ENTERTAINMENT

Why is Taft’s making a Red Bike beer?

Shauna Steigerwald
ssteigerwald@enquirer.com
Taft's Ale House head brewer Kevin Moreland, right, and Cincinnati Red Bike executive director Jason Barron, left, are collaborating on a commemorative beer, celebrating Red Bike's first anniversary. The two will also host a big event at the brewpub Sept. 15.

Sept. 15 marks a big day for Over-the-Rhine businesses Taft’s Ale House and Red Bike. It’s the 158th birthday of the brewpub’s namesake, William Howard Taft, and the first anniversary of the bike-share program’s launch.

To celebrate, the neighbors – they’re located a block apart, both in old churches – are collaborating to brew a Red Bike Beer and planning a party at the brewpub, 1429 Race St. in Over-the-Rhine.

“It worked out perfectly," said Jason Barron, Red Bike’s executive director. “Plenty of people (who) bike ride love to bike ride to get a beer. What a cool way to celebrate our birthday – being able to launch a beer named after us by folks who believe in us.”

The beer they’re brewing together is a zwickelbier, a low-alcohol, unfiltered lager. A historic German style, it will be made with Hallertau Noble hops.

Happy Birthday, Red Bike. You’ve exceeded expectations

Kevin Moreland, head brewer and partner at Taft’s, said the style dates to the 1500s and would have been served in German beer halls on Sundays. (It’s named for the zwickel, the sampling valve on a fermentation tank.)

“I’ve always wanted to have a beer that was themed after bicycling,” said Moreland, who himself enjoys biking. The idea was hammered home when he kept seeing bikes chained outside the brewpub. (He’s now working with the city to put in a custom bike rack at 15th and Race streets, right outside Taft’s.)

Moreland is also a fan of Red Bike and has purchased several passes for Taft’s employees to use. He sees the beer and the bash as a way to get more people to use the service – and to bring more people to Taft’s by bike.

During the bash, which kicks off at 6 p.m. on Sept. 15, the brewery will unveil the beer and debut a special limited-edition Red Bike glass. The German-made pilsner glasses will be given out with drinkers’ first beer purchase while they last.

Red Bikes will be on display on all three levels, and attendees can snap photos with William Howard Taft and a Red Bike. Those who upload the photos to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #BillyOnABike can win prizes, including a $100 gift card for Taft’s Ale House.

Attending on behalf of Red Bike will be Mayor John Cranley, who provided funds to get the program started, and Dr. Rick Lofgren, president and CEO of UC Health (Red Bike’s presenting sponsor).

Planning to bike to the event? The closest Red Bike stations are at Washington Park, about a block away, and at 15th and Vine (near Kroger), two blocks away. Those are among 50 Red Bike stations in Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, the West End, Uptown, Northside, Covington, Newport and Bellevue. In honor of its birthday, Red Bike will be offering 24-hour passes for $1 all day. (Use promo code 91515 to get the deal. Hourly check-ins will still be required.)

Partnering with Red Bike is a continuation of Moreland’s goal of working with local businesses, particularly in Over-the-Rhine.

“I want to collaborate with people who are doing something that’s unique to the market,” he said.

His past collaborations have included Maverick Chocolate Porter, brewed with cacao nibs and roasted cacao husks from Maverick Chocolate at Findlay Market, and Lotus, created with Off the Vine juice bar.