Fifty West Brewing Co., a Cincinnati-based craft brewery known for blending recreation and refreshment, is adding a new dimension to its brand — a mobile one. The brewery recently launched a fully operational food truck, taking its award-winning Burger Bar on the road for parties, festivals, and events across Greater Cincinnati. From the press release:
“We’ve been so lucky to become a gathering place for families in the communities around our locations. So, when our team started thinking about how we could bring that same energy to more people, the food truck felt like a natural next step. I would’ve loved having something like this at my own grad party back in high school.” — Bobby Slattery, Founder, Fifty West Brewing Company
A food truck built for events and flavor
The new food truck is now available for booking at community functions, private parties, school events, and neighborhood gatherings. The brewery gave it a soft debut during Teacher Appreciation Week in May, serving free meals to faculty and staff at four Cincinnati-area schools. That test run proved successful and marked the official start of this new venture. The truck serves Fifty West’s signature Classic Burger — recently awarded a bronze medal at the 2025 Taste of Cincinnati — alongside fries and hand-spun milkshakes. The goal: bring the Burger Bar’s beloved flavors directly to the people.
Community hubs, not just taprooms
The food truck is the latest in a series of creative moves by Fifty West to stand out. In winter, they convert part of the brewery’s property into a festive family destination with:
- A full-sized outdoor ice rink
- Build-your-own hot chocolate bars
- Boozy winter milkshakes
- Keg curling and heated cabanas
During warmer months, they host volleyball and pickleball leagues, outdoor movie nights, and live music. Their spaces are designed not just to serve beer, but to serve families.
Scaling the Fifty West playbook
Fifty West Brewing is a clear example of a brewery expanding its brand through lifestyle and experience—not just beer. By investing in year-round attractions and mobility, it builds brand awareness beyond the taproom. The food truck helps bring Fifty West into more neighborhoods and festivals without requiring customers to travel.
Other breweries can follow suit by:
- Launching food trucks or mobile beer trailers to reach new audiences
- Offering seasonal recreational activities like skating, disc golf, or cornhole
- Creating “destination” taprooms with sports, games, and family-friendly amenities
- Building programming around holidays and local events
These ideas help transform breweries into community anchors. They also extend visit duration, increase revenue per guest, and create opportunities for local media attention.
Final pour
Fifty West isn’t just selling pints — they’re building places where people want to linger. With a food truck now in motion and three community-driven locations humming, the brewery continues to redefine what a taproom can be. For others in the craft space, it’s a powerful reminder: hospitality and creativity still matter. And sometimes, they need wheels.
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