By Staff Writers: Jesse Dolojan and Peter Melahn

Mellotone Beer Project had its grand opening on Friday, Nov. 22 in Over-The-Rhine(OTR) offering people a place to relax and enjoy themselves with a wide variety of food, beverages and entertainment.

The new beer hall occupies the space that Taft’s Ale House previously did at 1429 Race St. in a refurbished church. The space has been entirely redesigned and reconfigured. Mellotone has three floors open to the public. The main floor serves as the main restaurant area. The bottom floor, called the Undertone, offers a neighborhood bar and a stage for live music. The top floor is an indoor beer garden with pool tables and darts.

The menu features five of their original brews. Customers have the option to try any three in a flight or all five pints if they’re not driving afterwards. Between the two of us, we tried all five. Their beers ranged from $6 to $8, or $3 each in a flight. Some highlights from their selection were their pale ales, of which they have three. Our favorite was their “15th Street Bloom. This hazy India pale ale was wonderfully bitter with a fruity selection of el dorado, citra, and cashmere hops. Its strong notes of mango and peach gave it a complex and satisfying flavor. 

We also liked “Grove” their American pale ale. It was strong, hoppy and crisp, and definitely gave Rhinegeist Truth a run for its money. Finally, we loved “Standard Time” This German-style Kolsch truly had a nostalgic flavor. It is a must for any Miller High Life fans out there.

If Miller is the champagne of beers, Standard Time is the Moet & Chandon Imperial Vintage 1996. 

In addition to the drinks, Mellotone also offers a selection of food items that are specially crafted to complement their beers. Although the drinks were fairly priced, the food items were all somewhat pricey. We ordered their Double Smashburger for $12, for a sandwich that came with no side of fries. It was a good burger, but a $12 price tag which excludes fries is simply unacceptable. Fries could only be ordered on the side for an additional $7. As much as we wanted fries, we did not order them because we are broke college students. 

This being said, the burger was in fact scrumptious. Their beef was locally sourced from a Cincinnati meat market, and toppings such as pickles, onions, and mayo were added to complete the burger. The burger’s simplicity made for a delicious experience and carries it far above other options one may try, but its outrageous price along with no fries on the side does not justify the purchase. 

Mellotone Beer Project, however, was definitely a worthwhile experience. We would consider it a great springboard for a spectacular night out in OTR. Sit down, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy a few quality beverages as your gateway to a great evening.

Mellotone will be open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Sundays. 

And, always remember: hangovers last a day, but drunken memories last a lifetime.