Cincinnati is one of the world’s leading brewing cities. (Literally? Well, no. But it once was). Somewhere between prohibition and the era of the cheap, yellow/fuzzy beer craze that was the 1990s, the Queen City lost her crown as one of the premier brewing capitals of the world. But lately, that trend has been changing.

With a nationwide resurgence of all things ‘craft’ and ‘handmade’, Cincinnatians have been rediscovering their heritage, largely through the redevelopment of Over-The-Rhine and The Brewery District. It was in these neighborhoods that the Cincinnati Beer Barons of yesterday, once created legendary ales and lagers of superior quality and craftsmanship. The world took note, and while other cities in America also became beer capitals, Cincinnati once stood above the rest.

Steve Hampton of The Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation explains, “Cincinnati lager was almost a brand name around the country because we did it so well here. All through the late 1800s, Cincinnati beer was known far and wide for it’s quality. Some of our breweries even shipped their beer around the globe.”

WHY CINCINNATI?

So, what is it about the Queen City that made the art & science of brewing beer such an attractive undertaking, not just in the 1800s, but in the current renaissance, as well? Some people say it’s the German heritage. Some say it’s the clean water. Still others suggest that Cincinnati’s resurgence as a dynamic and growing city provides the perfect storm for brewing entrepreneurs. Hampton believes it to be something more basic. “In Cincinnati, brewing is really in our bones, so seeing craft beer come back is just us returning to our heritage. It’s who we are.”

That may be part of the reason why there are now more Queen City craft breweries in operation, than at any other period, since prohibition, and there seems to be no end to the growth. By early 2016, an anticipated 26 brewing companies will call Cincinnati home.

As you might have guessed, there’s a great story to be told about this renaissance. Executive Producer, Kristofer Sommer and Producer/Director, Scott Denney have created “Queen City Craft, Hometown Brewing,” a half-hour documentary focused on the Queen City’s new craft brewers. It’s a story told by the people making the beer. They share their passion for brewing, and what attracted them to the craft. They discuss where the industry is heading, as well as their connection and reverence for it’s past. More importantly, they all speak to their belief that there’s a more human reason behind the current renaissance; taking pride in one’s work while making something people will enjoy.

“Too many of us are disconnected from the hands-on world. There’s a screen in between,” says Sommer. “People feel a desire to be part of something bigger and better. We’re turning to handmade. Cincinnati is a hotbed for artisans. Brewing is a major outlet.”

Denney agrees, “As much as technology has changed our lives for the better, it’s been at the cost of basic human interaction. We’ve lost the simple, human connections, that everyone needs. The brewers we meet in our documentary are all about that kind of interaction. They not only want to hear praise for their work, they want to hear the critiques, as well, and they want to hear all of it, first hand. There aren’t many businesses where that’s the case. Craft brewing is a very personal transaction.”

Today, there are a slew of tastes and styles to explore and sample from. Traditional brewing with a heritage dating back to 1589 graces the banks of Newport at Hofbräuhaus. In the center of our city we find re-defined, revitalized historic brands to quaff at Christian Moerlein. Edgy boundary pushers abound at Listermann Brewery in Evanston near XU. Over in Pleasant Ridge, startup Nine Giant is diligently working towards their grand opening.

No matter what part of town, there are exceptional suds. West Side? Get to Tap and Screw. East Side? How about Paradise, Blank Slate and Old Firehouse! Off to the North Cellar Dweller. No excuses for geography.

THE T.V. SHOW

With the Queen City specifically in mind, the documentary (which was also locally made and crafted) addresses the central question of “What is craft beer, and why is it so appealing? Is it the taste? Is it snobbery? Is it just a fad? How have we gone from the domestic beer our parents drank to craft beers that taste good at any temperature? What is in the future for the Cincinnati craft beer renaissance?”

The answers found in the show are presented by the brewers themselves. Their journeys, inspirations, and personalities are all part of the area’s storied love affair with beer.

The documentary places the viewer right inside the brew houses, tap rooms, and work areas of the new Queen City craft breweries. “These guys all take great pride in their work, and I wanted to give the viewer the feeling of ‘being there’ with them,” Denney explains. “I didn’t want the usual, flat TV documentary look you know, the usual, repetitive wide shots interspersed with headshots, all looking like basic video. I wanted a more cinematic look, but one that was still realistic. In a lot of these areas, there were dark shadows, so it was a challenge to translate that visibly to the screen, without losing the reality of what it’s really like.”

Pointing out that filmmaking is also a very hands-on craft, Denney went on to say that craftsmanship is all about the details, “I wanted all of the texture, wrinkles, sweat, imperfections, and colors to come across. I wanted to show the little details. Nothing moves quickly with brewing, so it was important to be very close to the action as it happened, and to slow it way down to catch all of those little details, from the grinding mills, to pouring test samples, to the steam rising from kettles, to cleaning, etc. We even did the interviews on location, so that we could include the noise of the work happening. Every little bit of their work is important to these brewers, and so it was important to me to showcase it all. I wanted the viewer to almost smell the hops, feel the heat and work, and more importantly, to almost taste the great beer that’s being made by these incredible craftsman.”

BIGGER THAN A SHOW

Sommer sums up the significance of Cincinnati’s beer brewing renaissance: “Beer is present in nearly every household. Beer is part of our life, our culture. What we drink is just as important as who we drink it with.”

“I’ll drink to that!” adds Denney.

‘Nuff said.

Now go enjoy a handcrafted, Cincinnati-born beer (Seriously, go ahead. And save a stool for us.)