This has been an eagerly anticipated episode for me. As someone who both LOVES Alexandria Brewing Company, AND lives on the other side of the Greater Cincinnati area from them, a West Chester outpost is pretty perfect for me. Full disclosure, I work with Alexandria in my day job, and while that doesn't come in to play at all with this episode… I want you to know!



Andy Reynolds has been on the show a lot, but this one hits a lot different. This is a show that talks about both the growth of them as a company, about the changes that the industry is going through and how some places are managing to navigate them with growth, while others aren't. We drink some beers… of course - but it's really an episode about the future of what all this might look like as we keep forging on into uncertain waters.



Huge thanks to Andy and the whole Alexandria crew for making this episode come to life - make sure you're following along via their social media to catch the latest about the new location (or their website at https://www.alexandriabrewingcompany.com of course) and if you like the stuff that I'm doing on this show, or any of the stuff I'm working on - head to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to help it all keep going!



Big shout out to http://www.CincinnatiBartenderJobs.com for being the sponsor of Cincy Brewcast, Drinking With The Gnome - and hopefully a lot more in the future! Stay tuned!



Guests This Episode




* Andy Reynolds, Alexandria Brewing Company




From The Beer Fridge




* Alexandria Brewing Company - Ale of Eris




Show Links




* Alexandria Brewing Company, Website



* Alexandria Brewing Company, Facebook



* Alexandria Brewing Company, Instagram

In this episode of Cincy Brewcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming back Garrett Hickey as we celebrated some exciting achievements in the world of Streetside Brewery, particularly coming off the recent GABF weekend. We dove into the significance of winning medals and the competitive landscape of Ohio breweries, and discussed how certain styles dominate the awards scene. Garrett shared insights on their approach to selecting beers for competitions and the challenges of standing out in a crowded market. We also reflected on how awards can influence sales and the importance of brewing what they believe to be their best offerings.



As we transitioned to the upcoming Demogorgon Day, we explored the unique variants that will be featured this year, including a special collaboration with Superstition Meadery. Garrett explained how the event has evolved, bringing together the community and showcasing their experimental spirit. We touched on their new food partnership and the excitement surrounding their 10th anniversary celebrations, highlighting the importance of staying connected with their roots while embracing growth and change in the craft beer scene.



If you want to know more about Streetside, Demogorgon, or any of the other awesome stuff that they have going on, you can always check out their website - or make sure you're following them on Facebook or Instagram. If you like THIS show, or any of the stuff that I do: make sure you hit up http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie!

My goodness. Technical difficulties? Again?! I get it slightly under control as the episode progresses, and it WOULD be frustrating if I didn't have so much fun with this show every year. It's Oktoberfest season, and this is the finale of a massive bracket I do every year to determine the winner, and the brewer of Cincinnati's BEST packaged Oktoberfest!



I was joined by Marco and Julia from Truth Beer Podsequences - because you know... I can't make this final decision by myself... and as expected, it was tough.



If you want to know the final four, and you want to know who takes the 'Golden Gnome' trophy - you'll have to listen to this episode!



Huge thank you to this year's host, MadTree, to Truth Beer and Podsequences for helping with the judging, and of course to every brewery that made a KILLER Oktoberfest this year!

I'm a huge Oktoberfest nut. I'm sure that if you've been around here for any amount of time, you've put that together. With a TON of great festivals happening here in Cincinnati, it's hard to figure out exactly which ones you want to go to every year - but this one? This has become essential for me. I was joined by Justin Neff from Sonder and Brenden Douglass from Northern Row to talk about Sonder and Friends Oktoberfest - and to explore what's going on in the industry right now.



If you're a fan of this show, or of ANY of the stuff that I do - you can always show your support by going to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support

It's a painful process to watch, the closing of a brewery. I can only imagine what it's like from the perspective of an owner and founder of a brewery... but we get a little peek at what it's like in this week's episode with DogBerry's founder, Tony Meyer. He talks about how he has rediscovered a love for craft beer, after it had almost disappeared at the end of DogBerry's run... It's a wonderful episode with someone that I'm happy to call a friend.



If you like this show, or any of the stuff that I make, don't forget that you can go to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to become a Gnomie and help make things happen!



Guests This Episode:




* Tony Meyer - Former Owner, DogBerry Brewing Company




From The Beer Fridge




* HighGrain - Innit, English Mild



* HighGrain - Lusen, Czech Pilsner

Norwood, Ohio, gets a big win with the opening of Braxton's new taproom at Factory 52. In what COULD have been a huge loss, HiWire recently announced the closure of their Cincinnati taproom to focus on their efforts back home in North Carolina, and with it, a partnership of sorts where Braxton will always be keeping some HiWire beer on tap there.



I sat down with Jake and Evan Rouse, two of Braxton's founders and owners, to talk about what this means for the brewery's future growth, for the future of craft beer, and for the future of what taprooms might look like.



It's a great conversation, and one that I know a lot of beer drinkers here in Cincinnati are going to be excited to hear! If you're curious to know more about Braxton or their new taproom space, make sure that you hit them up on the Braxton Factory 52 Facebook page.



Guests This Episode




* Jake Rouse - Braxton Brewing Company



* Evan Rouse - Braxton Brewing Company




Watch The Episode Here




https://youtu.be/vj7MFgH8RPw

I love a good beerfest, and as we gear up for this year's newly rebranded 'Bacchus Beerfest' (you might remember it as The Oakley Beerfest, previously) I wanted to sit down with some of the folks that are helping to make it happen. I sat down with Bill, Mandy and Jack to talk about what draws people to beerfests these days, how you keep upping the game and why folks should be buying their tickets asap!



Of course, with the Garden Bar at Element Eatery opening up after some big rebranding and overhauling, we had to dive into what makes that space so great, too!



It's a great show, over a few great beers!



Guests This Episode




* Bill Marx - Bacchus Entertainment



* Mandy Taylor - Element Eatery



* Jack Hughes - Element Eatery




From The Beer Fridge




* Darkness Brewing - Awaken The Schwartz



* Branch And Bond - Gorlami



* Sun King - Pachanga




Episode Links




* Element Eatery - Facebook Page



* Bacchus Beerfest - Get Your Tickets!



* The Beer List




As always - thank you to all of you who listen to, subscribe and most importantly, who share this show with your friends! Your support means everything to me! If you like what I do, you can always support this show (or ALL my content) by heading to www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support and supporting that way!

There are a lot of different breweries in 2025, and while the industry has plenty of struggles, there is one model that stands above everything else - the neighborhood taproom. This is exactly where the upcoming Depot Brewing Company hopes to align itself. They're planning a small brewery and taproom for the community of Morrow, Ohio, and from everything I can tell, it's going to be great.



I sat down with owner Scott Tilford and head brewer Taylor Dent at their soon-to-be neighbors, Cartridge Brewing, to have a few beers and really explore how they're planning on making it all happen.



It's a great episode, and one that I hope will get you as excited as I am about this place opening its doors.



If you want to stay up to date on Depot and their plans, make sure you follow along on their website, their Facebook Page, and their Instagram account - things are going to start moving along very quickly, now!



Don't forget that this show is brought to you by folks just like yourself. If you like what I do and want to support (and get early access to all the episodes, you can head to www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support to become a Gnomie!



Guests This Episode




* Scott Tilford



* Taylor Dent




From The Beer Fridge




* Cartridge - Smokestack



* Cartridge - Tanto



* Cartridge - Covert

I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get a show up this week - and then remembered that I'd be hitting up the Ohio Craft Brewer's Association's 'Pamona's Abundance' event at Urban Artifact. This celebration of women in beer would be absolutely perfect! I'll be the first to admit that it's not the best audio in the world - it's a little echoy in the reliquary of Urban Artifact - but the panel is good enough that it won't matter once you start listening!



Huge thanks to the folks at the OCBA for putting this on and to all the women who took part in the panel:




* Brittany Frey - MadTree



* Ali Hovan - HiHo



* Natalie Iseli-Smith - Yellow Springs



* Sami Kleiner - RahrBSG



* Kayla McGuire - Gemüt



* Daria Moore - Rhinegeist



* Moderated by Amy Mast - Craft Leadership




As always, thank you for being a fan of this show! If you like what I do, don't forget that you can head over to TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support and become a Gnomie!



If you want to learn more about the Ohio Craft Brewer's Association - you can visit them at OhioCraftBeer.org or listen to them on the podcast previously!

I'm sure that at this point, most folks here in Cincinnati know some of the brands that CinBev has taken on. Between Christian Moerlein, Little Kings, and Hudepohl, I'll be the first to tell you that they've done an amazing job understanding their personalities and how they compliment and contrast each other. It's for this reason that I was thrilled when I heard that they were buying the Taft's brand as it's former ownership shifted their model into Impact Beverages.



This week, I sat down with Cincinnati Beverage's Elliot Culter to talk about what this all means for them, for the brands, for Taft's, and how it all keeps shaping where Cincinnati beer will be in the future.



It's a great conversation, and one that I hope gets you as excited as I am about things!



If you like this show or any of the stuff that I do, make sure you subscribe to become a Gnomie! If you want to know more about their brands you can visit them online: - https://www.christianmoerlein.com - https://littlekingsbeer.com - https://www.hudepohlbeer.com



Guests This Week




* Elliot Culter - Cincinnati Beverage Company




From The Beer Fridge




* Taft's - Gavel Banger



* Taft's - Wheat Wave

I LOVE a new brewery, especially when that new brewery is run by an older brewery that I already love. I love it even more when that team manages to create a new space that takes all the things we already love and gives it a new personality.



If you're not putting it together yet, that's exactly what's going on at Gilligan's Brewery in Wyoming, Ohio.



In this episode, I sit down with Chris Henry, their marketing manager, to have a beer and figure out exactly how and why the brewery plans to keep connecting even better with the community around them. It's a wonderful episode, and if you haven't been yet - I can't encourage you enough to head out to visit Gilligans! You can check them out online - or hit them up on social media.



This show is brought to you by listeners just like you. If you like what you hear, you can go to TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to help it keep growing.

When Mellotone Beer Project announced that they'd be taking over a VERY familiar brewpub space here in Cincinnati, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew their head brewer and co-founder, Alexandra Nowell, knew what she was doing from her time in the industry, but what I have found since is a space that manages to brew traditional styles really, really well, without being afraid to put their own spin on them. It's easy to let craft beer get a little too full of itself, and this place knows exactly when and how to shake things up to prevent that!



I can't thank the folks at Mellotone enough for helping to make this episode come to life, it was great getting to check them out and share them with you!



If you want to check out Mellotone, make sure you head down to the brewpub in OTR, check out their website, and follow them on social media.



As always, if you like this show (or any of the stuff that I do) you can help by sharing this show with someone that you think would appreciate it, or by heading to TheGnarlyGnome.com/Support to show your support that way!

Higher Gravity On Continued Evolution And How They Stay Great.







This week's episode of Cincy Brewcast takes us back to Higher Gravity. Higher Gravity has two locations: the OG spot in Northside and a space in Blue Ash at Summit Park. Their Summit Park has a full coffee program, and both locations have great cocktail menus. They sell amazing, well-curated beer, a variety of wines, seltzer, and THC beverages. It's incredible how they've continued evolving while still staying who they are.



I wanted to understand this evolution and see how they managed to be so great along the journey. Owners Jason and Nick were kind enough to sit down with me over a few beers and help me unwrap everything!



Make sure that if you like Higher Gravity, and what they're up to you visit them on their website.



If you like what I do here... or anywhere I'm out making stuff - you can support me (and get exclusive access to extra content and cool swag) by supporting and becoming a "Gnomie." Every little bit helps. Even a quick share on social media makes a massive difference in how this all keeps growing!



Guests This Episode




* Nick Belleman - Higher Gravity



* Jason Parnes - Higher Gravity




From The Beer Fridge




* Treehouse Brewing - Haze



* BC's Brewing - Bottle Shop Series: Jerry

It should feel a little familiar if you've been a fan of this show for a while, now - Big Cis brings together old friends to celebrate a beer that is in itself a celebration of craft beer itself. This year's tapping of Big Cis coincided with Cincy Beer Week, which only made it that much more special - and I hope that resonates with everyone else the way that it does with me!



To everyone that keeps all of this still going, and makes it feel as great as it does... thank you!

The long quest to find the mysterious "Party Tree" comes to an exciting conclusion for me with a short hike through the woods with the one and only Matt DeMaris. I really wanted to get him on the podcast to talk about this year's Honor Bus, his Vets & Brews charity work... and of course to have him lead me to this legendary, mysterious spot in the woods.



If you want to learn more about Matt and Vets & Brews... you can find them online right here. More importantly, if you want to support the honor bus this year - you can do that right here!



Guests This Episode




* Matt DeMaris - Founder, Vets and Brews




From The Beer Fridge




* Happy 2 Brewing - Midnight Rickshaw



* Rebel Mettle - Volume



* Streetside - Apple Brandy Almond Macaroon Demogorgon




There might have also been a couple more beers consumed that afternoon... the Party Tree demanded it.

In this episode of Cincy Brewcast, I sit down with Garrett Hickey from Streetside Brewery to dive into the latest happenings in the world of craft beer. We kick things off by discussing the recent gold medal win for Streetside's Black Cats English Brown Ale at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Garrett shares insights into the brewing process, the significance of the award, and the unique characteristics that set Black Cats apart from other brown ales. We also touch on the broader implications of winning such a prestigious award and how it impacts the brewery and its patrons.



As we sip on some of Streetside's latest beers, including a delicious Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Demogorgon and an Oreo Peanut Butter variant, we explore the challenges and triumphs of running a brewery in today's market. Garrett opens up about the evolving craft beer landscape, the pressures of maintaining quality and innovation, and the importance of staying connected with the local community. We also delve into the logistics of barrel aging, the excitement of experimenting with unique barrels, and the meticulous planning that goes into creating standout beers.



Finally, we look ahead to the much-anticipated Demogorgon Day at Streetside Brewery, discussing the lineup of variants, the logistics of the event, and what fans can expect. Whether you're a seasoned craft beer enthusiast or new to the scene, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the passion and dedication that drive one of Cincinnati's beloved breweries. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with beer insights, industry reflections, and a celebration of craft brewing excellence.



Guests This Episode




* Garrett Hickey




From The Beer Fridge




* Streetside - Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Demogorgon



* Streetside - Peanut Butter Oreo Cheesecake Demogorgon




Show Links




* Streetside Brewery - Website - Facebook - Instagram



* Demogorgon Day - Facebook Event

This is the end of a fantastic Oktoberfest season for me. For the fifth year in a row, as soon as the first local Oktoberfest beers hit shelves, I started my quest. It's a journey to find the "best" Cincinnati Oktoberfest beer that takes me through a massive bracket, head-to-head matchups between every single packaged Cincinnati Oktoberfest beer, and culminates in a live event to let the final four battle it out in a blind, head to head face off.



There are always a lot of great beers (32 of them this year), and almost any of them could, and deserve to, win - but only one can.



This year's finals took place in the beer garden at Sonder Brewing Company in Mason, Ohio - last year's winner - and MadTree, Sonder, Third Eye, and West Side Brewing battled it out together before triumphantly, MadTree's Ziegler came through as this year's champion (Their second time winning "The Golden Gnome" trophy).



Huge thanks to all who came and hung out to watch the finals this year! We'll be back at it again next year, so stay tuned!



Guests This Episode




* Julia Rohs - Truth Beer And Podsequences (This Year's Guest Judge)




From The Beer Fridge




* MadTree - Ziegler (This Year's Winner)



* Sonder - Oktoberfest



* Third Eye - Drittes Auge Festbier



* West Side Brewing - Oktoberfest

There are several things that make an Oktoberfest great - and Sonder has it absolutely dialed in. Every year, we take a few minutes during their festival to make a podcast (probably an excuse to hang out over a few beers as much as it is anything else) - and this year, we explored a little bit about those things that make it so great. We drink a few beers and share a few laughs... it's a good one!



If you like this show, if you like any of the stuff that I do, you can always support by going to http://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com/support



Guests This Episode




* Justin Neff



* Danny Herold



* Chad Blount




From The Beer Fridge




* Sonder - Oktoberfest



* Sonder - Marzen

There's been a lot of confusion in the local beer circles about what's going on with Bircus. They got a lot of folks a little worried when a 'For Sale By Owner' sign appeared on the marquee of the Ludlow Theater. I headed down to Ludlow, Kentucky to talk to Paul Miller (The Chief "Goof Officer") of Bircus to get it all settled.



Paul lets us behind the curtain to talk about how the brewery's move down the street and the long-term growth plans of the whole idea of Bircus call for a new evolution. The sale of their historic space is one piece of that puzzle. Over a couple of beers, a lot of laughs we work our way to the bottom of what's happening with Bircus.



That's not all, though - Paul made a quick phone call to Obekeng Malope (you've hopefully read her work in 'Final Gravity', or in 'On Tap' Magazine) all the way in South Africa. She's incredible, and I feel like I need to do a full episode with her when she's here in the US, soon!



Action Packed? I'd say so... it's a lot to cram into one episode of Cincy Brewcast!



From The Beer Fridge




* Bircus - Miss Patterson




Guests This Episode




* Paul Miller



* Obekeng Malope

There has been no shortage of moments in time when Listermann has gone through big changes, and the last year has been the latest. With new ownership on board to run things, a new kitchen program is coming to life - and a ton of new classic-styled beers to sit next to the fan favorites... things are exciting.



If anything sounded like a great time to sit down with owner Terrie and head brewer Payton... that certainly does, doesn't it? We talk about how they are trying to stick to things that folks love about the brewery from the last 16 year while also improving on all the pieces that need improved.



It's a great episode, and I can't thank the folks at Listermann enough for helping to make it happen.



Guests On This Episode




* Terrie Ipson - Listermann Brewing's New Owner



* Payton Smith - Listermann's Head Brewer




From The Beer Fridge




* All For One - German Pilsner