Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood is one of the most interesting and beautiful neighborhoods to photograph. The turn of the century architecture as a whole is amazing and the buildings definitely have a story to tell; from the materials the buildings are made of to the ornamental touches carved into the stone or wood.
The Sohn-Clyffside brewery on McMicken is a great example of story telling via architectural design. The symbolic representation is boldly visible by reliefs built within the structures façade.
The brewers star sits high atop the building. There are many variations behind the meaning of the star, but it is popularly believed to symbolize the purity of the beer brewed. Another thought is that the six points represent six critical items required in beer making (water, grains, malt, hops, yeast, and the brewer).
Though the brewers star may not be clearly understood by most, the second relief showing two cherubs holding what appear to be glasses of beer, a grain shovel, a mash paddle and aging barrels should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that this was a brewing facility.
Sometimes, though, things may not be exactly as they seem. With breweries changing hands multiple times or additions to facilities as operations grew, markers showing a year may not be when the facility as a whole was originally opened. The 1887 marker on the Sohn-Clyffside building shows the date that portion of the building , the brew house (also known as the Sohn Building) was constructed, the original facility was opened in 1845.
When exploring the city, take a look around and you may just be surprised at the stories some of the city’s oldest “residents” may have to tell.