Much like other cities, Cincinnati has been reaping the benefits of a booming craft beer scene. With over 50 breweries within a 30 minute drive of Cincinnati, there’s no shortage of reasons to check out a different brewery every week of the year. The Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom is the latest to open and it proves just how much the industry has changed as this large craft brewery embraces modern craft beer and Cincinnati.

Sam Adams has been brewing beer in Cincinnati for over two decades but this brand hasn’t always promoted their Queen City connection. But make no mistake, this Boston based brewery has deep roots in Cincinnati. The Founder, Jim Koch, was raised in Cincinnati where his father and grandfather worked in the brewing industry.

Which helps explain why so much of the production of Sam Adams beer happens here. And recently, they’ve been much more public about their connection to Cincinnati. This includes brewing the 513 Lager which is only available in Cincinnati. And now thee Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom brings their beer and personality directly to the area they already call their second home.

The taproom is located directly across the street from their large production brewery at 1625 Central Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45214. It embraces their love of beer and the city in a way that only they can.

Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom Changes Cincinnati Beer

That may seem like slight hyperbole but this taproom is a big deal to a city with a deep beer history and a strong modern craft beer scene. Many have petitioned Sam Adams to open a taproom for years as they wanted the company to embrace the city where they brew a large amount of their beer.

This taproom bridges the gap between this big brand and our local community. And while locals are excited to check out the taproom, it also drives attention from outside the Queen City.

Beer Tourism

Those of us that geek out about Cincinnati beer often talk about what our city needs to become a beer destination like Asheville, Grand Rapids, Denver, Portland (either coast), or San Diego.

Part of the reason these cities have their reputation is because they’ve had a booming craft beer scene much longer than most other cities. Popular beer cities often share a few characteristics which includes a mix of both large and small breweries including unique breweries that you can only try if you visit.

When it comes to Cincinnati, we have lots of volume, personality, and high quality beer. But just about every city across the nation now has breweries so it takes something more to make people want to travel to a city for beer. But with the Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom now open, things might just look different for this city that has just as much beer history as it has modern breweries.

Brewery District – The Modern One And The Historic One

Craft beer fans love the ability to try visit a few taprooms in one afternoon or evening. The Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom has opened in an area that already boasts a handful of breweries. Not to mention a ton of beer history.

Over-The-Rhine (OTR) is an area just North of downtown Cincinnati. This area has rich beer history which will be covered next. Today, it is home to Rhinegeist, Christian Moerlein, Taft’s Ale House, Northern Row, and a series of bars and restaurants that are craft beer focused.

The Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom is opening within a short walk from Rhinegeist and immediately in front of the historic Findlay Market. This creates another taproom option within the OTR neighborhood which is easily navigated by walking or the streetcar.

And did you know Cincinnati has a beer history that rivals just about any other city in the nation? Pre-prohibition, the OTR area of Cincinnati was primarily occupied by German immigrants that were producing huge amounts of beer. There were as many as 36 breweries in the area at that time and by the late 1800’s, they were producing over 1 million barrels of beer per year. Over half of this was being shipped across the nation and the world.

The beer heritage is important to Cincinnati and to preserve this, the Brewing Heritage Trail is being created. This is a new project that will provide resources, attractions, and tours to help visitors learn more about the history of beer in Cincinnati.

Sam Adams has been an active supporter of this project. Their new taproom is a very public way of continuing their support of this area and its history.

Beer For Those That Don’t Know Craft Beer

As much as you may love craft beer, the reality is craft if a very small segment of the beer world and an even smaller part of the alcohol industry overall.

And while we love our local breweries, these places aren’t always as approachable for those not familiar with taprooms. That’s where Sam Adams is different. You would be hard pressed to find an American that hasn’t heard of their brand. Even macro beer drinkers have probably had a Boston Lager or one of their seasonal beer releases.

For years, Sam Adams was the craft beer option on most tap lists. And while that has shifted recently, you can’t deny the presence and respect they demand. This is all true about their new taproom as it will be a magnet for all types of consumers.

The Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom Embraces Modern Craft Beer

Sam Adams is one of the small handful of breweries that brought craft beer to our nation decades ago. Back then, the industry grew by breweries distributing their beer to retailers and restaurants. But that market is quite saturated and local taprooms have become increasingly popular. People love getting beer from the source.

Many of the large breweries have struggled to grow their brands among the thousands of small and mid-size breweries. There are a number of stories about breweries reducing their staff and scaling back on distribution because of competition. So large breweries are rethinking what it takes to reach the wide spectrum of beer consumers.

This taproom is a very public way of showing that they recognize that craft beer has changed. They are bringing their beer directly to the consumer in a very personal way. Consumers enjoy this personal touch and it allows a brewery to build their brand loyalty one pint at a time over the bar.

It also gives them direct access to understanding the beer preferences of customers. And with special taproom only, small batch beers, this is the kind of place will want to check out and see how Sam Adams is approaching modern craft beer in ways that may surprise all of us. And this taproom will operate much like any other small brewery with on-site brewing, lots of space to enjoy a pint with friends, and they’ll even have food trucks. In many ways, you may have a hard time remembering this is the taproom of a very large brewery.

It’s a great long term strategy that I believe will revive local interest in their beer here in Cincinnati and stay in front of beer trends. We have to wonder if this will spark taprooms in other cities across the nation.

Inside The Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom

First off, the location of the Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom is perfect. It is directly across the street from their Cincinnati production facility. It is next to Findlay Market with low cost parking near by.

The space itself is beautiful. The massive beer garden is the first thing you’ll notice as you approach. There is as much outdoor space as their is indoor.

Once inside, the front half of the taproom is industrial with polished concrete, wood, and steel. The bar is easily accessible throughout the space and just a few steps from the beer garden.

The back half has chairs, couches, and a fireplace which is all arranged as if it is part of someone’s home more than a taproom. This is the kind of space that most breweries lack.

The bathrooms feature glass holders throughout so you don’t have to leave your drink unattended in the taproom.

All of the tap handles are located under the bar which means the servers do not have to turn their back to the customer while pouring beer. This is a really nice touch.

This 9,000 sqft taproom is first class without being pretentious. It is branded at every turn (check out the light shades!) but it all seems effortless.

But let’s not forget about the beer. While their flagship beers will be on tap, this taproom is home to a high tech 2.5 bbl brew systems. This is where this taproom becomes really exciting for craft beer fans. They will be making taproom exclusive beers here.

And in another sign of embracing the city, they’ve hired well-known and respected Chris Siegman as the brewer for Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom. And they’ve given him free reign so I have a feeling we will see everything from traditional styles to trendy styles. With his connections within the city, I could also see some collaborations happening here too.

Craft Beer Spotlight On Sam Adams ’76

Final Thoughts

Craft beer continues to change and I can only imagine that large breweries often wonder how to keep pace. I’m really impressed with that Sam Adams has accomplished with this taproom. This is the exact manner in which they can better engage craft beer fans.

But the Sam Adams Cincinnati Taproom isn’t just for craft beer aficionados but for all beer lovers. And I’d argue that this taproom will allow Sam Adams to continue to attract beer drinkers to craft beer just like they’ve been doing for decades. This taproom will be an amazing space to do that with the personal touch that Sam Adams has never had before.