I suppose it’s mean to tease you with a post of beautiful fall skies, colorful leaves, and cozy firesides. Then again, the weather has been alternating between winter and spring, so if this post entices you to head to Rockmill, you might find good enough weather to enjoy the grounds. And trust me, you’ll find yourself making excuses to get down there.
For those who aren’t familiar with Rockmill: it’s a brewery based out of Lancaster. Columbus folks have most likely seen their beers at numerous bars and restaurants in the city; bottles of Rockmill’s wares are also common on store shelves. (And they’ll soon be opening a pub in German Village!) Their niche is Belgian-style beers, inspired by the natural spring water on their grounds with the same mineral content as that of Wallonia, Belgium.
Their beer alone with worth the visit, but one look at the grounds in any season and you’ll find multiple reasons to return.
The main room of the house has a dedicated bar, where a wide variety of Rockmill beers are available on tap and by the bottle. The space is that type of place – with fireplaces and stairs and comfy couches and nooks and crannies – that you dream about when you think of cozy getaways.
The tall ceilings and perpetual smell of the fireplace remind me of my grandparents’ old home on the shores of Lake Michigan.
My favorite thing to do is ordering samples of 3-4 beers. Although Rockmill stays within Belgian territory, they do offer a good variety, from saisons and witbiers to an IPA to dubbels, tripels, and barrel-aged beers. My personal favorites are their dubbel, tripel, saison noir, and barrel-aged tripel.
There’s a whole shelf dedicated Rockmill beers and swag.
Once you fall in love with a beer or two, you can pick up bottles to take home.
Beers in hand, you can find a seat inside, venture out onto the patio (where there’s usually a fire burning), or stroll the grounds.
There are rock seats and benches scattered on the hill and around the pond. They don’t offer food, but you’re welcome to pack your own picnic. You’ll never want to leave.
It’s simply stunning in the fall.
Stunning, I tell you!
The chapel is fully functioning. We’ve had a few friends who have gotten married there.
One more reason to visit Rockmill: get another stop in your Columbus Ale Trail book.
Keep an eye on their website for current hours. They’re usually open Fridays through Sundays, but sometimes they host special events.
When you’re ready to visit:
Rockmill Brewery
5075 Lithopolis Rd. NW (map it!)
Lancaster, OH 43130
(740) 205-8076
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