Sonder Brewing
8584 Duke Blvd, Mason
9558 Civic Center Blvd, West Chester (Taphaus & Kitchen)
Sonder Brewing opened in Mason in October 2018 – the brewery itself is massive, at 16,000 square feet with a 30 bbl system. You definitely get the feeling upon walking in that this place was designed to be something big and something special, and it is.
But most importantly, the beer is delicious. Chase Legler, formerly of New Glarus in Wisconsin, started on the brewing team and is now the chief operating officer. They opened with a solid well-rounded tap list, including a New England IPA, a coffee kolsch, a tiramisu stout, a traditional IPA, a witbier, a pale ale, and a traditional kolsch. Their beer has proven to be some of the best in Cincinnati, as they won medals at GABF in back-to-back years as well as a handful of medals at the US Open Beer Championship.
Sonder also partnered with BrewRiver to provide food, offering nice bar fare at a pickup window for their grand opening. The pricing is also solid at less than $10 per item which is always important in a food menu.
Sonder Taphaus & Kitchen
In November 2023 Sonder opened Sonder Taphaus & Kitchen in West Chester. The taproom features Sonder beer, a curated food menu, and a more adult-oriented space while still being family friendly.
Must-try beer: Kato (Coffee Kolsch) – Ohio has some fantastic coffee beers, and Kato is one of the best. Brewed with Sonder’s own Script Coffee, it won a silver medal at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival. It’s got a delicious heavy coffee flavor balanced with the kolsch to make it an easy drinker for any time of the year.
Other great beers: You Betcha! (NE IPA), Nocturnal (Schwarzbier), French 75 (Wild Ale)
Major Awards
Great American Beer Festival
- Kato (Coffee Beer) – Silver Medal – 2022
- French 75 (Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2021
World Beer Cup
- Voss (German-Style Kolsch) – Gold Medal – 2023
US Open Beer Championship
- Voss (German Kolsch) – Gold Medal – 2023
- Rally Cap (American Lager/Pilsner) – Bronze Medal – 2022
- French 75 (Spirits/Non-Whiskey Barrel-Aged Beer) – Gold Medal – 2021
- Double Oaked Illuminati (Barrel-Aged Strong Beer) – Silver Medal – 2021
- Black Forrest Cake Otto (Barrel-Aged Fruit Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2021
- Blanc (Belgian Witbier) – Gold Medal – 2019
Ohio Craft Brewer’s Cup
- Kato (Coffee Beer) – Bronze Medal – 2022
- 92 Days (German Style Ale) – Silver Medal – 2019