I give tours through that church often.  I was in there two weeks ago.  It's stable and has a new roof, but that's about it.  They have a LOT of work to do.  I'm assuming they'll replace the windows, add some fixtures, but generally keep it as a shell.  I can't imagine the cost of refinishing every surface in that place.

I give tours through that church often.  I was in there two weeks ago.  It's stable and has a new roof, but that's about it.  They have a LOT of work to do.  I'm assuming they'll replace the windows, add some fixtures, but generally keep it as a shell.  I can't imagine the cost of refinishing every surface in that place.

 

A clean shell with solid masonry and roof/gutters/cornice is a true blessing in OTR - best one can hope for.

 

the BC article mentions a $7-8M budget.

 

Are these guys purchasing the building?  If so, their improvements will have some value after the restaurant goes out of business.  I hate to be pessimistic but that is an absolutely huge amount of money to be investing in a new restaurant/bar/brewery. 

In case anyone was familiar with this, Magic Hat and West Sixth Brewing (in Lexington, KY) settled a lawsuit alleging that West Sixth's logo looked too similar to Magic Hat's #9.

 

http://bizlex.com/2013/06/west-sixth-and-magic-hat-settle-lawsuit/

 

There was a conversation about this lawsuit in May or so (either here or in the The BEER Thread) but it was lost in the Great UrbanOhio Crash of 2013.

In other news:

 

Rhinegeist will begin canning in January 2014

 

Also, Christian Moerlein and Listermann released a collaboration brew called Saigon Sap which features local apple cider and saigon cinnamon in a brown lager. It's on tap in the Moerlein Taproom on Moore Street. I really liked it. Christian Moerlein's Emancipator Doppelbock won silver at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver this fall and the newest batch released late winter for Bockfest 2014 will be blessed by Franciscan Monks.

 

Christian Moerlein will also be releasing small batches of beer in their specialty series, "Tempest". The first release will be in February and is a barrel aged Christkindl Winter Ale in Woodford Reserve Barrels. Not all of the beers in the Tempest series will be barrel aged, just this first release.

 

Finally, a new craft beer store will open up at the corner of 12th and Walnut in the former Lucy Blue pickup window. Halfcut OTR will open in January and serve mostly to-go beer with a small room for tastings and growler fills. They have a campaign online to raise funds with rewards similar to Kickstarter. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/halfcut-pouring-this-winter

Double Barrel Brewing is changing it's name after a cease and desist letter from Firestone Walker Brewing Company because they brew a beer called "Double Barrel Ale".

 

The new name will be Bad Tom Brewing.

 

The brewers decided to go with “Bad Tom” as the Bad Tom brown ale is their signature brew and the product that many people identify their brand with.

 

The name is taken from Smith’s great-great uncle “Bad” Tom Smith who was an outlaw in the 1800s.

 

Smith said the brewery has also been approached by local authors and film producers about Bad Tom Smith in recent months. A film and book about the notorious Eastern Kentucky outlaw is available about the brewery’s taproom.

 

The brewers said fans of their beer can look forward to a new look and more as they move toward increased distribution in the coming year.

 

Bad Tom/Double Barrel is located on Eastern Avenue near Beechmont Ave.

 

Sam Adams pouring millions into Cincinnati brewery

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

Some more details have come out on Boston Beer Co. Inc.’s expansion plans for its Samuel Adams Brewery in Cincinnati’s West End.

 

The Boston-based craft beer company is pouring nearly $6 million into its facility, located at 1625 Central Parkway. Cincinnati-based Reece-Campbell Inc. is the general contractor for the expansion project.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/02/13/sam-adams-pouring-millions-into.html

 

BTW saw the police writing a dozen or more parking tickets down at Rheingeist last weekend.  There wasn't a special event but there were between 100-200 people in the bar, meaning people were parked at bus stops, in front of hydrants, etc.  I wouldn't be surprised if they start having a car break-in problem.  There are just way too many nice cars parked up and down dark side streets. 

^^ my friend was up there a couple weeks ago and his car was broken into, a good car but not like a Mercedes or anything.  Window was smashed and they took some CD's and sunglasses. 

 

Rhinegeist is great and unique spot, but hopefully that does not become a lingering deterrent. 

During nicer weather they always had their doorman outside.  He's had to move inside in the cold.  At some point they're going to have to hire a guy to patrol the parked cars. 

Whatever happened to the Barrel House?  I think it was on 12th.

I've been to Rhinegeist, but I'm not very familiar with the area surrounding it.  Is there any chance that other development will happen nearby any time soon?  More eyes on the street would negate some of what we're talking about now.

It will likely be a while before enough new development happens to make it that much safer. There is probably going to be a strange period where the streetcar is going through but a lot of buildings aren't being redeveloped because slumlords and absentee owners want to make a lot of money and are holding out for the jackpot.

Yeah, it will definitely take some time for development to spread from the Vine Street area where it is happening now.  I guess I was hoping that Rhinegeist and Findlay market would effect whatever is in between them independently from the development south east of it.

The owners of MOTR (1345 Main Street) just entered lager cellars in their building for the first time.

 

A shaft extends from the front of the stage, bypasses the basement, and enters a subbasement.

 

The object that looks like a crane in the first photo is the stage lighting hanging from the ceiling.

 

 

^ Looks like old ceramic beer bottles on the floor in that last pic. Though they could be modern glass bottles with a coating of dust.

 

Cool stuff.

Whatever happened to the Barrel House?  I think it was on 12th.

 

Yeah, it closed around 2003.  It's the Art Academy now.

 

I'd say OTR is only right now back to its circa-2000 peak.  The big difference between now and then is that it's much more restaurant and now beer hall focused whereas it was all bars in the late 90s.  It really took off around 1998, right after all of the bars on 2nd street were demolished for Paul Brown Stadium. 

 

 

 

 

^Do you believe OTR in the present is more sustainable than it was at it's peak in 2000?

The OTR of today is a much more balanced/sustainable neighborhood.  The "peak" was great for nightlife (bars/clubs), with a little retail and residential thrown in as well.  It was really only hopping on Thursday thru Saturday nights though, the rest of the time most of the larger clubs weren't even open, and the more neighborhood-type bars were open, but nowhere near full.  Today's OTR is leaps and bounds better in terms of balanced development.

The OTR of today is a much more balanced/sustainable neighborhood.  The "peak" was great for nightlife (bars/clubs), with a little retail and residential thrown in as well.  It was really only hopping on Thursday thru Saturday nights though, the rest of the time most of the larger clubs weren't even open, and the more neighborhood-type bars were open, but nowhere near full.  Today's OTR is leaps and bounds better in terms of balanced development.

 

Absolutely, although there were many good art galleries on Main and Clay as late as about 2004.  The gallery walk used to draw well over 1,000 people.  There aren't any "real" art galleries left anymore.

 

The only things west of The Barrel House were The Warehouse and the short-lived Club Venus, which is where Mercer Commons is now facing Vine, next to the defunct Red Barn restaurant.  There was absolutely nothing west of Vine, and Washington Park was a total mess. 

 

I am excited to see how Walnut Street Develops.  It looks like the East Side of Walnut, starting at Grammar's and going south to 14th Street again is owned by Urban Sites and they are doing work at the NE corner of 14th and Walnut right now, and already have at least one of those buildings open.  That will make a great transition from Vine to Main.

 

Also Republic street will be a very neat corridor once all of it is redeveloped.  Very narrow street and urban, maybe a few corner restaurants and bars, and short walk to Vine Street and Washington Park.  Right now it is pretty hollow but I am guessing it will change pretty quickly because of the streetcar allowing less parking requirements.

Anyone know why or what was going on here?  My fear has been that this particular brewery is a total loss at this point.  I'm still holding out hope that somebody has some better news for me though.....

 

Cutting torches spark blaze at former Hudepohl Brewery

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20140216/NEWS/302160051/Cutting-torches-spark-blaze-former-Hudepohl-Brewery

Anyone know why or what was going on here?  My fear has been that this particular brewery is a total loss at this point.  I'm still holding out hope that somebody has some better news for me though.....

 

Cutting torches spark blaze at former Hudepohl Brewery

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20140216/NEWS/302160051/Cutting-torches-spark-blaze-former-Hudepohl-Brewery

 

I don't know what they could have been doing other than scrapping what metals are left or putting up metal  over the windows/welding doors shut to prevent break-ins.

 

Since the middle portion of the building has been torn down, it seems like it'd be very tough to save the rest. Sadly, there are some really interesting spaces inside the building but it'd be tough to use some of them.

I was watching the PBS documentary "The Rise and Fall of Penn Station" and when they were discussing all the property that was cleared for the station and showing all the neighborhood scenes, I noticed the shot below!

 

 

^ I caught that last night too and I thought it looked familiar. Here it is uncropped on Shorpy.  http://www.shorpy.com/node/1766

Nice!  Awesome picture.  I also love the sign that was cropped out of the version above (present in Dizzy's link) that advertises "ICE, COAL, AND WOOD" for sale.  That's one you just don't see anymore.

 

Sam Adams pouring millions into Cincinnati brewery

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/02/13/sam-adams-pouring-millions-into.html

 

At least 4 of these arriving today:

They were talking about those silos on 700WLW today.  Apparently they were transported down the length of Montgomery Rd. 

I have a hunch Jim Koch is into the Brewery District idea and wants to open a taproom.

 

He was a pioneer in the craft beer industry, is a native Cincinnatian (with implicit respect for the city and its brewing heritage, given the location of his brewery). I've heard he has always been pretty encouraging of other small time breweries. Is it a coincidence this investment is coming at the same time as Rhinegeist opening, Moerlein's taproom opening, the Brewery District Master Plan being implemented, the streetcar coming right by his brewery...etc... I don't think so. All that has to be on his radar. (Then again, craft beer is more popular than ever, and they could just be increasing production accordingly.)

 

It would be good to have an internationally recognizable brewery for people to visit. Even if it is "Boston beer."

I have a hunch Jim Koch is into the Brewery District idea and wants to open a taproom.

 

He was a pioneer in the craft beer industry, is a native Cincinnatian (with implicit respect for the city and its brewing heritage, given the location of his brewery). I've heard he has always been pretty encouraging of other small time breweries. Is it a coincidence this investment is coming at the same time as Rhinegeist opening, Moerlein's taproom opening, the Brewery District Master Plan being implemented, the streetcar coming right by his brewery...etc... I don't think so. All that has to be on his radar. (Then again, craft beer is more popular than ever, and they could just be increasing production accordingly.)

 

It would be good to have an internationally recognizable brewery for people to visit. Even if it is "Boston beer."

 

I agree that it would be cool if they at the very least had tours of their facility.  It's within easy walking distance of everything else. 

 

 

Cool Places: Get a sneak peek of the Eden Park brewery

Andy Brownfield Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier  

 

 

Now is one of the best times to get into the brewing business in Cincinnati, and work is underway to turn the dilapidated Pump Station No. 7 in Eden Park into a production brewery and tap room.

 

That work includes the business of removing nasty things from the building that was built in 1894 that we now know to be toxic to humans – things like lead paint and asbestos.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2014/03/cool-places-get-a-sneak-peek-of-the-eden-park.html

Reds Craft Beer Opening Day Starting Lineup via Queen City Fresh

 

For craft beer lovers, their is a varied selection of breweries and styles to chose from including offering from hometown breweries Blank Slate, Christian Moerlein, Fifty West, MadTree, Listermann, Mt. Carmel, Rhinegeist and Rivertown. Let’s hope the addition of Wire to Wire Wheat, a new offering from Fifty West Brewing Co., is an omen for things to come this season at Great American Beer Ball Park.

I'm curious what the prices are going to be. Anything over $10 for pint is going to keep me away. I think the Moerlein draft beers were $9.25 last year? The other craft beers are all around the same price point, for the most part. Maybe they could do smaller pours for the higher ABV stuff.

In the past the 16 oz. craft beer price was used for Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale in a 12 oz. glass. Not sure exactly what price it will be. I think it will be something like $10 for a 16 oz glass or $7.50 for a 12 oz. Again, not sure, but something near that I believe.

 

EDIT: In the past, the craft beer was $8.50 for 20 oz. but that is likely to go up in price and down in volume, I believe. And I don't blame them, because that is actually pretty close to bar prices where a craft beer is often $6 for 16 oz.

At the ballpark is one place I'd specifically seek out a higher ABV. The high prices and potential to take a half hour to get another round makes it a smart thing to do IMO.

Former Moerlein brewer creates new craft beer operation

Staff Cincinnati Business Courier

 

The former head brewer for Christian Moerlein is moving on to create a new brewery, Soapbox Cincinnati reports.

 

Richard Dube, who was the vice president of brewing and quality at Moerlein, resigned from the position in February. Now, he’s launching Braxton Brewing Co. in Covington in partnership with Evan, Jake and Greg Rouse.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2014/04/former-moerlein-brewer-creates-new-craft-beer.html

Craft beers. You mean that stuff which smells like a shunk and tastes worse. Just what is the attraction to craft beers? Might as well go back to home brew laced with moonshine. That stuff had a kick too, but who wanted to drink it? I can't think of anything which can kill the gentrirication of OTR faster than craft beer.

 

 

Yes, let's neglect the fact that craft brewers grew 20% last year and recorded revenues of $14 billion while large market brewery's lose market share. Clearly these craft brewers don't know what they're doing. 

I'm at a loss for words.

Eden Park brewery gets state funding

Erin Caproni Digital Producer- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

A brewery planned for the historic pump station in Eden Park received a boost from the state of Ohio on Monday.

 

The Ohio Controlling Board approved a Clean Ohio Assistance Fund request for $736,520 that will be used to clean up and redevelop the site, which will include a tap room and outdoor beer garden.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/05/19/eden-park-brewery-gets-state-funding.html

Rhinegeist lands state tax credits to expand brewing capacity

Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Rhinegeist, the growing Over-the-Rhine brewery, received state tax credits Tuesday that will allow it to bring 40 new jobs, retain 15 existing jobs and invest $6.5 million in an expansion of its current facility’s production capability.

 

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved the 40 percent job creation tax credit. That means Rhinegeist’s state corporate income taxes will be 40 percent less on income it generates beyond what it already earns today.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/05/20/rhinegeist-lands-state-tax-credits-to-expand.html

Wow. You can tell they are going to be a huge national craft beer brand in a few years. Every time I walk in there capacity has increased.

Not sure how I missed this!

 

San Diego craft brewer eyes Cincinnati for 'East Coast' brewery project

Stone Brewing Co. would hire up to 374 in 5 years

 

Greater Cincinnati is in the running for a $31 million brewery project that would employ 374 people within five years and annually produce more than 120,000 barrels of beer and $100 million in revenue.

 

Stone Brewing Co., an Escondido, Calif. –based company that bills itself as the nation’s 10th largest craft brewer, is looking for a site that will supply customers east of the Mississippi River.

 

“Our operations facility will feature a full-production brewery, packaging, distribution and administrative support operations,” said a company document inviting real estate proposals. “Our Stone World Bistro & Gardens, retail and potential other operations will follow.”

 

Cont

Time to write Sherrod Brown!

 

Philadelphia Business Journal from April 14th: Congressman urges Stone Brewing to move to PA

 

 

Now that would be terrific. Stone is one of the top-5 best brewers in the US.

 

“Our operations facility will feature a full-production brewery, packaging, distribution and administrative support operations,” said a company document inviting real estate proposals. “Our Stone World Bistro & Gardens, retail and potential other operations will follow.”

 

Yes, yes, yes.

This needs to happen in the Brewery District!!!  Does anyone know if there would be a facility the size they would need near the northern terminus of the streetcar route?  Perhaps they could they hook up with the Grayscale Cincinnati people, they own the Jackson Brewery (Metal Blast Building,) hopefully this would fit with their other plans.  Does that complex include the more modern building on McMicken that's actually marked Jackson Brewing Corporation out front?  Could this fit in the Apex furniture building across from the streetcar maintenance and operations facility and Rhinegeist?  What about the warehouse building north of Rhinegeist?  Stone would really achieve critical mass for brewing in both Cincy and OTR!  And be another attraction on the north end of the streetcar route.  (Basically, it would really tie the room together, man  :-))

With Stone and Sam Adams in addition to all the locals, if SA opened a taproom, Cincy would probably start getting some national recognition again as a brewing capital. Especially if Stone set up in or around OTR, which seems like what they would do. I don't know why else they'd be eying Cincy in particular, if not to use the city's brewing history as a marketing tool.

 

The Mockbee would be a cool spot for Stone, though it's a tad far from the gravity of OTR.

The Mockbee would be a super cool location for Stone too!  With the Central Parkway bike lanes and a bike share station, it would be connected to Downtown, OTR, and Northside and be an awesome destination in the Brighton area.  (Some of the locations we're discussing might have difficulty accommodating the scale they want and parking for 374 employees and visitors though, plus the logistics of getting supplies in and beer out.  But maybe a combo of nearby buildings could?)

Yeah those buildings would be cool.  Or even if they built a new facility somewhere around town it would still be amazing to have them here.