Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Benner.
Hi Adam, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started brewing at home in 2010 with a friend and my wife in our small Chicago coach‐house kitchen, tinkering with a basic kit and refining recipes whenever we could. As our batches improved, my college roommate Walt, who is a great graphic designer, offered to create labels whenever we had a beer we liked. By early 2012, we decided to turn that hobby into a business, launching a $30,000 Kickstarter under the name “Oval Brewing Company.” After hitting our goal, we quit our corporate jobs (mine at Walgreens) and spent the next 18 months scouting brewery‐sized spaces in Columbus.
Our first signed lease on a warehouse in Grandview collapsed in September 2013, leaving us with equipment en route and limited funds. We continued searching until late 2014, when we found a former elevator factory in Franklinton, high ceilings and wide open floor space made it ideal for tanks and a taproom. From spring through summer 2014, Walt and I (with help from our first head brewer) handled the demo and build‐out largely ourselves: pressure‐washing peeling paint, tearing down walls, as much as we could do. After a Labor Day–weekend soft opening selling water and T-shirts while permits were pending, we officially opened Land-Grant Brewing Company on October 18, 2014.
Throughout the past 10+ years we have continued to use our space as a community hub and gathering space. In 2018 we expanded our outdoor space to add the largest beer garden in Central Ohio. In 2023 we opened the Gravity Experience Park adjacent to the taproom, followed by our innovation taproom the Extension.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all—it’s been a series of uphill battles. First, after our 2012 Kickstarter, we went to trademark our original name, Oval Brewing Company, a nod to our alma mater without being too specific. Unfortunately, there was an Austrian Vodka that had the name Oval trademarked. We learned then, the trademark office groups wine, beer and spirits together so it is difficult to find a unique name. We settled on Land-Grant which still honors Ohio State, but actually opened us up to more universities. Luckily we had not ordered much with the Oval name, other than Kickstarter rewards.
We spent nearly 18 months hunting for a Columbus space. We signed a lease on a Grandview warehouse in mid-2013, ordered our brewing equipment, and then, just before we could get local approvals, the landlord canceled our lease. Overnight, we had tanks arriving and almost all of our Kickstarter funds tied up in trademarks and design fees, but no site to install them. It took us another 6 months to find the spot in Franklinton.
Obviously, COVID-19 changed the world, things for hospitality companies have not fully recovered. However our timing with our new beer garden allowed us to be able to provide a safe space for people who wanted to venture out, and our staff did an amazing job ensure each other and our customer’s safety. Those experiences our customers had in the taproom created a lot of momentum for us with our outdoor spaces post-pandemic.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I’m the co-founder of Land-Grant Brewing Company, a craft brewery and taproom located in Franklinton, Columbus. We specialize in producing a broad portfolio of thoughtfully crafted beers, everything from crisp lagers and balanced IPAs to creative limited‐release brews. Every Land-Grant beer carries its own name, story, and original label art (all designed in-house), so our releases are as much about storytelling and visual identity as they are about flavor. Alongside brewing, we operate a fully onsite taproom, a large outdoor beer garden, and a campus of connected event spaces where we host live music, brewery-run game shows (Brewery Feud), themed parties, and other community activations.
What sets Land-Grant apart is our deliberate focus on community collaboration. From with the Columbus Crew to ongoing brew projects with local nonprofits, arts organizations, and neighborhood groups, we see each beer as an opportunity to celebrate and elevate our city. We are proud of our yearly festival we throw with also Columbus-based Jeni’s Ice Creams, the Strawberry Jam. Our emphasis on partnerships and on treating our taproom as a third space where people who might not otherwise cross paths can connect has become a core part of our identity.
Brand-wise, we’re most proud of how consistently we’ve maintained creativity, authenticity, and a sense of inclusivity from day one. Readers should know that Land-Grant is not just a spot to grab a pint, but a place where beer, art, music, sports, and neighborhood pride intersect. Beyond our year-round and seasonal beer offerings, we host weekly food trucks, diverse events beer garden, community fundraisers, and other family-friendly events. Whether you’re looking for a classic pour, a limited-release experiment, or an evening of live bands and local DJs, Land-Grant aims to offer something unexpected, and to bring the community together around a shared love of good beer and good company.
What’s next?
We are always looking for new reasons to bring folks down to the taproom. That led this year to the creation of our game show, Brewery Feud. We are also excited to start expanding our distribution to the rest of the state of Ohio. Currently we are primarily distributed in Central Ohio with limited distribution in Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast Ohio. We continuously explore opportunities to open additional taprooms, but we want to make sure that the new space carries the same authenticity we were able to create in our Franklinton taproom.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://landgrantbrewing.com
- Instagram: landgrantbrewing
- Facebook: landgrantbrewingco
