USA, OH: March First Brewing to start serving its beer and cider on May 5

A new brewery and distillery named for the day of the year that both it and the state of Ohio were founded will start serving beer and cider in Sycamore Township on May 5. March First Brewing, 7885 East Kemper Road, features a taproom, beer garden and dock sales, Cincinnati.com reported on April 28.

Founders Mark Stuhlreyer and Kevin Kluener plan to focus on lagers as well as ciders made with Ohio-grown apples. They've spent the last year acquiring equipment and testing recipes. The lager they'll have available at launch is on version No. 20. Also available at the grand opening are a heller bock, Denali IPA, dry hopped cider, dry limed cider and traditional cider. Coming soon are a lager-based Baltic porter, craft light pilsner, rose cider and mosaic pale ale. The brewery's tap room has six taps now but plans to add more.

Brewers Garrett Huber and Shae Pridemore most recently worked at Cellar Dweller, the brewery at Valley Vineyards in Morrow.

Within the next couple of months, some of the planned distilled spirits, such as rum and vodka, will be available. Down the road, they'll sell apple brandy, bourbon, rye and American whiskey.

In the meantime, distribution is already underway, with March First beers in approximately 20 local bars and restaurants so far. Six-, 12- and 24-packs, plus kegs and growlers, are for sale on the dock. Beer is currently sold in bottles, but the brewery recently purchased a canning line, so look for cans in the future.