Exploring Dead Low Brewing

December 30, 2022
Dead Low Brewing
Written by: Joe Ludwig

Cincinnati has always been a beer city. We have 60+ craft breweries to choose from, not even including the ones in Dayton, which isn’t that far away. I’m a big fan and supporter of the Cincinnati Craft Beer scene, but I’ve only been to half of the breweries. That’s why one of my goals this year is to explore 12 local breweries in the Greater Cincinnati area that I haven’t been to before.

The ninth new brewery we visited this year was Dead Low Brewing. Dead Low sits along the Ohio River in California, Ohio, a place I didn’t even know existed. The brewery opened its doors in October 2019 and is themed around boats, which is fitting because “dead low” is the minimum depth a river is navigable. 

Caroline and I visited this brewery back in September for my 33rd birthday – kid free! It’s a long way from the west side, but the trip was well worth it!

The Taproom

Dead Low Brewing operates just like a restaurant. When you first walk in, a host will bring you to your table, and then the wait staff will take your food and drink order. If you didn’t know that they brewed their own beer, you would think it was just an ordinary restaurant along the Ohio River. However, Dead Low is anything but ordinary.

The taproom has a unique atmosphere to it. The walls are full of pictures of various types of boats and ships. Their mascot, a skeleton fishing over the Dead Low logo, is prominently displayed throughout the taproom. 

Inside Dead Low's taproom.
Inside Dead Low's taproom.
The bar inside Dead Low's taproom.
Stairs leading to the private rooms at the lower level of Dead Low Brewing.

There’s a ton of seating available both inside and outside the taproom. There’s a newly expanded outdoor deck with tables, chairs, and umbrellas. This area would be perfect for hanging out in the spring or summer.

The beer is made in a separate building in the back. You can look in the windows and see the beer fermenters, but it is not open to the public. 

Food Options and Events

Dead Low Brewing has a full-service kitchen available. The food was outstanding. Their menu includes sandwiches, burgers, chicken sandwiches, Naan, soup, salad, wings, pizza, and more. We started with the fried green tomatoes (Ohio-grown green tomatoes marinated 24 hours in buttermilk, breaded, fried, and topped with garlic herb cheese spread & hot pepper jelly) as an appetizer. I ate the chicken sandwich and Caroline had one of the Naans. We were very impressed with the food!

Their events calendar is typically very full. The taproom is full of TVs, so you can watch your favorite sports games. Kids eat free on Tuesdays during the winter, they host Singo every Wednesday, and Thursdays are $5-pint night. Make sure to follow them on Facebook to see their updated events calendar. 

They also have several rooms available to rent for private events such as rehearsal dinners, private recitals, award ceremonies, corporate happy hours, etc. For more information on what they have available, check out their website.

The Beer

Dead Low brewing had a full-service bar with over 15 beers, seltzers brewed on location, and wine and spirits. They offer to-go beers in cans, 32oz crowlers, and 64oz growlers. I enjoyed the beer that I had while I was there. I can’t wait to go back and check out more of what they offer.

What We Drank

Joe: 

Lagom Scandinavian
Farmhouse Ale
ABV: 6%
IBUs: 7

“Not too much, not too little. A farmhouse Ale with wheat, barley, rye, and juniper. Fermented with honey using a Nordic Kveik yeast.”

Devotion
Golden Ale
ABV: 6.6%
IBU: 35

Fénix
Mexican Lager
ABV: 5.8%
IBU: 15

“A crispy, light, easy-drinking Mexican-Style Lager. Brewed with Vienna Malt and corn.”

Caroline: 

(Flight)

Zed Belgian Wit
ABV: 4.5%
IBUs: 8

Devotion Golden Ale
ABV: 6.6%
IBUs: 35

Justa Kolsch
ABV: 4.8%
IBUs: 22

“Crisp, light and drinkable!”

Umbra Schwarzbier
ABV: 5.5%
IBUs: 24

“An incredibly easy drinking German-style black lager with hints of chocolate and coffee flavors.”

Breakfast Blend Coffee Lager 
ABV: 5.3
IBU: 5

Pint:

Black Cherry Seltzer
ABV: 5%

Final Thoughts

Dead Low Brewing is different from a place we would go to because it is about a 40-minute drive from our house nevertheless, I am grateful that we were able to check them out. The food was just as good, if not better, than the beer. As I said earlier, you almost forget that you are at a craft brewery because the taproom operates like a restaurant, and you have to go outside on the deck if you want to see the beer fermenters. If you are on the fence about making the drive, I encourage you to try it. You will not regret it.

To learn more about Dead Low Brewing, check out their website. You can also follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Other Brewery Adventures

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