From foam-capped lagers to hop bombs: a local’s guide to drinking beer in Columbus

I spend more of my free time in Columbus under string lights than I care to admit, and lately the question friends ask is simple: where should we actually go for a crisp lager or a big, modern IPA without overpaying or getting stuck in a line? Here’s what’s been worth my dollars this year, with real prices, hours, and small tricks that helped me drink better beer in the city.

Italian Village or Franklinton tonight? How the choice changes what’s in your glass

If your group wants a straight shot at fresh IPAs and an easy walk from the Short North, start at Seventh Son Brewing in Italian Village. Their taproom posts prices right on the daily menu, and IPAs typically run $8 per pint with 10 oz options around $6. Flights are practical if you’re splitting: a Hop Lover’s Flight shows up priced at $14–$15 depending on which list you order from. The hours skew late for a brewery, with Friday and Saturday running 11 am–2 am, which solves the where-do-we-go-after-dinner problem. Parking is workable on 4th and the adjacent blocks if you have the City of Columbus app downloaded; the brewery even publishes a small parking map and recommends using the app.

Across the river in Franklinton, Land-Grant Brewing Company is the choice if you want elbow room and activities in addition to a pint. The Franklinton campus now spans the original beer garden, a newer indoor space called The Extension, and a seasonal setup at Gravity Park with things like pickleball and hoops. On any given week you’ll see events listed right on their calendar, from trivia to live music to Crew watch nights. If we’re entertaining out-of-towners, Land-Grant usually wins because a group can spread out without losing each other, and the lines move even on busy Saturdays. The address to plug in for ride-shares is 424 W Town St (Franklinton); if you’re driving, give yourself a few extra minutes when there’s a big event in the neighborhood.

My practical take: date night favors Italian Village. That posted price board at Seventh Son reduces decision friction, and late hours mean you won’t get rushed. Big group hangouts and day-drinking Sundays favor Franklinton. The Land-Grant campus handles crowds without the un-fun parts of a crowd.

Where do you find the cleanest lagers in town?

Two places have become my lager defaults for different reasons. Gemüt Biergarten in Olde Towne East brews German-style lagers and pours them in a room that looks like somebody rebuilt a Munich beer hall inside a 100-year-old firehouse. If you like to keep costs in check, time your visit: they run Happy Hour Monday–Friday until 6 pm, and I’ve learned to get there by 5:30 so I can sit before the after-work rush. They’re at 734 Oak St, which makes it an easy pre- or post-East Market swing if your crew wants snacks beyond the house menu.

For the classic beer-hall experience with liter mugs, Hofbräuhaus Columbus in Grandview Yard still leans into old-school lager service and long tables. Hours are posted and consistent for planning: Sunday–Thursday 11 am–10 pm, Friday 11 am–11 pm, Saturday 11 am–12 am. If you get into their Stein Master Club, there’s a recurring perk that’s actually useful: $7 liters for members on Saturdays and Sundays from 12–4 pm. Even without a membership, it’s a reliable spot to introduce a friend to dunkel or hefeweizen poured properly, and you can actually hear each other at lunch compared with some of the flashier Short North rooftops.

Don’t sleep on the lagers hidden in plain sight at Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall at the Trolley District. The Beer Hall posts a granular draft list with sizes and pricing. Their house light lager, for example, is set at $6 for .4L and $11 for 1L, and you’ll generally see other draft lagers and pilsners sitting in the $7 for .4L neighborhood. Hours are very straightforward for big-group planning: Monday–Wednesday 11 am–10 pm, Thursday 11 am–11 pm, Friday–Saturday 11 am–11 pm, and Sunday 11 am–10 pm. If you’re watching your spend, their posted Happy Hour runs Monday–Thursday from 3–5 pm with $5 pints on 20+ taps. That’s the rare downtown-adjacent deal that hasn’t felt like a bait-and-switch.

Chasing IPAs without getting burned on price

I test IPA spots with two questions: can I sample without committing, and is the pint price in line with what’s in the glass? At Seventh Son, you can answer yes to both. Hazy, West Coast, and double IPAs typically sit around $8 for a pint, and the staff never hesitates to pour a small taste if you’re between styles. Flights make sense here because they’re built around hop-forward sets and the per-visit cost is printed right on the menu ($14 or $15 depending on what’s upstairs versus downstairs).

Downtown, Jackie O’s on Fourth is where I catch limited-run hazies like See Foam and throw in a classic like Mystic Mama. Their posted hours help with coordination if you’re meeting a friend after work: Mon–Wed 3–10 pm, Thu 3–11 pm, Fri 1 pm–12 am, Sat 11 am–12 am, Sun 11 am–10 pm. One policy to know before you bring a teenager along: the taproom is 21+ after 7:30 pm. If you’d rather start earlier on a weekend, that 11 am Saturday opening is real and consistent, and you can order from the on-site Goood Friends window without leaving your stool.

Wolf’s Ridge Brewing plays a slightly different IPA game. You can get their Hazy IPA or seasonal hop releases in the taproom, but the pro move is to start with a crisp option and split a single IPA. Why? Their posted beer pricing in the dining spaces makes lager and pale ale a strong value, and it keeps your table flexible for food. A concrete anchor if you like to plan numbers: their “614” Lager is listed at $8 for a 16 oz pour on the printed menus, and the full restaurant makes the most sense if half your group wants dinner. If you’re a brunch person, the Dining Room runs weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am–2 pm with the bar staying open until 3 pm, which neatly bridges into an afternoon of IPAs in the taproom if you’re not done yet.

What’s the move with a mixed crew: beer nerd, cocktail person, and someone who only drinks sours?

My three-stop solution starts on the South Side, pops to Grandview, and ends in Dublin if we still have gas in the tank.

First, Antiques on High in the Brewery District if the sour lover is driving the bus. It’s the sibling of Seventh Son, but the board features tart and mixed-fermentation beers along with crisp lagers for the non-sour folks, plus solid cocktails. If you’re looking at the rooftop for a birthday or engagement photo situation, know their actual rules: that rooftop isn’t available on Friday evenings, and private rooftop rentals are limited to Monday–Thursday during business hours, 12–5 pm on Saturdays, and “anytime” on Sundays with a 2–3 hour minimum. It saves a headache to check those windows before you promise anybody a skyline toast.

Next, Endeavor Brewing & Spirits in Grandview if cocktails matter. Endeavor runs both a brewery and distillery; the Grandview taproom posts hours like a normal neighborhood bar (Tuesday–Thursday 3–11 pm, Friday 3 pm–12 am, Saturday 11:30 am–12 am, Sunday 11:30 am–5 pm). If you’re closer to the north side, their newer Barrel and Bloom spot in Linworth runs coffee until 3 pm daily and stays open late on weekends, which I’ve used more than once as a smart “start with espresso, end with beer” compromise for a group text full of indecision.

Finally, Getaway Brewing in Dublin builds its beer and cocktail board around travel themes and posts a real-deal Happy Hour from 3:30–6:30 pm. Pints commonly sit around $6.50 with 10 oz options near $4, and the hours give you plenty of after-dinner room: Monday–Thursday 3:30–11 pm, Friday 3:30 pm–1 am, Saturday 12 pm–1 am, Sunday 12–10 pm. If you’re park-hopping with kids or a dog, the patio along the river makes this a low-stress place to land before deciding if your night still needs a scoop of Jeni’s or a walk across the Dublin Link.

Stretching your beer budget without drinking worse beer

There are three plays here that I actually use.

Play one: chase posted Happy Hours at breweries that publish them clearly. Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall runs a weekday Happy Hour with $5 pints from 3–5 pm Monday–Thursday, and because it’s in writing on their site, it’s stayed consistent. If you show up early, the staff will pour half-liters at a price that won’t sting. If you prefer Italian Village, Seventh Son lists 10 oz pours on most hop-forward beers for $6–$6.50, which is how I sample two or three double IPAs without waking up mad at myself.

Play two: use flight pricing that’s grounded in reality. A $14–$15 flight at Seventh Son is four pours that my group actually drinks, not a forced pick through styles nobody wanted. On the other side of town, lager flights during Gemüt’s early evening window are more peaceful, which is worth as much as the few dollars you’ll save getting there before the 6 pm cutoff.

Play three: taprooms and beer bars with clear, everyday deals. The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington lists a simple Happy Hour Monday–Thursday, 3–6 pm with $1 off pints and 50 cents off 5 oz tasters. Their posted hours are easy to plan around: Mon–Thu 3–10 pm, Fri–Sat 12–11 pm, Sun 12–8 pm. If you’re a list person, the wall of taps and the chalkboard approach make it painless to price-compare before you pick a pour or a growler fill.

Bonus program that actually pays off: the Columbus Ale Trail. Volume 11 is out now, and the mechanics are refreshingly simple. Pick up a free passport at a participating brewery, buy a beer, and get a stamp. Ten stamps gets you a pin; all 36 this volume earns a poster, and the first 500 finishers also get a T‑shirt. Redemption is at The Ohio Taproom at 1291 W 3rd Ave in Grandview Heights, and the current book is good through June 30, 2027. If your group likes turning drinking into a game, this is the one that doesn’t waste your time with fine print.

Which places are actually worth it side by side?

Reader Q&A

Is there a downtown spot where I can get a lager for under seven bucks without a special?

Yes. Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall posts its house light lager at $6 for .4L all the time, and other lagers and pilsners often sit at $7 for .4L. If you can make it Monday–Thursday between 3–5 pm, their Happy Hour brings many pints to $5, but even outside that window you’re not guessing what the pour will cost.

Where should I go for sours in Columbus if my friend hates them?

Antiques on High balances the board with tart, mixed-fermentation beers and clean lagers, plus cocktails, so the non-sour friend isn’t stuck. If you’re planning a rooftop meetup, note their rules: no Friday-night rooftop bookings, and private rooftop windows are Monday–Thursday during business hours, 12–5 pm on Saturdays, and anytime on Sundays.

We’re landing after dinner on a Saturday. Where can we actually get a late pint without a club scene?

Seventh Son is open until 2 am on Friday and Saturday, with a price board that keeps the math simple even when you’re tired. If you want more space and outdoor seating, the Land-Grant Franklinton campus spreads people across multiple areas and still pours fast late into the evening.

I want to bring out-of-town parents for a lager and a proper meal. What’s the safest bet?

Wolf’s Ridge Brewing if you want a full-service meal and table, or Hofbräuhaus Columbus if you want a classic beer-hall spread with liter mugs and predictable hours. Wolf’s Ridge lists the “614” Lager at $8 for a 16 oz pour on dining menus, and Hofbräuhaus runs until 10 pm most nights with a longer Saturday.

Quick takeaways for beer-hunting in Columbus

• If you want a no-surprises IPA run, start at Seventh Son. Pints hover near $8 and flights are a posted $14–$15.
• For value lagers inside 270, CBC Beer Hall’s .4L pours start at $6, and weekday $5 pint Happy Hour runs 3–5 pm.
• Gemüt is calmer and cheaper before 6 pm on weekdays. Show up by 5:30 for easier seating.
• Jackie O’s on Fourth is 21+ after 7:30 pm. Go earlier if you’re bringing under-21 family.
• Hofbräuhaus Stein Master members get $7 liters on weekends from 12–4 pm. If you like liters, the membership perk is real.
• Wolf’s Ridge is a smooth “beer + dinner” play; that $8 “614” Lager 16 oz pour is a consistent anchor price.
• The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington gives you a simple weekday deal: $1 off pints and 50 cents off tasters from 3–6 pm.
• Collect stamps with the Columbus Ale Trail Volume 11 to earn swag. Redeem at The Ohio Taproom on W 3rd Ave, and you have until June 30, 2027.

Bottom line, decide first if you want a tight board of hop-forward beers or a huge campus that can soak up a crowd. If you only have one night, pair a value play like the Beer Hall’s early Happy Hour with a late session at Seventh Son, and you’ll cover both ends of the lager-to-IPA spectrum without wasting a minute.

Published: September 9, 2026 · Reviewed by the Whats Up Columbus editorial team