Best Places to Buy Craft Beer in Charleston

Charleston Beer Exchange

14 Exchange Street

Charleston, SC 29401

Over 850 bottles and 9 rotating taps for filling growlers!

Recently ranked #2 on the worldwide Best Beer Retailers 2011 list by ratebeer.com

Click HERE to see what is currently on tap

Rare Beer Tuesday-every week they tap an extra special keg on the growler station.

Laura Alberts tasteful options

891 Island Park Drive

Daniel Island, SC 29492

6-tap, full-service growler station, offering a wide selection of hard-to-find craft beers available by growler, bomber, and glass. Growler hour (free growler with purchase of a fill and $3 select pints of high gravity beer) is on Wednesdays

Read More

Review of "Bottles" in Mt. Pleasant!!!

What's not to like about the newest craft beer store (also carry wine and spirits) in Charleston!  Friday night I stopped by to FINALLY check out the locally owned and operated "Bottles," which is located on Coleman Blvd. in Mt. Pleasant.  I instantly fell in love with the place!  Their Facebook page recently stated they had the largest craft beer selection in Charleston so I knew that I would be like a kid in a candy store.  After scoping out the entire store, I'm pretty sure they are accurate in that statement.  The store is huge and the selection is huge!  Cheers to that!!!  One problem!!! What to get???

Well, the awesome Westbrook Brewing display was staring me right in the face.   And quite impressive this display is!  Love the design of the new Westbrook cans and bottles! 

Or, should I fill up a growler?  The growler station is awesomely located in the center of the store and customers can sample featured beers before committing to purchasing.  Prices are fantastic and they always have 6 quality beers to choose from.  Westbrook Vanilla Dubbel at $12! Damn!!!  Palmetto Aftershock $8!!  Holy City Smoked Marzen for $11!!! Damn, I may be in this store for awhile trying to figure out what to get.  

 This is Colin and he will answer any questions you may have!

Two beers on tap under $10...Damn!

From what I gathered, the craft beer aisles are sectioned out in different categories.   They have an Import section, a section of craft beers from the US, a section of Beers of the World, and a section of 12 packs/cases.  They also have a large selection in the coolers if you need your beer cold and ready to drink.  Prices were very reasonable and comparable to other craft beer stores in the area.  

Here's a few other pics I took:

So what was the verdict?  I ended up picking up a 22 oz. bottle of Westbrook Brewing's Dark Helmet and a 6 pack of Southern Tier 2XIPA.  

Other highlights of "Bottles" include: a large selection of wine and liquor, and a temperature controlled cigar room.  Also, the staff was very friendly and helpful.  I will definitely be back soon. 

Cheers!

Other Reviews

Charleston Brews Cruise

Holy City Brewing

Southbound Brewing Company

Coast Brewing

The Frothy Beard Brewing Company

Westbrook Brewing Company

Brewery Ommegang

Read More

The House of Brews Review!

The House of Brews (located in Mt. Pleasant on Ben Sawyer Blvd.) just had their Grand Opening last Saturday in the form of an Oktoberfest Celebration! The wifey and I decided it was finally time to check out this new place we had heard so much about.  We decided to make a day out of drinking good beer, so we started the day at Coast Brewing and ended it at the House of Brews.  The second I walked in the door, I knew it was my kind of place.

Read More

July 7th- What's on Tap and Upcoming Craft Beer Events!

Laura Alberts

Allagash Odyssey

The Bruery Mischief

Coast Boy King Double IPA

Founders Pale Ale

French Broad Gateway Kolsch

Southern Tier Creme Brulee

Westbrook Brewing

Cowboy Meets Farmer (a Belgian style Blonde ale dry hopped with Amarillo)

White Thai

Belgian Pale 

Belgian Pale (with Saison Yeast)

IPA

Charleston Beer Exchange

New Holland Oak Aged Hatter IPA

Westbrook IPA

Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale

Southern Tier Mokah

Palm 

Founders Nemesis 2010

Dogfish Head Festina Peche

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut Down Ale

Coast 32/50 Kolsch

Westbrook White Thai 

Byrd's Beer at The Pig at the IOP Piggly Wiggly (Growler Fills)

New on Tap:

Coast Hop Art

Highland Cat tail Peak

Mellow Mushroom (Mt. Pleasant)

Stone Arrogant Bastard

Widmer Bros. Nelson IPA

Bells Pale Ale

Bells Oberon

Ace Pear Cider

Blue Moon Honey WHeat

Dogfish Head 90 min

Fat Tire

Franziskaner

Guinness

New Belgiasn Trippel

New Belgian Abbey Dubbel

Tilburgs Dutch Brown

Pursuit OF Hoppiness

Yuengling

Stone Sublimely Self Righteous

RJ Rocker Son of a Peach

Lion Stout

Westbrook White Thai

Coronado Islander IPA

Oak Barrel Tavern

Highland Gaelic Ale

Great Divide Denver Pale Ale

Julian Hard Cider

Bear Republic's Racer 5 I.P.A

Victory Prima Pils,

Southern Tier Jah-va Imperial Coffee Stout!

Upcoming Craft Beer Events

July 7th

From 5pm-8pm, Mellow Mushroom in West Ashley will host the New Belgium 20th Anniversary Party with exclusive beers, a tap take-over, birthday cake, and a New Belgium bike Giveaway.  Featured  beers will include: Abbey Grand Cru, Super Cru, Fat Tire, Trippel, Somersault, 1554, and Ranger IPA.

During the anniversary party there will be specials on on New Belgium beers in bottles, on draft, and flights.  Leading up to the anniversary party, Mellow Mushroom Avondale will be giving guests a chance to enter in the New Belgium bike giveaway. For three weeks guests can buy a raffle ticket with each purchase of a New Belgium beer for $1, with 100% of the raffle ticket proceeds going to local nonprofit, Teachers’ Supply Closet. The winner of the custom 2011 new Belgium Bike will be announced at the anniversary party and must be present to win. The anniversary party is free to attend.

July 11th

Blossom will host it's first ever Beer Dinner with Westbrook Brewing on July 11th, at 8pm.  Cost is $40 plus tax/gratuity.  Check out the menu here.  Call (843) 937-4012 ext. 267 for reservations.

July 15th

Total Wine & More Beer Class-"What's Not on Tap: Uncommon, Extraordinary Beer Styles."  "Take an enlightening tour through a flight of lesser known, often harder to find, beer styles. Experience flavors that might surprise you and will definitely help to expand your horizons of the flavor spectrum of beer from around the world."

Class includes beer selections, tasting sheets, take home educational materials, and discounts on the beer presented in class. $15 per class. Class size limited to 30 people.  6:30-8:30pm.

August 5th

Total Wine & More Beer Class-"Beer 101: Get Your Suds On!" "This is what you didn't learn about beer while in school. We'll cover some interesting, good-to-know beer basics while tasting some not-so-basic beers. You tasted those beers back in school; now it is time to get your suds on!"

Class includes beer selections, tasting sheets, take home educational materials, and discounts on the beer presented in class. $15 per class. Class size limited to 30 people.   6:30-8:30pm. 

Currently Drinking: Belgian Saison (homebrew)

Cheers!

Read More

Craft Beer Events (Updated)!

Upcoming Craft Beer Events

June 23rd

Wine Awhile

Will hold their monthly beer tasting for $5/person.
The Lineup:
Stone Hwy 78 Scotch Ale
Stone Belgo Anise Stout
Bear Republic XP Pale Ale
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale
Coronado Nut Brown Ale  
Coronado Mermaid's Red

 June 23rd

Closed For Business

Will be hosting Boulder Beer Company for a Pint Night from 6-9pm.  They will be pouring:

Moja IPA

Mojo Rising Nitro IPA

Barrel Aged Mojo Rising

Date Porter

Blood Orange Gold

Flash Back

Hazed and Infused

Sweaty Betty

Hoopla

June 25th

Foster's Pub will be tapping a 10 gallon Cask of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA.  This awesome beer will be dry hopped with Citra hops.   The cask will be cracked at 6pm.  They will also have wings 1/2 off.   This is a fantastic beer and should taste awesome not only cask conditioned, but also dry hopped with Citra hops.  

  

June 29th

Carolina's Restaurant will be hosting a "Beers of New York," Six Course Beer Dinner.   This event starts at 7pm and cost is $60/person.   Check out the pairings here.   Quality beer here, (Ommegang and Southern Tier are two of my favorite breweries) and I'm sure the food is awesome as well (as hell).  Call 843-724-3800 for reservations.

                                                                                      

June 30th and July 1st
The Coastal Cupboard in Mt. Pleasant will host a Beer Revolution Class on both June 30th and July 1st at 7:00pm.  Matt Rutkowski of Spiegelau and The Charleston Beer Exchange will be in the house "with the revolutionary new glassware that is designed specifically to keep your beer colder, fizzier, more aromatic and more flavorful than ever.  The staff from the Charleston Beer Exchange will be hand selecting beers for the evening that are sure to become your favorites. With their unsurpassed knowledge of all things beer this is the perfect way to try new, fun beers with the experts. Don't miss out on this opportunity. Everyone will go home with a new set of 4 Spiegelau beer glasses!"  Price is $50 per person.  Reservations required.  Call Amanda at The Coastal Cupboard for reservations.  Phone # 843-856-4321.

July 7th

From 5pm-8pm, Mellow Mushroom in West Ashley will host the New Belgium 20th Anniversary Party with exclusive beers, a tap take-over, birthday cake, and a New Belgium bike Giveaway.  Featured beers will include: Abbey Grand Cru, Super Cru, Fat Tire, Trippel, Somersault, 1554, and Ranger IPA.

During the anniversary party there will be specials on on New Belgium beers in bottles, on draft, and flights.  Leading up to the anniversary party, Mellow Mushroom Avondale will be giving guests a chance to enter in the New Belgium bike giveaway. For three weeks guests can buy a raffle ticket with each purchase of a New Belgium beer for $1, with 100% of the raffle ticket proceeds going to local nonprofit, Teachers’ Supply Closet. The winner of the custom 2011 new Belgium Bike will be announced at the anniversary party and must be present to win. The anniversary party is free to attend.

Currently Drinking:  Cooperstown Brewing Co. East India Pale Ale 

Cheers!

Read More

What's on Tap (Updated June 15th) and Upcoming Craft Beer Events!

Whole Foods Market (Growler Fills)
Westbrook White Thai
Stoudt's American Pale Ale
Coast HopArt IPA
Julian Hard Cider
Dogfish Head Sah-Tea

Wine Awhile (Growler Fills, Pints, 1/2 Pints)
Left Hand Juju Ginger
Mad Hatter Rye Pale Ale
Westbrook Citra Rye Pale Ale
Avery Ellies Brown Ale
Stone IPA
Boulder Hoopla Pale Ale

On Deck:
Victory Hop Devil
Ommegang Hennepin

Westbrook Brewing  (Tastings and Tours, Growler Fills)

Thursday and Friday from 4-7pm, Saturdays from 12-4pm

White Thai

Belgian Pale Ale

Belgian Pale Ale (fermented with Saison Yeast)
IPA

Citra Rye Pale Ale

Smoked Schwartz Ale

Laura Alberts  (Growler, Bombers, and Pints)

Founder's Pale Ale

Bell's Oberon

Julian Hard Cider

Brooklyn Lager

Terrapin Monk's Revenge

Allagash Bourbon Black

Charleston Beer Exchange (Growler Fills)

Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout

Palmetto Extra Pale Ale

Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barleywine

Coast 32/50 Kolsch

Westbrook White Thai

Dogfish Head Festina Peche

Avery Anniversary Ale Eighteen (Dry-hopped Rye Saison)

New Belgium Lips of Faith Super Cru

Foothills Torch Pilsener
Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA

Closed For Business
New On Tap:
Avery Ellies Brown
Tilburg Dutch
Abita Turbodog
Stevens Point Burly Brown
Youngs Double Chocolate
Weyerbacher 16th Anniversary Dark Braggot
Dogfish Head 90 Minute

Southend Brewery

The beer menu (and food menu) just got a facelift.  They have re-reciped their beers and I for one can't wait to get downtown and try them.

Here is what I gather from the pic on their website:

Rip Tide Red

Seasonal

Watch it Grow Wheat

Love Me Two Times Blond

Pict's Stout

Pale Ale (Can't quite make out the name from the pic below)

Upcoming Craft Beer Events

June 16th

Westbrook Brewing Beer Dinner with Ed Westbrook at Laura Alberts (4 Course/5 Beer Dinner).  Guests will be greeted with bottomless pints of Westbrook Citra Rye Pale Ale.  Beer Lineup: IPA, Cask of Belgian Mild, Quad, White Thai, Citra Rye Pale Ale (bottomless).  Check out full pairings menu here.  Cost is $45 plus tax and gratuity.  Reservations Only.  Call (843) 881-4711.

June 22nd

Ted's Butcherblock will host a Craft Beer Dinner: A Tribute to Fruit Beers.  Check out the pairings menu here (scroll down).  Dinner starts at 7:15pm and reservations are required.  Price is $38.

June 23rd
Wine Awhile
Will hold their monthly beer tasting for $5/person.   The tasting will feature beers from Coronado Brewing Company, Bear Republic, and Stone Brewing Company. 

June 23rd

Closed For Business

Will be hosting Boulder Beer Company for a Pint Night from 6-9pm.  They will be pouring:

Moja IPA

Mojo Rising Nitro IPA

Barrel Aged Mojo Rising

Date Porter

Blood OrangeGold

Flash Back

Hazed and Infused

Sweaty Betty

Hoopla

June 29th

Carolina's Restaurant will be hosting a "Beers of New York," Six Course Beer Dinner.   This event starts at 7pm and cost is $60/person.   Check out the pairings here.   Quality beer here, (Ommegang and Southern Tier are two of my favorite breweries) and I'm sure the food is awesome as well (as hell).  Call 843-724-3800 for reservations.

                                                                                      

July 7th

From 5pm-8pm, Mellow Mushroom in West Ashley will host the New Belgium 20th Anniversary Party with exclusive beers, a tap take-over, birthday cake, and a New Belgium bike Giveaway.  Featured beers will include: Abbey Grand Cru, Super Cru, Fat Tire, Trippel, Somersault, 1554, and Ranger IPA.

During the anniversary party there will be specials on on New Belgium beers in bottles, on draft, and flights.

Leading up to the anniversary party, Mellow Mushroom Avondale will be giving guests a chance to enter in the New Belgium bike giveaway. For three weeks guests can buy a raffle ticket with each purchase of a New Belgium beer for $1, with 100% of the raffle ticket proceeds going to local nonprofit, Teachers’ Supply Closet. The winner of the custom 2011 new Belgium Bike will be announced at the anniversary party and must be present to win.

The anniversary party is free to attend.

Currently Drinking: Southern Tier Double IPA

Cheers!

Read More

TAPS Brews Seems Cool!

Although I haven't had the opportunity to get out there yet, TAPS Brews in Summerville seems like a great place to drink a pint or buy some quality craft beer.  Although their website is currently pretty limited, it describes itself as such:

"Taps Brews specializes in ONLY premium craft brews from all over the world. We offer brews by the bottle, pint or growler. If you are looking to expand your beer palate Taps is the place for you."

TAPS Brews also has a facebook profile.  Check it out here!

Check out what they have currently on their growler station (you can also get pints to enjoy in-house).


Dogfish Head Chickory Stout
Sam Adams East-West Kolsch
Sweetwater Road Trip
Foothills Peoples Porter
Terrapin Monks Revenge
Westbrook Citra Rye Pale Ale
Palmetto Extra Pale IPA
Estrella Damm
Left Hand Good JuJu

Not too shabby!!!  Seems like a good reason to take a little drive up to Summerville.   For me, I won't be able to get there for a few weeks as I am on three week vacation in Upstate NY.   If you happen to get out there, please comment your feedback.  Stay tuned for a more detailed blog when I get a chance to see this seemingly cool place for myself. 

Currently Drinking: Coffee (Too early to crack one open)

Cheers!

Read More

This Week in Craft Beer!

Looking for something to do this week?  Check out what's going in Charleston's Craft Beer scene:

Tuesday, May 24th
The Charleston Beer Exchange and their Rare Beer Tuesday.  Every Tuesday the boys at this most excellent establishment tap an extra, extra special keg for growler fills.  The high quality brew tends to go fast, so be sure to get down there ASAP.   This Tuesday, they will be tapping Coast Brewing's delicious Boy King Double IPA.  I just had some of this on Saturday.   Believe me, this stuff is top freaking notch.  Drink it up, because the last time it was available was almost a year ago.

Wednesday, May 25th
Carolina's Restaurant will be hosting a "Beers of New York," Six Course Beer Dinner.   This event starts at 7pm and cost is $60/person.   Check out the pairings here.   Quality beer here, (Ommegang and Southern Tier are two of my favorite breweries) and I'm sure the food is awesome as well (as hell).

Laura Alberts will have a Stone Old Guardian Vertical Vintage Beer Tasting from 5pm-9pm.  You can taste and compare 5 vintages of Stone Brewing Co.'s Old Guardian Barleywine (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011).  $10 will get you five, 4oz. pours.

Thursday, May 26th
Ted's Butcherblock will be hosting a Mexican themed Craft Beer Dinner.  Check out the pairings here.   This event begins at 7:15pm, and features a 4 course food and beer pairing.  Cost is $38/person.   Haven't personally had any of the beer being served, but they get decent ratings on Beer Advocate.   Price is certainly very reasonable.

Check back for updates....Cheers

Read More

The Pig is King!

The other day the wife read somewhere (possibly The Charleston City Paper) that the IOP Piggly Wiggly had a growler station and an excellent selection of craft beer.  I was surprised for two reasons.  First, I didn't know there was a Piggly Wiggly on IOP (turns out there isn't), and secondly that they had an excellent selection of craft beer.   Well, after a nice little beach day we decided to find this IOP Pig and check out the selection.   As stated earlier, it turned out this particular Pig was not located on IOP, but actually the IOP connector in Mt. Pleasant.   The beer selection being excellent, was actually very true indeed.   We first noticed the 6 tap growler station, which has some high quality selection.  There is even a Facebook Page where they update what they are currently featuring on tap.  Not bad for a Pig!

After scoping out the growler station, we found the section of high quality bombers and sixers.  Some highlights include: Avery, Southern Tier, Ballast Point, The Bruery, Ommegang, Stone, Great Divide and whole kiosks (not sure what else to call them) of Dogfish Head and Rogue.   The wifey and I were pretty impressed.  This Pig was definitely wearing lipstick.  From here on out, I may have to pledge my weekly grocery store visit allegiance to the IOP Pig.

PS  If I wasn't so new to this blogging thing, I would have been smart enough to snap a pic of the Pig's selection.  Hope you can cut me some slack this time.

Read More

Tastings today!

Stop by any of these fine establishments to sample quality craft beer.

Total Wine & More will host Chris Winn from Palmetto Brewing for a tasting from 3pm-7pm.

Westbrook Brewing will be open from 4pm-7pm today for sampling and tours.  They have an extra special cask ale they will be tapping today (IPA dry hopped with Falconer's Flights Hops).

Read More

Recommended Online Stores

Brewmasters Warehouse

Northern Brewer

Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies

Austin Homebrew Supply

Read More

Homebrewing Stores

Yeast - Everything Homebrew
557 Belle Station Blvd.
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Beer Engineer Supply
1923 E. Montague Ave.
North Charleston, SC 29405

Bet-Mar Liquid Hobby Shop
736-F Saint Andrews Road
Columbia, SC 29210

Read More