beer

The Best Rooftop Bars in Charleston

Open-air restaurants are all the rage this summer, as establishments adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. Luckily, Charlestonians already love to dine outdoors. While many restaurants are finding ways to create more patio seating, nothing quite compares to a rooftop view. Here’s a roundup of the best rooftop bars in Charleston for the next time you decide to hit the town.

Stars Rooftop & Grill Room

This King Street beauty has a short, but sweet, rotating menu. With stellar drinks and a downtown view, this establishment is nothing short of fabulous. Locals love the weekend Brunch as it’s known iconically for their decadent selection. Pop a cork and cheer mimosas with friends on their open-air rooftop.

The Rooftop Bar at The Vendue

Enjoy al fresco lunch on the highrise patio at this chic hotel. For lively atmosphere and Southern architecture views, join the folks at the Vendue. On hotter days, a Strawberry Basil Lemonade will quench your thirst. Their plethora of seating offers options for parties of all sizes.

The Watch

You’ll forget to check your watch as time spent on the rooftop of the Restoration Hotel is time well spent. Guests will want to head to the restaurant at sunset for an incredible Holy City golden hour. As you soak up the last of the sun, share appetizers while picking through their selection of sweet libations.

Revelry Brewing

Calling all IPA drinkers! This rooftop brewery is young, lively, and perfect for an evening escape. Their large selection of home-brewed beer is iconic in this city. Crack a cold one safely outdoors at this large beer garden.

Red’s Ice House

Ditch downtown and head to Shem Creek for sunset drinks at Reds. The motto here? “Inside is boring!” Enjoy this laid back setting for seafood and drinks as you watch boats float by. The occasional dolphin even makes an appearance along the creek!

Eat & Drink

Local Charleston Beers to Enjoy at Home

Featured Image Source: Palmetto Brewing Company

Now more than ever it is important to stay home in order to remain safe and healthy! Those looking to support local businesses while they self-quarantine can enjoy these local Charleston beers from the comfort of their couch. Be sure to check in regularly for take-out deals!

Revelry Brewing

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Kchtbjya9/

Holy City Brewing

https://www.instagram.com/p/B94UnmllXRs/

Frothy Beard Brewing Company

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-IZm4nhFCq/

Palmetto Brewing Co.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Fi4PbFGwj/

Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KlbsHh6UH/

Eat & Drink

Celebrate Love At One Of These Valentine’s Day Events In Charleston

Whether you view Valentine’s Day as the most romantic day of the year, a made-up greeting card holiday, or the antithesis of everything happy in the world, today is still a reason to celebrate! Whether you’re celebrating love or choosing to just treat yo-self, we’ve rounded up the top V-Day activities the Holy City has to offer.

Take a walk on the wild side

(Because exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy.) If your Valentine is more of the adventurous sort, head over to Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park. For just $50 per couple, you can tackle that big, bad ropes course. What better way to say “I love you” than with a heart-pumping ropes climb?

Dinner and a movie

If you’re that hopeless romantic, hop on down to the Terrace Theater for the second annual Valentine’s Date Night. Local jeweler Croghan’s Jewel Box teams up with the theater to show the cult classic, To Catch A Thief. Grab some popcorn, forget the roses, and impress your date with your classy taste for classic films.

Anti-Valentine’s Day

Stupid Cupid. Maybe you don’t believe in the holiday or maybe you’re licking your wounds from a relationship gone bad. Whatever your reason for not feeling all mushy gushy, you’re not alone! Local bars The Brick and Charleston Beer Works are each holding anti-Valentine’s Day parties. With drink specials, speed dating, and even a pinata giveaway (no, really) these two bars will make sure you end the night on a high note.

Beer Lovers

Who doesn’t like enjoying a few drinks with their special someone? Frothy Beard is have a beer and cheesecake pairing. They’ll have 4 of their delcious beers available to pair with “fun flavored” cheesecakes. Not a fan of sweets? No worries, Edmund’s Oast Brewing and Bendy Brewski Yoga are hosting a yoga for beer lovers class.

We know, it’s hard to choose just one.

Eat & Drink

This Charleston Bar Is The #1 Seller of PBR In The Country

Image Source: Recovery Room Facebook

Image Source: Rec Room FB

The Recovery Room, a small dive bar on upper King Street, is keeping its crown as the number one seller of Pabst Blue Ribbon bottles and cans in the country for the fifth year in a row. Sharing the news on Facebook, many users congratulated the bar on their continued success.

Typically referred to as Rec Room, the bar also earned the number two spot in total PBR volume right behind the draft-only bar, Sun Down Saloon in Boulder, CO; and is the second largest seller of PBR Easy in the country.

Rec Room is no stranger to awards though. Back in 2009 they won Best New Bar in Charleston followed by years of being the Best Cheap Bar, Best Late Night Bar, Best Pick Up Joint, and more.

Planning a night out on the town anytime soon and want to help them reach number one in volume? They’re open daily from 3 pm – 2 am with the exception of Sundays from noon – 2 am. The kitchen is open every day from 5 pm – 1 am, and they have plenty of activities to keep you busy while you wait for your food.

Come for the PBR, stay for the fun.

Check out The Recovery Room here.

Featured

Charleston Beer Week Is Back And Better Than Ever

Featured Image Credit: Charleston Beer Week

As the nation’s craft beer industry grows rapidly, so has the local beer scene over the last few years, especially right here in the Holy City. So it’s only right that we dedicate an entire week to our city’s kickass beer community.

The week is now comprised of 62 different events, over nine days, taking place all over the Charleston tri-county area. Some of the events may require tickets, but the majority are ‘pay as you go,’ meaning you are free to enjoy as little or as much as you would like. As events are finalized over the next few weeks, they will be posted to the official website and announced on social media.

Charleston Beer Week was started in 2013 by Denise Boozer who worked for Lee Distributors at the time. The following year she passed the reins over to Chrys Rynearson and Timmons Pettigrew who worked together on the book “Charleston Beer: A High-Gravity History of Lowcountry Brewing” and covered the local beer scene since 2011 (Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CHSBeer/ & Twitter https://twitter.com/CHSBeer). This will be the second year that Chrys is running the entire show, and also the second year that an extra day has been added to the “week” bringing us more in line with well known NC beer weeks — Asheville, Raleigh, and Charlotte.

Craft beer’s accelerating growth in Charleston is a part of a statewide and national trend. The increase in the number of craft breweries is the passage of the South Carolina Pint Bill in 2013, which allowed the serving of full pints with no volume limitations. Since the law was passed, more than 20 breweries have opened in the Charleston area, bringing the total to almost two dozen in the region.

Image Credit: Charleston Beer Week

“I think it makes sense, what with the favorable state legislation that has passed in recent years, along with the natural food & bev appeal that Charleston has become known for,” said Rynearson when we asked him how he felt about the craft beer industry explosion in the Holy City. “You now see a lot of loyal #chsbeer fans as well as a definite connection to our tourism industry, where people seek out and schedule a visit to local breweries in addition to their other activities. I think there is still room to grow, especially in outlying areas, as long as the quality of the product is kept to a high standard.”

Rather than doing the norm, some breweries, like Frothy Beard Brewing, make much of their money selling pints directly to customers. Frothy is also know for brewing off-the-wall, experimental beers. Like Frothy Beard, Revelry keeps a constant rotation of new and unusual beers on tap.

Image Credit: Charleston Beer Week

Charleston Beer Week gives you the opportunity to attend events at many of the local breweries, while also involving other regional and national craft beer brands who team up with local businesses for events. Some events already on the calendar include:

Mellow Mushroom’s “Battle For The Paddle”, Beer Brunch at House of Brews, Guided Kayak Tour & Lowcountry Boil at Bowens Island Restaurant, Block Party at The Brew Cellar, Harbor Cruise on the Carolina Queen.

For more information or to become a vendor, click here.

Guest Columns

Where To Work Outside When You Can’t Bear The Indoors Anymore

Featured Image Credit: Vintage Coffee Cafe/Facebook

There is nothing better than some free wi-fi with a side of fresh air, especially on a stressful day of work or school. Now that the sticky summer humidity is finally starting to subside, we’re sharing some of our favorite spots that have outdoor seating with wi-fi.

Rudi’s Caffe’ e Vino

Image Credit: Rudi’s Caffé e Vino/ Facebook

This cool new spot on King offers free Wi-Fi out on their back porch. The chic clothing store on the bottom floor is Skinny Dip but head up the stairs for a gorgeous wine and coffee bar oasis. This is the perfect place to grab a glass of wine (or their famous frozè) and enjoy some Charleston vibes.

Brown’s Court Bakery

Image Credit: Eater Charleston

Enjoy a coffee, breakfast sandwich, or a pastry (or all three at the same time..we’re not judging) while enjoying some fresh air. Brown’s Court is a local favorite probably because it was once a Charleston house now transformed into a bakery and coffee shop. Take advantage of the free wi-fi on the top or bottom porch, or in the swinging hammock!

Park Café

Image Credit: Park Cafe/Facebook

Ahhhh, Park Cafe, our favorite little neighborhood joint. It’s true, they do have some killer avocado toast but they also have a killer patio with free wi-fi! So kick back on your computer outside while grabbing a bite to eat.

Vintage Coffee Café

Image Credit: Vintage Coffee Cafe/Facebook

Looking for somewhere to pop down with your laptop off the peninsula in Mount Pleasant? Vintage Coffee Cafe has a great outdoor space with picnic tables. No, literally, it’s the cutest outdoor space ever. SO vintage. In addition to unique cold and hot coffee drinks, Vintage offers breakfast items such as quiches, tarts, and of course.. acai bowls.

Frothy Beard Brewing Company

Image Credit: Frothy Beard/Facebook

If you’re in the West Ashley area, this needs to be your go-to spot. Frothy Beard’s recently built deck has plenty of room for you, your friends, your laptops and your dogs. Nothing pairs better with work than a monster slice of pizza from Zombie Bob’s and an ice cold brew from Frothy Beard. Trust us.

News

The Citadel Is Now Offering A Side Of Beer With Their Football

Featured Image Credit: citadel.edu

What goes better than football and beer? Nothing! The Citadel finally brings beer to their football stadium. Starting September 2nd, beer will be provided at the Johnson Hagood Stadium. The beer will be sold in a “beer garden” tent inside the stadium located in the south-east corner.

The tent will take the place of old stands that were removed this summer. There will be a 3-beer limit per person and will be restricted to the beer garden and not in the stands according to the athletic director, Jim Senter.

Image Credit: citadel.edu

“Everybody thinks that we want to do this because of revenue,” Senter said. “But the truth is we want to provide the same kind of amenities that fans expect now at sporting events, like at the RiverDogs or Stingrays or Battery games.

Following the trend, The Citadel wants to make the experience best for the fans. The College of Charleston and Coastal Carolina have sold beer at their baseball games for a few seasons. However, the Citadel is the first Division 1 school in the state to sell beer at their football games. Last season there were 40 Division 1 schools that sold beer at their football games. Neither of those being Clemson or South Carolina.

The tent will have two TV’s for fans to watch games. However, the Citadel cadets of legal ages will not be allowed to purchase beer at football games. The school plans to offer it to strictly the fans for now and see where things go from there.