Land-Grant Buys Nocterra, Plans Powell Reopening

Columbus brewer Land-Grant Brewing Company has acquired Nocterra Brewing Company, which closed its two locations on Aug. 31.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Beer

Land-Grant Buys Nocterra, Plans Powell Reopening

Live Poll

Would you visit a revived local brewery taproom in your area this holiday season?

Land-Grant Brewing Company has acquired Nocterra Brewing Company after Nocterra's previous owners closed the brand's two locations on Aug. 31. Land-Grant plans to reopen Nocterra's Powell taproom in late November as an immersive Christmas pop-up.

Why it matters

The deal keeps the Nocterra name and its Powell space in operation after a closure that the previous owners attributed to a struggling hospitality industry. For Columbus beer drinkers, it signals that a local brewery brand is being revived rather than lost.

Nocterra's Powell brewery at 41 Depot St. is the only location being acquired, while the Scioto Audubon Metro Park brewery at 516 Maier Place was not part of the deal. Land-Grant plans a temporary January closure of the Powell brewery for an extensive renovation, and exact reopening dates and beer offerings remain unannounced.

The players

Land-Grant Brewing Company

A Columbus, Ohio brewery founded in 2014 with its first location in Franklinton, it has since expanded to an airport taproom and now the Nocterra Powell space.

Nocterra Brewing Company

A Columbus-area brewery whose original owners opened the Powell brewery in 2019 and the Scioto Audubon taproom in 2024 before closing both locations.

The details

Land-Grant plans to transform the Powell space into an immersive Christmas pop-up with holiday cocktails, Christmas Ale and rentable heated igloos in the outdoor beer garden. The company, which opened its first location in Franklinton in 2014 and added an airport taproom in 2016, will reopen the Powell site in late November before a planned renovation in January.

2014: Land-Grant opens its first location at 424 W. Town St. in Franklinton.
2016: Land-Grant adds a taproom at John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
2019: Nocterra opens its Powell brewery.
2024: Nocterra opens its Scioto Audubon taproom.
Aug. 31: Nocterra's previous owners close both locations.

Market Landscape

The deal reflects consolidation among craft brewers in Ohio, where established regional names are absorbing operating brands instead of letting them close. It positions Land-Grant, which has grown from Franklinton to the airport, to keep a Columbus brewing footprint as independent taprooms face a difficult hospitality market.

Columbus drinkers who frequented Nocterra's Powell taproom can expect it to return in late November as a holiday pop-up with heated igloos and seasonal beers. The space will close again in January, so visitors planning a trip should watch for the confirmed reopening dates.

The takeaway

Craft brewery brands can survive closure through acquisition, which keeps local taprooms and their names in the community. Readers who want to visit should follow Land-Grant's announcements for the confirmed Powell reopening date.

What happens next

Land-Grant plans to reopen the Powell taproom in late November and temporarily close it in January for renovation; specific dates will be announced in the coming weeks.