By Cindy Schroeder
Enquirer staff writer

Covington and Cincinnati are vying to become the ultimate tourist stop for the nation's 90 million beer drinkers.

The two are among 12 finalists trying to lure The Beer Hall of Fame. Twenty-eight cities had competed to land the beer-themed tourist attraction proposed by a group of Maryland beer enthusiasts.

Other cities in the running are St. Louis; San Diego; San Antonio; Portland, Ore.; Pittsburgh; Milwaukee; Frankenmuth, Mich.; Decatur, Ala.; Chicago; and Baltimore, said Joe Gardenghi, director of operations for the beer group's U.S. Beer Drinking Team and Beer Radio, a radio talk show about beer.

Gardenghi said the 100,000-square-foot attraction would focus on the heritage of beer as well as the brewing and drinking of the beverage. It would include a brewery, beer-themed restaurants and pubs, entertainment and classes on such things as how to brew a good beer at home and how to become a master brewer.

Cincinnati joined the competition after learning of Covington's interest in The Beer Hall of Fame last May.

"We didn't even know about it until I read in the paper that Covington was going for The Beer Hall of Fame,'' said Denny Dellinger. The architect owns the former Jackson Brewery in Over-the-Rhine, and he's part of the Brewery District Development Corp. formed 18 months ago to support developers who are trying to fix up buildings in Over-the-Rhine and address common concerns.

Dellinger said his group has letters of support from Cincinnati City Council member Jim Tarbell, the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and the Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Cincinnati, Dellinger said, has "a much stronger heritage of brewing, particularly in Over-the-Rhine."

Covington officials also have noted that city's brewing tradition. Besides neighborhood bars, the Jillian's entertainment complex off of Interstate 75 occupies the former home of the Bavarian Brewery.

Neither Cincinnati nor Covington supporters of a Beer Hall of Fame would disclose possible locations.

Gardenghi would not say what the project would cost or how it would be financed, but added he'll be looking for tax incentives.

Formal proposals from prospective host cities are due Sept. 30 and the list will be pared to four cities by the first week of October, Gardenghi said. The site of The Beer Hall of Fame will be announced Oct. 30.

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E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com