Brewer’s recently opened tap room deepens ties with local community

Though it’s based in Beantown, Boston Beer Co. has strong ties to Cincinnati. The brewer’s founder, Jim Koch, grew up here, and his father and grandfather were both local brew masters. In addition, Koch’s company has been brewing Sam Adams at the former Schoenling brewery on Central Parkway since 1997.

And now, the pioneering craft brewer has expanded its presence here, with the opening of a 9,900 square foot tap room/nano-brewery.

That facility, which Koch described as the brewer’s “front porch” at its recent opening ceremony, is just across the street from the brewery and a block away from Findlay Market. (This is the brewer’s second tap room; the first opened in 2017 adjacent to its main brewery in Boston.)


“We’ve been dreaming of opening a tap room in the neighborhood since we purchased the brewery, so we could share our beers with local drinkers,” Koch says. “While we’ve been brewing our beers right here in Cincinnati for more than 20 years, our focus has been on improving and enhancing our brewery capabilities.”

“Now,” he continues, “we’re thrilled to see this dream finally become a reality.”

The tap room is on the ground floor of Urban Sites’ Film Center complex, which is home to 44 luxury apartments on its upper floors. A wall behind the bar anchors the space, and features large-scale graphics of the brand’s namesake and history.

When it comes to seating, the key concept in the tap room is choice: There are heavy-duty indoor porch swings, overstuffed chairs and couches at a fireplace lounge, and communal tables lined with circular stools.

Windows along one wall offer views of the onsite mini-brewery. In all, the combined indoor/outdoor space can host up to 350. (The overall design of the industrial-chic space is by Boston-based Bergmeyer.)

Tap room patrons can partake of pints, flights, or growlers of new and experimental styles brewed both onsite and at the adjoining main brewery. Beers available on tap will continually rotate.

The brewer showed off the breadth of its offerings at the grand opening, with the following styles on tap: Boston Lager, Sam ’76, Winter Lager, Chocolate Bock, 513, New England IPA, White Christmas, Cream Stout, German Pils, Cherry Wheat, Old Fezziwig Ale, and Boston Ale.

The tap room will also work to draw patrons and integrate itself into the community via a series of ongoing events and activities. For more information about upcoming events, drinkers can always check out the taproom’s Instagram account (@SamAdamsCincy) or visit their website.

“Cincinnati holds a special place in our hearts,” Koch says, “and we’re happy to be bringing unique and interesting beers brewed right here in Cincinnati to local drinkers.”