I came here for a work dinner on a Saturday and was greatly impressed by this place. For a brewery, you would not expect the food to be as good as it was, but boy it was. I am still dreaming about the pork belly skewers. We had a reservation for our party, so we were seated quickly. The inside of this old church is very sleek, modern, and clean. It is more upscale in feeling than other breweries in the area. We ordered the pork belly skewers, cheese curds, squash croquettes, and jalapeno poppers as appetizers for the table. The pork belly skewers are probably one of the greatest things I have ever eaten, as i said above. The squash croquettes are so different and so good as well. The cheese curds are standard and sure to please a crowd. And lastly, the jalapeno poppers were not for me. They stuff theirs with chicken, not cream cheese, and that flavor combo with the super smokey bacon wrapped around it did nothing for me. If you are more of a carnivore though you would probably love it. I got the chicken marinara sandwich and split a side of the brussels sprouts with a friend. The sandwich was huge! It looked much larger than some of the other plates people got. The marinara had great flavor, the cheese was fresh, and the chicken was perfectly cooked. I was so stuffed from my appetizers that I only ate half the sandwich. The sprouts were also very well done and the cheese/sauce on them was so so good. We ended the meal, even though we were all so full, with their citrus olive oil cake. Now some people find that name off-putting, but let me tell you as someone who loves baking, this cake is one of the best desserts I have ever had in my life. It is so light, with the perfect amount of citrus, and the fresh whipped cream is so delicious. It truly is a perfect dessert and I would go back only for that. Overall we had a great dinner here and left so stuffed that we all went home to lay down. The beer is also good but I would go for the food before anything else. If you are downtown and need a great meal, do not hesitate to come here! read more

Mellotone Beer Project - Chicken Marinara Sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Mellotone does it right. First off, unbelievable ambiance inside a historical church in OTR. We visited during brunch before a Reds game. The service was friendly and attentive. We ordered the chicken and waffles. Amazing! My son who is super picky devoured his share. The other dishes we ordered were equally delicious. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her espresso martini. I was really wanting to try their Bloody Mary, but they had ran out over the busy 4th of July weekend. I tried one of their craft beers. I believe it was called the big red. It was served ice cold and very good. Mellotone is worth a try if you have never been. We will be back soon to try that Bloody Mary and more chicken and waffles. read more

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Wow! Amazing decor, solid eats, and great beers. Went in early on a Friday and it was quiet. Staff attended to us quickly. Service was great. Had a salad and the chicken was a bit underwhelming. My companion had the chicken sandwich - apparently a slow build heat- not immediately as spicy as you would expect given the description. Had the kölsch also- great and good pour. The Mac and cheese is worth price of admission- lactaid worthy for sure! Would come back if can find parking! read more

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My boyfriend and I came before an FC Cincinnati game and it was busy with other fans! They couldn't seat us at a table but we were able to find some seats upstairs and order at the bar. The food was great and we finished both our plates. It is in a former church and the beautiful windows are still kept, with lots of plants in them now. I would definitely come again. read more

Mellotone Beer Project - Smash burger, fried chicken sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Didn't eat here so can't comment on the food. Beer is great- much better than the locally ubiquitous Rheingeist. I love a good lager and the Mellotone Gold did not disappoint. Great body, great finish. Perfect for a nice summer day. Very cool ambiance in an old church. Great bartender. read more

Would really give a 3.5 because the food is as good, but service was meh. Squash croquettes are really crispy, taste good, the cheese and pepper jam is a great addition. Does have a tiny bit of spice from the fresh peppers but not overpowering Crinkle cut fries are crispy and good nothing special. We did not try the sauce because we don't eat mayonnaise/aioli. Cowboy burger is good, wasn't messy like others. Patty could have been crispier. Smash burger is good but could be juicier and saltier. Service was friendly but not super attentive, food was slow, we received the app and entrees at the same time. Also saw other tables getting their apps that sat after we did. The water person was more attentive than our actual server. We were never checked on or asked about our food. It took about 45 minutes to get our food. Drinks were very fast though. (For context we got there at 4:25 pm before the rush arrived around 5 on a Saturday - it was not busy when we arrived.) I like what they did with the place. I had been to the prior business, and they totally refreshed the look for this one. Clean and simple. We would return and try other menu items, but maybe try a week day night. read more

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I dream of this place. The food's incredible, the drinks are lovely and the space is stunning. What else can I ask for? Maybe a cool ground floor basement with DJ sets? Well yeah, they have that too. Undertones is chill vibe on the ground floor with the same menu as upstairs. read more

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What started out to be two disappointments from items that weren't available, turned into trying two of the best sandwiches I've had in a long time! We had looked at the menu online and wanted to just get the burrata and roasted grape appetizer but when we got there, they were only serving brunch and that dish isn't on the brunch menu. So, we ordered the breakfast poutine to share. The server came back and said they were out of gravy, so the poutine wasn't available. So, after a 3rd deliberation, we had narrowed it down between the breakfast smashburger and the griddled PB&J. The server recommended the smashburger, so we ordered that to share. (Candied Bacon Patty, Fried Egg, Arugula, Havarti, Hashbrown with Chipotle Mayo) OH MY GOODNESS It was delicious! So much so that we decided to order s the PB&J as well. This wasn't an ordinary peanut butter sandwich (Peanut Butter, Fresno Chili Jam, Charred Banana, on Toasted, Salted Rye) I know the rye bread sounds like an odd choice but honestly it made the sandwich. It was to die for! The restaurant itself is in an beautiful old church. It has a really cool vibe but it is very echo-y and LOUD. We were there at the end of brunch time, and it was pretty empty and it was still loud from the way all the sound bounced around. There are stairs to get into the building and right when you walk in the door, you have to go up another large set of stairs to get to the check in station. Service was solid. We started with one server but when she went on break, another server seamlessly took over. I'm already planning our next visit to Mellotone to try some of their other dishes! read more

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Located n the Old Taft brewpub on Race St downtown, they offer up 8 beers currently with more on the way. They offer brunch , lunch and dinner meals. Parking on the street. It's just about a block or two north of Washington Park. I felt pretty safe in the area at 1pm in the afternoon. read more

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Food was a 10/10. We got the chicken sandwich, fries, mac and cheese, and smashburger. Beer was alright. Cocktails were good. Loved the ambiance. Overall 4.5/5 read more

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Brought husband here for Father's Day and we are so so excited that once Taft's closed someone else took ownership because this space is absolutely stunning and it would be a shame to waste! We loved the food and brunch options and everything tasted amazing! Service was a little slow at first but once they realized we had been waiting they were quick to apologize and serve us without any further issue. read more

Mellotone Beer Project - Happy er's day! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I recently tried Cincinnati's latest brewery, Mellotone Beer Project, which occupies the old church that was previously Taft's Ale House. After a nearby event, my wife and I popped in to meet up with a couple of friends. We only had time for a couple of drinks and a quick snack, but I was impressed by the slight renovations to the space. The seating options are a little better than they were before, and the acoustics seemed to have a nice refresh. I enjoyed a Golden Hour West Coast IPA while others in the group loved seeing a cocktail menu in addition to the made-in-house beer selections. The taps seem to be changing pretty quickly as they try to determine what styles will stick. The food menu was fresh and features their modern take on the American brewpub. Things like smash burgers and hotdogs are featured alongside grilled swordfish and and spaghetti squash. We only had time for a quick bite, and really enjoyed the burrata and roasted grapes, served with Blue Oven Bakery sourdough ($15). The grapes were sauced and gave a nice sweetness to the dish and the pistachios were a great touch. Highly recommend this one! read more

Mellotone Beer Project - Burrata & Roasted Grapes - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Formerly Taft's Brewing, the space has been transformed into a beautiful space. The warm lighting and vaulted ceilings really make the space feel grand, but cozy at the same time. Feels like a place you can bring a large group of friends or go out for a date night. Food and drinks are phenomenal. We opted for the Kolsch and Al's Paloma, both of which were delicious and refreshing. We started with the grapes and burrata - the portion size was small with four slices of buttered toast, but the flavors meshed well. For mains, we got the spaghetti squash and crispy chicken, both of which came out piping hot and well seasoned. Finished the night with the olive oil citrus cake, which wasn't overly sweet and refreshed the palate. The only qualm I have is that the value might not be there for some people. Specifically the main dishes - although delicious, the portion sizes felt small for the price. But otherwise, very solid first impression! Excited to come back. read more

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This is a new establishment where Taft's used to be. The decor was fresh - bright in spots and warm in others. Tables downstairs (small or long) and picnic tables upstairs. Food was delicious! I started with charcuterie and then had crispy confit chicken leg quarters on greens and polenta. The chicken was rich, crispy, and tasty. I ate it all! Almost forgot to mention dessert: citrus olive oil cake! Delicious and not too sweet! Beers were solid! I had the American pale ale - crisp and smashable. I tasted the IPA - mix of piney and floral/fruity hops - very nice! They also had an English bitter and a kolsch on tap and my dining companions loved them. Service was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. read more

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This space is just as beautiful as it was when Taft's filled it. Mellotone has a large and varied menu of food along with some good beers. We had a large group so we were given the opportunity to try a lot of dishes. Additionally, they have a kids menu if you ask, and the kids portions are generous. Unfortunately the same could not be said for some items on the regular menu, like the smash burger. Yes, it was delicious, but it came buried under picnic paper and looked like a cheap, little, fast food value menu burger with little to no toppings(not even lettuce) that someone left on a huge plate as a joke. For $12, it should look nicer or at least be served with something to make you feel less like an idiot for paying that much for it(especially when the kids burger was pretty much the same size came with fries fruit, and a soda and was seven dollars) The pork belly, on the other hand, is by far the best value for the money and one of the best preparations I've ever had of pork belly in a restaurant. It will not disappoint and is a must order. It was also well plated with Shishito peppers, herbs and drizzle. The only major disappointment that we had was in ordering the lemon orzo soup. The description on the menu sounded perfect and exactly what I had been craving that day. It sounded like a light chicken broth based soup with fresh vegetables and some orzo pasta. Instead, it was one of those nasty earthy tasting curry broths, which was NOT stated on the menu or mentioned by the server when ordering. Think boxed-curried lentil soup. BLAH! So besides some slightly overpriced items or issues with portions and that awful soup, the flavors were really good, the service was really great, and I'd be happy to come back again! read more

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The burgers are so juicy. The fries are crispy outside and fluffy on the inside. It is my fave burger in the city. The ambiance is amazing. I love the high ceilings. The lighting makes it feel so warm. read more

We ate here for this first time on Saturday for brunch and, unfortunately, it left a lot to be desired (especially at its price point). The grilled PB&J tasted like there was no peanut butter anywhere, the 1 piece of chicken that came with the chicken and waffles was small and over-fried, and the 2 pieces of bacon ($7) weren't thick cut as described. The service was great and the drinks were delicious, but the food wasn't good enough to come back for a second visit. read more

This is one of those places you bring Cincinnati visitors to! The building is beautiful, the drinks are yummy, the vibes are great and it has a very Cincinnati feel. Highly recommend posting up in the beer garden upstairs where you can play some pool and hang out read more

Mellotone Beer Project - Matcha espresso martini & stout beer - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We stopped in to try the beer. Just as the FC fans were heading to the game. Very cool feel to the place, extremely loud even after the majority of the emptied out. The beer was fine but none really were standouts. The brunch was was unbelievably tasty. We split the smash sausage breakfast burger. Mind blowingly good! So good we split the griddled PB& J on rye bread ? Sounds crazy but we loved it! Highly recommend the food great place but a bit loud read more

Mellotone Beer Project - Cool interior - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Love love love the ambiance. It is bright, modern and beautiful. Even the bathroom was bright. My cousin got lost like he was at home in the John! Our server was very sweet and attentive. We were there for brunch. Everyone enjoyed thier meal, I had the breakfast sandwich, two had the chicken/waffles, one had the polenta pancakes and someone else had the poutine dish. I tasted everything. It was all very good. To top it off, Pina Colada mimosa! Great experience. read more

Mellotone Beer Project - Birthday celebration, Gwen! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The service, the ambiance, the beer... this place is a must see if you're in the area. Darts and pool upstairs and the food is on point. I will not be going to Cincinnati without paying this spot a visit. read more

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I only remember the French fries which were tasty. My friends had meals I just ordered the fries. They both finished their meals which is a good sign. Biggest complaint is the venue is too bright inside. They should hire a lighting designer. read more

Good vibes and a great space define Mellotone , but the highlight for me was the speakeasy, Undertones. Drinks are available at both bars, though the speakeasy offers a smaller menu. I tried the fries, mac and cheese (it lacked seasoning ) and squash croquette which were amazing -an interesting mix of flavors that were different but enjoyable. I opted for a bar seat as a walk-in, but reservations are available through OpenTable. They're planning to roll out brunch and lunch soon, which I'm excited to check out. The beer selection and cocktails didn't disappoint, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with upgraded, brighter interiors compared to place prior Taft Ale House. For sports fans, the brewery has about seven TVs (though none at the upstairs bar). I'd recommend grabbing a seat at the main bar to catch a game while enjoying your drink. The overall vibe felt like a modern tavern with friendly and attentive staff. Mellotone has a lot of potential, and I'll definitely be back as they continue to grow. read more

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Giving this 4 but could probably be 5 stars. The starters were delicious. We got the squash croquettes and the Burrata and Grapes. The Burrata dish was probably our favorite. We split the fried chicken sandwich, fries, and creamed mushrooms. The chicken sandwich was solid but a little underwhelming. We were not fans of the creamed mushrooms. I like cheese, a lot. But this dish was just too much. The beer selection was solid but is somewhat limited right now. They did a nice job with the place. I was a big fan of Taft's so I was nervous to see the transformation, but it's a cool spot. We are looking forward to going back and trying some of the mains and experience the speakeasy downstairs. read more

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Such a beautiful and cool place to eat. Has a modern aesthetic lighting and good amount of space. The upper area is a beer garden and super friendly for big groups! Food was also insanely fresh and plated beautifully. read more

Mellotone Beer Project - GNOCCHI PRIMAVERA - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Food is good. Nice burger and crispy fries. The tuna and the cucumber salad were both good as well. Service was attentive and friendly. If I had any complaint it would be that it was a little pricey. read more

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Had pretty high expectations from seeing pictures of the food and this place still managed to beat those expectations. Vibe was super cool in here and the staff was very friendly. Absolutely have to get the squash croquettes! The chicken sandwich with pimento was also super good. This is much better food than your typical brewery, and the price was pretty reasonable. read more

i've been to Mellotone twice now- once for brunch & once for dinner! the food here is good, the service is great, the atmosphere is gorgeous! portion sizes are ...not reflective of the prices, in my humble opinion. read more

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After visiting 3 times in less than two weeks, I wanted to share photos of the delicious food at Mellotone Brewing Project, formerly Taft's Ale House. We're always thrilled to see new life spring up in a shuttered restaurant. But especially in an historic venue. All the menu items are unique but the appetizers are my favorite. There is enough to share and the variety is interesting. The atmosphere is refreshed with a sleek modern look on the first floor. Upstairs, there is ample seating with plank tables and benches. The service is good. Our server Ellie was awesome! read more

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Amazing remodel of the old tafts brewery. Super neutral, spacious decor and design inside. Not your classic brewery pub food. Cozy feel good classic food options like a burger and chicken sandwich. Just elevated in a fun way. Accept reservations and walk-ins. Parked at a nearby paid for garage. Hopefully they'll participate in FCC events. read more

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Came here with a large party and the service was lacking tremendously. Took nearly 30 minutes just for the first round of drinks. They picked up the pace when we ordered food and that came quickly but the drinks lagged all night and they were constantly confused, missing, and very delayed. Food was good. People enjoyed their burgers and other orders. I got the harvest salad and the jerk chicken and both were good, I'd get again. The stewed greens with the chicken was better than anticipated, nice little kick to them too. read more

Really cool spot. Great beer selection and good apps. Friendly service and dart boards. Definitely fun. The sauce for the fries was my favorite. Some kind of amazing roasted red pepper aioli. Very very good. read more

Excellent lineup of beers. They hit the styles dead on. The food is standard pub grub, but very well done. Service was prompt, truly have no complaints. read more

So lucky to go for the first night of their official soft opening. We had apps of cucumber salad, squash croquettes, and burata toast. A few salads were had and then the mains.. the spaghetti squash was out of this world! So good! Smash burgers were delicious, tuna burger was fantastic! That's not even the best part.. they brew their own beer. Oh. My. Gosh. Such delicious brews! The Grove and the Golden Hour were hits!! Such amazing fruity notes! The Hazy was yum! And then there's the service, really great especially for the first night and knowing we were there to help work out issues, such a good group of people and so nice! Recommended so many good choices! The space has been completely renovated too. Gone is the heavy, dark tones of the past to a gorgeous, light, open space that seems to have captured the colors of the evening, golden hour.. just beautiful. We WILL be back!! read more

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We stopped in on a Friday night without reservation and were able to get seated upstairs at the picnic tables. It was a fun setting where downstairs is more formal and intimate and upstairs is more informal, great for kids! They even have pool and darts available to play. We enjoyed the Al's Paloma, nice and smoky but not too sweet. We were so happy to see so many vegetarian options. They had a latke special for hanukah which was served with a dill sauce and applesauce. Our daughter really enjoyed the creamy mac n cheese. We also ordered the cucumber salad which was refreshing and had a bit of a kick, I love the sweety drop peppers in it!! The star for dinner was the spaghetti squash, beautifully presented and delicious! Everything was very shareable. For dessert we enjoyed olive oil citrus cake which was light and airy topped with pink peppercorns. Seating upstairs is first come first served with full menu available. The staff were attentive and food came out quick! read more

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I'll start with the good. The inside looks nice, and the decor creates a charming atmosphere. They did a great job renovating this church into a brewpub. I recommend making a reservation if you want table seating on the first floor. It's definitely more of a romantic setting, while the communal tables upstairs offer a more casual vibe. Service is good, and I have no complaints in that regard. Now onto the bad. The food. The beer. Both fell short in every aspect. In one word, I'd describe it as boring. For such a unique restaurant concept, I had some expectations for the menu, but I should've left those at home. Below are my food reviews: *Pork Belly Skewers ($13) - This was the best thing I had all night, but not without its flaws. The pork belly was delicious, and the glaze was sweet + savory. I'm not sure I was served the "apple leek gastrique" mentioned in the description, but rather an apple carrot(?) gastrique. It was okay, very sour, but I guess it provided a contrast to the pork belly. Then there were the shishito peppers. Not to sound like a snob, but these peppers weren't even cooked properly. They should be blistered (emphasis on blistered, not burnt) to bring out their flavor. Put bluntly, this dish isn't worth it. *Gnocchi Bolognese ($26) - For the price, I was expecting something special, but this dish is literally something I could easily make myself because of how cheap the ingredients are. It's a bit more elevated with the addition of gnocchi, but at its core, it's just pasta with tomato sauce and ground beef. Save your money and make this at home. Unless you're really craving gnocchi or want an aesthetic photo of gnocchi bolognese, this dish isn't worth it. *Double Smashburger ($12) - This was such a miss. Literally, any fast food burger is better than this. The burger wasn't even served warm, but I thought maybe the taste could redeem it. Except there was no taste. Where's the seasoning? Salt? Pepper? Did they walk out of the kitchen? The tastiest thing about this burger was the random olive on top. That olive was great. The burger was depressing. If you want a burger, literally go anywhere but here. Nine Giant, Bones' Burgers, Fifty West, McDonald's, Burger King... you can't go wrong (unless you come here for this burger). *Olive Oil Citrus Cake ($10) - I was really looking forward to this dessert because olive oil lemon cakes are my favorite. But just like the rest of my night, I was met with disappointment. This was the soggiest cake I've ever had, and the random salty/sour/sweet sprinkles on top tasted horrible. The entire thing is a sugar bomb, which I guess is great if you have a sweet tooth or the palate of a child. But for $10, you might as well eat honey straight from the bottle. This cake is a sugary mess, and I wouldn't recommend it. For drinks, I ordered a flight. My biggest issue with the beers is how deceiving the descriptions are. If you say the stout is going to be "dark and mysterious, leading with dark chocolate and espresso, with a rich velvety finish," but the drink tastes nothing like that, you need to fix your descriptions. The flowery language feels like a cover-up, especially since the beers lack any of the nuanced flavors promised. If you're going to keep these descriptions, at least make the beers live up to them. Below are my drink reviews: *Mellotone Gold - A basic lager, like a Budweiser (3/5) *Standard Time - Very standard Kölsch, just like the name implies, nothing special (2/5) *Friend of Mine - This drink partially lives up to its description of extra special bitter. Except for the special part. This is just bland bitter water. It's giving me nothing. None of the notes of toast, biscuit, caramel, and toffee mentioned in the description (0/5) *Golden Hour - Yikes, worst IPA ever. Looks like piss, smells like piss, tastes horrible. They should rename this to Golden Shower (0/5) *Melograno Sour - I don't usually like sours, but I enjoyed this one. Good fruity flavors and not too sour (5/5) *Silhouette - Worst stout I've ever had. It's bitter and boring. So lackluster compared to other stouts I've had described to be chocolatey or espresso-like (1/5) This restaurant's saving grace is its interior design and staff. Other than that, it's a disappointment through and through. When you're a restaurant, you've got to be more than just good looks and a nice personality. You need to deliver on the food and drinks. Ultimately, looks can be deceiving, and there are plenty of better food options nearby, so I won't be coming back. read more

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Food was good an unique and the vibe is awesome. Service was good and fast. I would recommend this place read more

Mellotone Beer Project - Pork - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Honestly not just the best burger in Cincy but potentially the best burger I've had anywhere. It doesn't stop there though.. the crinkle cut fries have the perfect crunch and the squash croquettes were out of this world. Love the venue and the beer was good too. My only complaint of the whole place is that I wish they would have the full selection of craft sodas available in the restaurant. Otherwise 10/10. read more

Unique menu that delivers great flavor. Drinks were unique and had great flavors. The atmosphere and menu make this a great must stop at place. read more

We stopped in during our visit from Pittsburgh, and were warmly greeted by more than one person. The sweetest bartender welcomed us and gave us advice on our travels. Just as we were about to leave, an owner, Dennis, gave us an impromptu tour and beer tasting! Delicious beer. They also have live music downstairs. read more