3 Points Urban Brewery

May 23

I'll admit, when I first got the invitation to attend a preview night of 3 Points Urban Brewery, I was skeptical.

One of the interesting things about having a "blog" for the past decade is that I get the occasional invitation to visit cool, new places and events. There's been some interesting stories throughout the years. 5chw4r7z and I attended a weird motocross/theatre production one time, French Fry Heaven was delicious, The Banks affirmed that I could never afford to live there, and no, Panera, I still have no interest in your seasonal promotions or pandering to a local audience about how great your "bakery" is (so please, stop emailing me).

The return of local beer brands and the proliferation of local breweries has been a common theme of this city's renaissance* these last 10+ years. It's a fitting narrative. My favorite beers to enjoy are Hudepohl's Hudy Delight, Rivertown's Roebling, MadTree's Psychopathy, and Rhingeist's Truth (I've also been known to be quite fond of Little Kings). I'd take any of those over a national brand any day. You can now find all of these local products at a plethora of watering holes, stadia, and grocery stores across the city and region. Hell, some of them are even found across the state and nation now.

So when another brewery was opening, I was a bit tepid. Rhinegeist and MadTree are both great, but I often enjoy their products outside of their home base, places that are welcoming, but often crowded. I'd rather hang out at a spot where I can have a conversation that doesn't necessitate yelling or dodging children playing cornhole and ping pong.

Walking into 3 Points, I was immediately and pleasantly surprised. The place is open, welcoming, and part of the neighborhood fabric. There's no wide open, echoey, industrial spaces, which is a nice change of pace. I quickly found out that the people behind it are also the same folks who brought Rhinehaus and Nation to life (Rhinehaus is the best place to watch FC Cincinnati away matches and Nation has the best brunch in the city). The space is a modern and a unique take on what a brewery/taproom can be. There's a few televisions for sports, but the main bank of screens is reserved for displaying local art that ties in to their locally brewed beverages. There's color, plenty of places to sit and talk, open windows that give clear views of surrounding Pendleton, and greenery. In a neighborhood known for artistic expression, 3 Points (along with several other local businesses) seems to embody that theme in reality, not just in press release language. I watched the proprietor of the nearby coffee shop and locals swing by to say hello as I conversed with friends (both new and old) that I ran into. Other neighbors stopped by the windows while walking their kids to catch up with friends.

I'm not a beer snob and haven't the slightest clue how to express aftertaste, head, or other examples of the craft beer lexicon, but I can say that according to my simple palate: Sinking Orca is a great beer, Birdseye is pretty good, and Origami was top notch.

If you pine for the days of Lachey's or find yourself still believing in The Bengals, maybe it's best to wait for The Sam Adam's Taproom to open (there's no "treehouse swings" at 3 Points).

If you want a solid neighborhood joint to enjoy good beer in while appreciating local art and taking part in conversation, visit 3 Points.

Their website says: