Ohio hit a milestone with 400 licensed breweries in May.
Today, 72 of Ohio’s 88 counties have at least one brewery.
And many more are on the way.
“We know of at least 75 breweries in the planning right now,” said Justin Hemminger, deputy director of Ohio Craft Brewers Association. “Based on their stage of development, it’s reasonable to assume that many of them will be open to the public over the next few years.”
With 40% of openings occurring in the last three years, one wonders if the market is saturated and if there is room for more growth in Buckeye State.
But there is another question to ask.
The majority of craft breweries sell their beer in taprooms, serving as cultural hubs and community gathering spaces, leading one to wonder if this is just the start of a big boom.
Status of Ohio’s brewing scene now and where it started
According to the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, Ohioans of legal drinking age consume approximately 4.6 gallons of craft beer each year, which ranks Ohio 13th in the nation. Although this is an above-average consumption rate, Ohio ranks 24th among breweries per capita, suggesting there is room for growth.
With COVID stopping the gathering at breweries for a time in its early stages, and its effects on the supply chain and workforce in recent months, there is a question of its impact on the future of breweries. .
“Such variables make it difficult to predict what new brewery openings will look like in the near term,” Hemminger said.
Industry growth has not always been so rapid. Prior to 2013, additional permits were required for breweries to sell a glass of beer directly to a consumer. In 2013, Ohio created the A-1C brewery license, allowing small breweries to operate a bar on their premises.
“The A-1C license also allowed small breweries to self-distribute their beer to retailers, which helped them grow their brands in the marketplace profitably,” Hemminger said. “These changes in how small breweries could sell and serve their beer were pivotal, as evidenced by the fact that there were only about 60 breweries in Ohio when the A-1C license was created and that there are now more than 400.”
Economic impact of breweries for Ohio
The Ohio Craft Brewers Association worked with Silverlode Consulting to estimate the economic impact of Ohio’s craft breweries on the state. Whether or not there is competition between breweries, one thing is clear: they help the economy.
“In 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio’s craft brewing industry generated an estimated $880.7 million in economic activity in the state,” according to the OCBA.
Data collected by Silverlode Consulting showed Ohio breweries brought in $99.8 million in state and local taxes and $59 million in federal taxes in 2019, the latest year for which data was available. Breweries in Ohio provided 8,295 jobs and supported 5,577 households in 2019. Labor income for breweries in Ohio totaled $253.1 million in 2019.
According to Brewers AssociationOhio is home to two of the nation’s largest craft breweries: Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland and Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati.
Opening of two new breweries in Stark County
Stark County’s beer scene is about to get even bigger with the upcoming opening of two new breweries.
New Berlin Brewery set to open this summer in North Canton at 1664 N. Main St. And Starflyer Brewing Co. plans to open in downtown Guangzhou from the beginning of 2023.
Starflyer co-founder and head brewer Andrew Archer started homebrewing nearly a decade ago. He wanted to gain work experience in the industry before opening a place with co-founder Bailey Archer, his wife who will serve as director, and Ethan Comfort, brother of Bailey Archer, who will serve as chief financial officer.
“After five years in the industry, we had the opportunity to establish Starflyer Brewing Co. here in Guangzhou, so we are doing everything we can to turn our dream into reality,” said Andrew Archer.
With many breweries already established in Stark County, it’s important that each brewery has its own vibe.
“We are designing our bar to be decidedly more colorful than most, with an emphasis on bright colors and local artwork,” said Andrew Archer. “Our planned menu will include a wide variety of traditional and experimental beers, several other beverage options (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and New York-style pizza. We are also partnering with another downtown business to integrate our bar into a new food hall type experience for our customers.”
He said things so far felt less like a competition and more like a community experience.
“Many local brewers and brewery owners have reached out to offer their support and encouragement to our new venture,” said Andrew Archer. “Having been part of Akron’s beer scene in the past, we look forward to helping the Canton beer community grow by becoming part of a fun and welcoming group.”
New Berlin owner Mike Leckie-Ewing also sees room for growth in the local beer industry.
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“I honestly think we are currently underserved locally. … There is room for growth,” he said in an email.
The opening was scheduled for July, but supply chain issues caused delays, pushing the opening back to late August.
His reason for opening a brewery now? He loves the sense of community that breweries bring.
“I love what small breweries and breweries mean to their community. It’s a gathering place and a place the community can call their own,” Leckie-Ewing said.
New Berlin will have its own vibe, offering a different menu from other local breweries. The menu will include modern German fare, traditional German beer styles and “flavors that aren’t in our region yet, but I think will be really accepted quickly,” Leckie-Ewing said.
Established breweries share their thoughts on opening new ones in Stark County
Over the past decade, Stark County and surrounding counties have seen an influx of breweries open. From breweries popping up in Canton, Louisville, Minerva, North Canton, Jackson Township, Minerva, Massillon, Navarre, Dover and Bolivar, the region has no shortage of craft beer.
Many of these breweries already have an established fanbase. Whenever a similar business opens nearby, it can be considered competition. Many Stark County breweries don’t see it that way.
“We’re excited when we hear about new breweries opening around us. It’s exciting to think about future collaborations, as well as getting more people to discover and get excited about local craft beer,” Sandy Springs Brewing Co. owners Andy and Amanda Conrad said in an email.
Sandy Springs opened in Minerva in November 2017. Over the next five years, the brewery has expanded to include outdoor cabanas and an Airbnb located next to the dining area.
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The Conrads believe Northeast Ohio offers some of the best craft beer in the country and the brewing scene is teeming with brewer collaborations.
“There will always be a bit of competition with any business, but we truly believe the beer scene is about community and a collaborative environment. We’ve made some of our lifelong best friends within our industry. local craft beer,” they said. .
Adam Longacre, owner of UnHitched Brewing Co. in Louisville, agrees that local brewers want to help each other.
“…Because breweries are a niche market, we are inherently closer. There are nuances to our business that are unique to food and beverage. You see more collaboration, help and support at because of that. And we all want everyone to be successful…,” he said.
UnHitched has a shorter history than Sandy Springs, opening in late 2019 just before COVID hit. But that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a hotspot for beer-loving locals.
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Longacre had plans for a brewery in Louisville for a long time, about 15 years in the making. He had been brewing at home since college and had made many business plans during his travels. When he and his wife returned to his hometown, things started to take shape.
“For a long time it was, ‘Hey, let’s start a brewery, that’ll be cool. It was me in my mid-twenties. When it finally came around at the age of 40, it became, “Hey, how can we bring some life to our downtown? How can we invest in our city and provide a place to gathering for people? “How do I create a locally sourced product that in turn will support other local businesses?” So I’m glad it took me 15 years to figure out what I really wanted from this company,” Longacre said.
It seems to have worked. UnHitched has grown since opening, adding outdoor seating on Mill Street during the summer and recently expanding to add lunch service in the former Palmer Market space on Main Street.
Even with all the new breweries opening, the more established ones see it as a good thing. Each brewery in the region has its own vibe and there is room for all of them.
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