BrewDog explores potential sale amid financial losses after shutting two Columbus taprooms in January

BrewDog reviews strategic options as U.S. footprint in Central Ohio narrows

BrewDog has begun a formal review of strategic options that could include a sale of the business, a move that comes weeks after the company closed two Columbus-area taprooms in the Short North and Franklinton neighborhoods.

The closures became public on January 12–13, 2026, when BrewDog confirmed the permanent shutdown of both locations in messages that thanked patrons and employees and described the decision as difficult. The two sites had operated as local outposts separate from BrewDog’s larger Central Ohio presence in Canal Winchester.

Columbus closures follow broader retrenchment

In Central Ohio, BrewDog continues to operate its Canal Winchester complex, which includes a brewery, the DogTap taproom, and the DogHouse hotel. Company information listings and published operating hours for the Canal Winchester site continued to show the venue open in recent weeks.

The Columbus taproom closures also align with a wider pattern of consolidation. In 2025, BrewDog closed its Cincinnati taproom and restaurant, underscoring pressures on parts of its U.S. bar-and-restaurant portfolio as operating costs and demand conditions shifted across the craft beer sector.

Sale process may involve separating assets

The strategic review has been assigned to AlixPartners, a consultancy and restructuring firm, to assess investment and ownership options. The process may consider a range of outcomes, including selling the overall company or splitting the business into major components such as its beer brands, brewing operations, and its bar estate.

BrewDog operates an international network of bars and venues and employs roughly 1,400 people. Company operations span multiple markets, including the United Kingdom and the United States, and include brewing sites outside the U.K.

Financial performance and ownership structure

The sale review is unfolding after years of losses. BrewDog reported a pre-tax loss of £36.7 million for 2024, narrower than its pre-tax loss of £59.2 million for 2023, alongside revenue of about £357 million in 2024. The company has also highlighted an “adjusted” profit measure in its communications about operating performance, while losses on a statutory basis have persisted.

Ownership includes a significant stake held by TSG Consumer Partners, a U.S. private equity firm that invested in BrewDog in 2017. BrewDog also has a large base of retail investors through its long-running crowdfunding program, which raised more than £80 million from approximately 130,000 participants.

Key recent developments

• January 12–13, 2026: BrewDog confirmed permanent closures of its Short North and Franklinton taprooms in Columbus.
• 2025: BrewDog closed its Cincinnati location and reduced parts of its bar estate amid cost pressures.
• 2026: BrewDog initiated a strategic review that could include selling all or part of the business.

BrewDog has said its day-to-day operations continue while the strategic review is underway.

No final decision on a sale has been announced, and the review process remains ongoing.