In the 1800's there were easily a dozen breweries in Over-the-Rhine and West End and the beer gardens were natural offshoot where people went out to listen to music, danced and drank beer much like we do today," said Cheryl Eagleson of Findlay Market. Photo: Don Heinrich Tolzmann,  left; Tom Jones of the Moerlein Brewing Company, center; and Mike Morgan of the Over-the-Rhine Foundation)

Operated by Findlay Market, the Over-The-Rhine Foundation and the Brewery District CURDC, live music is planned for each weekend. Christian Moerlein lagers and ales, Hudepohl and Burgers Beer brands will be served.

Don Heinrich Tolzmann of the German-American Citizens League retraced the history of beer gardens in his opening remarks. “Their origins like so many things German go back to the early 19th century Kingdom of Bavaria, and in particular to Munich," he said.

"In the days before refrigeration, brewers stored their brew in cellars and caverns, but then set up tables nearby, so that the cold brew could be brought directly to them from storage. Thus, beer gardens came into being," he said. Photo: Cheryl Eagleson.

The first biergartens appeared in 1819 in Cincinnati, and soon spread throughout the Over-the-Rhine district as the German quarter was known. "This was a case of direct transfer of a German phenomenon to the New World," Tolzmann said.

"Germans contrasted their beer gardens with the American-style saloons, finding their places more family friendly than darkly lit, smoke-filled bars and taverns," he pointed out.

An author of many books on German-American history, Tolzmann, right,  recalled the dire consequences of  prohibition on one of the oldest German traditions and a symbol of Gemütlichkeit. 

"It brought to an end not only the German brewing industry, but also wiped out most the beer gardens," he said.

Prohibition also created hardships for musicians from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra who Tolzmann said "worked there part-time to earn their bread, butter and beer."

The good news is that beer gardens are making a comeback.  Now there are many again, including the one across the river at the Hofbräuhaus in Newport, Kentucky, Tolzmann said.

Prohibition lasted from 1919 to 1933.

The new Biergarten is appropriately located where Bavarian immigrant Christian Moerlein first brewed Lager beer 155 years ago in 1854. Today’s Christian Moerlein Brewing Company is among the supporters of the opening event. 

Settled by German immigrants in the 19th century, the neighborhood has changed considerably in terms of demographics, economics, and architecture, but elements of the old style remain.

For more photos of opening day please click HERE