Find Your Perfect Brew on the Columbus Ale Trail
Brewing is a booming business in Columbus, Ohio
That's awesome news if you're a beer lover. But even if you're not, time spent exploring the Columbus beer scene is a great investment in Buckeye State fun. From Columbus brewery tours to old fashioned pubs and modern microbreweries, you'll find hardworking, fun-loving artisans dedicated to making ale, stout, and beer a memorable part of your Midwestern vacation.
Columbus Ale Trail and Columbus Brewery Tours
Pick up a free Columbus Ale Trail booklet with a map and directions to breweries in and around the city. Buying drinks at the participating breweries qualifies you for rewards ranging from a commemorative pint glass to playing cards. Another way to enjoy the scene is to sign up for Columbus brewery tours with professional guides and transportation provided by Columbus Brew Adventures.
Behind the Doors of the Brewery District
Columbus' historic Brewery District doesn’t have breweries that are open to the public, but don't let that stop you. Behind the doors of this bustling neighborhood's red-brick buildings, the district's legacy of manufacturing and brewing lives on. Revel in the craft beer and robust dinners at Columbus Brewing Company (525 Short St., Columbus), known simply as CBC to the locals. There's even a kids' menu so you can make it a family outing. Go for the gusto at Brick An American Kitchen (520 S. Front St., Columbus), a modern eatery tucked inside a historic building that was once a brewery's malt house.
Browsing Brewer's Row
Make a fun day even better with a stroll down Brewer's Row, a collection of downtown brewing companies, all within easy walking distance. At the northernmost end of your venture, sample the small-batch craft beers brewed on-site and served in the taproom of North High Brewing (1288 N. High St., Columbus). At the south end, Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus (161 N. High St., Columbus) serves its signature lager, ale, IPAs and seasonal brews in a classy, historic setting adjacent to its upscale restaurant. For a more laid-back atmosphere, head to Elevator Brewing Company's 13th Floor Taproom (165 N. 4th St., Columbus), where brewery tours start on the third Saturday of every month.
Hop Heads' Haven in Grandview Heights
Slip out to suburban Grandview Heights for an evening of tasting and taproom hopping. Renowned for its barbecue and microbrews, Smokehouse Brewing Co. (1130 Dublin Rd., Columbus) is a great place to start with an astonishing array of beers on tap and by the bottle, including seasonal specialties. Before you wrap up the evening, accompany your flight of rock music-inspired beer with a game of pinball at Four String Brewing Co. (985 W. 6th Ave., Columbus).
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