Best of Metromix Cincinnati 2012Beer bar
These spots for suds have all kinds of ales for whatever ails you.
And the winner is…
The Lackman
1237 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202Neighborhood: Over-the-Rhine & Pendleton
Opened in German brewer Herman Lackman's old building on 13th Street, this place pays homage to its roots the bar's sign reflects the label Lackman used on his beer bottles. Inside, it's posh and new. Hanging from the ceiling are three custom-made chandeliers by local artists Ted Gantz and Bob Dyehouse. The bar is 900 square feet of tile, exposed brick and the cushiest seats your rear end has ever met. The cocktail menu has been steadily growing.
Nominees
Beer Sellar
301 Riverboat Row
Newport, KY 41071Neighborhood: Riverfront
Beer Sellar offers sun, the Ohio River and live music. You can choose from 60 drafts and 120 bottles at the two-time winner. Though Beer Sellar hosts a number of European beers, the major focus is on domestic micro-brews. They also rotate which beers are on tap, often introducing new and hard-to-find brews.
Cock & Bull English Pub
2645 Erie Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45208Neighborhood: Hyde Park
A third location of Cock & Bull English Pub is open in Hyde Park Square. The other locations are in Glendale and Covington. Their trio of patios make it a fixture on Hyde Park Square. This Cincinnati location offers dinner and lunch. They have 60 beers on draft, and you can mix many of them together to make tasty a taste blended concoction. And if you want to take dessert up a notch, try one of their beer milkshakes.
The Comet
4579 Hamilton Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45223Neighborhood: Northside
The Comet, located in the eclectic, artsy and unique neighborhood of Northside, draws in local musicians, artists and hipsters with its cool atmosphere, extensive beer selection and San Francisco-style burritos the size of your head. The burritos, similar in weight to a newborn baby, come wrapped in foil in basket, accompanied by chips and homemade salsa (be sure to try the salsa of the month!). Patrons can wash down their burrito feast with one of the Comet’s 150 different beers. Tunes from live local acts and the jukebox - rumored to be the best in town - resonate through the 1928 structure. If visual art is more your style, then peruse the walls adorned with pieces by local artists or create your own art in the bar’s photo booth.
Dilly Cafe
6818 Wooster Pike
Mariemont, OH 45227Neighborhood: Mariemont
A fixture in Mariemont for 15 years, Dilly Cafe is the perfect spot to enjoy a cozy meal or try a sampling of wines or find your new favorite beer. Dilly also features one of the best selections of specialty beers, which you can enjoy there or take home.
Dutch's Bar and Bottle Shop
3378 Erie Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45208Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Legendary Dutchs on Erie, which has undergone an up-scaling over the years, boasts a difficult-to-rival beer and wine list complemented by formidable in-house expertise. Once presented as a beer dock, Dutch's now has a small wine shop, candlelight-trimmed bar, and a patio with a bocce ball court.The bottles available at the dock present a gallery of imports and microbrews ranging from Ohio to Belgium. If you order a large bottle of beer, a bartender opens it, pours it, and keeps the remaining goodness in the fridge until you're ready for another glass.
Fries Cafe
3247 Jefferson Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45220Neighborhood: Clifton (gaslight district)
A classic beer joint with a vintage feel and for a reason: Fries has been a bar for more than 70 years. The main bar on the first floor is a great place to socialize and have the knowledgeable staff help you select the best beer, whether it's one of their eight drafts or a domestic microbrew bottle. Downstairs, pool tables, darts, and shuffle puck are great for shooting the breeze, and upstairs is a cocktail lounge and extensive patio for feeling the breeze. Since Fries was a smokers' bar before the smoking ban, the patio makes for an excellent smoking spot.
Hofbrauhaus
200 E. Third St.
Newport, KY 41071Neighborhood: Riverfront
Enjoy a casual, authentic German lunch or dinner at Hofbrauhaus Newport. The Hofbrauhaus is the first Hofbrauhaus in the United States, and serves as both German restaurant and brewery, making freshly brewed German bier onsite. Sit inside or out on the biergarten when the weather's fine. Once the kitchen closes at 10 p.m., the party really gets going, with live German music and lots of dancing on the benches ensues.
MainStrasse Village Pub
619 Main St.
Covington, KY 41011Neighborhood: Riverfront
We whole-heartedly agree with Mainstrasse Village Pubs motto: "Drink Better Beer." Some people are understandably forced into drinking domestic beer because its the cheapest stuff behind the bar, but that excuse wont work here MainStrasse Village Pub has $2 daily specials on select imports and microbrews. Dont worry, you wont be shamed if you order a Bud Light, but we suggest you try to expand your horizons and tastes by trying one of the 200+ constantly changing bottled beers. The bartenders know their beer, so if youre not sure what to try, theyll help you decide if youre a lager, stout, ale, pale ale, bitters or heffeweisen kind of person.
Rock Bottom Brewery
10 Fountain Square
Cincinnati, OH 45202Neighborhood: Downtown
Rock Bottom Brewery is located in Fountain Square, making this brewpub a great place to enjoy American cuisine before or after an evening downtown. Known for both its food and the beer they brew onsite, theres something for everyone, whether sitting down to a hearty meal or trying a pint of the homemade beer. You can enjoy a hefty appetizer to start and move on to entrees of ribs, steak, burgers, chicken, seafood, pasta and pizza while enjoying the Fountain Square ambience with the outdoor seating available. Save room for original desserts, like the Pint Glass Sundae and for real lovers of the brewskie, join the Mug Club (free).
Follow them on Twitter: @cincyrockbottom
Last year's winner
Beer Sellar
301 Riverboat Row
Newport, KY 41071Neighborhood: Riverfront
Beer Sellar offers sun, the Ohio River and live music. You can choose from 60 drafts and 120 bottles at the two-time winner. Though Beer Sellar hosts a number of European beers, the major focus is on domestic micro-brews. They also rotate which beers are on tap, often introducing new and hard-to-find brews.
Add a comment
Please log in to comment