Cincy Brewcast

It’s not normal yet… but this is getting us one step closer, that’s for sure! This is the first show that’s been “in” a taproom since all of this happened, and it feels so good to be that way. I sat down with not just Municipal Brew Works, but some other folks from around Hamilton, too, to talk about what reviving this city is all about, and the community that has sprung up around a place like Municipal. We chatted about how the brewery has been doing during the chaos of this spring/summer and what they’ve got planned for us in the near future.

We drink a few beers, sit in the sunshine… it’s not a bad way to spend an evening.

I have been in love with Listermann Brewing Company for a very long time. From when we would stop in to buy a few bombers before a day of home brewing, all the way until now – these folks have done a ton for Cincinnati and our growing beer scene.

As the world around us seems to try to tear itself apart and burst into flames, I needed to check in with them to make sure that they were doing ok, and I wanted to try to get a peek at how they have made it all work in the craziness that 2020 has brought us. There were lots of questions that I had… especially about the expansion that they are on the cusp of.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much it pains me to have weeks where I don’t get an episode of Cincy Brewcast up… yet here we are. It’s not that I don’t have a good excuse – I have a toddler, and an infant that are creating a level of chaos in my household that is unprecedented – but it doesn’t help me feel better about it. From the beginning of this website and when “The Gnome” was born I tried pretty hard to not let my crazy life overflow into the Gnome, and not to let the Gnome overflow into my crazy life. That line gets blurry sometimes, though – especially now, and it’s unavoidable.

So. No show this week, which I’m extremely sorry for. We’ll be back next week – and I’ll be live tonight with The Weekly Pint. Sorry guys.

It seems like adaptation is the name of the Cincinnati Beer game lately… not that it hasn’t always been the game in craft beer – but it’s been crazy lately. Mt Carmel Brewing Company is no strange to adapting, and their business has always thrived on being a little slower, and maybe even a little more thought out for the long haul than their newer brothers and sisters in the game are. On the cusp of the big “reopening” – I talked to owner Mike Dewey about how exactly the manage this beast, and what things might look like in the short (and the longterm) for them.

In the craziness of the current state of breweries and beer drinking in Cincinnati, Ohio – it’s pretty refreshing each week to get a chance to sit down and talk to our local breweries about how things are going. Sure, it’s awesome to hear how everyone is dealing with this all in their own ways, but more importantly it’s awesome to get a breath of fresh air and feel some normalcy that comes (in my life) from chatting over a couple of beers.

It’s been far too long since we sat down with Fretboard to talk about what they’ve been up to – and they’ve been up to a TON – from their second location in Hamilton to getting ready to can their award-winning Vlad Pilsner – they even let us in on the great news that they are starting construction of their long-awaited patio in Blue Ash – there’s some great stuff in this episode!

As things just keep evolving – we’re now faced with a big moment, breweries are going to be allowed to let their customers back onto patios, and soon enough in taprooms to have a beer – but are we ready for that to happen? Our local breweries are faced with that decision right now, and they’re all handling it very differently – This week, I’m solo and working my way though all of this (plus a couple of beers!)

While part of this week’s episode might not be what I thought it was going to be – It’s a really great one. I got Bobby Slattery from Fifty West on the line to chat about how they are dealing with all of this, while also opening up their burger restaurant, and putting the finishing touches on their big expansion at the same time (read more about that here). The brewery is just another example in the long line of Cincinnati breweries that are managing to show us their ability to bring a bit of joy to their customers in the middle of the chaos that breaks out around us.

This week was pretty jam packed full of chaos – but as the world around us attempts to find their place in this new normal… so am I in my life. I’ll get there, we’ll get there – hang in there Cincy.

It’s no secret. Urban Artifact is an absolute treasure and we are so, so lucky to have a place like them here in Cincinnati. Much like all of their peers, though – things have been really “strange” to say the least with all of this Corona Virus stuff happening. The brewery has been forced to quickly adapt and change how they do things, and these guys have nailed it. From dialing back production (obviously) to launching an online store and delivery across the country to every state where they are able to… they’re working their butts off.

I “sat down” (virtually) with owner and Chief of Brewing Operations, Bret Kollmann Baker to talk about this transition, and how they’re adapting as well as to drink a couple of beers and talk about what they’ve got going on.

It’s always a blast to talk to Bret, and in this case it’s a breath of fresh air to connect over a virtual beer and remember what makes all of this so much fun!

I was worried about a place like Madtree when all this… “stuff” hit the fan. I wasn’t sure how a brewery their size with a taproom that is as busy as it is would weather a storm in which their taproom doesn’t exist. This show made me feel good, and I hope it brings some of that to your podcast player this week, too.

We all need a smile, we need to remember that our breweries are still out there… they’re getting scrappy and they’re fighting to not only stay a live during this, but they’re looking to get creative and get better at what they do and who they are. Kenny and Brady have created a place where ideas like this thrive… and this show is a brilliant reminder of just that.

From how they dealt with things from an operational standpoint, to what you do when an old beer blogger leaves a 16oz can of warm beer on your conference table… this one is fun.

This week’s show is… well… it’s the same as the last couple shows have been. But it’s still a Brewcast, and we still need to explore how everyone is doing through it all. I was joined (socially distanced of course) by some of my good friends in the community to talk not just about what this means for the community, but what it means for us as beer drinkers. This is all weird… it’s all uncomfortable and yet we keep going.

We’re not done yet, Cincy – stay tuned.