Inside Cincy Brewing Co., a Casual New Neighborhood Taproom in Lockland

Filling a spot formerly long held by Rivertown Brewing Company (since relocated to Monroe) off I-75 in Lockland, Cincy Brewing Co. opened to the public on Aug. 29, hoping to create a brewery and taproom where locals can congregate, enjoy a casual atmosphere and drink a pint or three. Cincy Brewing Co. is the brainchild of owner Rob Rosen. Rosen is originally from Cincinnati, but after spending time in the military, he was looking for a way to reconnect with his home city. Seeing the core ingredients in beer as a great equalizer, he thought a brewery would be a good way to get people of all backgrounds to come together to enjoy a pint, not just people who know craft beer well. “I think the nature of brewing is that it is an art that is accessible to everyone,” Rosen says via email. “What I mean is the technical aspects and the work that goes into a craft beer can be appreciated by an aficionado, novices, or your mass-produced beer drinker just looking for something good to drink.” Cincy Brewing Co. beers will run the gamut, with brews featuring locally inspired names including the St. Clair Saison and the Lincoln Heights IPA. They have also developed a red IPA, a coffee porter and a Belgian light to round out the opening tap offerings. The location has plenty to engage non-beer drinkers: there will be food available for purchase, as well as cornhole, giant Jenga, board games and even a board on the wall for magnetic poetry. A side room can be used as a quieter space for conversations. And while Cincy Brewing doesn’t aim to be a sports bar, there are some televisions available to watch big games. The brewery is also family-friendly, with dogs welcome on the outdoor patio, which they hope to have open soon. They also hope to have events to honor and celebrate veterans.