<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2z3VdI_0vj0BjJg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2z3VdI_0vj0BjJg00" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>A line of beer taps. Photo obtained on Unsplash by Dovlet Hojayev</figcaption></figure>A low-light, decadent atmosphere bubbling just beneath the surface of Cincinnati since the early 1920s, speakeasies have stayed on top as one of downtown’s most popular nightlife attractions. But what about these places make them a hotspot?For Cincinnatians living during Prohibition, during which the widespread sale of alcohol was made illegal, these places served up exactly what citizens were missing. A late-night drinking session after work, Friday night rendezvous at the local bar, and an overall sense of community were just some of the activities now prohibited under federal law. Underground bars provided a space where everyone could come together and guzzle down a few pints of house-made bathtub gin, provided the cops didn’t catch them.Some historians maintain that Cincinnati had consumed “more beer per capita than any other U.S. city”, according to a 2020 article by WLWT. Over 36 brewing companies called Cincinnati their home, producing over 35 million gallons of beer per year as of 1889. Most of these breweries closed as a result of Prohibition and widespread anti-German propaganda, however prohibitionists were not going to have an easy time convincing local citizens to give up their beloved beer cases.Cincinnatians were overwhelmingly against prohibition laws, realizing the detrimental impact it would have on the brewing industry and working-class life. So, the city born from beer had one choice: ignore the law and bootleg underground. From then on, the story of Cincinnati speakeasies takes hold. The oldest underground bar currently still operating is Arnold’s, resting in Over-the-Rhine since 1861. Multiple others, such as Wiedemann Brewery, were subject to tumultuous raids from law enforcement and mob-related crime. People choosing to participate in the illegal brewing and selling of alcohol were dancing with danger, but perhaps, that was the fun in it.A thrilling tale of hushed conversations and hidden barrels created a “secret club” within the streets of Cincinnati. If you knew someone, they knew 10 others who could hook you up with the finest selection of housemade sips. Oh, that hotel on the corner? They’re hiding thousands of bottles of beer behind their walls, waiting for the nightfall to crack some open.Cincinnatians also had another clever way of obtaining their alcohol. One local infamous legend, Chicago lawyer and pharmacist George Remus, created a “loophole” by prescribing patients alcohol for their medical ailments. Remus gained the name “King of the Bootleggers” for his extremely profitable underground operation off Queen City Avenue. Nothing a little gin couldn’t fix, right?As the 1930s drew nearer and Prohibition was ending, Cincinnati once again reclaimed its spot as one of the premier brewing cities in the country. Household names such as Hudephol reopened their doors; alcohol was once again flowing through the streets. However, no breweries that reopened in Cincinnati after the Prohibition lasted into the 21st Century, as noted by Visit Cincy.This doesn’t mean that speakeasies simply ceased to exist, or that the thrill of drinking underground was taken out. Modern hidden bars, such as Ghost Baby in OTR, still have that 1920s flair. Nearly four stories underground, this bar is complete with live music and a disco ball, becoming a time-traveler’s paradise and local favorite.The sudsy past of prohibition didn’t stop Cincinnati from getting their daily drink, and it surely doesn’t stop them now. Over 80 breweries currently operate in Cincinnati, with several historical bars just walking distance from the University of Cincinnati’s (UC) main campus.So next time you’re enjoying a pint of Moerlein lager, give a toast to the ghosts; legally, of course.</div></body>

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The history behind Cincinnati's speakeasies

A low-light, decadent atmosphere bubbling just beneath the surface of Cincinnati since the early 1920s, speakeasies have stayed on top as one of downtown’s most popular nightlife attractions. But what about these places make them a hotspot?. For Cincinnatians living during Prohibition, during which the widespread sale of alcohol...