Urban Artifact
1660 Blue Rock St, Northside
Urban Artifact is one of the most unique breweries not only in Cincinnati, but in the country. They opened in the basement of the old St. Patrick’s church in Northside in 2015, and is exactly what you’d expect from a Northside brewery: they don’t do anything in any normal way. The upstairs serves as an event venue regularly hosting weddings, while the have a full concert venue in the basement to round out the space.
Urban Artifact is known for their signature invented style – the Midwest Fruit Tart – and they possibly use more fresh fruit in their beers than all other breweries in the city combined. They also have a solid stable of seasonal goses and a few other unique styles, like tart IPAs.
The brewery has continued to improve their taproom, including a courtyard outside that serves as a beer garden. On Friday and Saturday nights, food is available from Pata Roja Taqueria, which offers their Mexico City-style street tacos in the courtyard.
Must-try beer: Keypunch (gose) – I like Urban Artifact, like a lot. Their Midwest Fruit Tart series is probably the best thing going in Cincinnati beer, bringing attention to this unique Northside brewery from across the world. But if there’s a beer from these guys that literally makes my mouth water just thinking about it, it’s Keypunch. It’s a key lime gose that is my absolute favorite go-to summer beer. It’s also light and citrusy and you can have more than one since it’s just 4.2% ABV.
Other great beers: Finn, Love Letter, The Gadget
Major Awards
US Open Beer Championship
- Fourth Place Overall – 2023
- Kaleidoscope (American Berry/Fruit Beer – Pineapple) – Gold Medal – 2023
- The Gadget (American Berry/Fruit Beer – Mixed) – Gold Medal – 2023
- Pickle (Vegetable Beer) – Gold Medal – 2023
- Fire Iron (Sour/Belgian Lambic) – Bronze Medal – 2021
- Harrow (Gose) – Silver Medal – 2021
- Hotel Water (Cucumber Beer) – Silver Medal – 2021
- Beipaiosaurus (Wood/Barrel-Aged Fruit Sour) – Silver Medal – 2018
King of Ohio
- Phrenology (Specialty and Session IPA) – Silver Medal – 2019
Craft Beer & Brewing
- Teak – The Best 20 Beers in 2022