Land-Grant Brewing emerges as potential new operator of Nocterra taproom in Powell

POWELL — Columbus-based Land-Grant Brewing has taken steps to acquire the liquor permits at the former Nocterra Brewing Company taproom in Powell.

An entity named Land-Grant Powell, LLC submitted an application Sept. 30 to transfer ownership of liquor permits at 41 Depot St., where Nocterra operated its flagship taproom before abruptly closing Aug. 30.

Those applications coincide with Nocterra Brewing Company, LLC submitting applications for the same three permit classes on Sept. 29.

The application has since been canceled, but a representative from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control told Delaware Source that the applicant intends to submit a new application under a different name.

The new application and name is not yet public because it has not yet been approved by Nocterra, she said.

Rachel Rudy, senior director of marketing and strategy at Land-Grant Brewing Company, said she was unable to comment at this time.

Building Owner Dan McClurg has also not responded to requests for comment from Delaware Source, but previously said he planned to lease the space to someone who will open a “good restaurant” or a “well-established brewery, not a start-up.”

According to public liquor license records via the Ohio Department of Commerce, Land-Grant Powell, LLC submitted three different permit types under “transfers of ownership at the same location.”

The three permit classes are:

• A-1A, which allows for large and small breweries to sell beer and intoxicating liquor at retail by the individual drink for on-premises consumption until 2:30 a.m.
• A-1C, which allows craft breweries producing fewer than 31 million gallons of beer worldwide per year to manufacture beer, sell in bottles or containers for home use (off-premises), and sell to retail and wholesale permit holders.
• D-6, which allows the sale of alcohol on Sundays.

Public records do not establish that a transfer has been completed.

Columbus Business First, a content-sharing partner of Delaware Source, reported Wednesday that Land-Grant Brewing is acquiring Nocterra Brewing Company, although the deal has not yet closed.

The publication reported that Land-Grant’s plans for the Nocterra brand remain unclear, including whether it intends to produce and distribute Nocterra beers and how the former Powell taproom might be branded.

Powell Economic Development Director hinted at new operator

At Tuesday’s Powell Development Corporation (PDC) meeting, Sean Hughes, the city’s economic development director and PDC director, said an announcement about the space would be coming soon.

“We should hear news shortly about a potential new operator in that space, hopefully for the holidays,” Hughes said.

Hughes did not respond to requests for comment from Delaware Source on Wednesday.

He said Tuesday that city officials have already met with the prospective tenant.

“You’ve met the potential new tenant, and we have had several meetings with them,” Hughes told City Manager Andy White. “I think they’re going to be an incredible downtown partner. There’s a lot of exciting things I think they will bring to our downtown.”

Earlier in October, Nocterra’s website homepage was updated to display the message:“Something’s Brewing, Stay Tuned.”

The message is still there, but owners Lori and Bryan Duncan have not responded to requests for comment about the future of Nocterra.

About Land-Grant Brewing

Land-Grant co-founders, Adam Benner and Walt Keys, began home-brewing beers in about 2010, and in 2014 the duo signed a lease for the brewery’s flagship location at 424 W. Town in Columbus’ historic Franklinton neighborhood.

Land-Grant Brewing Company officially opened Oct. 18, 2014

In late 2016, Land-Grant opened its second official taproom location in the Columbus airport. 

The brewery offers year-round beers, seasonal drops, ciders and cocktails.