As we continue to see the evolution of craft beer, one recent trend is mid-sized breweries opening satellite taprooms in nearby cities. We’ve seen the likes of Athens’ Jackie O’s open in Columbus, Warped Wing open in Springboro, and Taft’s open in Columbus, among others.
The newest entrant into this category is Columbus’ North High Brewing, which recently opened a taproom in the Hyde Park neighborhood on Cincinnati’s east side. It’s the fourth location for North High, with multiple others planned, including two more in Cincinnati, one in Cleveland, one in Indiana, and one in Marion.
The Hyde Park location is a collaboration with co-working startup COhatch, which offers shared space during the day before the space turns on the mood lighting at 4pm and starts serving beer from their 16 taps.
All of the beer is brewed at their production facility in Columbus, but the food is made on site, including pizza, wings, salads, and subs.
We were able to visit the intimate space during their grand opening, and the service was impressive despite the fact that they were busy and brand new.
The space reminds me more of a coffee shop than a brewery taproom, with bright colors, white tile floors, brick walls, and some unique artwork. The seven-seat bar reminds me of something you’d see at a lunch counter.
There are a few TVs on the wall, but it’s definitely not a sports bar. One of the underrated aspects is the exposed metal duct that runs through the middle of the taproom.
Downstairs there’s a lounge conversation space with a couch and chairs, as well as a secluded poker room. Upstairs is the co-working space where you definitely get a modern office feel, with a few small tables and some offices. Check out City Beat’s full slideshow of the space for more pictures.
Before I even talk about the beer, I should mention that the food absolutely blew me away. Their pizza is delicious, with thin and crispy crust, and plenty of toppings. This place could just be a restaurant and would be successful with the pizza they’re serving.
In terms of beer, they offer the North High core beers including Honey Wheat, Rise IPA (now known as Times), and Five pale ale. There were also some seasonals including Coffee Crop Blonde, a much lighter option with coffee added, and Dew Brew, a New England IPA that’s actually brewed for Dewey’s Pizza. Jason McKibben brews some solid beers, and I’m excited about the possibility of seeing some exclusives for each location brewed in the future.
On this week’s edition of the Brewery Adventures podcast, I chat with Bill Babbitt from DrinkUpColumbus.com about North High’s history and their beer, and then co-founder Gavin Meyers joins me to discuss the brewery’s expansion plans. Check out the episode below.