Shauna Steigerwald

ssteigerwald@enquirer.com

A new brewery is combining the trends of locally brewed beers and locally grown food by locating at Hidden Valley Fruit Farm in Lebanon.

Crafted Pints Brewing Co. will be housed in a barn on the farm, 5474 N. Ohio 48. It should open by late fall.

Jerrod Fisher, owner/lead brewer, began homebrewing about seven years ago and introduced Mike Meholick and Greg Cason, his partners in Crafted Pints, to brewing.

Fisher said the trio -- who have professional backgrounds in design, sales and marketing -- were originally looking for a location in downtown Dayton but were contacted about properties elsewhere.

"When the Hidden Valley ownership contacted us, we realized there was a truly unique opportunity at the farm," he said via email.

It's a partnership of sorts: Having a brewery on-site is an added attraction for the farm; meanwhile, the brewery can use ingredients grown right outside its doors -- hops, fruits, pumpkins and more -- in making its beers.

Hidden Valley already makes apple cider from its farm-grown apples, so Crafted Pints Brewing is planning a line of hard ciders.

The location is convenient for distribution to Cincinnati and Dayton, and the farm's festivals will introduce visitors to the brewery, Fisher said.

Crafted Pints will use a few different areas on the farm. The brewery itself will be in one barn; another barn will have a large cooler that will be used to house kegs waiting for distribution to area bars and restaurants.

An on-site taproom, the details of which are still being finalized, will serve the brewery's full lineup of beers and hard ciders to drink there or take home in growlers. There won't be food, but food trucks will be welcome. In 2015, they hope to add an outdoor beer garden that can support live music.

Fisher said they've finalized recipes for several stouts, IPAs, pale ales, brown ales, saisons and wheat beers. Anywhere from four to six beers will be available year-round, and they'll offer seasonal and limited releases.

Once they've gotten established, they hope to begin canning their beer and cider.

"There (are) a lot of great breweries and a lot of great brewing history in Southwestern Ohio, and we're excited to be a part of it all," Fisher said.