Columbus Brewing

What Columbus Brewing does

Columbus Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery founded in 1988 in Columbus, Ohio, and the oldest operating craft brewery in Central Ohio. The company produces and sells a portfolio of hop-forward beers led by its flagship IPA (6.3% ABV), Bodhi Double IPA (8.3% ABV, described as the best-selling DIPA in Ohio), and Ohio Light premium light lager (4.2% ABV), supplemented by sub-brand extensions (Bodhi Jr., Peach Bodhi, Juicy Bodhi), a 0.0% ABV Hop Flow hoppy seltzer line, and a rotating calendar of seasonal and limited releases including Yakima Fresh wet-hop IPA, Dank Charmer terpene IPA, Tracksuit Santa holiday ale, and Steel Dawn bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout. Brewing takes place in a single state-of-the-art facility featuring a Braukon Brewhouse, high-speed packaging lines, a quality lab, a yeast propagation system, and a dedicated sour beer cellar.

The company generates revenue across five streams: on-premise beer and food sales at two owned venues (the Taproom at 2555 Harrison Rd and the 13,000 sq ft Beer Hall Brewery & Restaurant at 200 Kelton Ave with 24 taps and private event space), packaged beer distribution through Ohio retailers in cans, bottles, and kegs, private event bookings, and branded merchandise via an online store. Distribution is exclusively within Ohio, with a website-based Beer Finder tool for consumer product location. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer at owned venues, event-driven through a robust recurring events calendar, and community-led through local non-profit partnerships (Pelotonia, Mid-Ohio Foodbank), an ambassador program, and co-branded collaborations with entities such as JT's Pizza, Capital University, and the America 250 Committee of Ohio. Pricing is unit-based across draft (.1L–1L pours, crowlers, growlers), packaged formats (6/12/15/24 packs, 19.2oz singles), happy hour ($5 pints Mon–Thu 3–5 PM), and venue-specific food and event pricing.

Customer segments are predominantly consumer-facing: Ohio-resident craft beer enthusiasts (21+), local families, and event hosters, supplemented by a smaller set of on-premise draft accounts (Hollywood Casino Columbus, JT's Pizza, Mikey's Late Night Slice). The company has been family-owned since 2004 by Eric and Beth Bean, has 101–250 employees, no disclosed funding rounds, and no parent company or subsidiaries.

Name

Columbus Brewing

Legal name

Columbus Brewing Company

Website

https://columbusbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Columbus Brewing Company is a privately held, family-owned craft brewery founded in 1988 in Columbus, Ohio — the oldest in Central Ohio — producing hop-forward beers including the flagship IPA, Bodhi Double IPA, and Ohio Light for sale exclusively in Ohio via two owned venues (Taproom and Beer Hall) and statewide packaged distribution to consumer and on-premise accounts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer
• Brewery restaurant
• Beer distribution
• Ohio brewery
• Hop-forward ales

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. On-Premise Beer Sales: Direct sales of draft and canned beer to consumers at the Taproom and Beer Hall venues. Both locations serve as full-service bars and restaurants with extensive draft lists, food menus, and event spaces.
2. Food Service: Restaurant and food service revenue at the Beer Hall Brewery & Restaurant, which offers globally inspired food, private event catering, and brunch services. The venue has 24 taps and seating for large groups.
3. Packaged Beer Distribution: Sales of canned and bottled beer for off-premise consumption, available exclusively in Ohio through retail locations. Beers are sold in various formats including 6-packs, 12-packs, 19.2oz singles, and kegs.
4. Private Events: Revenue from hosting private events including corporate parties, weddings, birthday celebrations, and special occasions at both the Beer Hall's Rabbit Hole private space and the Taproom.
5. Merchandise and Retail: Online store (store.columbusbrewing.com) selling merchandise including apparel and potentially other branded items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Columbus Brewing Company is a craft brewery that manufactures and sells a wide range of beers including IPAs, lagers, pilsners, and seasonal releases. The company operates two on-premise venues — a Taproom and a Beer Hall — in Columbus, Ohio, and distributes its products exclusively within Ohio.

Product overview

Columbus Brewing Company is a craft brewery founded in 1988, offering a portfolio of beer products centered around hop-forward IPAs and Double IPAs, supplemented by seasonal releases, light beer options, and non-alcoholic hoppy seltzers. The core product line centers on flagship beers including IPA (6.3% ABV classic American IPA), Bodhi (8.3% ABV Double IPA, Ohio's best-selling DIPA), and Ohio Light (4.2% ABV premium light lager). The product line extends through sub-brands like Bodhi Jr. (sessionable lower-ABV version), Peach Bodhi and Juicy Bodhi (flavor variations), plus the Hop Flow non-alcoholic seltzer line featuring Nothin' But Nugs, Juicy Orange, Sunny Grapefruit, and Dank Lime variants. Seasonal offerings include Nug Wizard (experimental IPA), Dank Charmer (terpene IPA), Tracksuit Santa (holiday spiced ale), Summer Teeth (German lager), Festbier (Oktoberfest lager), and Pils (German pilsner). The company operates two physical venues—the Beer Hall Brewery & Restaurant (13,000 sq. ft. historic venue with 24 taps) and the Taproom—providing direct-to-consumer service alongside retail distribution of canned and bottled products exclusively in Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Columbus IPA

Quantifiable outcome

• Best-selling DIPA in Ohio (Bodhi)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ArtCore AcademyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 June 2026Art education partner hosting Patriotic Eagle Painting Class for kids at the Taproom on June 28, 2026. Event includes step-by-step painting guidance for children ages 6-14.
• JT's PizzacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration partnership for JT's Hazy IPA - a hazy IPA exclusive to all JT's Pizza locations. The beer features juicy hop character and is brewed specifically to pair with pizza.
• America 250 Committee of OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with the bi-partisan America 250 Committee of Ohio to brew America 250-Ohio IPA, a limited release IPA celebrating America's 250th birthday. Pale in color with med-low bitterness, featuring Idaho 7 and Chinook hops.
• Capital UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration to brew 'Capital Comet Pils' - a German-Style Pilsner dubbed the 'Presidential Pilsner.' Features Ohio-grown Comet hops from Auburn Acres in Chagrin Falls.
• Wyckoff FarmsminorOthersHop supplier for Yakima Fresh wet-hopped IPA. Fresh Mosaic hops sourced from Wyckoff Farms in the Yakima Valley, Washington.
• Brioso CoffeeminorOthersColumbus-based specialty coffee roaster providing single-origin beans for Sohio Stout, brewed with intense aromas of freshly brewed coffee and dark chocolate.
• Athletic Brewing Co.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-alcoholic beer provider at Beer Hall, offering Free Wave (wheat IPA) and Upside Dawn (Golden Ale) options for non-drinking guests.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hoppin' Frog Brewery: Akron, OH craft brewery known for hop-forward IPAs/DIPAs and barrel-aged stouts. Competes with Columbus Brewing's Bodhi franchise in Ohio IPA category.
• Athletic Brewing Company: Leading U.S. non-alcoholic craft brewer (Free Wave Hazy IPA, Upside Dawn Golden Ale). Already a minor partner supplying non-alc at CBC's Beer Hall; directly comparable to CBC's Hop Flow non-alcoholic seltzer line.
• Great Lakes Brewing Company: Ohio's largest and oldest craft brewery (founded 1988 in Cleveland), produces hop-forward IPAs and lagers, operates a brewpub and restaurant, and distributes statewide. Closest comparable craft peer to Columbus Brewing by state, vintage, and on-premise model.
• Rhinegeist Brewery: Cincinnati-based craft brewery (founded 2013) producing IPAs, lagers, and seltzers with strong on-premise taproom and Ohio-wide distribution. Direct competitor for Ohio shelf and tap handles.
• Seventh Son Brewing Company: Columbus, OH craft brewery (founded 2013) with taproom, known for IPAs and hazy styles. Direct local competitor in the Columbus metro for on-premise visits and Ohio retail distribution.
• Land-Grant Brewing Company: Columbus, OH craft brewery operating a large beer garden and taproom, producing IPAs and lagers for local distribution. Competes head-to-head with Columbus Brewing for Columbus consumer occasions and local draft accounts.
• Wolf's Ridge Brewing: Columbus, OH craft brewery and full-service restaurant producing a broad range of styles including IPAs and barrel-aged beers. Direct competitor for Columbus on-premise dining and Ohio craft distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Beer Company: Large publicly-traded craft beverage company behind Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, and Dogfish Head. Operates across craft beer, hard seltzer, and non-alc — overlapping with CBC's IPA, seltzer, and Ohio Light portfolio ambitions.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Major U.S. craft brewery (founded 1980) with broad IPA portfolio and national distribution. Provides a useful comparable for craft brewery unit economics, sustainability initiatives, and taproom operations.
• New Belgium Brewing Company: Fort Collins, CO craft brewery (Fat Tire, Voodoo Ranger IPA) acquired by Kirin. Comparable to CBC for craft brewery scale-up, sustainability, and IPA brand-building benchmarks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/columbusbrewing
• Facebookfacebook.com/columbusbrewing
• Instagraminstagram.com/columbusbrewingcompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbus-brewing-co.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbus Brewing