Columbus Platform Beer: Where To Buy And Enjoy

Platform Beer Co. was a popular craft beer brewer based in Cleveland, Ohio, with a taproom in Columbus. The company was founded in 2014 by Paul Brenner and Justin Carson and was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2019. Platform Beer offered a wide variety of beers, including IPAs, sours, ciders, and hard seltzers, and was known for its experimental one-off beers. The Columbus taproom, located at 408 N. Sixth St., opened in December 2016 and featured a large space, friendly staff, and a rotating selection of Platform brews. However, in February 2023, Platform Beer Co. announced it was closing all its taprooms and production facilities, including the one in Columbus, due to operational challenges and a shift in focus towards its three most popular IPAs.

Platform Beer Co. is now closed

The Columbus taproom had been closed for nearly two years following an employee walkout in March 2021. All employees of the Columbus taproom abruptly quit, citing issues with overwork, underpayment, and unsafe working conditions. A letter released by the employees detailed grievances with the company's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a lack of hazard pay and inadequate safety measures. Additionally, employees raised concerns about black mold in the coolers where food was stored.

Despite these issues, Platform Beer Co. was a popular destination for beer enthusiasts, offering a wide variety of craft beers, hard ciders, and hard seltzers. The company was founded in 2014 by Paul Brenner and Justin Carson with a mission to create a line of beers for sale at their taproom and establish an incubator program for local home brewers. At its peak, the company produced more than 200 different beers annually and expanded to multiple locations across Ohio.

Following the closure of its physical locations, Platform Beer Co. will continue to produce three of its IPAs: Haze Jude IPA, Odd Future Imperial IPA, and Canalway IPA. These beers will be brewed as part of Anheuser-Busch InBev's craft roster, The Brewers Collective, in the US. While the physical locations may be closed, the brand lives on through these beers, which will continue to be available for purchase at retail.

The Columbus taproom closed in 2021

Platform Beer Co.'s Columbus taproom closed in 2021 after all six staff members quit, sending a letter to co-founder Justin Carson accusing the company of paying low wages, increasing hours and responsibilities, and failing to address health and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter, which was also signed by the Cleveland taproom's former sales representative, Devlin Charlton, outlined issues such as limited notifications of positive COVID-19 cases, no taproom closure time to sanitize, and mold in food storage areas.

The staff's decision to quit and post a sign on the taproom door, stating that the entire crew had resigned and the taproom was closed until further notice, was a collective action to call attention to work conditions in the industry and prevent Platform Beer Co. from treating others in the same way. The sign was quickly taken down, and the company confirmed the temporary closure of the taproom, stating that they would be meeting with employees to address the issues.

In response to the walkout, a community member started a GoFundMe to support the former employees. Platform Beer Co.'s co-founders, Justin Carson and Paul Benner, disputed the allegations of unsafe conditions, stating that the company had implemented health and safety protocols following CDC and local health authority guidelines. However, the taproom never reopened, and the entire Platform Beer Co. brand eventually closed its doors for good in 2023, with only a few of its beers continuing to be produced under the ownership of Anheuser-Busch.

The closure of the Columbus taproom in 2021 and the subsequent permanent closure of Platform Beer Co. in 2023 sent shockwaves through the local craft brewing industry. The company had once been a thriving community operation, bringing strangers together over their shared love of beer. However, rapid expansion and a focus on increasing production and retail sales may have contributed to the company's demise. Former employees and industry professionals noted that the company's initial mission and appeal were diluted as it grew, with promises of benefits and paid time off never materializing.

Platform Beer Co. was founded in 2014

The company's original mission was twofold: to create a line of beers for sale at Platform's taproom, and to establish an incubator program for local home brewers to get their beers to the public. In addition to these goals, Platform Beer Co. aimed to educate and facilitate brewing education in the Greater Cleveland area.

Platform Beer Co. quickly expanded beyond its original location, distributing beers throughout Ohio and into Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. In 2016, the company procured a building in Columbus, Ohio, opening a second brewpub in 2017. This location was forced to close in 2021 after the entire staff walked out, alleging they had been overworked and underpaid.

In 2019, Platform Beer Co. was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev, which continues to produce several of the company's beers, including Haze Jude IPA, Odd Future Imperial IPA, and Canalway IPA. On February 22, 2023, Platform Beer Co. closed the doors of its remaining taprooms in Cleveland and Cincinnati for the last time.

Platform Beer Co. was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2019

The acquisition by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest beer manufacturer, was driven by Platform Beer Co.'s "experimental mindset" and data-driven, fast-paced approach to beer creation and distribution. At the time of the acquisition, Platform Beer Co. operated four facilities in Ohio: a flagship tasting room, a 60-barrel brewhouse, and a tasting room in Cleveland, as well as a tasting room and distribution centre in Columbus, and another tasting room in Cincinnati. The company also had plans to expand into Pittsburgh and open a dedicated sour beer brewing facility in Cleveland.

Following the acquisition, Platform Beer Co. joined Anheuser-Busch's "Brewers Collective" of craft breweries, which includes well-known names such as 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Blue Point Brewing Company, and Goose Island Beer Company. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Anheuser-Busch InBev has a history of investing heavily in its craft brewery acquisitions, with over $130 million invested in its craft partners in the three years prior to the Platform Beer Co. acquisition.

Unfortunately, Platform Beer Co. faced a series of challenges in the years following the acquisition, including a staff walkout at its Columbus taproom in 2021 and a decline in production. Ultimately, the company ceased operations at its taprooms and production facilities in February 2023, with Anheuser-Busch InBev announcing that it would continue to brew only three Platform beers: Haze Jude IPA, Odd Future Imperial IPA, and Canalway IPA.

Platform Beer Co. had a wide variety of beers

The company's focus on variety and experimentation was evident from the very beginning. When Platform Beer Co. was founded in 2014, one of its initial goals was to create a line of beers for sale at its taproom, with an emphasis on experimental one-off beers. This commitment to diversity and innovation likely contributed to the wide variety of beers that the company offered throughout its existence.

In addition to their core beer offerings, Platform Beer Co. also had a rotating selection of brews, ensuring that there was always something new for customers to try. This rotating selection was made possible by the company's incubator program for local homebrewers, which allowed them to bring their unique creations to the public. This program not only fostered creativity and innovation but also contributed to the diverse range of beers available at Platform Beer Co.

While the company ultimately narrowed its focus to three core IPAs—Haze Jude IPA, Odd Future Imperial IPA, and Canalway IPA—following its acquisition by Anheuser-Busch InBev, it is clear that throughout its history, Platform Beer Co. prioritized offering a diverse and eclectic range of beers to its customers.

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