Cincinnati’s new Taft’s Ale House teases three-level brewpub details

The Saint Paulus Kirche in the historic Over The Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati has been resurrected and spared a dance with the wrecking ball. Instead, it will now house three gluttonous levels of brewpub progress under the nom-de-plume of one of the city’s favorite sons, William Howard Taft. The old church at 1429 Race St. will become Taft’s Ale House.

The three men responsible for rescuing the landmark structure are Head Brewer Kevin Moreland, who started the Triple Digit Brand at Listermann Brewing Co, and investors David Williams and David Kassling. Kassling is the proprietor of New York’s Tri Tip Grill.

The $8-million-dollar Taft Ale House will be home to Moreland’s uniquely crafted ales and lagers, and will feature three year-round house beers chosen by patrons from the 12 taps on hand. The makings of each brew will be sourced locally and inspired by the restaurants, bars and specialty food retailers of the historical OTR brewing district. Nine of the 12 taps will rotate at all times, bringing a true craft beer experience to Cincinnatians.

The Taft will feature three unique levels, offering three distinct experiences for patrons. The first floor, or Big Billy’s Basement, will hold barrel-aged projects and a rotating tap of locally sourced brew. The second floor, in true beer hall style, is the heart of the operation, pumping out 3,500 to 4,000 barrels (bbls) per year through a new oversized 10-bbl DME system. There will be a wide open view of the entire process, including the eight 20-bbl fermenters and eight 20-bbl serving vessels stacked behind the main bar and separated by a catwalk from the upper tanks to the lower tanks.

The third floor, or Brauzzine, will up the ante with a dining room that overlooks the brewhouse floor below. Sip faithfully the sudsy, golden bounty of the well-manned iron and steel operation below as you enjoy a carefully selected menu that would satisfy even the largest of chief executives. We’ll keep you updated on their progress at Taft’s Ale House. The brewery hopes to open sometime between October and December of 2014.