First Look: Temperance Row Brewing and Uptown Deli

Westerville — which once served as the homebase for Prohibition in the United States — today became home to its very own brewery. The times, they are a’changing.

Temperance Row Brewing and Uptown Deli opened its doors to the public for the first time today for a soft opening. The bar’s soft opening will last for the remainder of the year, operating afternoon and evening hours with a limited food and drink menu to start. A grand opening celebration is planned for early January.

Visitors will enter into an upscale New-York-slash-European style deli, with sandwiches and such for on-site consumption and a small market for take-home goods. Behind that lies the bar, a few cozy booths and a communal table with Prohibition photos lining the wall, and a long rectangular bar spanning the remainder of the space, facing the brewery.

“Some places you can’t even see the brewery, or it’s tucked off to the side somewhere,” said Toni Cabilovski, owner of Temperance Row Brewing Company and Uptown Deli. “Here, it’s the focus.”

The brewing system is prominently branded with the Temperance Row logo as well as a description of the equipment, so everyone will know they’re looking at a “375 gallon fermenter” and a “400 gallon brew kettle,” and not a “mysterious massive steel thing.”

Six of Temperance Row’s beers are currently offered on tap, including a pilsner, scottish ale, IPA, pale ale, porter and seasonal xmas ale. The six remaining tap handles are occupied by other Ohio breweries, specifically ones who Cabilovski says have helped the newborn brewery out over the last few months, including North High, which introduced Cabilovski to brewmaster Scott Francis; and Columbus Brewing Company, where the brewery cleans their kegs.

The full bar also features a menu of Prohibition-era cocktails, which is still being finalized, as well as wine and bottled beers.

Check out our first look photos below and read our interview with Cabilovski and Frances from earlier this year.

Editor’s note: If you decide to stop by over the next few days, remember that this is a “soft opening” and the staff is still getting their processes in place. You probably wouldn’t want someone writing a nasty Yelp review about you on your first day on a new job, hmm?