USA, OH: West Side Brewing aiming at spring opening in Cincinnati

Next spring, a team of four craft beer enthusiasts will bring West Side Brewing to 3044 Harrison Ave. in Westwood, Cincinnati, Soapbox Cincinnati reported on November 29.

Owners Joe Mumper, Jim and Kurtis Remmel and Brian Willet want to get away from the more experimental and over-hopped styles that are currently dominating the beer market and make beer for everyone.

Mumper became interested in craft beer about 15 years ago when his brother gave him a homebrew kit for Christmas. He started talking about opening a brewery, and even looked at the space that is now Rhinegeist. The Remmels and Willet have been working on opening a brewery for about the past two years, and when they met Mumper a year ago, they started to design West Side Brewery.

When it opens, West Side will have 12 styles of beer on tap — six of those are already nailed down, with the last six still up in the air and room to expand as more styles are developed. The beers will range in style and will be very drinkable with moderate alcohol contents and hoppiness.

The taproom will have a bar at its center that will connect two separate taprooms. One taproom will be close to the street to engage pedestrians and the neighborhood, and the second taproom will be near the brewing equipment, which will give patrons a look at the beer-making process.

West Side’s beer will be accompanied with small bites and bar food, but the owners also plan to partner with local food trucks to bring a wider array of dishes to the table.

The $1.3 million brewery will have the capacity to brew about 4,000 barrels annually with the ability to add tanks and expand to about 16,000 barrels annually. At launch, West Side will distribute kegs to local bars and restaurant, and the team plans to bottle or can in phase two.

Other plans for phase two include a large rooftop deck, which will be added in late 2017 or early 2018.

30 November, 2016