3 Local Breweries (and Their Beers) You Need to Try

Forget Palmetto. They’re boring (but perhaps rebranding? More on that in a second...). Let’s get to know Holy City, Coast, and Westbrook breweries—the new(ish) kids on the block that are cranking out some killer good beers.

Image from holycitybrewing.com

First, Holy City Brewing has grown from modest and somewhat different roots: rickshaws. From what I gather, Holy City is a garage-turned-pro operation that was originally funded by a pair of dudes with a will to pedal hard and drink well. It always has the Pluff Mud Porter and Holy City Pilsner going, but they also do a great job of mixing up the seasonals. In the coming months, you can expect to see a nice Vienna Lager, the Graveyard Shiftee, and a Smoked Marzen that sits very well in the cooler weather.

Image from coastbrewing.com

And Coast Brewing has been the quiet crew about town—or at least from my perspective. Hidden away in the North Charleston Navy Yard, Coast brews what they want to drink and it’s usually something that I like to drink, too. HopArt IPA is awesome even if you’re not a hoppy person. They even have an Extra Special Bitter, cleverly named AYE SB, that is something I haven’t seen much of since moving south of the... Massachusetts. It has a cool copper color and is packed with hoppy and malty flavors.

Image from westbrookbrewing.com

Westbrook Brewing is sort of a darling brewery. I’ve heard that it’s a daddy-funded operation, which is cool with me so long as they keep cranking out good brews. Their White Thai is a year-round pleaser that I’ve heard plenty of friends rave about. For my money, Westbrook’s Single Hop Series is the best bet going. They have three great beers that are single-hopped and quite good. It’s a great way to educate yourself on what a particular type of hop tastes like. Pacific Jade, Amarillo, and Nelson Sauvin varieties are available from time to time and I would encourage you to grab a 22 oz. when you see one.

Finally, I’ve heard that Palmetto has recently invested in some serious brand overhaul and I hope that the rumors are true. Word is that a brewmaster from New Belgium in Colorado has come to Chucktown to help revive the oldest brewery in the south. I certainly hope that something is in the works and that the New Palmetto Brewery brings as much flavor and variety to the local market as Holy City, Coast, and Westbrook.