Hoster Brewing Company, one of the oldest brewing brands in the United States, has announced plans to permanently close its brewery and taproom in Columbus, Ohio, marking another setback for America’s historic craft brewing industry. The brewery is scheduled to shut its operations on October 31, 2026, unless a buyer is found before then. The company cited higher rent, rising operating costs and changing consumer drinking habits as key factors behind the decision.
Founded in 1836 by Louis Hoster in Columbus’ historic Brewery District, Hoster Brewing Company has a brewing legacy spanning nearly two centuries. The original brewery eventually closed during Prohibition, while the Hoster brand was revived in the 1990s as a brewpub on South High Street. The brand returned under new ownership in 2024, with brewing operations based on James Road in Columbus.
In a statement, the brewery said that after several years of serving the local community and extensive consideration, it had made the difficult decision to close its doors. Hoster will continue supplying its wholesale kegged beer to bars and restaurants through the end of 2026, or until existing supplies run out. The company has also encouraged customers to visit the brewery and taproom before the October 31 closure.
However, the closure may not necessarily mark the end of the Hoster beer brand. The company said it is open to finding a new home for its brands, preferably with another brewery. Hoster also plans to sell its assets as it winds down operations. The brewery is continuing scheduled events during October, including its two-day Oktoberfest celebration on October 9 and 10.
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Hoster’s beer portfolio includes its flagship Gold Top Lager, along with Eagle Dark, a Czech-style dark lager, Vienna Lager, Hoster Light and other European and American beer styles. The company also produces Frostop, an in-house root beer. Partner Dan Meyers said the brewery had been honored to serve as a steward of the Hoster legacy and hoped it had preserved the traditions associated with the historic brand, including recipes inspired by the original Hoster beers.
The closure comes amid broader challenges facing the U.S. craft beer industry, where breweries are dealing with higher operating expenses, increased occupancy costs and evolving consumer preferences around alcohol consumption. Hoster’s decision follows other high-profile brewery closures, including Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, which ended its brewing operations in 2023 after more than a century of production.
The future of Anchor Brewing, however, could offer some hope for fans of historic American beer brands. After Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya acquired Anchor Brewing from Sapporo in 2024, plans to revive the iconic San Francisco brewery have yet to result in a confirmed restart date. In April 2026, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approved Anchor Brewing’s use of its original label design, fueling speculation that the historic brand could eventually return.
For Hoster Brewing Company, the immediate focus is on winding down its Columbus operations while exploring opportunities to preserve the brand. Whether another brewer steps in to continue production will determine whether the Hoster name and its nearly 190-year brewing heritage can survive beyond the October 31 closure.
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