Well, 2020 couldn’t end without at least one more big Cincinnati beer news story. I published my 2020 Cincinnati Beer in Review last week, but this one could be one of the bigger news stories of the year.
Blue Ash’s March First Brewing has made their second acquisition and will take over The Woodburn Brewery. March First also purchased Middletown’s FigLeaf Brewing Co. in 2019.
The Woodburn name is expected to stay – although the official name will be slightly tweaked to Woodburn Brewing – with a targeted reopening of the taproom on Woodburn Ave in East Walnut Hills sometime in 2021. The taproom is also expected to get a mini-facelift, with the addition of a kitchen, more seating, and a lounge, according to The Gnarly Gnome.
Fan favorite Woodburn beers such as Chocolate Cherry Stout, Han Solo, and Pineapple Saison are also expected to stay. The new taproom will also feature offerings from March First and FigLeaf, as well as ciders and spirits from Cincinnati Distilling, which March First also owns.
The sale concludes a long saga for Woodburn, as the brewery that was once one of the darlings of the Cincinnati beer scene when it opened has faced some tumultuous times. Former owner Dennis Chacon pushed out co-founder and brewer Chris Mitchell in a nasty divorce, and the brewery has reportedly been for sale since at least 2018. The taproom has been closed since June when it closed down due to concerns over Covid-19 just weeks after reopening.
It’ll be awesome to see new life for Woodburn, which is one of the best and most relaxed taproom experiences in all of Cincinnati. There’s such a warm, inviting vibe, and it’s a unique part of a neighborhood that is a gem for the city.