The Columbus Bar

April 1, 2007

Owned by Jon Myers and Doug Memering, The Columbus Bar is poised to become the newest pearl on the necklace of brewpubs stretching down Interstate 65. Jon was sipping a cup of coffee on an average weekday afternoon when we dropped in to have a look. He was caught off guard when we identified ourselves as indianabeer.com and told him we wanted to make his bar Bar of the Month. He pushed up his glasses. "Indianabeer... Right on. Right on!"

Jon likes his beer to be good. And he's itching to brew some for the Columbus Bar. Right on! Here's what else is "right on" about The Columbus Bar: It's right on one of the best streets in Columbus. Right on the highway to Florida. Right on the beer and right on the money. It's one of the smallest bars we've visited, but the atmosphere is voluminous. The circa 1941 central horseshoe-shaped "streetcar" bar anchors the room and has a marvelous historic presence. Above the bar (and we mean above the bar) looms a stage precariously situated 10 feet vertically above the main floor. Additional seating is available in a room adjacent to the main bar. The truly micro- microbrewery occupies a small corner next to one of the front windows.

The brewery part of the business is called Power House Brewing. The current set-up is good for 20 gallon batches. Jon is eagerly awaiting a permit to sell his beer to customers. When that happens, he will undoubtedly become the owner of the smallest microbrewery in Indiana. Look for Power House Brewing to sell their very own beer in a few months.

Our first glimpse of this little nook made us happy until we looked at the taps and became even happier. We looked at the taps, and looked at the taps, and couldn't decide what to order because the selection was so wide and high quality.

The "streetcar" U-shaped bar is inviting.

Part of the draught beer selection. We think you get the idea!

Back to Jon Myers.... publican, and son of one. When his father retired from running It's All The Buzz, Jon found himself eager to open a brewery of his own. But the restaurant model was also appealing, so he and Doug decided to open a brewpub, and with that they formed Power House Brewing Company.

In their search for a location they found a real gem. The former owners of the Columbus Bar closed their doors and Jon and Doug snatched it up. After purchasing the assets of the business and with the help of the Custer Foundation, Power House Brewing Co. restored the old Columbus Bar, updating the kitchen and restrooms and brightening the bar and family dining area with lively colors and new lighting. They also added twenty (20!) draft lines and updated the equipment. The Columbus Bar got its name in 1939. Before that, it was a bar, a restaurant, a blacksmith's shop. And now it's all about the beer, at least to our eyes. There's more about the history of the Columbus Bar on their website.

We sat down for a couple of beers and some food. That's a Hercules Double IPA Double IPA he's pouring for us. We also sampled the Old Ruffian Barley Wine and Two Brothers Hop Juice. Tough assignment!

The fried pickles arrived. In the author's opinion they are the best thing about the Columbus Bar. The breading is fresh, crisp, and not greasy. The batter contained a fair amount of coarsely ground corn meal, which added texture and flavor... They whip it up on the premises. Look!.......

In fact, almost everything on the menu is fresh, thanks to efforts of chefs Nana and Derek. We also loved the fish and chips. Same breading. Unlike any other we've had.

Of course, you can find entertainment at the bar several nights a week. Live bands are usually scheduled on the weekends. Monday evening is usually open mic night. On the first Tuesday of each month at 8pm the Columbus Homebrewer's Club meets. Everyone is welcome.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to The Columbus Bar. We look forward to the patio and warmer days, more fried pickles, and of course Jon's Beer!

A keg of Mad Hatter to go, please!