This idea was to have the customers become the brewmasters.
Meyers explained that they became Columbus’ first and only “brew-on-premises establishment.” Soon after, they decided to expand to the wholesale market and opened a second brewery for production and canning.
“We were only the seventh brewery to open in central Ohio and today there are over 60,” Meyers said.
COhatch CEO Matt Davis became familiar with North High Brewing Co. when establishing other Columbus-based COhatch locations. Davis asked if Meyers and Ward wanted to expand to Springfield, Meyers said.
“We loved the idea of the Springfield location because it is a lot like the North Market here in Columbus,” Meyers said. “We see this as a similar opportunity in a market that is really growing and it’s love for craft beer.”
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COhatch, a Columbus-based company offering a variety of co-working options, private offices, event space, and restaurants, is going into the historic Myers Market building at 101 S. Fountain Ave.
North High Brewing Co. will operate a taproom with 14 beers on tap.
“It’s going to be an open market feel where people can buy our drafts and walk around or hangout,” Meyers said. “We will also have beers in cans available for carry out and we will sell growlers as well for draft beer.”
The taproom will be located near a roll-up garage door to offer indoor and outdoor patio space.
“We’re going to be doing a lot of fun, sort of one-off beers that you can’t typically get outside of our taproom, so people in Springfield won’t have to drive to Columbus to try the fun beer like the Cucumber Ale.”
Other beers that may appear in the Springfield market include the Coffee IPA and Cover Crop.
The Cover Crop is a collaboration with the Ohio Farm Bureau.
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“It’s (Cover Crop) a very widely distributed beer of ours,” Meyers said. “It uses all Ohio ingredients. There’s a lot of farmers around Springfield, so they will be able to enjoy a beer with ingredients right from their back yard.”
Meyers said the secret behind their beer is Brewmaster Jason McKibben.
“Having someone who has over 20 years of professional brewing experience, but also the humility of somebody who is willing to try new things and continue to improve our product,” Meyers said.
McKibben was a senior brewmaster at Anheuser-Busch and the head of production at Anchor Brewing in San Francisco.
“It’s just going to be a really fun way for us to represent our brand in Springfield - a growing market for us.”
North High Brewing, one of five food/drink tenants in COhatch The Market in downtown Springfield, is planning to open 4 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 to midnight Friday through Saturday. Hours of operation may change.
For more information, visit www.northhighbrewing.com
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Facts & Figures
1916: Year the Myers Market first opened in Springfield
1977: Year the Myers Market closed
2020: Year COhatch The Market will open
25,000: Approximate square footage of the project
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