View Larger Version >>

The new Four String Brewing Co. in Columbus is ready to bring a little rock ‘n roll attitude to the Ohio beer industry. Dan Cochran, a homebrewer since 1994 and a bassist with the band Big Back 40, is launching the production brewery in the Grandview Heights area and plans to start distributing draft beer to bars and restaurants in the Columbus market by late November. “I’m trying to mix rock ‘n roll and craft beer,” he said. “I think it’s a great combination and I haven’t seen it done really well.” So what does that really mean? Cochran is still working that out. “A lot of it is in the attitude of how I live my life and how I do business,” he said. “I believe in supporting local things and I’m excited to own my own company and create my own product.”

The Four String name comes from the four strings found on a bass guitar. He’s starting with two flagship beers: Brass Knuckle APA, an American pale ale; and Backstage Blonde, a Belgian-style blonde ale. Four String will focus on draft beer initially, but Cochran said he’d like to expand into bottles a few years down the road. His brewhouse consists of hand-picked and converted dairy equipment.

Cochran has an interesting background. In addition to touring nationally with Big Back 40, he went on tour as a manager with the Beach Boys in the late 1990s. He also ran the former Wooden Pony Brewing Co. in Mansfield. While there, he got a taste of commercial brewing. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for many, many years,” he said. “Craft beer is an industry that’s growing and it was just time to make a leap.” The brewery website, www.fourstringbrewing.com, should be operational soon, he said.