CINCINNATI, Ohio – Nestled in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom stands as a testament to the city’s rich brewing heritage and the vision of Jim Koch, the founder of Samuel Adams. Opened in November 2018, this 9,000-square-foot taproom, located across from the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery, offers beer enthusiasts a vibrant space to enjoy innovative brews, classic favorites, and exclusive taproom creations. With a nod to Cincinnati’s past and a focus on craft beer’s future, the taproom is a must-visit for locals and tourists alike. Here’s a deep dive into its story, its connection to Jim Koch, and the expertise of brewer Chris Spellman.
Jim Koch: The Cincinnati Native Who Sparked a Revolution
Jim Koch, the founder of Samuel Adams and the Boston Beer Company, is a Cincinnati native whose family roots in brewing run deep. Born into a lineage of brewmasters, Koch is the sixth consecutive first son in his family to pursue brewing, a tradition that stretches back to his great-great-grandfather, Louis Koch. His father, Charles Koch, apprenticed at the Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery in Cincinnati in the 1940s, the very site that would later become the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery.
In the early 1980s, Koch stumbled upon a family heirloom that would change the course of American beer: his great-great-grandfather’s recipe for Louis Koch Lager, found in a trunk in his parents’ Mount Lookout attic. Defying his father’s advice to avoid the struggling beer industry, Koch brewed this recipe in his Boston kitchen in 1984, creating Samuel Adams Boston Lager. This beer, named after the revolutionary Founding Father and brewer, ignited the American craft beer movement. By 1985, it was crowned “The Best Beer in America” at the Great American Beer Festival, a title it held for three consecutive years.
Koch’s connection to Cincinnati remained strong. In 1997, he purchased the Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery on Central Parkway, partly to honor his hometown and partly to preserve one of America’s last small-batch breweries. Today, this facility is one of Samuel Adams’ main production breweries, producing over 70,000 brews across 250 unique styles and 25 brand families. The 2018 opening of the Cincinnati Taproom was a homecoming for Koch, who described it as the brewery’s “front porch,” a place to share his passion for beer with the community.
Koch’s influence extends beyond brewing. Through the Brewing the American Dream program, launched in 2008, he has supported local food and beverage entrepreneurs with loans, mentorship, and resources, including nearly $150,000 to 14 Ohio businesses. His commitment to Cincinnati’s brewing heritage is evident in the taproom’s support for local organizations like the Brewery Heritage Trail and ArtWorks, preserving the city’s beer-soaked history.
Chris Spellman: Crafting Exclusive Brews with Barrel-Aged Expertise
At the heart of the Cincinnati Taproom’s innovative beer offerings is brewer Chris Spellman, whose expertise in barrel aging has elevated the taproom’s exclusive brews. Spellman, who previously worked at Mt. Carmel and 50 West, brings a wealth of experience to Samuel Adams. His passion for barrel-aged beers is showcased in the Taproom Brewhouse and Barrel Room Tour and Tasting, a guided experience that highlights the brewery’s pioneering work in barrel aging, which began in the 1990s.
Spellman’s creations are a highlight of the taproom’s rotating draft list, which features experimental and limited-release beers alongside staples like Boston Lager and Octoberfest. One notable taproom-exclusive brew is Queen City Crown, a 5.5% ABV cream ale brewed with local honey and aged on fresh peach puree, released in 2022 to celebrate the brewery’s 25th anniversary in Cincinnati. This collaboration with Everything Cincy reflects Spellman’s ability to blend local ingredients and flavors into approachable yet distinctive beers.
Spellman’s tours offer a glimpse into the artistry of barrel aging, a process Samuel Adams pioneered with beers like Utopias, a high-ABV (28%) beer marketed as one of the strongest commercial beers in the world. His storytelling during the tours weaves together the history of barrel aging, the inspiration behind taproom brews, and technical insights from his career, making each sip a lesson in craft.
The Taproom Experience: Beer, Food, and Cincinnati Charm
The Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom is designed for immersion. Its U-shaped bar, adorned with glass bottle pieces and bottle caps, anchors a cozy interior with couches, swings, and a mix of low- and high-top tables. Outside, a spacious patio offers one of the best indoor/outdoor taproom experiences in Cincinnati, perfect for warm evenings. With a capacity of 350, the taproom buzzes with locals and visitors enjoying pints ($6), flights ($9), and growlers ($15, prices may vary by style).
The beer menu is a blend of tradition and innovation. Alongside flagships like Boston Lager—often called “Cincinnati Lager” due to its local roots—guests can try taproom exclusives like 513, a Cincinnati-specific brew, or seasonal offerings like Winter Lager and Old Fezziwig Ale. Spellman’s experimental brews, such as New England IPAs or barrel-aged stouts, keep the draft list dynamic, with 12 of the 20 tap lines dedicated to beers brewed on-site.
Food complements the beer with a menu of bar staples: pizzas, wings, brats, and snacks designed to pair with the taproom’s bold flavors. For a deeper dive, the taproom offers four distinct brewery tours, including the immersive Production Brewery Tour and the Utopias Tasting, which showcase the brewery’s inner workings and rare offerings.
A Toast to Cincinnati’s Brewing Future
The Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom is more than a place to grab a pint—it’s a celebration of Cincinnati’s brewing legacy and its vibrant craft beer renaissance. Jim Koch’s vision, rooted in his family’s history and his hometown pride, has transformed the Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery into a cornerstone of American craft beer. Chris Spellman’s innovative brews add a modern twist, ensuring the taproom remains a hub of creativity.
Whether you’re sipping a Queen City Crown on the patio, exploring the barrel room with Spellman, or toasting to Koch’s revolutionary spirit, the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom offers a taste of the past and a glimpse of the future. Visit at 1727 Logan St, Cincinnati, OH, and check @SamAdamsCincy on Instagram for events and updates. Cheers to the Queen City’s craft beer legacy!
About Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams is a leading independent, American craft brewer that helped to launch the craft beer revolution. The brewery began in 1984 when Founder and Brewer Jim Koch used a generations-old family recipe to brew beer in his kitchen. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life with hopes drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavor and started sampling the beer in Boston. He named the flagship brew Samuel Adams Boston Lager in recognition of one of our nation’s founding fathers, a revolutionary man of independent and pioneering spirit. Today, Samuel Adams is one of world’s most awarded breweries and remains focused on crafting the highest quality beers through innovation and experimentation in the relentless pursuit of better. Samuel Adams remains dedicated to elevating and growing the American craft beer industry overall, including providing education and support for entrepreneurs and fellow brewers through its philanthropic program, Brewing the American Dream, which helps others pursue their American Dream. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com
Top 10 Beer Festivals in America plus a few more: https://beerinfo.com/top-10-beer-festivals/