MadTree Brewing Company
3301 Madison Rd, Oakley
1400 Vine St, OTR (Alcove)
Summit Park, Blue Ash (Parks & Rec) – coming soon
For my money, MadTree Brewing Company may just be the best taproom experience in Cincinnati. I’m sure that’s what they were going for when they opened their new $18 million facility in 2016 after originally opening in Oakley in 2013. The massive space is 10,000 square feet, which includes indoor and outdoor space, event spaces, two massive bars with 32 taps, and a full kitchen for Catch-A-Fire Pizza. It’s a great place to take a group and their massive patio is very dog-friendly.
A lot of their beers tend to be pretty hop-forward, although they’ve evolved into producing all different kinds of beers over the years. MadTree has also been very focused on supporting community as a whole since their inception, and they are also part of 1% for the Planet, with a commitment to donate 1% of sales to non-profits focused on environmental sustainability.
MadTree is also no stranger to winning medals, as they’ve taken hope a pair of medals at both GABF and the World Beer Cup, as well as more than a dozen at the US Open Beer Championship. They’ve also been named Best Large Brewery (greater than 15,000 barrels) at the Ohio Craft Brewer’s Cup every year it’s been held from 2018-2022.
In 2023, MadTree became the first Ohio brewery to become a certified B Corporation.
MadTree Alcove
In 2022, the brewery opened MadTree Alcove in the former Kaze spot in OTR. It’s an 8,000 square foot taproom and restaurant in the Color Building which is owned by 3CDC.
MadTree Parks & Rec
In 2023, MadTree announced plans to open a 15,000 square foot MadTree Parks & Rec taproom at Summit Park in Blue Ash. The location will be inside a former airplane hangar and tie in with the park space.
Must-try beer: Rubus Cacao (Raspberry Chocolate Stout) – I knew that some of these would be easier than others, and this was perhaps the easiest choice for me. My wife Angie and I first bonded over this beer right when we started dating, so this will always have a special place in my heart. Aside from that, it’s also a great beer. It’s sweet, chocolate, and finishes with a smooth aftertaste. It also comes out around Valentine’s Day, when you’re looking for something sweet and warming to get you through that last bitterly cold part of the winter.
Other great beers: Axis Mundi, Citra High, PsycHOPathy
Major Awards
Great American Beer Festival
- Legendary Lager (Light Lager) – Bronze Medal – 2023
- Happy Amber (Extra Special Bitter) – Gold Medal – 2022
- Happy Amber (Extra Special Bitter) – Gold Medal – 2018
World Beer Cup
- Ziegler (American Style Amber Lager) – Gold Medal – 2022
- Legendary Lager (Contemporary Style American Lager) – Silver Medal – 2022
US Open Beer Championship
- Porch Swing (Tea Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2023
- Axis of Darkness (Barrel-Aged Strong Stout/Porter Specialty) – Gold Medal – 2022
- Phantom Forest (Imperial IPA) – Silver Medal – 2020
- Double Mitts (American Premium Lager) – Bronze Medal – 2020
- Chamomile & Elderflower Joon (Barrel-Aged Pale Beer) – Silver Medal – 2019
- Levanto Oscuro (Barrel-Aged Fruited Sour Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2019
- Citra High (Triple IPA) – Bronze Medal – 2018
- Identity Crisis (American Style Black Ale) – Bronze Medal – 2016
- Gnarly Brown (Strong Imperial Brown Ale) – Bronze Medal – 2015
- PsycHOPathy (IPA) – Silver Medal – 2015
Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers
- Cuvee 2020 (Specialty/Experimental) – Silver Medal – 2020
- Chamomile & Elderflower Joon (Specialty/Experimental) – Bronze Medal – 2020
- Chamomile & Elderflower Joon (Fruit Beer) – Silver Medal – 2019
Ohio Craft Brewer’s Cup
- Best Large Brewery – 2023
- Phantom Forest (Imperial IPA) – Gold Medal – 2023
- Legendary Lager (American Lager) – Bronze Medal – 2023
- Best Large Brewery – 2022
- Cryo High (Imperial IPA) – Gold Medal – 2022
- Phantom Forest (Imperial IPA) – Silver Medal – 2022
- Best Large Brewery – 2021
- Treesearch #7 (American IPA) – Gold Medal – 2021
- Fable (Brown/Dark Ale) – Silver Medal – 2021
- Phantom Forest (Imperial IPA) – Bronze Medal – 2021
- Best Large Brewery – 2020
- Double Mitts (American Lager) – Gold Medal – 2020
- Happy Amber (Amber/Red Ale) – Silver Medal – 2020
- Phantom Forest (Imperial IPA) – Silver Medal – 2020
- Coffee Table (Coffee Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2020
- Best Large Brewery – 2019
- Passionfruit (Fruit Beer) – Gold Medal – 2019
- Levanto Oscuro (Sour/Wild With Fruit) – Bronze Medal – 2019
- Sequoia’s Gift (Sour/Wild Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2019
- Vernal Beckoning (European Pale) – Bronze Medal – 2019
- Best Large Brewery – 2018
- Entropic Theory (American IPA) – Gold Medal – 2018
- Cucumberweissbier (Specialty/Hybrid Beer) – Silver Medal – 2018
- Boysen the Wood (Sour/Wild Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2018
King of Ohio
- PSA (Session IPA) – Second Place – 2016