Central Ohio beer enthusiasts have praised The Ohio Taproom in Columbus, which has successfully held onto its title as the nation’s No. 2 Best Beer Bar in the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. Once again, it secured the second position, just behind San Diego’s O’Brien’s Pub, which also topped the charts last year.

Located at 1291 W. 3rd Ave., The Ohio Taproom specializes in serving products made exclusively in Ohio and even features Spokes Café, a restaurant that opened in September 2025.

While Columbus performed well in the beer bar rankings, it saw a decline in the Best Beer City category, dropping from fifth place in 2025 to ninth place this year. Nonetheless, the city received recognition for the "Gambrinus: King of Beer" statue that prominently stands in the Brewery District.

In another notable mention, Henmick Farm & Brewery in Delaware slipped to third place for the Best Beer Garden, down from its previous No. 1 position. This showcases the continued popularity and quality of Ohio’s craft beer scene, as the finalists for the USA TODAY 10BEST Awards were determined by expert nominations, followed by votes from the general public.

For more information on The Ohio Taproom, visit The Ohio Taproom.