Fans of local Cincinnati Beer…heads up and hold to your mugs! The BrassTap, located in Clifton across the
street from U.C, is opening this weekend officially on Sunday. Now, you might be wondering why a Local Beer
Online Community like CincinnatiBeer.org would cover a bar? There are three reasons. The first, this just isn’t any bar! Second is that when the BrassTap opens on
Sunday they are launching with the largest collection of local Cincinnati Beer
on draft in the city! The third is that
the mantra of the company is “Drink Like A Local”! (dang, wish I would have
thought of that mantra!) (I know….who says “dang”?)
Mic, the managing partner, along with his parents Marta and
Mike Foster are opening The Brass Tap this Sunday, 29 September. When they launch, they will be serving up 21 Local
Cincinnati Beers. They have 80 taps
available of great beer overall and their goal is that they will get to 30 of
their taps being dedicated to Local Cincinnati Beer. Cool random side
note: Mic, Marta and Mike had been
working on this concept for about two years, but it was actually mom (Marta)
that discovered the BrassTap opportunity in Tampa at The BrassTap Headquarters…way
to go Mom!!!! (Moms rock!) (I’ll be sending this review to my mom now…)
Not only will The BrassTap have the largest collection of
Local Cincinnati Beer, but by my calculation will have the best prices! There is a happy hour that runs every day
(except Sunday) until 9pm which knocks $2 off of all drafts which should make The
BrassTap the best local Cincinnati beer deal in town! That’s right, that’s not a misprint…Happy
Hour runs until 9pm! They also have ½ price beers on Monday until 9pm! It’s
crazy; that means until 9pm you will be able to drink some local Cincinnati
Beer for 2-4 dollars!
For the opening, Mic is requiring that the 22 newly minted
servers go through a 5 day “Beer Boot-Camp”.
(See below for this in action) Beer Boot Camp covers the essentials;
history of brewing, types of beers, appropriate glassware etc. According
to Mic this is a very knowledgeable beer staff under the guidance of GM Mike
Kibitsch.
This is largely a fine beer
establishment with food not a major focus at all. In fact, food won’t be available at all until
November and when it is, it will simply be “snack” oriented. So the space they saved by not having a big
kitchen they used to build this huuuuuuuge beer cave! I like this concept, I call it “Laser Beer
Focus” (LBF)…See below:
I asked Mic about his reasoning for their location choice
and he explained that there are other areas in Cincinnati that really might not
need another establishment like his, The Banks, OTR etc., but that he felt that
it was a unique offering for Clifton. The
BrassTap is located in the new U Square 78 Million Dollar development in
Clifton and is surrounded by great dining choices. Mic views his establishment as one of a
couple of destinations that his customers would visit while they are out. So wrapped around this Beer-Mecca called The
BrassTap is a collection of neighborhood culinary opportunities to include with
your brew infused festivities!
Meanwhile, back to the beer….there are really some great
beer events in the works. WTF ALERT!!!
(WTF-What The Firken) They will have a 10 tap take over every month. In the works locally are Madtree and
Rhinegeist. Epic Brewery from Salt Lake
will be on Oct 1 and Founders is scheduled for November. Also monthly Firkens and Randall events are
planned! I admit, occasionally when no
one is looking I actually drink fine ales from other locations other than
Cincinnati and the fact that Epic and Founders will at some point have 10 taps
dedicated is craaaaazy! Mic did disclose
that there will also be some considerably rare options served up by these
brewers.
The build-out of this “fine beer establishment” also
includes a venue for live acoustic music.
Local acoustic artists are to be booked by local musician Donnie Bray.
The build out includes a kinda “Romeo and Juliet” balcony for the musicians to
play on that overlooks the back room. (What,
drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and
thee: Have at thee, coward!...oops…sorry for the Shakespearian digression! ) Also
included is a built-in PA System. As a former acoustic musician, I can tell you
that it’s a really big deal to know that you don’t have to schlep a bunch of
equipment but can just show up with guitar in hand, plug in and play! Are you
kidding me? Local Beer and Local Music.
I feel like someone has been has been eavesdropping on my dreams and
built a business plan around it!
Mic anticipates pushing 20K pints a fine brew a month! Make
sure you are in the first thousand pint club! Although obviously (by law) Mic
has to buy the local brews through distributors, he works directly with the local
brewers themselves in the selection process, which he heads up, to determine
which Local Cincinnati Beers he serves up.
This Sunday is D-Day….Saturday is a prelim Facebook launch!
Be there or be U Square at the BrassTap in Clifton!
Clyde The BrewTruth
See below for his local beer list as it stands today! Also,
Mic mentioned there will be two surprise local Cincinnati kegs that will be served up next week!
Rhingeist Franz
Rhingeist Uncle
Rhingeist Cougar
Rhingeist Truth
BlankSlate pitter patter
BlankSlate Lesser Path
BlankSlate Ryesing
MadTree Pump can
MadTree Happy Amber
MadTree Psychopathy
Rivertown Dunkel
Christian Morlein OTR
Christian Morlein Oktoberfest
Mt. Carmel Harvest Ale
Sam Adams Angry Orchard
Listermann Jungle Honey
Listermann Triple Digit Nutcase
Triple Digit Decimation
Listermann Chickow
Double Barrel Bad Tom
Cellar Dweller Shawesome
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