The Columbus Ale Trail is back and bigger than ever with more breweries and new giveaways to reward craft beer lovers for visiting local breweries.

Volume 3 of the Columbus Ale Trail will launch May 12 featuring a whopping 37 breweries, up from 28 in Volume 2 and 20 in Volume 1. The launch coincides with the start of the 3rd annual Columbus Craft Beer Week, which runs May 12-20. Those interested in traversing the Trail can pick up a free copy of the Volume 3 Brew Book at any participating brewery beginning Friday, May 12, then bring the booklet to a participating brewery and make any purchase to receive a stamp.

The Columbus Ale Trail launched in May of 2015 and has rewarded thousands of locals and tourists to the area for visiting Central Ohio breweries. The Columbus Ale Trail is organized by me (Cheryl Harrison), Jim Ellison (Columbus Brew Adventures), John Evans (The Ohio Taproom) and Jared Friesner (Cliff Original), with support from Experience Columbus, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association and all participating breweries.

We’re excited to have every currently open Central Ohio brewery with a public taproom participating in Volume 3, including Actual Brewing Co, Barley’s Brewing Co, Brew Brothers, BrewDog Dogtap, Buckeye Lake Brewery, Combustion Brewery, Elevator Brewing Co (two locations), Four String Brewing Co (two locations), Gordon Biersch Brewery, Grove City Brewing Co, Hofbrauhaus Columbus, Homestead Beer Co, Hoof Hearted Brewery and Kitchen, Ill Mannered Brewing Co, Kindred Beer, Knotty Pine Brewing, Land-Grant Brewing Co, Lineage Brewing, Loose Rail Brewing, North High Brewing, Pigskin Brew Co, Platform Beer Co, Restoration Brew Worx, Rockmill Brewery (two locations), Seventh Son Brewing Co, Sideswipe Brewing, Smokehouse Brewing Co, Staas Brewing Co, Temperance Row Brewing Co, The Ram Restaurant and Brewery, Three Tigers Brewing Co, Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, Zaftig Brewing Co and Zauber Brewing Company.

To better accommodate the high number of stops on the Trail, the rewards for Volume 3 will be tiered. When any 4, 11, 18, 25 and 32 stamps are collected, Ale Trailers can bring their booklet to The Ohio Taproom or an Experience Columbus visitor center to pick up a Columbus Ale Trail tasting glass, made in Ohio by Sahm. When all 37 stamps are collected, the book can be redeemed at The Ohio Taproom for a wood flight tray crafted by Re:Work Furnishings that will hold all five previously collected tasting glasses. Participants will have until April 30, 2018 to complete Volume 3 of the Ale Trail, at which time a new volume of the Brew Book featuring even more breweries will launch. Volume 2 books can be redeemed until April 30, 2017.

Join us for the official Columbus Ale Trail Volume 3 Launch party on Friday, May 12 from 4-6pm at Smokehouse Brewing Company to meet the organizers and preview the new rewards. (RSVP on Facebook)

Columbus Ale Trail visitors are encouraged to share their experiences using the hashtag #cbusaletrail, and can connect with the Columbus Ale Trail on Twitter and Instagram @CbusAleTrail, and at cbusaletrail.com.