CINCINNATI — Rhinegeist Brewery is serving more than just beer at its Over-the-Rhine taproom. It’s providing opportunities for nonprofits and human services agencies across the greater Cincinnati region.

The brewery is currently in the middle of its second annual winter coat drive to support the work of the St. Vincent de Paul charitable organization.

A promotional flyer from Rhinegeist Brewery. (Photo courtesy of Rhinegeist Brewery)

Rhinegeist teamed up with eight or nine of its accounts — bars, restaurants, stores — in Columbus and Cincinnati. Each site has a collection bin where patrons can drop off new and gently used coats, hats and scarves. Beyond that, $1 from the sale of its Truth IPA and Dad, a holiday hoppy ale, at those locations through December will also go to St. Vincent de Paul. Additional details are available on Rhinegeist's social media platforms and at its OTR headquarters.

“Yes, we love beer, but none of it would mean anything without people,” said Beth Boswell, community engagement and partnerships coordinator at Rhinegeist. “By being able to give back and have these impactful engagements, we get to connect on a deeper level with our community around us.”

The list of participants is “still kind of developing,” Boswell said. But one of those taking part is The Oak Tavern on Madison Road in Oakley. 

The bar, noted for its smoked wings and its atmosphere, takes pride in supporting local breweries and the broader community, said General Manager Andrew Giniger. 

“I would say the coat drive really sells itself but the beer and promotions certainly don’t hurt,” he said. 

Boswell said the coat drive developed out of relationships with its account holders who wanted to do more for the community during the holiday season.

“With so many people asking those questions, we wanted to find a way to give a widespread collection or charity drive that doesn’t just partner with one organization but with multiple across our city,” she added.

Bigger than just a coat drive

Giving back is nothing new to Rhinegeist, Boswell said. One of the 9-year-old brewery’s signature events is its monthly Charitable Suds events, where they highlight four local nonprofit organizations that are creating positive change in our community.

The events take place Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Participants receive a token with each pint they purchase and also get information about each of the nonprofits. They can then cast a vote for the organization of their choice by placing the token in their designated drop box. Guests can also make a monetary donation.

Rhinegeist Brewery staff pose for a photo outside Freestore Foodbank. (Photo courtesy of Rhinegeist Brewery)

At the end of the month, each organization receives a donation based on the amount of “votes” they receive, while the organization with the most votes receives a bonus.

The brewery hosts 48 Charitable Suds events throughout the year. This week they’re Asianati, an organization focused on celebrating Asian food and culture.

One nonprofit to benefit from the program is Freestore Foodbank, which provides food to residents in 20 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

“Through Rhinegeist’s Charitable Suds program, folks are able to enjoy their favorite draft beer and support Freestore’s vision of creating a hunger-free, healthy and thriving community,” said Kurt Reiber, the food bank’s president and CEO. 

Freestore Foodbank received $5,000 from the Charitable Suds event in 2020. That money provided 15,000 meals.

“For every dollar raised, Freestore can provide the equivalent of three meals to hungry children in our Tri-State community,” Reiber added. He noted that beyond the fundraising effort, the program also helps to raise awareness of the impact of food insecurity throughout the region.

Boswell has seen the benefits of corporate giving firsthand. She’d worked in the nonprofit sector prior to taking her job at Rhinegeist six months ago.

Not every organization has the same needs for support, Boswell said. For some, it’s a fundraiser, but others may need exposure. They host two or three blood drives every year, Boswell said. The next one is in March.

Members of Rhinegeist’s staff spent a part of last week helping with distribution at Freestore Foodbank on Liberty Street, Boswell said. She said they plan to head back next week.

“What we try to do is listen to anyone who comes to us and says, ‘Hey, Rhinegeist, we would love your support,” she added. “We try to find ways to answer an organization’s call to action that actually fits that partners need.”

Every year Rhinegeist takes part in several collaborative brews to highlight particular causes or celebrate major events. 

They brewed a Pride-themed beer in June called Miss Major, a Berliner-style sour ale with lemon and strawberry. In honor of International Women’s Day, the brewery created Hildegard — an international pale ale — named after Hildegard von Bingen, a 12th-century German brewer, composer, philosopher and mystic.

Blood donations are one of several charitable events Rhinegeist Brewery hosts in its taproom throughout the year. (Photo courtesy of Rhinegeist Brewery)

To mark Veterans Day, Rhinegeist creates a specialty beer called Valor. The annual release features a rotating recipe that is designed and brewed by veterans who work at the brewery.

“It was just so great to bring together veterans from so many organizations in Cincinnati,” Boswell said. “It was one of the most powerful days that I’ve seen here in the taproom.”

The concept of Valor is simple enough: brew a beer that Rhinegeist’s veterans would like to drink, while benefiting veterans in need, according to Austin Zanella, the innovation coordinator at Rhinegeist. He also served in the U.S. Navy Reserves for six years.

The Valor brewers meet three months before Veterans Day to determine the year’s recipe, Zanella said. He noted that they often draw inspiration from a memory or anecdote from their time in the military.

On the day they brew the beer, the veterans share stories and have a pint when the work is done, Zanella said.

“The brew day is incredibly fun already, but the charitable aspect of Valor makes our Veterans Day celebration one of my favorite events all year,” he added.

For the past two years, the release of the beer served as a fundraiser for Joseph House, a Cincinnati-based organization focused on meeting the needs of military veterans and their families affected by addiction. The organization provides counseling, education and support to those in need.

The funds went toward different activities to help veterans reintegrate into the community, said Alicia Patterson, Joseph House’s executive director. She said that includes things such as retreats and outings to local museums and parks.

Valor sales this year raised enough money to house a local veteran for one month, Boswell said.

“It’s really about celebrating the community and that’s shown so much love to use over the years,” she said of Rhinegeist’s mission. “Again, it’s all about the people.”