Columbus’ newest brewery, Thunderwing, will open its doors to the public this Friday (10/6/23) at 3 pm. The brewery is the brainchild of longtime homebrewer, former IT professional, and all-around good guy Jason Wing. Thunderwing may be the new kid on the block, but its location on 2419 Scioto Harper Drive will be familiar to many as the former home of Sideswipe Brewing. With the grand opening nearly upon us I made the trip out to the west side to have a chat with Jason and get some insight on what we can expect.
When I arrived on Monday afternoon, the small but capable crew – Jason, Alex Kirchgessner (assistant brewer, taproom manager), and Sandy Hugill (sales, merchandise, and much more) were hard at work trying to get everything ready for the opening. Upon entering the taproom, the first thing that caught my eye is a large mural, featuring images that are connected to the brewery and its beers. The colorful mural (shown below), along with the absence of any portraits of Elvis on velvet, reminds one that the space may be familiar but there’s a new game in town.
If pressed most homebrewers would admit to occasionally entertaining thoughts of what it would be like to open their own brewery. So, I was curious to find out what hurdles had to be cleared for Jason’s vision to become a reality. I learned that his dream has been several years in the making. A business plan was fully fleshed out four years ago. Initially, he had planned to start a brewery from scratch, but as breweries started to close and open with increasing frequency, he came around to the idea of opening in a location that was already outfitted for brewing. The tricky part was finding the right opportunity. Several opportunities didnt pan out. Negotiations with former Sideswipe owner, Craig O’Herron, date back to last October. As the negotiations advanced it became clear that the transaction could be a win for both men.
I’m always curious to see how a new brewery will differentiate itself in a crowded field. Jason told me that part of his strategy is to brew styles that are not widely available these days. By making what you might call endangered styles, he hopes to fill a void in the market. The opening day taplist will feature some usual suspects, including an IPA (Arise), a hazy IPA (Starseed), and an American Stout (Midnight Ride), but you’ll also find selections that hearken back to beers that have been overlooked in the face of a seemingly endless wave of IPAs. There’s a California Common (Anchors Up) that is an homage to the now defunct Anchor Steam, a tasty Strong Ale (Rocket) in the vein of Stone’s Arrogant Bastard, a highly sessionable, yet flavorful English Mild (Far Shores), and a Blackberry Wheat (Blackbird).
The brewing equipment and the basic layout of the taproom are a hold over from the Sideswipe era. People can also expect the same laid back, family friendly taproom vibe. The mug club will be back and there will be food trucks on busy days. Fetty’s Street Food will be on location for Friday’s grand opening, and Backroom Coffee Roasters will be there on Saturday (Jason also promised to be flipping pancakes on Saturday). That’s not to say there won’t be changes. Pinball Super Awesome has departed (for Heart State Brewing), but four pinball tables are in place for anyone with crazy flipper fingers and a supple wrist. A fifth, Metallica-themed pinball machine will join the lineup in the near future. The back corner of the taproom has been set up as a small lounge area, featuring a TV (the lone TV in the facility) and some comfy furniture. The idea being to create a space for those who really want to take in the big game while throwing down a few pints (not that there many people in the Columbus area of that ilk). There is also a wall for local artists to display and market their creations. For opening day, the wall is adorned with paintings from Lauren Ashleigh.
Jason tells me that business decisions will be guided by three core principles – quality, creativity, and community. These principles apply not only to the beer, they extend to all aspects of the business. The art wall is one such example. It seems to me like they are starting off on the right foot, but a brewery isn’t complete without the customers who give the place its character. In that sense only time will tell, what Thunderwing will become, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter on Scioto Harper Drive.
Pat's Pints 
Leave a comment