Christmas Beer: Dad, Rhinegeist
This holiday red ale with notes of malty caramel and a touch of piney hoppiness makes us want to bust out our matching plaid pj onesies and raise a toast to the season by the warm glow of the fireplace. Available in cans or on draft at the Rhinegeist taproom through November and December, itâs been an annual release for the past three years, cementing its place as a favorite yearly reminder Christmas is just around the bend. 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 381-1367, rhinegeist.com

Photograph by Aaron M. Conway
Cheap (and Good) Bloody Mary: The Gruff
Hand over a fiver at this Covington spot hard against the Roebling Suspension Bridge, and youâll get back a pint glass filled with a house-made smoky mix that gets some richness from milk stout (!), some tang from Worchestershire, and some heat from chipotle hot sauce. Youâll want a second round, and you wonât need a second mortgage to finance it. 129 E. Second St., Covington, (859) 581-0040, atthegruff.com
Rooftop Bar: AC Upper Deck
New to The Banks this summer, AC Upper Deck delivers the ultimate goal of the rooftop bar: an incredible view. There are unobstructed sightlines (from strategically placed seating) of the Roebling Bridge and of downtown and its skyscraper-studded skyline. The beer selection is large. The location is convenient. The cocktail and wine lists cover the staples. But weâd be fooling ourselves if we said we needed any other reason to visit besides those views. 135 Joe Nuxhall Way, downtown, (513) 744-9900, acupperdeck.com

Photograph by Jeremy Kramer
Unexpected Wine Tasting: Country Fresh Farm Market & Wine Depot
Sure, wine is in the name, but to the unsuspecting, itâs just a small strip-mall produce market. On Friday evenings, the tasting bar comes alive. Samplers pay $5 to a taste four wines and nosh on cheese, crackers, cured meats, and olives. Itâs a fun, affordable way to try new wines. Beer drinkers neednât fear: There are eight taps on that bar, mostly local and regional brews available by the pint and the growler. 8315 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Twp., (513) 474-9167, facebook.com/cffmbeechmont
Mocktail Mecca: Aster Social Slippery
Asterâs four standout mocktails are more than just virgin versions of mixed drinks. Theyâre adaptogens, which is a fancy way of saying healthy alcohol-free cocktails. Each mix contains a natural ingredient that benefits the body. The Rural Hill, infused with pineapple, cucumber, orange, lemon, and Lady Grey bitters, is packed with Vitamin C and explodes with fresh, tropical flavors. Weâll take two. 8 E. Fourth St., downtown, (513) 381-4483, asteronfourth.com
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Escape Room Alternative: Puzzle Crawl
What do you get when you mix escape room puzzles with trivia, a scavenger hunt, and a pub crawl? Puzzle Crawl, of course. Once a month, teams (four to eight people) tackle themed puzzles across four stops over three hours for a chance to win prizes. Join as a team or be matched with other single players, and let the hilarity ensue. puzzlecrawl.com
Local Cider: Sons of Toil Brewing
The red barn at the corner of Klein Road and Ohio Route 32 in Mt. Orab looks more like a farm stand than a brewery. But the fruit youâll find here comes in the form of hard cider. All four varietiesâapple, berry, raspberry, and strawberry pearâare crisp and fruity, but not too sweet or too overpowering. Some things are just better in the country. 14090 Klein Rd., Mt. Orab, (513) 431-5078, sonsoftoilbrewing.com
Taste of the Past: Antique Hour at Cork ân Bottle
On Thursday nights, Cork ân Bottle in Crescent Springs becomes a bourbon time machine. Brad Bonds is your guide. The vintage bourbon curator offers tastes from what he calls âdusty bottles,â meaning brown spirits produced in the 1990s and earlier, and guides you through the differences between bourbon then and now. Bonds usually has 10â12 bottles open at a time, and âwhen theyâre gone, theyâre gone,â he says. He can also arrange private tastings for small groups if youâre interested in exploring more of his bourbon library. 584 Buttermilk Pike, Crescent Springs, (859) 261-8333, corknbottle.com
Non-Sporty Sports Bar: Second Place
This is the perfect spot for the more low-key sports fan. Weâre talking surround-yourself-with-second-place-trophies low-key sports fan. Thereâs the usual large TVs and a fantastic beer selection for those looking to actually catch the game. But there are also board games, a pool table, and bourbon slushes for those whoâd rather just imbibe, game-adjacent. Oh, and donât forget the non-sports-related activities, such as back-patio movie showings and intimate artist meet-ups. Thereâs some decent flatbread, too. 3936 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, (513) 417-8468, secondplacebar.com
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Charity Drink Program: The Littlefield
Since this bourbon bar opened in 2014, it has championed a different charity each month with its featured drink program. Each highlighted nonprofit gets a custom cocktail, like Octoberâs Teacherâs Pet with rye whiskey, apple juice, and caramel syrup, benefitting the Parker Woods Montessori PTO. The program donates $1 from each beverage sale to the charity of choice, and itâs so sought after among local organizations that thereâs a one-year waiting list. In the name of goodwill, we can drink to that. 3934 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, (513) 386-7570, littlefieldns.com
A Week of Winesdays: Embrace your love of the grape all week long with these special deals.
Monday
Not only is Grandview Tavern in Ft. Mitchell open for dinner on Monday, you can kick off your week with a half-price bottle of wine. 2220 Grandview Ave., Ft. Mitchell, (859) 341-8439, grandviewtavern.com
Tuesday
Discover something new at Corkopolis, and enjoy it on the spot: Thereâs no corkage fee on Tuesdays. 640 Main St., downtown, (513) 381-3752, corkopolis.com
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Wednesday
Hyde Parkâs The Wine Merchant has one of those magical WineStation systems that keeps bottles fresh. Pours are half-off on Wednesdays from 4 to 7 p.m.
3972 Edwards Rd., Hyde Park, (513) 731-1515, winemerchantcincinnati.com
Thursday
Dilly Bistro in Mariemont gets you primed for the weekend with live jazzâand a $9 flight of five wines from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 6818 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, (513) 561-5233, dillybistro.com
Friday
A wine bar in a coffee shop? Just go with it: flights at Awakenings are 30 percent off on Friday. 2734 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, (513) 321-2525, awakeningscoffeeandwine.com
Saturday
This is peak weekend, so deals are hard to come by. Stop by DEPâs Fine Wine and Spirits and peep the clearance corner where select vintages are two for $5.99.
424 Alexandria Pike, Ft. Thomas, (859) 781-8105, depsfinewine.com
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlIk6fah7LK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Sunday
Day of rest? No way! Enjoy $5 sangria all day at OTRâs Revel Urban Winery.
111 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 579-9463, revelotr.com
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