Brewing up success: Craft breweries locally and in Ohio rebound from pandemic

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·4 min read
The interior of the Lockport Brewery outside of Bolivar.
The interior of the Lockport Brewery outside of Bolivar.

The Ohio Craft Brewers Association’s biennial economic impact report shows that Ohio’s craft brewing industry resumed its expected growth in 2022 after an 8.9% pandemic-induced downturn in 2020.

Andrew Marburger, co-owner of Lockport Brewery in Wilkshire Hills, said his business is starting to see a rebound.

Another craft brewery: From empty church to renovated brewery: Holy Moley Brewing Co. opens in downtown Dennison

"Here at Lockport, we've certainly seen our sales slowly but steadily increase over the last several years," he said. "I think that goes back to people getting more comfortable with going back out and being in public and utilizing services like coming to a restaurant and drinking some local beer."

His business was closed due to COVID in March, April and May of 2020, a year after moving to its present location at 10748 Wilkshire Boulevard NE. After the brewery reopened on June 3, 2020, it still had to deal with supply chain shortages and then inflation.

Lauren and Andrew Marburger are the owners of Lockport Brewery in Wilkshire Hills.
Lauren and Andrew Marburger are the owners of Lockport Brewery in Wilkshire Hills.

"The good news is I've really, really got a great team," Marburger said. Lockport has 25 full- and part-time employees.

The business went back to its original table service model at the beginning of this year.

420 craft breweries in Ohio

According to the economic impact report, 44 Ohio breweries opened in 2022, bringing the state total to 420 craft breweries at the end of last year. Ohio’s craft beer production volume ranks sixth among U.S. states at about 1.29 million barrels, up 18.7% from 2020 levels.

The impact report shows the regional and statewide contributions Ohio craft breweries make to the state economy:

  • $1.27 billion economic output (up from $880.7 million in 2020).

  • $141.5 million state and local taxes ($99.8 million in 2020).

  • $85.8 million federal taxes ($58 million in 2020).

  • 12,040 jobs (8,295 in 2020).

  • 8,095 households supported (5,577 in 2020).

  • $389 million labor income ($253.1 million in 2020).

In addition, the 179 brewers that responded to the impact survey donated about $2.4 million to charitable causes and gave an additional 22,000 volunteer hours to community groups.

Marburger said he considers that an important part of the report. "Our community is extremely important to us."

Lockport Brewery gives back by partnering with Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools and other organizations.

Much of the industry’s economic impact growth is attributable to consumer spending in brewery taprooms around the state. However, small and independent breweries still face significant obstacles to growth via distribution, attributable to an increase in competition over the past 10 years as well as artificial barriers to market access caused by Ohio’s nearly 50-year-old franchise law, which traps small breweries in unfair, unbreakable contracts with large, powerful distributors, the report said.

Importance of good customer service

Marburger is optimistic for the future of his business.

"I think our concept of service has been pretty simple and straight forward, make really good beer, make really good food and deliver it in a really friendly and professional way," he said. "In other words, do really good customer service. That's a pretty straight forward combination. I don't think there's going to be a moment where people will stop enjoying those things. As long as we keep doing those things well, I think we'll be in good shape."

Lockport Brewery is one of four craft breweries in Tuscarawas County.
Lockport Brewery is one of four craft breweries in Tuscarawas County.

Currently, Tuscarawas County has four craft breweries. In addition to Lockport, there is the Hoodletown Brewing Co. in Dover, the 5 Barrel Bullet Brewing Co. in New Philadelphia and the Holy Moley Brewing Co. in Dennison. Marburger said that others are in the planning stages.

He is not worried about the competition.

"I think Tuscarawas County is a little bit underserved in the terms of the number of breweries available, so it will be good to see some additional ones come on," he said.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

CRAFT BREWERIES IN TUSCARAWAS COUNTY

  • 5 Barrel Bullet Brewing Co., 1690 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia; hours ‒ Wednesday and Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.

  • Holy Moley Brewing Co., 306 Grant St., Dennison; hours ‒ Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Hoodletown Brewing Co., 424 W. Third St., Dover; hours ‒ Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m.; Friday 3 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.

  • Lockport Brewery, 10748 Wilkshire Blvd. NE, Bolivar; hours ‒ Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 9 p.m; Friday and Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Ohio craft breweries rebound from pandemic