Brewing Persuasions

Rebel Mettle Brewery

When: December 18, 2020

Where: 412 Central Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Rebel Mettle Brewery opened its doors in September 2020 in downtown Cincinnati’s Historic West Fourth District, a once vibrant, walkable downtown shopping district in the early 1900s. Rebel Mettle made its home on West Fourth Street in a former parking garage and is doing their part to revive this once bustling area. The lager-centric brewery was founded by a US Air Force veteran with a soft spot for beer, business, and community. Rebel Mettle’s draft list is heavily focused on lager production, which set them apart from other local breweries who traditionally focus on ale production.

Rebel Mettle felt like a diamond in the rough when I stumbled inside the taproom for the first time. The taproom is two stories of industrial space filled with brewing tanks and vintage arcade machines, including an original Ms. Pac-man machine. It’s definitely a family friendly brewery made to feel anyone comfortable. One my first visit I enjoyed one of the best milk stouts I’d have all winter long. All Moussed Up is a sweet, smoky, smooth chocolate milk stout that goes down oh so easy. Another great beer I had on a different visit to Rebel Mettle that I really enjoyed was the Colonel Copper Doppelbock. It’s your traditional malty, roasty bock perfect for a colder day

Other Cool Stuff:

Within walking distance of the Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium
Tons of merch available
Outside food can be brought in and delivered to the taproom
Fun events like yoga, Singo, trivia, open mic, vinyl swaps, and live music

What Shannon Drank:

Smoky Stardust (Rauchbier) 6.9% ABV – 4 out of 5

All Moussed Up (Milk Stout) 6.2% ABV – 4.5 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 4 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

Bergen House

When Chris Went: March 27th, 2021

Where: 725 Main Street, Unit 27, Middletown, CT 06457

It seems every time I go to Middletown there is a new establishment opening up. This time it was Bergen House, a meadery that opened in Fall of 2020. It is one of only a handful of meaderies in Connecticut, and the only one I have been to with a taproom. They have a pretty large taproom with polished concrete floors, plenty of tables inside, and even a few outside, and all the walls are decorated with local art. They have a sizable parking lot and are conveniently located on Main Street so you are within walking distance of a dozen restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, etc. With Bergen House opening in Middletown, the city continues to grow as a place for craft-alcohol. Middletown now has three breweries, a cidery, and a meadery; you could spend all day in the city just trying alcohol, maybe that’s why I am moving there.

Back in my early 20s, it might surprise you but I did not like beer. I stuck with cider and eventually my friends and I discovered mead at the Oktoberfest celebration at Mt. Snow. If you are not familiar with mead, it is basically a honey wine, but just like cider can range from sweet to dry. With 8 meads on tap, you will find this full range at Bergen House. I tried four different meads while I was there, but my favorite by far was their Not-Your-Average-Joe, a collaboration with the coffee shop next door, Perkatory. The mead had a sweet taste with a nice light coffee flavor which blended well together. Bergen House gets huge unique points in my book for being a craft-meadery, and I am looking forward to going back.

Other Cool Things:

Merch for sale
They fill bottles to-go
Snacks for sale
Occasional food trucks
Local art for sale

What I Drank:

Chris: Pear-a-phrase (Mead) 6.9% nice – 3.25 out of 5

Chris: The Lucky One (Mead) 6.5% – 3.75 out of 5

Chris: Not-Your-Average-Joe (Mead) 6.5% – 4.5 out of 5

Chris: Orange Blossom (Mead) 6.5% – 3.5 out of 5

Brewing Persuasions: 4 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

HighGrain Brewery and Kitchen

When: October 31, 2020

Where: 6860 Plainfield Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Welcome to HighGrain Brewery & Kitchen, an eco-friendly brewery best known for their carbon-neutral brews. Located in the former Silverton Memorial Municipal Building, HighGrain has remodeled the space using reclaimed wood, seating made from recycled material and geothermal tunnels for a sustainably friendly HVAC system. What used to be where Silverton’s firetrucks and ambulances parked is now the best spot in the brewery, the bar and brewing area. HighGrain’s carbon neutral beer series is completely locally sourced and designed to offset the carbon dioxide created during the beermaking process. Beers like the Norwegian Table Ale pair beautifully with HighGrain’s upscale pub food, which is created daily with locally sourced produce and protein in their full scale, in house kitchen.

Shannon: Not only does HighGrain have a great selection of beer, they have a great food menu too. One afternoon I stumbled across this brewery and kitchen and ordered myself a few beers and a delicious fried chicken sandwich. The sandwich isn’t on the menu currently since their menu changes seasonally, but I remember tasting it and thinking “there is so much flavor here!” Paired with my lunch I had a NEIPA that is also no longer in production. Vote Oat, an oated hazy IPA is the definition of dank. After lunch I sipped on Brook, a chocolate and coffee porter that wasn’t particularly special but got the job done. Overall, HighGrain is a phenomenal brewery that is taking incredible strides to brew great beers and cook flavorful food under a sustainable business model. If you are in Cincinnati and looking for an upscale brewery and kitchen for a “treat yourself night,” HighGrain Brewery & Kitchen is the place.

Other Cool Stuff:

HighGrain’s electric supply is 100% powered by wind
The taproom has a geothermal HVAC system installed inside
They are an official reforestation partner with One Tree Planted
The taproom has earned the 513 Green Workplace Certificate, which shows their business is committed to sustainability
They are an active member of Green Umbrella, an organization striving for a sustainable future
HighGrain buys local, including grain, hops, and produce
They have a carbon neutral beer series!

What Shannon Drank:

Graf (Mexican Lager) 5.4% ABV – 3 out of 5

Brook (Porter) 6.2% ABV – 3.5 out of 5

Vote Oat (NEIPA) 6.4% ABV – 4 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 3 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?