All About Rhinegeist Brewery

When Rhinegeist opened its doors in 2013, it (along with some other local places opening at the same time) really set the model for what a small independent brewery could be in a city like Cincinnati. That’s a nice way to say that they turned the model on its head, growing faster and more fiercely than anyone else had ever done in this city. Taking advantage of new taproom laws in Ohio, and a bit of perfect timing, they quickly became the biggest brewery in town.

The growth can be attributed to a lot of different things, but you can’t ignore their flagship West Cost IPA called Truth, settling in as a local favorite.

Over the years they’ve stayed true to their personality, steadily growing the whole time until they became not just the biggest craft brewery in Ohio but one of the biggest in the country.

What’s Rhinegeist Like?

If you want to show someone what Cincinnati beer is all about, and capture a real ‘Wow’ factor in doing so – you should go to Rhinegeist. There aren’t many beer experiences in Cincinnati that compare to that first moment you walk up the flight of stairs to end up in the expansive Rhinegeist taproom that was once home to a historic brewery. It takes the breath away from tourist after tourist on their first visit. (And if I’m being honest, it still does it for me from time to time.)

The taproom is absolutely massive and features plenty of games and activities to keep you entertained. Ping Pong, Cornhole, and sometimes even a Wiffle Ball field are set up. This is a place you can hang out all night with every single one of your friends, regardless of how many you have.

If you’re looking for a nice, quiet space to spend a summer evening, the rooftop deck at Rhinegeist offers up a view of the city that’s to die for.

The Beer At Rhinegeist

The advantage of having a brewery as massive as Rhinegeist is that, no matter what style of beer you’re looking for, chances are they have made it, are currently making it, or plan to make it soon. They offer a diverse range of beer styles, as well as cider, their own non-alcoholic beer brand, and even THC-infused beverages for your enjoyment. It’s a one-stop shop for every beverage fan.

The Complete Rhinegeist Timeline

June 29th, 2013 – Rhinegeist hosts their Grand Opening celebration in their massive, historic taproom space.
November 11th – It becomes clear that the brewery will be wasting no time in expanding… fast. They install 2 80bbl fermenters and an 80bbl bright tank.
April 2014 – Rhinegeist brings their capacity to 760bbls with the installation of 2 big 120bbl fermenters.
July 2014 – by their first anniversary the brewery had their beer on shelves of only 5 Kroger stores.
September 2014 – More than 60 Kroger stores are now selling Rhinegeist beer.
Winter of 2014 – Rhinegeist turns to bottles for the first releases from their ‘Rarity Series’ which launched with their Imperial Stout, called Ink. (You can see notes on their packaged releases here)
March 2015 – The brewery announces a massive expansion, to the tune of around 10 million dollars. This includes a rooftop deck and a new, bigger brewhouse.
October 2015 – Big growth points for Rhinegeist… they launch both their cider program, as well as their first bottle of barrel-aged beer (The award-winning Sherry Ink) – they also open up their rooftop deck!
February 2016 – The brewery wins second place in the USA Today readers choice poll of favorite new breweries.
August 2016 – Amidst rumors of a sale to “Big Beer” Rhinegeist makes their stance clear. “They will never sell” unless it’s to their employees. The brewery is still growing fast and big and moves into the Cleveland, Akron, and Canton markets, with their cider moving into Massachusetts.
March 2017 – Rhinegeist expands into Pittsburgh.
May 29, 2017 – The brewery partners with a local company, UDF, to release “Tropical Truth’ an ice cream flavored like their signature IPA, Truth.
June 2017 – The owners of Rhinegeist announce plans for another brewery as well as a Marijuana Operation and dog park in the Camp Washington neighborhood… The plans fall through and the space becomes a test brewery and distribution warehouse.
July 2017 – Indianapolis welcomes Rhinegeist to their shelves.
September 2017 – getting them into the Chicago market for the first time, the brewery teams up with Calumet Breweries to distribute their beer into NW Indiana.
February 2018 – Rhinegeist launches its “Brewcadamy” to help educate beer drinkers across Cincinnati.
2018 – Rhinegeist becomes one of the biggest craft breweries in the country, debuting on the top 50 for the first time.
February 2020 – The brewery expands its distribution again, into Eastern Tennessee.
January 2022 – RG Bevs, a short-lived brand of “hard adult beverages,” is released.
2023 – Cincy Light is released!
May 2025 – They announce the upcoming release of their line of non-alcoholic beer, dubbed “Ghost”.
October 2025 – In BIG news, Rhinegeist announces the release of their own THC beverage brand, Fuzzy Bones.