Mellotone Beer Project is set to open in the former Taft’s Ale House location in Over-the-Rhine.
Mellotone Beer Project is an upcoming brewery headed by former Rhinegeist Brewery Director of Distribution and Le Soupe COO Dennis Kramer-Wine and veteran brewer Alexandra Nowell. Nowell was the founding brewmaster at California’s Three Weavers Brewing, and she also spent time at Kinetic Brewing, Drake’s Brewing, and Moylan’s Brewing.
Their goal is to open this year in the former Taft’s Ale House, located at 1429 Race St.
3CDC purchased and originally renovated the building prior to Taft’s opening in 2015. Taft’s closed the location in November 2023, with all operations now at their Taft’s Brewpourium location in Spring Grove.
Kramer-Wine and Nowell have been searching for the perfect spot to open a brewery in Cincinnati for the past two years. They decided that the former church would be the perfect space for their brewery and restaurant.
There will be two distinct spaces in the overall concept. The downstairs will feature a bar called the Undertone, while the main floor will be the restaurant and brewhouse. The upstairs mezzanine level will be transformed into an indoor beer garden concept.
The downstairs bar will feature a mid-century modern feel with a small stage. Their food program will feature modern American fare (think sandwiches, handhelds, smashburgers, and hot dogs) that pairs with uncomplicated beers. They also are brining on Brendan Martin, who spent the past decade and a half at Boca.
The name for Mellotone Beer Project comes from a Duke Ellington album.