Little Miami Brewing Company
An incentive to visit one of the many Cincinnati-area microbreweries is to experience the art of craft brewing, ideally in a great atmosphere. Little Miami Brewing Company exceeded expectations set by its website. The architecturally appealing building, which opened in 2017 and expanded in 2020, features two entrances. Parking in the back lot leads to the rear entrance—a covered, open-air patio where guests can relax around the fire pit in a cozy setting. Tall tables sit in front of a wall adjacent to the building, with a staircase behind it leading to a rooftop patio. Above the tables, ceiling-mounted heaters help counteract the chill of cool weather. The two seating levels provide panoramic views overlooking the scenic Little Miami River.
As my husband and I made our way from the patio to the front entrance, the well-lit environment, combined with a large street-facing open garage door, created a sense of both intimacy and spaciousness. People filled the inviting spaces throughout. The mid-November Friday evening crowd included well-behaved dogs with their owners, as well as individuals and families of all sizes, who found tables to gather around. Although the atmosphere was welcoming, the acoustics made speaking at a normal volume difficult.
A colorful chalkboard hanging above the tap lineup displayed the names of rotating craft brew flavors. Further to the right, a chef stretched dough to make the brewery’s specialty brick-oven artisan pizza, then placed the hot, freshly baked pies on a corner stacking shelf. The pizza and other menu items served to guests waiting at the counter looked appetizing.
During our visit, we sampled four 5-ounce craft brews: a Bohemian Czech-style pilsner, a pale ale, a smoked amber lager, and a nut brown ale. The golden-colored pilsner, Bike Path, is the lightest of the four and has a floral aroma. High-quality ingredients create a rich yet light flavor, followed by a pleasant aftertaste. It’s sparkling, balanced, and very drinkable. Next was Buzz Saw, a pale ale with a light copper color and a citrusy aroma. It offers a refreshing hop flavor supported by malty notes, with a lightly bitter, pleasant finish.
The third in the lineup was Campfire, a delicious smoked amber lager with just the right amount of bitterness—deep amber in color. Lastly, Earth Cookie, a mahogany-colored nut brown ale that genuinely captures the flavor its name suggests. Its aroma and taste are mossy and resinous, typical of some hop varieties. All four were very clear, medium-bodied, and retained appropriate heads for their styles. There is a notable difference between beer brewed with high-quality ingredients and mass-produced beer made with lower-quality ingredients. Exploring the difference is worthwhile.
Behind the taproom along the riverbank is a brewery-owned event center. Adirondack chairs and picnic tables arranged along the way offer great views of the surrounding scenery, including the bike trail on the opposite bank. While the chairs are a nice touch, the terrain is quite steep, and many are falling apart. Some have legs supported by small rocks. In front, the microbrewery’s rustic roadside sign is located at the intersection of Mill and Water Streets. The entire corner has been transformed into a welcoming spot for window shopping, dining, and enjoying local options like Nation Restaurant, Cincinnati Distilling, and, of course, Little Miami Brewing Company.
