Cincinnati-based Taft’s Brewing Company will open the door to their Columbus Brewpourium on Friday, November 15.

The Columbus Brewpourium occupies 5,800 square feet of the mixed use development space Gravity in Franklinton. Other Gravity tenants include BARK, Cova Cowork, Pelotonia and The Roosevelt Coffeehouse.

Taft’s managing partner Dave Kassling describes the Columbus taproom as having a 90s pop art feel. The space will feature plenty of games like shuffle board and fooseball alongside arcade cabinets like Killer Queen and even custom bartop video games.

“Since we’re going with this 90s feel we wanted to offer something special and different from a gaming perspective so we decided to build out custom bar tops with screens in them so our guests can sit at the bar and play old school video games,” said Kassling.

Behind the bar will be 16 Taft’s taps largely pouring beer produced at the Cincinnati brewhouse, although the Columbus Brewpourium will have its own seven barrel brewing system that will produce a few beers exclusively available at the Columbus taproom. Taft’s will also offer a full bar of spirits and wine along with coal-fired New Haven-style pizza, which is known for having a thin crust that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Why New Haven-style pizza? Brewery namesake William Howard Taft attended Yale… in New Haven.

Other taproom features include plenty of quirky nods to President Taft and countertops made of crushed beer cans from local breweries like Seventh Son, Land-Grant and North High.

“We don’t want to be seen as another brewery from outside Columbus coming to Columbus, we want to really feel like we’re part of the community,” said Kassling.

Founded in 2015, Taft’s Brewing Company operates a three-story brewery and restaurant in a renovated church in the Over-The-Rhine district of Cincinnati, along with a brewery and taproom in Spring Grove Village.

Taft’s Columbus Brewpourium is expected to open on Friday, November 15, at 440 W. Broad St in Franklinton.

Renderings courtesy Taft’s/Sidecar Creatives