MadTree Brewing

Hands-​down the best beer in Cincinnati. I’ve been going to here for a few years now and to see how fast they have grown and been so successful at what they’re doing makes me a proud Cincinnatian! The consistency they have of rolling out new beers every other month definitely spoils the beer drinkers in our city. Among my favorites they have introduced over the years are Galaxy High, Unhappy Amber, and the never forgotten Cherry October. If you’re wanting to stop and have a few drinks after work with co-​workers, a guys/​girls night out with your friends, or want to fill up a growler to take home and enjoy it away from the crowds of people, Madtree won’t disappoint.

I’d only been to Mad Tree once during a brewery crawl/​tour, so I was excited to visit again this past weekend on a beautiful sunny Saturday. Everyone else had the same idea– because it was packed! The last time I was here was during the summer so everything had been opened up, but I really like how well the space converts to being enclosed as well– there were a lot more low, big tables this time. But– they were all full.
So once we got beers, we went out back to a lovely gravel space with corn hole and some more tables– both seated and standing.
Mad Tree’s beers are pretty readily available everywhere and I’m not always a huge fan of them so I stayed safe with a Lift, but I do like that you can get a custom flight to try some of their special brews from onsite. It was hard to get a look at everything had since it was so busy, but on an off day or night I would think this would be a nice spot.
The brewery is also dog-​friendly, although I wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing my dog to such a loud and busy spot. There were also several dogs that that were skittish and who’s owners said were «not great with strangers,» which didn’t make sense as to why they would bring them… Lots of barking ensued.
Overall, I was looking for a more lowkey spot to hang out on Saturday afternoon, so we left after just one beer.

To start… let’s begin with food. Catch a Fire pizza is so good! The perfect addition to Madtree’s beer. We ordered a large ½ Jerk Chicken, ½ pepperoni split between 3 people. It was awesome! We each had 3 pieces and every bite was delicious!
Atmosphere at Madtree is busy. A lot of conversation and great for people watching. Our experience was in the winter so I cannot vouch for outside, but everyone is very friendly and the wait isn’t long to get a beer.
Yes, they are dog friendly! We loved bringing our pup in while we relaxed and had dinner.
I read the other posts and the bathroom situation is odd. One men’s bathroom and one unisex bathroom-​for women… I can’t find the other bathrooms conveniently. My first conversation with the lineup of women was that a man definitely came up with this concept. Sorry guys, but we need our space.
Either way, we loved it and are excited to come back when it’s warmer to see pup friends and mingle a bit more.
Thanks Madtree!

Love the beer selection, but the facility is not great. Not nearly as large as Rhinegeist or Braxtons, which is problematic if you want to go on a Saturday afternoon. The place is reminiscent of Chuck e Cheese as there are as many kids taking chairs/​tables as adults. We will try again, but we are considering bringing our own table and chairs. That said, at the top of my list is the Rhinegeist Truth. Their place is huge with Corn Hole … but no food other than pretzels.

Such a great home brewery! These guys must be printing money. My favorite beer there is the Lift. Such a great year round beer. This brewery offers great fireside pizzas as well. Just a great place to come and have some drinks with good friends. I can’t wait to see how their new space at the old RockTenn plant will look. Good luck guys!

This is definitely a fun neighborhood hang out spot. The atmosphere is fun and he beer is delicious! You have to try the PsycHOPathy. It’s my definite go-​to. The addition of catch a fire pizza makes the visits even better. Pizza and Beer? What could be better?!

I really enjoy a good beer with my pizza. And beer and Pizza is what I come here for. Mad Tree’s brews are tried and true. Consitent and GOOD. Catch a Fire has now moved indoors, which is nice, and they’re still firing up great pizza pies.
But for me personally, this space, doesn’t do much for me. Open and loud, it’s a lot like Rhinegeist in OTR. Which is fine if you need a big space. The patio gets crowed, of couse, everyone wants to sit out on the patio. It’s a lot more comfortable then trying to belly up to a pub table insde.

Madtree Brewing is great for any type of person. You can go in your sweat pants or in your dress clothes-​whatever you like and no one cares. The bartenders are great and quick. There are big tables throughout for open seating and a smaller L shaped bar as well to sit. I’ve noticed it usually starts to die down around 11:30 on a weekend night, perfect timing to steal a a bar seat.

This place is a solid four stars. I love that they have a kitchen with pizza and other side items. Their beer is affordable and I like that the menu changes seasonally. However, I have to deduct a star due to crowd and lack of seating. It seems like no matter what time you come in here, it is always packed. I think I heard they have intentions to expand so hopefully there will be more tables and space for all.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love craft beer. When I visit any town, I try to check out as many craft breweries as I can. I was delighted that my friend offered to show me the ropes at MadTree on my last visit to Cincinnati.
This brewery is located a bit «off the beaten path», but I kind of liked that. Nice to have a brewery close to where people actually live. MadTree isn’t huge, but there was plenty of seating for the Saturday afternoon crowd when we went in.
I loved their selection of beers. Because I couldn’t decide, I went for a flight. I don’t remember the names of all of the beers but noteworthy were the pumpkin beer and the pilsner that I tried. Both were great for a winter’s day. Although it was somewhat crowded, we were still able to get quick and easy service!
I was so happy to check MadTree off of my brewery bucket list. Thanks for slingin’ delicious craft beer! Your brewery made for a nice Saturday afternoon.

My husband may kill me for this … But I’m not over the moon about Mad Tree like he is. My review is on atmosphere only! I am no beer lover and I’ve only ever heard amazing things about their beers.
Half of the bartenders are very kind and friendly. I believe Chris helped me last time and he was wonderful!
However, in a previous visit, one of the bartenders was very rude to my husband and his friends after they asked for football to be turned on on just one TV (soccer was on). Every time I’ve been and sat at a community table, we’ve had really odd encounters… Pompous people, grumpy people, people who brought BABIES. Maybe I’ve simply had bad luck, but I’ve always felt so awkward and unwelcome there! I think the beer snobs smell my lack of beer knowledge… And they are very offended
Oh. And PLEASE can you have parking for people who just want to come in and buy beer and leave?! I get sent on missions to pick up 6 packs that are only sold at the brewery … I usually have to pick between illegally parking and walking a pretty decent distant, by myself, in a dark parking lot.

Fun spot for a weekend afternoon. Super packed with lots of folks and their dogs. My cousin and I each had a flight and we also tasted their wood-​fired pizza and some sort of yummy breadsticks with this beer cheese dipping goodness.
It kind of reminds me of Raleigh Brewing Co. Very similar set-​up.
Beers were pretty satisfying. Surprisingly enough, my favorite was a lighter beer, called the «Dreamsicle». Atypical of what I usually like, I guess I’ll now be adding some more kolsches to my list!

3.75 stars (rounded up is 4)
I love the atmosphere of this place! The beers are good, but sometimes I find when I go there after you’ve tried two beers the rest taste the same. No real distinction between them. However this does not apply to Espersyoself, chuckleberry and axis mundy (sp?) … Heaven.
I also love the addition of catch a fire pizza!
Still a great place to go

MadTree is close to our house, so we’ve been here a bunch. It’s very popular and can be a bit of a zoo depending when you go. If it’s crowded, the parking situation is intimidating and the bathroom wait is not fun at all. If it’s a nice day, there’s plenty of room outside, when everyone is inside, pack your patience. They have a great selection of beers, something for everyone. The addition of Catch a Fire pizza is awesome, too. We love their music festivals a few times a year as well.

There are so many beers! I am absolutely impressed with the size of this place as well as the quality of the beers. We tried eight beers and liked ALL of them but LOVED six. That’s huge and almost never happens.
I don’t think there is a bad choice. I simply say — go, drink, be merry.

New favorite place in Madisonville! Nothing like great beer on tap paired with a delicious pizza. Catch-​a-​fire pizza being here is utterly awesome. The kale salad is super yummy although I felt like the chickpeas were a little overcooked, the smoked chicken wings are good, but the pizza is the winner. There’s so many pizza places in Cincinnati but this place stands out! Their large pizzas are around $ 20 and are humongous! Definitely enough for 2 people and leftovers for lunch the next day!
This place is also dog friendly inside and out, has an outdoor area that’s great when the weather is nice to play cornhole, and they open the giant doors to the bar when the weather is nice outside. My hubber’s favorite spot for guy’s night and my favorite spot for pizza and beer! We were there twice last week alone. Will be back again! And again. and again.

I’ve had and enjoyed MadTree’s beer on other occasions, but this was my first visit to the actual brewery. It was a Friday around 4pm and it was packed. There were so many people sitting and standing around the bar, that there was nowhere to squeeze in to place an order. I don’t recall if I raised my hand like a school girl, gave a whistle, or if it was just a pure miracle that I was able to place an order. Just kidding, it was a miracle that I finally was able to order. I went for The Great PumpCan. I must say, that I enjoy MadTree’s beer more than the other widely known Cincinnati breweries, but the brewery itself just didn’t capture my heart.
What’s with the fact that they only have one bathroom for women and one for men, each with only one toilet? Shouldn’t several stalls be mandatory for a business with that many patrons? That was a random thought and then when someone busted up in the bathroom while I was using it, I was even the more curious. And for the record, I locked the door, but the lock was broken… grrr. Did I mention that I like their beer? That’s mainly the reason for the 3 stars, otherwise the brewery itself would only get one star from me… maybe I’m just bitter after I gave some random stranger a free peep show.

Love this place! The pizza they serve there is to die for and all the beers are great. It’s an open atmosphere with an outdoor courtyard as well. The only issue is that parking sucks. They just don’t have enough space for the popularity of the place. It also gets extremely crowded at times and is near impossible to find a place to sit. Love going here, though!

I love majority of the beers this place puts out. I’m not an IPA fan so other than those I have tried. I may be biased because this brewery is so close to where I live. They always have new rotating beers to try that are so different than the beers you can buy at the store.
They have a pizza place in there, which has really good pepperoni pizza (pepperoni are under the cheese and create a layer of meat… yumm!)
The only down fall is that they are always busy… always. So seating can sometimes be limited but while it’s still nice outside there is more seating in their sectioned off patio. Oh and they only have one bathroom, not cool!

Cool brews, cool dudes, cool space. I think this sums up the essence of MadTree.
With the influx of popularity and outreach, MadTree is ever evolving but has not let go of it’s authenticity and deep commitment to its roots.
Located in the outskirts of Oakley, on your way to Silverton, it’s easily accessible from every part of town.
The brews are great, I tried the Gnarly Brown Nitro the last time I was there. Delish, and so smooth. Can’t go wrong with their regulars Happy Amber or Gnarley Brown, both are great selections.
Parking can be a little crazy, so come early. But other than that MadTree is a Cincinnati hot spot to be enjoyed more.
P. S. Don’t forgot to throw a buck on the grates above the bar. All proceeds go their charity of the month. The organization I work for was their charity of the month a little while back and they helped us raise funds for our children’s mental health programs. I am forever greatly for their philanthropy and generosity!

I am in love with this place!
I don’t know why it took me so long to get over here, but now that I have, it quickly became my favorite brewery in the city!
First off, I can take Hank the German, and anywhere he can come with me is a huge plus!
2^nd, they have corn hole! Who doesn’t love, local beer and some friendly competition?
I love the place itself, well designed. Plenty of room, I was there on a Saturday night and it didn’t take forever to get a beer and there was a lot space to hang with friends!
The bartenders are on top of things! They of course know their stuff and are quick on their feet, like I said, it did not take long to get service.
They offer Catch-​a-​Fire Pizza, which, I must say, if pretty damn good pizza! Also, don’t be suprised if you see a food truck or 2 there on the weekends.
Highly reccommended!
Cheers! :)

Hooray for Madtree! Such an awesome, casual vibe as soon as you enter this joint. The outdoor seating seems more intimate but the party is inside for sure. The big bar with all the taps sits as the focal point, almost like a piece of art in the room. Great service from the gents pouring beer and filling growlers. They handled stress and chaos like champs. The flights and glasses are very reasonably priced. In fact I enjoyed a flight, 10oz beer, and 32oz growler + fill for $ 20. Plus their beer is fantastic. 5 stars!

My favorite local brewery! Probably because it’s so close to my house, but I do love the beers! The Thundersnow (winter seasonal beer) is my hands down favorite. The vibe is very very causal, almost like they raided a garage sale and made the tables and stools out of what they found. The new outside area is going to be awesome for spring and summer outside drinking!
I am also so excited that Catch a Fire Pizza is inside instead of just operating out of the food truck.

The beer is amazing. Beer alone, Madtree has a lot going for it. The best thing about coming to the source is getting to try some of the scratch beers. Their beers — Lift is my favorite flagship beer — are always good and never disappoint. Flavorful, never watery, and good. We really enjoyed ourselves.
The place has little atmosphere. Merch is thrown on a bookshelf haphazardly. We asked and they ended up having a sweatshirt in my size in the back, but I wouldn’t have known this if I hadn’t stalked the shop online before coming. It’s very ‘warehouse-​y’ but minus the charm of other places. There are few seats, it’s packed, and people bring a lot of kids. WHY CINCINNATI? Why do you feel the need to bring your kids to these breweries? It’s totally worse in Cincinnati too.
The staff is nice and as helpful as they can be — they handle the crowd well and we were served quickly despite the place being packed. They have a good variety of beers available, and seem to always have their flagship, so you can count on something when you come to be on the list. (I know other breweries that like never have their flagships and each time I go it’s a crapshoot on if something I like will be there).
It’s a great place, I just wish there was a tiny bit more done with the atmosphere. It’s also really cold (I came in winter, and I live in Florida, so warehouse-​y brewery situations in Ohio don’t work for me as I think anything below 70 is legitimately cold)

In the Oakley area, the MadTree taproom is my favorite place for grabbing a beer and hanging out on a weekend afternoon. They’re often hosting different events, so check their calendar to see what’s happening on the weekends. The beer is great, obviously. I recommend that you try the flights if you’ve never had their beer before, so you can try a lot of different styles. The Psychopathy is a stand-​by that you can never go wrong with.
I like the outdoor patio, and they have pizza now. The pizza is good, but once you’ve had a few beers it starts to taste a lot better. :)
They’re also dog friendly if you have a chill dog that doesn’t mind being indoors surrounded by people. My little pup would never stand for it (he would be freaking out around so many new friends), but I’ve seen some relaxed dogs there before.
The parking situation is pretty grim, especially when they have events going on. You may need to park in the grass/​mud, or park offsite and take the shuttle if they’re having an event. Overall, great local beer spot with plenty of fun activities going on and cool people!