Platform Beer Co. extends its reach to Ohio's third "C" this summer

The region is home to nearly 50 micro-breweries that run the gamut of speciality, focus, ambiance and size. In 2018, Cincinnati will welcome at least one more.

Coming this summer, Over-the-Rhine will be home to a new tasting room for Cleveland-based Platform Beer Co. The two-story, 2,500-square-foot space located at 1201 Main St. will serve speciality coffee, food, cocktails and Platform's barrel aged beer program.

The company was founded in 2014 with its first location in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood and expanded to a second location in downtown Columbus in 2015.

The OTR location will complete Platform’s takeover of "Ohio’s three Cs," and owner Paul Brenner explains that having a local presence is important to their mission and vision. “We want to be localized in our markets so we’re not just another brand on the shelf and so there’s some connection to the local community. Customers will get to come in and interact with our brand, our look and feel, and who we are — as opposed to just grabbing a 6-pack.”

The space will be part coffee shop, part brew pub, and will be designed to be casual and inviting all day long, with couches and comfortable seating. Platform is partnering with Coffee Emporium to offer coffees that have been aged in repurposed beer barrels, and the beer served will be finished on-site in bourbon, rum, wine, scotch and brandy barrels.

Brenner says it will be possible to enjoy a shot of bourbon and then a beer that was aged in its barrel, plus a shot of coffee that was aged in that same barrel.

Platform will also offer a full food menu, which is still in the works. Hours are projected to be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and until 12 p.m. on the weekends. Follow them on Facebook or visit their website for updates ahead of the grand opening.

And in other brewing news:

• Fifty West is now canning: Open since 2012, Fifty West has been in the Cincinnati brewing game for a while, but up until January, its beer could only be enjoyed on-site. Cans of Coast to Coast IPA, American Lager and Doom Pedal White Ale are now available for retail sale and on the shelves in local Kroger stores.
• Kevin Moreland joins Fretboard Brewing Company: Former Listermann brewer and co-founder of Taft’s Ale House Kevin Moreland has signed on as managing partner and production manager for Blue Ash-based Fretboard Brewing Co., which opened in November.
• Braxton’s new event space: Covington-based Braxton Brewing recently added a 2,000-square-foot private event space called “The Loft” above its taproom. The space is available for private parties and can accomodate 90 seated or 120 standing guests.