brewery announced it could potentially close its doors for good – less than one year into its 10-year-long lease at the destination. Nearly two dozen staff were let go and the kitchen was closed. Since then, the business has operated its 10,700-square-foot location as a taproom only. A skeleton crew was operating on a week-by-week basis.

 

Now, thanks to community support and the help of two individual investors, the brewery announced March 5 it's hosting a grand reopening celebration, which will feature a ribbon cutting and a live band March 15.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/03/05/16-lots-southern-outpost-grand-reopening-newport.html

 

Willow Run Custom Bourbon to open craft distillery, bar in downtown Cincinnati

By Christian LeDuc – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Mar 26, 2024

 

A historic distilling company that thrived in the region during the mid-1800s is coming back to the Queen City with a few modern upgrades.

 

The new Willow Run Custom Bourbon is resurrecting the legacy of William J. McRoberts Jr., who opened the Willow Run Distilling Co. in the Greater Cincinnati area back in 1865.

 

The business is moving into the former Okto restaurant space at 645 Walnut St. downtown, directly across from the Aronoff Center for the Arts. The location was also home to E+O New Asian, and before that, it was the Ivy Lounge. 

 

MORE

26 minutes ago, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

Willow Run Custom Bourbon to open craft distillery, bar in downtown Cincinnati

By Christian LeDuc – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Mar 26, 2024

 

A historic distilling company that thrived in the region during the mid-1800s is coming back to the Queen City with a few modern upgrades.

 

The new Willow Run Custom Bourbon is resurrecting the legacy of William J. McRoberts Jr., who opened the Willow Run Distilling Co. in the Greater Cincinnati area back in 1865.

 

The business is moving into the former Okto restaurant space at 645 Walnut St. downtown, directly across from the Aronoff Center for the Arts. The location was also home to E+O New Asian, and before that, it was the Ivy Lounge. 

 

MORE

Hopefully it does well. Idky, but nothing seems to be working in that spot. There’s also Bourbon Kitchen and Bar going into the old Wahlburger spot but I haven’t heard any new on when that will open. 

1 hour ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

Hopefully it does well. Idky, but nothing seems to be working in that spot. There’s also Bourbon Kitchen and Bar going into the old Wahlburger spot but I haven’t heard any new on when that will open. 

Don't worry! They've got an "AI-driven recommendation system to guide [customers] through a personalized bourbon selection process"! </sarcasm>

 

I googled WoodCraft Bourbon Blender (the business behind this franchise) and found this site with a 13-question "quiz". This sure seems like a marketing team grasping at the AI fad (that they don't understand) simply because AI is in the news... which strikes me as misguided and likely to backfire. I suspect most people like bourbon and would enjoy making a custom blend because it connects them to something timeless about the history of distilling. Tapping 13 answers into a touch screen feels like a chintzy and distracting first step in that blending process, but perhaps that's just me. They could design this same "quiz" on paper (would be a fun exercise for a creative designer) with some simple instructions to generate a custom blend/recipe, but the fact that they want to make it seem "AI-driven" make me think they're missing what most people like about bourbon.

Cincinnati Distilling unveils revamped restaurant menu, announces two leadership hires

 

Cincinnati Distilling has announced two additions to its leadership team, along with the debut of its restaurant’s new revamped menu following months of analyzing guest feedback.

 

The distillery, a branch of craft beverage company March First Brewing, is located in the historic Millcroft Inn site at 203 Mill St. in downtown Milford.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/04/19/cincinnati-distilling-millcroft-new-menu-hires.html

 

Bircus Brewing Co. launches new crowdfunding campaign ahead of $5 million Ludlow expansion

 

The founder of America’s first crowdfunded brewery just launched a third campaign to jumpstart the process of a long-awaited, major expansion.

 

Bircus Brewing Co. and investors in the Ta-Da Opportunity Fund LLC purchased the old Doxol Propane plant, located at 2 Highway Ave. in Ludlow, for $300,000 about five years ago.

 

The 12,000-square-foot building – also known as Big Blue – sits on about 2 acres. In 2023, it achieved National Historic Register status, opening new possibilities for growth.

 

Bircus founder and Chief Goof Officer Paul Miller’s goal is to move his brewery production to the space and “turn it over to some people who are really great at making beer.”

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/04/23/bircus-brewing-launches-new-crowdfunding-campaign.html

 

Fretboard Brewing to open fourth location

 

A Cincinnati craft brewery is readying to open its fourth location, this one on the West Side.

 

Fretboard Brewing Co. is opening in the former First National Bank building at 108 Harrison Ave. in downtown Harrison, in an area the municipality has branded as the District, a four-block retail strip created in 2017 with the goal of revitalizing its historic buildings. It's now home to 30 businesses.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/04/25/fretboard-brewing-craft-beer-new-location-harrison.html

 

Has there been any update on Vintage on Race?  It was supposed to open earlier this year, but still no news on it.

HighGrain Brewing hosts grand opening in former Brentwood Bowl site

 

Silverton's HighGrain Brewing Co. has officially opened its second location, in a former Springfield Township bowling alley.

 

HighGrain held its grand opening at the former Brentwood Bowl at 9176 Winton Road on May 3. The brewery bought the 50,000-square-foot space in 2022, after the bowling alley closed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/05/03/brentwood-bowl-highgraint-opening.html