BrewDog – Columbus, OH – Update

It’s been a while since we last zipped across the foamy Atlantic and took a look at what was happening in the Buckeye State – so an update is due on our Ohioan adventures! The Scottish weather we exported seems to have abated a little, so it’s the perfect time to discover what the latest from the Discovery City is, as our 100,000 square foot production facility takes shape in Columbus. The moment when US-brewed Punk IPA flows from our brewhouse is approaching!

With that in mind, the construction work on our 42 acre site is forging ahead, and with the final concrete being poured as you read this we are on track to hopefully have everything structural in place in August. Our truly epic 200HL/170 Barrel brewhouse is in the more than safe hands of the world-renowned Bavarian engineering company Esau & Hueber, and will be shipped ready to be installed as soon as they have downed tools for the final time.

Also progressing and looking amazing are the plans for our on-site BrewDog bar – DogTap Columbus. We’ve been working with the brilliant Columbus-based Design Collective on how this showcase for our brewery will look, and as you can see from this work-in-progress mock-up the designs are looking incredible! We can’t wait to get everything dialled in so we can make the people of Ohio as welcome in our brewhouse taproom as they have made us feel in their State.

And the most important part of that welcome, of course, will consist of freshly-brewed and perfectly served BrewDog craft beer. As you may have seen two months ago, with this in mind we hired the brilliant Tim Hawn as our Head of Production for BrewDog USA, and he has been working incredibly hard ever since to get every aspect of our current production committed to his beery memory in order to replicate 3,500 miles away!

As Tim gets immersed in BrewDog lore, we will begin brewing in Ohio within a few months. But if you live in the state, you can get there first! As part of Columbus Craft Beer Week the epic Winking Lizard Tavern are hosting a BrewDog homebrew competition next week. The homebrewing community of Ohio can therefore become the first people to brew our beer on American soil, flying the flag for BrewDog USA as they recreate our recipes from DIY Dog.

Those who brew at home often push the limits of different styles, or recipes – and a recent piece of news from Washington DC will have a huge impact on Ohio craft breweries who choose to similarly experiment and innovate (ourselves included). This week the US Senate is set to abolish a ban on the production of beer over 12% abv in Ohio, an archaic law that we – and other craft breweries in the state – have been working with local legislators to overturn. Freshly-brewed Tokyo*, anyone?

Things are pressing on in Columbus – our continued thanks to everyone who has taken the time to wish us the best of luck, and we will repay that kindliness with our beer very soon…