Hofbräuhaus Newport

jkrich

Indiana

3.1/5  rDev -19.1%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 3 | $$$

After visiting the small Hofbrauhaus in Panama City Beach, Florida, I looked forward to the much bigger, more authentic Hofbrauhaus in Newport, KY. Afterall, they brew the beer on premises, unlike at the Panama City Beach location.
When we arrived we decided to sit in the quiet section, away from the band. The room was warm, very warm. We ordered pretzels with beer cheese and half liters of the Helles. The beer and pretzels arrived quickly but without saucers for the pretzels and cheese. Our waiter never returned so I had to seek out another waiter for plates. By this time the hot pretzels were cool. Also, the "beer cheese" was nothing more that melted velveeta. We finished our beer (which was very good) and left.
I was very disappointed, but I am willing to give this place another try.

11-15-2009 14:53:32 | More by jkrich

rodney4130

Kentucky

2.8/5  rDev -26.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 2 | food: 2.5 | $$

Reasonable prices, but that's to be expected when the beer lacks flavor (completely unremarkable) and is served in mugs that are still hot from the dishwasher. I had the Dunkel which was okay, but not one of the better dunkels I've had. The premium lager tasted like what you'd expect a "premium" lager to taste like. All of this beer seems like what BMC people drink when they want to brag that they like good beer. Food is like a German version of Applebee's. Lots of cute girls as servers, which is fun, but doesn't overcome the fact that there are only four beers and the food tastes like it was microwaved. You can do a lot better across the river.

Building is really nice though.

03-13-2012 14:34:48 | More by rodney4130

mhagler

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $

Hofbrauhaus was a great place to go during my trip to Cincinnati. When we went up there, we went to a Reds game, enjoyed Taste of Cincinnati, then headed over to Hofbrauhaus for a beer or two...we ended up staying there the rest of the night! Between liter beers and never ending cornhole tournaments, on top of live music, this was the place to be in Newport, KY. The only downside I really remember was having to go back inside to get a beer myself everytime. If there were a few more waitresses tended to the folks who where outside just hanging out, it would have been perfect.

03-08-2012 19:13:01 | More by mhagler

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I used to live near Newport and frequented this place when I was in college. As other reviewers have noted, the interior looks just like a Bavarian beer hall. The service is always good, at least in my experience. Most of the beers are solid (though there are a few one may want to avoid), and most of the major German ale and lager styles are represented. The food is good, if you like vaguely German cuisine, but the portions tend to be enormous. Overall, Hofbrauhaus Newport is a great place to grab a couple of beers and a meal.

11-02-2011 18:24:12 | More by mrfrancis

aasher

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

I visited this location yesterday and was quite impressed. When you walk in it looks like an authentic Munich bier hall with a multitude of long tables and benches, placing each table and group of people very close to another. It makes for a more social environment. They only had about five beers on tap, all of their house beers, but they were all very, very fresh. I had two liters of their fresh seasonal, their German Pilsener. It was one of the best pilseners I've had to date. Their hefe was also superb and looked amazing in their mugs. They had a nice selection of authentic German food. I got a reuben and a cup of spicy brautwurst soup and both were superb. The guys I went with really enjoyed their food as well. It was a little expensive but that's ok. You're essentially paying for atmosphere. Overall I thought this place was quality all around and they accomplish what they set out to do.

06-14-2011 14:59:27 | More by aasher

crlova2

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

A must see if you are in the area! All the beer is brewed in house other than the marzen. You will always be drinking super fresh clean tasting german beer. My friend actually works there and cleans the lines once a week so there will never be a dirty line and all the beer is run straight from the bright tanks. I haven't tried much of the food but everyone I know says it is outstanding. They do use beer in multiple dishes straight from the brewery. The beer here is much better than the pasteurized stuff you buy in the bottle shipped over from Germany so if your only impression of Hofbrau beer is bottled than this place will most likely really surprise you with its quality. Try the Dunkel, hefe, and seasonals as those are my favorites!

05-06-2011 17:27:44 | More by crlova2

buschbeer

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

I made my second visit Sunday before game 3 of the NLDS. I really like the atmosphere of this place. It looks like a German drinking hall. There were rows of tables and benches in the main part of the building. I bellied up to the bar. There was live accordian music and plenty of German drinking songs. The waitresses dress in traditional German attire, but to my dismay, many of them wore undershirts to prevent the St. Paulie Girl busts from being appreciated. Nevertheless, I ventured on.

The menu consists of German staples as well as American cuisine. My friend and I sampled the wurst platter, consisting of bierwurst, bratwurst, and mettwurst, along with sour kraut balls. I was disappointed in the bratwurst, but, when you live outside the "Bratwurst Capitol of America" that has a festival dedicated to the sausage every year, non can compare.

The beer selection was basic with their standard four year round selections and a monthly seasonal. I enjoyed the hefe weizen, much more than in the green bottled version at the store. Overall, a fun place to hang out. With a solid lineup of German offerings I can see myself spending more time pre and post Reds games.

10-15-2010 22:49:21 | More by buschbeer

LucienDeRubempre

New Jersey

3.2/5  rDev -16.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 1 | $$

Nice atmosphere, nice location, quality beers for reasonable prices, but the service is mediocre and the food is flat out awful. The building is gorgeous, and still looks almost brand new, with big copper brewing tanks over the bar, huge main hall, smaller dining room, and a biergarten with a great view of the Ohio River and downtown Cincinnati. The beers are pretty solid, I thought the Premium Lager was nasty cat-pee skunk sauce, but the dunkel and the hefe were both good.

The food, however, is the kind of hideous thrown-together cafeteria food similar to Olive Garden or Applebees. The demi-glaze (German demi-glaze = contradiction in terms...) was made from bullion cubes, the sauerkraut was rubbery and bland, the wienershnitzel was over-fried and super greasy, and for some reason it came with steamed veggies (a German staple /sarcasm). We actually sent one entree back because it was completely inedible. If you must eat stick to the wurst and pretzels. I can't believe anyone is taken in by this place, my great-grandfather (whose name was Herzog) was an immigrant from Munich, and my family has always cooked and enjoyed German food. If you want real German food in Cincinnati, check out Mecklenburg Gardens in Clifton, because the Hofbrauhaus is about as authentic as triple-hop brewing.

08-13-2010 04:49:51 | More by LucienDeRubempre

witster18

Tennessee

4.28/5  rDev +11.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

I love this place. A few of my friends and I pulled a man-trip to cincy and this was the night spot we hit on a friday night. The beer was excellent... the premium lager and dunkel the high pts and the hefe was pretty good too.

What really set this place apart was the atmosphere. When we walked in there we about 20 huge wood tables with huge wood benches... the roof had that octoberfest tent look and the entire front room oozed 'huge partaaaaY'.

We spent the evening making new friends while drinking massive quantites of fine beer and listening to great music(snapps?)... the last three hours were spent STANDING on the table and nobody was in sight that gave a *(#&%. The place turned into the biggest free for all party that I have seen in many years... LOVED EVERY MINUTE.... thanks to hofbrau for providing the perfect party spot on a friday night.

Didn't try the food.... lived off beer alone the whole night. Great beer... great atmosphere... perhaps the best bar experience of my life... or at least since the old mich/osu papajoes kegs and eggs days...

this place ROX!

this place made a bunch of near 40 yr olds feel like they were at a frat party - rt at home!.... I WILL DEFINITELY be back. the 4 for food was based on a review from a member of our party....

06-28-2010 19:00:26 | More by witster18

BuffaloBrew22

New York

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

A great place to go if you're looking for something different or off the beaten path. Just across the river from Cincinnati and extremely easy to find. The Hofbrauhaus in Newport Kentucky is a great place to spend an evening. From the beer garden, to the authentic atmosphere and decor inside. It actually feels like you walk back in time or beam over to Bavaria! The food was rather good, especially because I have no idea where else you can order actual German food in Cincinnati. (I just moved to Cincinnati in June 2010). The beer is simply the best part of the entire experience. Order up a few massive one liter steins of your favorite Hofbrauhaus brew and settle in for some great music. I prefer the Dunkel, it is delicious! Prost!

06-23-2010 03:54:18 | More by BuffaloBrew22