Tastes Great
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for beer and bourbon experiences at ww.wamericasriverroots.com/cuisine.
Local and international flavors take center stage during the Culinary Experience during America’s River Roots.
The Festival will transform the riverfront into a feast for the senses, celebrating the region’s place as a crossroads of taste, showcasing inventive chefs, bold flavors, and rich food traditions that connect river cities to the heart of American culture. Guests will savor everything from African American, Argentinian, Asian, Cajun, Cuban, German, Island/Hawaiian, Italian, Jamaican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Seafood, Southern Cuisine, and BBQ specialties.
“Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s food scene has expanded and developed,” said Paul Sturkey, who curated the Culinary Experience. “From Cincy Region favorites to neighborhood icons, the dishes at America’s River Roots do what food does best – bring people together to create a community.”
In addition to more than forty food trucks and restaurants, highlights include the Kentucky Bourbon Experience, Kentucky Boardwalk at Ovation and Craft Brewmaster Experience.
Tthe Craft Brewmaster Experience at Yeatman’s Cove offers self-guided tastings, so you can sample selections from the region’s leading brewmasters. You can also buy a ticket for a guided experience that highlights Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s rich brewing heritage through more than a dozen sessions led by expert brewers, podcasters and educators.
“The Craft Brewmaster Experience gives beer lovers more than a taste of the region - it immerses them in the history, flavor, and innovation that define Cincinnati’s brewing legacy,” said Lisa French, Craft Brewmaster Director. “With expert guides and more than a dozen themed sessions, there’s truly something for everyone.”
On Riverboat Row, the Kentucky Bourbon Experience invites you to dive into tasting sessions led by master distillers. Guests will explore blending, custom bottles, single barrel selections and curated tastings that highlight Kentucky’s proud tradition of bourbon craftsmanship. Throughout the festival, a rotating lineup of 15+ premium distillers, will be featured in guided sampling and pairing sessions.
“Bourbon is more than a drink - it’s a Kentucky story that connects people,” said Amy Tobin, bourbon curator for America’s River Roots. “The Bourbon Experience is a destination that celebrates The Commonwealth’s role in America’s river culture while giving guests new ways to sip, savor and share together.”
At Kentucky’s Boardwalk at Ovation, guests can enjoy a full lineup of food, drink and entertainment that celebrates Northern Kentucky’s rich culture. The B-Line® Restaurant on the Boardwalk brings open-air dining with rotating menus from Purple Poulet, Seasoned Dish and Smoke Justis, while the B-Line® Speakeasy offers handcrafted cocktails and rare bourbon pours in a tucked-away pop-up bar. The Braxton Beer Garden adds a taste of the region’s brewing heritage with pints served against sweeping river views. Family-friendly fun is woven in, too - from Perfetti Van Melle’s Sweet Spot with candy giveaways and a giant Airheads hot air balloon, to the Corporex Corridor, featuring an oversized birthday cake and card marking both America’s 250th and Corporex’s 60th anniversary.
With bourbon, music, food, and sweeping vistas all in one place, Newport’s experiences during America’s River Roots showcase how Kentucky’s culture and riverfront vitality are central to the larger Ohio River narrative.