USA, OH: Ohio close to having 100 breweries

Ohio is closing in on the century mark for the number of breweries operating in the state. The count now stands at 90. With six license applications pending before the Ohio Division of Liquor Control and many other future brewers yet to submit their paperwork, it’s only a matter of time before Ohio hits 100, Akron Beacon Journal reported on December 26.

That will put Ohio in the rarefied company of California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon and Pennsylvania, which already eclipsed that mark.

Here’s the breakdown by county:

• Franklin (14): Actual, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Barley’s, Barley’s Smokehouse, Columbus, Elevator, Four String, Gordon Biersch, New Albany Country Club, North High, Seventh Son, Sideswipe, Wolf’s Ridge and Zauber.

• Cuyahoga (12): Black Box, BottleHouse, Brew Kettle, Buckeye, Cornerstone, Fat Head’s, Great Lakes, Indigo Imp, Market Garden, Nano Brew, Portside and Rocky River.

• Hamilton (10): Blank Slate, Christian Moerlein, Double Barrel, 50 West, Listermann/Triple Digit, MadTree, Rhinegeist, Rivertown, Rock Bottom and Samuel Adams.

• Montgomery (6): Dayton, Eudora, Hairless Hare, Lock 27, Star City and Toxic Brew.

• Summit (5): Hoppin’ Frog, MadCap, Nauti Vine, Thirsty Dog and Trailhead.

• Lake (4): Brew Mentor, Cellar Rats, Little Mountain and Willoughby.

• Licking (4): Buck’s, Buckeye Lake, Granville and Homestead.

The rise of the beer industry here has been meteoric thanks to the growth of the craft segment and the state making it easier financially for craft brewers to open (i.e. the annual license fee dropping from $3,906 to $1,000 and allowing brewers to open taprooms without purchasing a separate license).

Just two years ago, there were 49 breweries. Since then, five have closed or stopped brewing — R.I.P. Cleveland ChopHouse, J.F. Walleye’s, Neil House, Ohio and Wooden Shoe — and an astonishing 46 have opened.

Has the growth been positive for craft beer drinkers?

Anybody who’s sampled MadTree, Rhinegeist, 50 West, Yellow Springs, Four String, Wooster and others would offer an emphatic, “Yes”.

27 December, 2013