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/
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.
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