If you're in Clintonville and want a beer without leaving the neighborhood, Combustion Brewery & Taproom is the obvious place to land. It sits at 2971 N High St, in the space that Lineage Brewing occupied before it closed in April 2022, and it's been pouring since it officially opened its doors on Saturday, August 13, 2022. The brewery itself is based out of the former Pickerington Creamery, so the beer is brewed there and then brought over to the taproom, which is the second location for the business.
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The beer list is the real draw here. Combustion makes a wide variety of fresh craft beer and cider, and the taproom keeps a full-service bar going with a rotating selection. If you're the kind of person who likes to know how the beer is actually made, they offer brewery tours, so you can get a look at the process behind what's in your glass. The taproom is also set up for a casual visit: there's outdoor seating, it's child-friendly, and it's dog-friendly, which makes it an easy spot to bring the whole crew rather than leaving anyone at home. And if you'd rather take the beer home, they sell it to go in 16-ounce four-pack cans and 32-ounce crowlers of the specialty beers made on-site.
One thing to know before you go: there's no kitchen here. The bar puts out some light snacks, but for a real meal, the taproom leans on the neighborhood around it. You can order food from nearby restaurants — Hanks Texas Barbecue is the name that comes up most often — and bring it in to eat with your beer. It's a simple arrangement that turns the taproom into a bit of a neighborhood hub rather than just a place to grab a drink and leave.
Behind the scenes, the brewery is run by Keith and Sarah Jackson, with Grant Anklam serving as head brewer. The Jacksons have a personal connection to the area, too — they lived in Clintonville through 2018 before moving out to Pickerington, so opening a second taproom here was a bit of a homecoming. The flagship location in Pickerington opened back in April 2017 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on April 16, 2026, so the business has been around long enough to have its legs under it.
As for when to drop in, the hours are generous. Tuesday through Thursday it runs from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday it opens early at 11:00 am and stays open until midnight, and Sunday it's 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. If you're planning a large to-go order, it's worth calling ahead at 614-914-5112 so they can have it ready for you. Between the tours, the outdoor seating, and the beer to go, it's a well-rounded spot whether you're staying for a round or just passing through.
