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?

Four Quarter Brewing

When Chris Went: January 17th, 2021

Where: 70 Main St, Winooski, VT 05404

Four Quarters Brewing in Vermont was opened in 2014, and my family and I stopped by in January 2021, just a few weeks before they opened their brand new, much larger taproom. Even though it has only been a few months since I visited, so much has happened with the brewery since I was there. The old taproom was quite small, basically just a garage with taps and a few tables. There was space on the pavement for outdoor seating, but it was raining when we went. From what I see online, the new taproom has polished concert floors, way more seating, and a patio that includes a fire pit. They also added a kitchen that serves grilled cheese, sandwiches, and pretzels, and they plan to expand the menu in the coming months.

Not going to lie, I am pretty upset that the place is so far away because I will have to wait until I visit my mom again to see this place. Not only did I miss out on the new taproom, but I also missed out on their Bernie Sander’s beer, Smitten Mittens! It’s a maple s’mores stout which sounds delicious. But enough about what I missed out on, the place was still pretty good when I went. Despite being pretty small, the beer selection had a good variety, and they have expanded it since I was there, including quintupling their brewing capacity. I had Dark Is Night, a double imperial stout that was decent, and their Fluffer Nutter Chocolate Drop Imperial Milk Stout. The Fluffer Nutter was as amazing as it sounded and had a good level of sweetness despite being 9%. Overall, I liked the place but definitely need to go back since so much has changed since January.

Other Cool Things:

  • Eco friendly compostable cups
  • Lots of merch for sale
  • Cans to go
  • Bernie Sanders beer

What I Drank:

Chris: Dark Is Night (Imperial Stout) 10% – 3.5 out of 5

Chris: Fluffer Nutter Chocolate Drop (Imperial Stout) – 4.5 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 3.5 out of 5 (at least until I see the new place)

Feeling persuaded yet?

Bircus Brewing Company

When Shannon Went: November 4, 2020

Where: 322 Elm St, Ludlow, KY 41016

Welcome to Bircus Brewing Company – one part brewery, one part circus. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s a circus brewery, and it’s just as insane and magical as it sounds! Normally, referring to a brewery staffed with clowns would be an insult, but that’s exactly what “Chief Goof Officer”, former Ringling Brothers clown, and brewery owner Paul Miller had in mind when he purchased the 1946 Ludlow Movie Theater in 2009. At Bircus, big top entertainment like trapeze artists, fire jugglers, and keg-walkers, are paired with weekly food trucks, vintage vinyl nights, and an outdoor patio. The circus brewery started slinging beers in 2018 and since then has started bottling and canning some of their flagship brews. Raise a glass, see a circus and toast to all at Bircus Brewing Co.!

Shannon: I must admit, I have never been to a brewery quite like Bircus before. This place is off the walls entertaining in every definition of the word, even the titles of the brews are circus inspired. Now, keep in mind that I visited during covid times, so the circus show was not in full swing, but I did get to watch a community juggling class from the second story balcony which was a lot of fun. The taproom is set up so that the tables can be moved in a moments notice to make room for floormats and dangling acrobatic areal silks hanging from the ceiling! As for the beer, Bircus has all the traditional brews and a touch of experimental ales, and for the most part, I enjoyed what I had. A personal favorite that I would absolutely get again is Comic Walrus, a cranberry ginger golden ale.

Other Cool Stuff:

  • Before the buildings third life as a brewery, it was a movie theater and a clutch factory
  • The theater was added to the National Historic Register in 2013
  • The owners of Bircus also own Circus Mojo, a youth and adult circus arts program! 
  • Cool merch for sale in the taproom
  • Small outdoor patio
  • Became the first brewery in the United States to qualify for crowdfunding under a new section of federal law
  • Tons of cool events like Vinyl Swap & Spin Night, juggle jam classes, aerial silk workshops, youth circus classes, amateur wrestling, and tons of live music!
  • Circus equipment literally everywhere throughout the taproom!

What Shannon Drank:

Juggleoats (IPA) 6.2% ABV – 3 out of 5

Comic Walrus – (Cranberry Ginger Golden Ale) 4.5% ABV – 4 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion – 3.5 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?