It's a hard time to be an Ohio craft brewer
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
It's Oktoberfest season, though Ohio brewers have reason for concern alongside celebration.
Why it matters: Central Ohio's massive craft beer boom in the 2010s became part of Columbus' image and tourism industry, but breweries are now struggling amid a post-pandemic decline in alcohol consumption.
Zoom in: Three more Central Ohio brands recently dropped off the map.
- Nocterra Brewing Co. abruptly closed its Powell and Scioto Audubon locations in late August.
- Carroll's Outerbelt Brewing (which bought two other brands last year) announced its upcoming closure this week.
- So did Cincinnati brewery Fifty West's Chillicothe taproom.
Zoom out: They follow a wave of brewery and taproom shutdowns that began at the start of 2025, including Granville Brewing, multiple BrewDog taprooms, Marysville's Walking Distance Brewing and Newark's Trek Brewing.
The big picture: After years of growth, the country's broader craft beer industry has moved from stagnation to decline.
- Nearly 500 U.S. craft breweries closed last year, outpacing openings by nearly 200.
- The Brewers Association reported a 4% decrease in total craft beer production last year and a 2.9% contraction of craft breweries, with 60% of craft brewers producing less beer.
- Production was down another 4% in the first half of 2026.
Yes, but: Craft beer's drop in production was actually smaller than the broader 5.7% decrease in overall beer production last year.
Between the lines: Various factors make business difficult for brewers.
- First and foremost, Americans are drinking less than ever.
- Brewers say Ohio laws leave them stuck in poor wholesaler agreements.
- They've had to fight to sell THC drinks, which have become crucial moneymakers.
What they're saying: Columbus Brewing Co. owner Eric Bean tells Axios that "every time you turn around, there's some new hurdle" for brewers.
- He says aluminum costs are up 30%, the grocery store beer aisle stopped growing, and the economics are increasingly difficult.
- "When everybody was growing, it was a really fun business. Now, it's tough."
Plus: The industry has lost its novel shine.
- Many neighborhood breweries have been around for a decade or longer, and new locations compete against dozens of other breweries as well as cocktail bars and increasingly popular nonalcoholic options.