A world away at Rockmill Brewery

I want to live at Rockmill Brewery. I want to wake up every day with the smell of cedar, the sound of the fire crackling and the knowledge that freshly made delicious Belgian-style beer is on draft at my fingertips.

Rockmill, for those unfamiliar with the beer, is simply amazing Belgian-style beer brewed near Lancaster, Ohio. Rockmill’s brewer, Matthew Barbee, and his family discovered that the water on the Rockmill farm is nearly identical in mineral content to the water in Wallonia, Belgium, which is where Belgian ale originated. The brewery regularly offers four beers, a witbier, a saison, a dubbel and a tripel and occasional some specialty aged beers. And they are all delicious.

Rockmill is nestled (a word which is overused but seriously perfect for this description) in Hocking Hills not far from Lancaster in Lithopolis. Green hills and quaint farms line the casual, rolling country roads that bring you to the gate that is the Rockmill sanctuary. As you drive up, a winding driveway brings you past various farm buildings to the doorway of the tasting room.

We parked and marveled at the scenery as a mellow dog, Scooby, greeted us at our car. He was clearly expecting us, as he waited for us to gather our belongings and temper our enthusiasm long enough to realize he was ready to take us to the door. Scooby walked us right up to the bar and then curled up on the couch waiting for the sound of the next guests to greet.

We cozied up on one of the large farmhouse tables set in an amazingly rustic house that feels quite like a barn in a wonderful way. Roughly eight stools are offered at the bar, and a good mix of large tables for groups and small tables for couples are scattered throughout the rooms. An iPod played Ray LaMontagne, Beirut and other calm, but great hits as Matthew came to welcome us. A quiet woman who I assume to be his mother dropped off some delicious Belgian chocolate along with crackers and bread as Matthew asked which beers we’d like to try. Of our group of seven, all but one of us opted for a tasting flight of all five beers. The seventh was already privy to his love for the OYO whiskey cask-aged tripel.

We sipped our beers, enjoyed the crackling of the fireplace and admired the different pieces of horse-related art that drive home the logo as well as the overall reminder that yes, this is a farm. We were all in awe at the amazingly quaint, comfortable atmosphere of Rockmill as we spied snowflakes the size of our fists cascading down through Rockmill’s large, high windows. This, folks, is how you spend a Saturday afternoon in February.

My round two visit to Rockmill, nearly six months later at the beginning of spring really just reminded me of one important fact: I really need to be coming to Rockmill more often. We had the same wonderful service experience, tasted a few of the fantastic beers and appreciated the greenery surrounding the tasting room’s building. The outdoor space looks gorgeous, but we were unfortunate enough to hit the brewery one of the 97% of April when it poured.

While Rockmill doesn’t offer a kitchen, if you call ahead they’ll create a carefully curated cheese plate that matches wonderfully with the Belgian-style ales. They welcome guests to bring their own goodies, so we’ve had mini-picnics at Rockmill a few times with a smattering of cheeses, nuts and pies, all of which went great with beer. (But really, what doesn’t?)

While I’ve only been to Rockmill twice, I will be back for sure, soon. The drive from Columbus is pleasant, and despite feeling like entering another world, it’s only 30 minutes away. The prices are reasonable for fresh-from-the-brewery beer made with organic ingredients and spring water from yards away. The atmosphere is calming and welcoming, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. If you want to turn it into a great afternoon beer journey, Jackie O’s is only another 45 minutes down the road.

The tasting room hasn’t been crowded while we’ve been there, but both times an interesting mix of folks enjoyed beer along with us. It seems as if Rockmill garners people from around the state of all ages, and with good reason. The beer is great and the atmosphere is impeccable. This coupled with fantastic service and the ability to ask the always-willing-to-answer brewer questions makes it ideal for both beer aficionados and willing learners.

I love Rockmill Brewery. There. I said it. It’s awesome. Rockmill, I want to be inside you.