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Cincinnati has more than its fair share of breweries. One of the most unique is Taft’s Ale House. Is it the perfect place for your family to eat dinner during your next trip to Cincinnati? Keep reading to find out!
We discovered Taft’s Ale House during our first trip to Cincinnati. We instantly fell in love with the place the moment we saw it. Its cozy ambiance provided a nice place to warm up on a chilly November night.
The Environment
Taft’s Ale House is named and themed after famous Cincinnati native William Howard Taft. He was not only a United States president, he was also a Supreme Court justice and known for his rather large size. In fact, there is a well-known story about him getting stuck in a bathtub once because he was so big!
All throughout the interior of the brewery, you will see nods to these details of Taft’s life. The ale house’s logo features a silhouette of a man in a tub. The taps all have judge’s gavels for handles. And there is even a steak sandwich on the menu named the Big Billy.
Taft’s Ale House is located in an old 1850’s evangelical church. In fact, it used to be one of the oldest protestant churches in Cincinnati.
You can instantly tell the building started life as a church when you walk up to the front of Taft’s Ale House. It looks like a church on the outside and the inside. It has super high ceilings, ornate windows and archways, and it oozes charm from every direction.
I loved the interior of this place! It is so beautiful! And as irreverent as it is to have a brewery housed in an old church, it seems like a fitting location for this brewery. The moment you walk in the door, you just feel a sudden warmth envelope you. You can’t find a more awesome interior!
The Food and Drink at Taft’s Ale House
The food menu at Taft’s Ale House features many classic pub grub dishes, including pretzels, wings, and chili fries. But, there are some surprising options on the menu too. For example, they have a tri tip steak salad, a quinoa veggie burger, a barbacoa torta, and an herbed salmon sandwich.
They also offer a variety of wraps, sandwiches, and burgers for your dining pleasure.
For side dishes, you can choose from the traditional French fries or tater tots or you can go with something a little more elevated like the creamy polenta, a kale salad, or Billy’s baked beans.
The kids’ menu features go to favorites, such as a burger, chicken tenders, or pasta.
When we ate here, my husband and I both went for burgers. My son chose to have the pasta off of the kids’ menu, along with a side of fries. He enjoyed his pasta and fries. We thought the burgers were pretty good, but nothing mind blowing. The biggest disappointment of the meal was the creamy polenta. I was not a fan of it. It just wasn’t very creamy.
Taft’s Ale House serves primarily their own beer brewed by the Taft’s Brewing Company. They have quite a selection on the beer menu, so you are sure to find one that hits the spot, no matter your preference.
Check out their website for a look at the full menu.
The Prices, Location, and Hours
Taft’s Ale House is actually one of three breweries owned by Taft’s Brewing Company. It is located at 1429 Race Street in Cincinnati.
You will find the Cincinnati version of Taft’s Brewpourium at 4831 Spring Grove Avenue. The other Taft’s Brewpourium is located in Columbus, Ohio.
Taft’s Ale House is open seven days per week. On Mondays through Thursdays, you can join them from 11: 30 am until 10:00 pm, with the kitchen closing at 9:00 pm. Fridays and Saturdays, they are open from 11:30 am until 11:00 pm with the kitchen closing at 10:00 pm. Then on Sundays, they open at 11:30 am and close at 9:00 pm. The kitchen closes at 8:00 pm on Sundays.
The food prices here seem to be pretty typical for Cincinnati. Most everything on the menu falls in the $12-21 range, with the exception of the soups, salads, side dishes, and kids meals. These are all under $10 each.
Conclusion
Taft’s Ale House is one of many breweries in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is one of the more unique ones, however, thanks to its awesome location in an old church, which gives it crazy cool interiors. It is also one of a kind because of its namesake and theme: William Howard Taft.
I definitely recommend eating dinner at Taft’s Ale House during your family trip to Cincinnati! I hope you like it as much as we did!
For more on what to do and where to eat in Cincinnati, see my posts on the Cincinnati Zoo, tips for visiting the zoo, the Reds Hall of Fame, Sugar n’ Spice Diner, Hang Over Easy, and Dead Low Brewery.
Happy travels!
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