Brink Brewing Co
5905 Hamilton Ave, College Hill
Cincinnati drinkers don’t have to go far to find the two-time Very Small Brewery of the Year according to Great American Beer Festival, because that crown belongs to College Hill’s Brink Brewing Co. Brink opened up in the trendy neighborhood in February 2017, and has been producing award-winning beers ever since.
Brink has had one of the most impressive runs of awards, winning medals at GABF for seven years running from 2017-2023. They also won the #2 Overall Brewery Award at the 2018 US Open Beer Championships and have been named Best Southwest Brewery at the Ohio Craft Brewer’s Cup multiple times.
The taproom itself is inviting although not huge. They have a reclaimed wood bar, as well as a large “community table” that seats up to 20 people. Their menu board also uses oversized Scrabble pieces.
In 2021 the brewery announced a move into distribution with 12 and 16 oz cans distributed by Adena Distributing.
In 2024, they expanded their production space into the location next door, adding their own canning line. They also expanded their outdoor patio.
Must-try beer: Moozie (Milk Stout) – Brink consistently brews some of my favorite beer in Cincinnati, and I’m surprised that they’re still a little under the radar despite winning all kinds of medals after just over one year. Moozie has won both gold and silver at the US Open Beer Competition, as well as silver at the World Beer Cup. Thick and chewy, this is like a chocolate milkshake of goodness.
Other great beers: Hold the Reins, Armored Heart, Minion Bait
Major Awards
Great American Beer Festival
- Moozie (Sweet Stout or Cream Stout) – Bronze Medal – 2024
- Lil Zoomie (Coffee Stout or Porter) – Gold Medal – 2023
- Moozie (Sweet Stout or Cream Stout) – Bronze Medal – 2023
- Zoomie (Coffee Stout or Porter) – Silver Medal – 2022
- Father G’s Bees (Honey Beer) – Gold Medal – 2021
- Moozie (Sweet Stout or Cream Stout) – Gold Medal – 2020
- Very Small Brewery of the Year – 2019
- Hold the Reins (English Style Mild Ale) – Gold Medal – 2019
- Moozie (Sweet Stout or Cream Stout) – Gold Medal – 2019
- Very Small Brewery of the Year – 2018
- Very Small Brewmaster of the Year – 2018
- Hold the Reins (English Style Mild Ale) – Silver Medal – 2018
- Moozie (Sweet Stout or Cream Stout) – Gold Medal – 2018
- Hold the Reins (English Style Mild Ale) – Gold Medal – 2017
World Beer Cup
- Lil Zoomie (Coffee Stout or Porter) – Bronze Medal – 2024
- Moozie (Sweet Stout or Cream Stout) – Gold Medal – 2018
US Open Beer Championship
- BA Levelled Up (Barrel-Aged English Barleywine) – Gold Medal – 2024
- Gold Top (Single Hopped IPA) – Bronze Medal – 2024
- Levelled Up (Barrel Aged Barley Wine) – Bronze Medal – 2023
- Hold the Reins (English Mild Ale) – Gold Medal – 2022
- Hold the Reins (English Mild Ale) – Gold Medal – 2021
- ESB (Bitter Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2020
- Feeling Fritzy (Vienna Lager) – Silver Medal – 2020
- Moozie (Cream Stout) – Silver Medal – 2020
- Hold the Reins (English Mild Ale) – Silver Medal – 2019
- Kelly’s Candy (Barrel-Aged Barley Wine) – Bronze Medal – 2019
- White Legs (American Amber Lager) – Silver Medal – 2019
- #2 Overall Brewery – 2018
- Duncan Clan (Strong Scottish Ale) – Gold Medal – 2018
- Father G’s Bees (Brown Ale) – Gold Medal – 2018
- Moozie (Cream Stout) – Silver Medal – 2018
- Hold the Reins (English Mild Ale) – Gold Medal – 2018
- Debbie Jean (Gold or Blonde Ale) – Bronze Medal – 2017
- Moozie (Cream Stout) – Gold Medal – 2017
Ohio Craft Brewer’s Cup
- Lil Zoomie (Coffee Beer) – Gold Medal – 2024
- Calista (NEPA/Hazy Pale) – Gold Medal – 2024
- Moozie (Stout) – Gold Medal – 2024
- Best Southwest Brewery – 2022
- Jackpot Joey (American Light Ale) – Gold Medal – 2022
- Moozie (Stout) – Silver Medal – 2022
- Damocles (Specialty/Hybrid Beer) – Silver Medal – 2021
- Duncan Clan (Scotch/Smoked Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2019
- La Guatavita (NEIPA/Hazy IPA) – Bronze Medal – 2019
- White Legs (European Lager) – Bronze Medal – 2019
- Best Southwest Brewery – 2018
- Afterglow (NEIPA/Hazy IPA) – Gold Medal – 2018
- Hold the Reins (Brown/Dark Ale) – Bronze Medal – 2018
- Moozie (Stout) – Silver Medal – 2018