Crafting the finest German-style lagers, established in 1836

Hoster Brewing Company

About Hoster

Hoster Brewing Co. carries on a Columbus brewing tradition that began in 1836 by Louis Hoster. Our flagship beer is the award-winning Gold Top™ Dortmunder-style lager. Brewed with a blend of imported malts and classic German and Czech hops, it remains a refreshing, perfectly balanced favorite. Our core lineup also includes Eagle Dark™ (Czech-style dark lager), Vienna Lager, Hoster Light, a rotating selection of European and American beer styles, and original Frostop™ root beer made in-house.


Visit our taproom and patio at 653 N. James Road, near John Glenn Airport, and enjoy fresh beer alongside pizza, Bavarian pretzels, and complimentary popcorn. Step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time, surrounded by memorabilia from Hoster’s pre-Prohibition days. Our space is dog-friendly, family-friendly, and the perfect place to experience the craft and history of Hoster Brewing Co.


We’re also distributing across Central Ohio! Our four core beers—and a variety of rotating styles—are available by the keg. Email sales@hosterbeer.com to order Hoster beer or Frostop™ root beer.

Andy Rich, Head Brewer in the brewhouse

Andy Rich

Head Brewer

Andy is an experienced brewer and distiller and he's added some fun to our beer line-up by experimenting with parti-gyle mashing (making two separate beers from one batch of grain). Andy enjoys camping, reading, and spending time with his family.

Victor Aume, Brewer Emeritus, holding a pint of beer

Victor Aume

Brewer Emeritus

Victor was part of the brewing team that launched the 2024 Hoster re-boot and the opening of our James Road taproom. He remains with us as a consulting brewer. Victor is a Siebel Institute graduate and a retired chemical engineer.

A.J. Zanyk next to a trailer carrying brewing vessels

A.J. Zanyk

Brewer Emeritus

A.J. is an award-winning homebrewer turned professional. He was key in setting up the James Road brewhouse, and in developing many of our current beers. A.J. has been a photographer, cyclist, and martial artist.

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Ian Hansford

Taproom Manager

Coming soon...

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Alicia Cassidy

Taproom Manager

Coming soon...

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Jay Taylor

GM/VP of Sales

Jay has been on the Ohio craft beer scene for 21+ years, and as a longtime Columbus resident, he remembers the 90's heyday of Hoster's Brewpub on S. High St. He is excited to be bringing the original local lagers back to the market with this great historical brand.

Brad Schweitzer Holding Keg of Gold Top Lager

Brad Schweitzer

Operations Manager

Brad has been with Hoster since the days of limited GoldTop™ distribution. He is responsible for logistics and facility management. In his off time he enjoys being with his family and cheering on THE Buckeyes.

Sandy Hugill, Business Manager in front of Hoster Welcome Sign

Sandy Hugill

Business Manager

Sandy is a Certified Cicerone® and a beer, cider, and mead judge. She's active with local homebrew club Scioto, Olentangy and Darby Zymurgists (SODZ). Sandy's travels have taken her to breweries in 30 states and 10 countries.

Events

Open on a Monday & SODZ Homebrew Meeting
2025-09-15T20:00:00.000Z - 2025-09-16T01:00:00.000Z
Open on a Monday & SODZ Homebrew Meeting
653 N James Rd, Columbus, OH 43219
We're hosting the September meeting of Scioto, Olentangy, and Darby Zymurgists (SODZ), the largest homebrew club in Central Ohio. We're also opening to the public on this rare Monday, and we're inviting you. Learn about homebrewing, or just enjoy a couple Hoster beers. The SODZ meeting kicks off at 7 pm, but we'll be open at 4 pm. This SODZ meeting is special to us, as it includes the presentation of the Don Croucher Brewer of the Year Award, honoring the top brewer for the SODZ 2024-2025 season. Don was instrumental in the launch of our James Road taproom. Notably, our Vienna Lager recipe was perfected by Don, a longtime SODZ member. We lost Don last year, and Hoster sponsors this trophy in his memory. So come check out SODZ, try some homebrew, join us in toasting Don, and celebrating home brewing excellence. And did we mention that there will be a new beer release? Many reasons to make it out on a Monday!
Hoster Oktoberfest
2025-10-04T16:00:00.000Z - 2025-10-05T02:00:00.000Z
Hoster Oktoberfest
653 N James Rd, Columbus, OH 43219
** SAVE the Date ** We're busy planning our Oktoberfest details, and we'll share more soon. For now, plan for classic lagers, biergarten games, delicious food, and fun all day long! We'll have Feed Your Soul food truck from 5-8 pm, so save your appetite for some fabulous German fare by Chef Frankie!
https://www.facebook.com/events/666812696430678
Hoster Halloween
2025-10-31T20:00:00.000Z - 2025-11-01T02:00:00.000Z
Hoster Halloween
653 N James Rd, Columbus, OH 43219
We're brewing up some fun for this Halloween! How do a costume contest, a limited edition Halloween themed beer, and scary movies sound? We're also working on a food truck. Save the date now, and check back for more details as we get closer!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1334963088001032?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Contact Us

Location

Find us near John Glenn International Airport

653 North James Road, Columbus, 43219, US