Palmetto Brewery Tasting Room Review

How sweet is Palmetto Brewery's new tasting room?  If you haven't been yet, you definitely have to get down there and check it out.  I was thoroughly impressed when I visited around the Christmas holiday.  Hold on... Let me back up a bit.

Palmetto Brewery, the oldest brewery in South Carolina, opened in 1993.  The owners came up with the idea while on a windsurfing trip to the Columbia River Gorge.  On their website, it says "while sipping beer from a local brewery during a windsurfing break, we decided Charleston deserved more than yellow fizzy beer - they deserved a brewery to call their own." I would say the guys were spot on.  The brewery is currently located in downtown Charleston, at 289 Huger Street (sandwiched between King and Meeting Streets).  I say currently, because they already have it in the works to re-locate to the Park Circle area of North Charleston in 2018.   The new brewery will be bigger, and enable them to grow and expand distribution.  The last that I heard, the current site of the brewery will be converted into apartments.  This is sad to hear, but I guess it would be kind of cool to live in a former brewery.  Conflicted.

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Two Blokes Brewing Review

A Bloke. According to Google, a Bloke is a slang term for a man/guy/fellow. The earliest known usage is from the early 19th century. My question is what do you get if you put a two of these such Blokes together? You get a new brewery in Mt. Pleasant called Two Blokes Brewing. Two Blokes actually opened this past summer, and I'm wondering why it took me so long to check this place out.

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Tradesmen Brewing Sneak Peak!

Tradesman Brewing is Coming!

The craft beer craze is slowly creeping its way onto James Island! In the past year, we’ve seen a craft beer bar open (Bohemian Bull) and another one on the way (The Barrel). This has left some wondering, when will JI get an equally badass brewery taboot?

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Good Times at The Frothy Beard Brewing Company

This weekend, we had a family outing to The Frothy Beard Brewing Company.  Well, we actually went to Magnolia Plantation first and managed to incorporate into our trip a good ol' visit with the bearded brewers at Frothy Beard.   The wifey did not put up a fight, as she likes to indulge in a good locally brewed craft beer or two as well.

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Palmetto Brewing Tour!

Last Friday, the wifey and I got a chance to tour the Palmetto Brewing Company.  When we arrived, we met Chris Winn in the Tasting Room who was chatting it up with a few guys who were in town from North Carolina.  I (wifey is preggers) enjoyed a few samples of Palmetto's brews, while listening to Chris talk it up.  I could have sat there all day, as Chris was very entertaining and seemingly pretty damn brilliant.   As for the beers, I got to sample the Lager, Pale Ale, Ginger Slap, and the Espresso Porter.  I enjoyed all four, but really was intrigued by the Ginger Slap since there aren't too many beers like it out there.  It was also pretty cool to hear how they use Espresso beans from their next door neighbors (Charleston Coffee Roasters) to make their tasty Espresso Porter.  From what I gathered, the Palmetto crew drink lots of their coffee and the peeps at Charleston Coffee Roasters get a lot a beer in return.   A pretty sweet relationship if you ask me.

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Charleston Brews Cruise Review!

Last Saturday I finally went on the Charleston Brews Cruise.  I had been wanting to go since the Brews Cruise first came to Charleston a few months ago.  This was the perfect time to go since my big bro was coming into town to visit for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Here's some info from the Charleston Brews Cruise website: "Charleston is known for its rich history, beautiful beaches, friendly people and now, for its beer!  Experience a taste of Charleston’s flourishing beer scene with an exclusive tour of the local craft breweries.  Our tours offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the art, science and passion inside every glass of great beer, all while enjoying generous samples of unique Charleston brews.  From pale ales to porters, ESBs to IPAs, there’s sure to be beer to suit every taste and you’re sure to discover local favorites. So sit back and relax because we’re doing the driving."

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My Visit to Holy City Brewing!

Well, I finally got out to Holy City Brewing!!!  It definitely did not disappoint!  HCB is a local brewery, located on Dorchester Road in North Charleston.  There are four guys who comprise HCB:  Joel, Sean, Chris, and Mac.  According to their website: "Holy City Brewing started in the bike shop of Pedi Cab and Rickshaw, owned by Joel Carl and Sean Nemitz.  Joel, Chris, Sean, and Mac started brewing, on the 15 gallon system that Joel built using used bike parts, in 2009.  As our ideas (and beers) grew, a building was leased and the micro-brewery started to take form."  And here it is!

Love the look!

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SouthBound Brewing Company!

I just wanted to give all you craft beer fans who live in/near Charleston a heads up that there will be a new brewery with a "Charleston connection" opening up in Savannah, Georgia in the near future.  SouthBound Brewing Company is the beerchild brainchild of Smith Mathews, former Head Brewer at Westbrook Brewing.  Smith will also serve as the Brewmaster of his new brewery!

   SouthBound's Logo!

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Coast Brewing Review!

The wifey and I took her parents to Coast Brewing in North Charleston this weekend.  This was probably our 10th time going to Coast, and I love it more and more every time.

Taken from their website: "Coast Brewing Co. is a small, family owned craft brewery - Located across from Noisette Creek on the Old Navy Base.  We believe in utilizing alternative means to brew unique beer. We also believe in choice organic and local ingredients. From our biodiesel fired kettle to our energy efficient process, we forge hand crafted batches on our 7 bbl brewhouse."

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The Frothy Beard Brewing Company!

A few weeks back I stumbled across a Facebook page for The Frothy Beard Brewing Company.   I was excited to read that they were located in Charleston, so I immediately "Liked" the page so I could find out more about who these Frothy Beard guys are.  I found an email address and emailed them right away, as I needed to find out more about them and hopefully get to try some of their beer!  The guys from Frothy Beard got back to me right away and even invited me to one of their tasting parties.

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Wild Wild West(brook)!

Since Westbrook Brewing opened in February of this year, the wifey and I have become quite the regulars.  We have been known to show up there on pretty much a weekly basis.  I have always said that I wanted to be a regular somewhere.  You know, where everybody knows your name (You can call me Norm if you want).  So why not be a regular at a brewery.  Genius, I know!

Twenty-something Edward Westbrook (owner/brewer) is definitely living the dream (my dream at least).  He started as a homebrewer not too long ago in college, and now has a beautiful brewery that is putting out some really fantastic beers.   If you haven't been out to this brewery yet, you are definitely missing out.  Check out the pics I have snapped on my many visits to the brewery.

In the front of the brewery they grow their own hops (don't even try picking them, that's wrong).

They feature one-off batches that you can only find at the brewery!

 The tasting room is gorgeous!

  

 Samples are $1 a piece.  They work on a ticket system.  $1 dollar per ticket!

 Great Harvest Bread Co. uses spent grains and Westbrook IPA to make this delicious bread you can usually sample and buy at the brewery!

 The tour is pretty extensive, and free!

 I told you the brewery was beautiful!

 Mr. Westbrook himself!

 Fermenters of deliciousness!

 You can find Westbrook's beer all over the Charleston area.  

 The barrel room is my favorite!

I counted at least 60 barrels!  

They have different varieties of wine and whiskey barrels.  

So as you can see, this place is awesome.  Here's what you need to know.  The tasting room is open for samples, tours, growler fills thursday through saturday.  Hours are thursday and friday from 4-7pm, and saturday from 12-4pm.   They usually have a band and food vendors on Saturdays.  Although you can find Westbrook's beer at various locations throughout the Charleston area (such as: Charleston Beer Exchange, Coleman Public House, Liberty Tap Room), you really need to get to the brewery so you can taste beers that are only featured at the brewery.  A few that I have had there (that I'm pretty sure were only offered at the brewery): Belgian Quad, Spiced Belgian Imperial Stout, Oatmeal Stout, American Rye Stout, Belgian Tripel, and a variety of Cask Ales.   

They have three year round beers that you can always find at the brewery.  They are: IPA, White Thai, and Belgian Pale.  I enjoy all three beers, with my favorite being the IPA.  

Plans for the future include a canning line so you will be able to purchase 6 packs of their year round beers.  They will also be bottling (22 oz) of their barrel aged beers.  The bottle aged beers are what I am most excited about.  In the barrel room, they have over 60 wine and whiskey barrels with various types of beers aging in each.  I can't wait to compare what their Belgian Tripel tastes like after it has been aged in one of their wine barrels vs one of their whiskey barrels.  Patience is key for this, as they will be aging beers anywhere from 1 year to 3 years.   

Lastly, when you do get out to the brewery, be sure to get on their mailing list.  If you sign up, you will receive one email per week telling you what they will have on tap at the brewery that week as well as any special events (their St. Patrick's Day celebration was awesome) that will be coming up.  

See ya at the brewery!

Cheers!

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Brewery Ommegang Tour!

While visiting family in upstate New York, it was on my beer to-do-list to make the 2 hour drive to Cooperstown so that we could check out Brewery Ommegang.  If you haven't had Ommegang's beer, then you need to check it out for sure.  They produce Belgian-Style Ales that are out of this world good.  You can buy their beer at some of the local beer stores here in Charleston.

Here's some info taken from the Brewery Ommegang website:

"In October of 1997, not far from the birthplace of baseball, ground was broken for what was to become America's most unique microbrewery. Based on traditional Belgian farmhouse architecture and set on a former hop farm in upstate New York, Brewery Ommegang was born with the philosophy that truly unique ales must be built from the ground up."

Here's a pic of their year round offerings.  They are: Hennepin Farmhouse Saison, Witte Ale (Belgian White), Rare Vos (Belgian Amber Ale), Three Philosophers (Belgian Quadrupel Ale), Abbey Ale, and (not pictured) the Belgian Pale Ale.  They also feature seasonal brews and specialty brews.

Here's a picture tour of the brewery and it's facilities:

 It's located in the country just outside of Cooperstown, NY

Everything is pretty much automated here

They use open fermentation

The Bottling Room

The outdoor area where they provided free beer samples and appetizers 

On premise restaurant where you can eat lunch and grab a pint or two

They have a store where you can buy beer, apparel, beer glasses, and great tasting cheese!

Overall, we had a great time!!!  This place is a gem and I can't wait to go back.  If you ever find yourself bumming around in upstate New York, you should try and make a trip to this brewery.  It's a must see!

Currently Drinking:  Nothing yet!

Cheers!

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