Cooper River Brewing Co in Charleston, SC

New brewery in Charleston opening today and we are here. We have family in from Philly and ẃe are showing them around some of the breweries. As you exit Rutledge Ave off from I-26, take a right and then your very first right hand turn before the light and a left into the parking lot to Cooper River Brewing Co. 2201-B Mechanic. We found about 10 people had beat us to the first customer punch. A long, shiny wood bar (made from a salvaged tobacco barn) welcomes you; while owners Jamie, Dustin and Mike were there to greet us.
On tap for the inaugural christening of their beautiful brewery are a Golden Ale at 22 IBU and 4% ABV, also known as a session ale, a mild IPA at 5% ABV and 62 IBU, a stout at 5% ABV and 33 IBU and a Nitro Stout, smooth and foamy. They have outside tables and corn hole. Up and coming sweet and beautiful brewery: Their beer is tasty. Looking forward to some really good brews. Best of luck to Charleston's newest brew house!

Tradesman Brewing Co. Brewster Series Chareston, SC

I've been hearing a lot of really good things about Tradesman Brewing Company on James Island at 1639 Tatum St, Charleston, SC for at least a year but I have never been. We did try on a Sunday but they are closed Sundays and Mondays.

First I want to say that Sara Gayle, the female owner/partner of the brewery is such a effervescent lady, no pun intended. A nurse educator by trade, she is one of the two women responsible for our women's brewing club, a.k.a The Brewsters. Macy from Frothy Beard is the other co-founder.

 A few weeks ago I heard through the home brewer's grapevine that Tradesman was having a Brewster Series brew day on 11/22. I hate to just show up at a club event at a new location without at least asking if I am welcome so I emailed my request. Her reply was so warm and friendly that I actually felt excited about going to a new place.  Sara Gayle's husband Scott is the head brewer and he kindly gave up his Sunday to help us brew a Chocolate Grand Marnier Stout for charity.

 With a few stragglers walking in, we had about ten women brewing. The fun thing about our Brewster Club is you don't need to know anything about brewing. Just the curiosity to learn about it and participate in the event. We milled the grain and  malt, mashing in by 10:00. Tradesman was flooded out by the great flood of 2015 so they lost a lot of stock and they had to move what was salvageable to a different area. We found ourselves short of some ingredients, probably there but lost in the shuffle in the make shift store room of grains and malts. Like great cooks who can figure out how to create substitutes for a recipe, our two hosts locked their minds together and found viable ingredients to make the recipe work.

 As a home brewer, I am fascinated with bigger brewing systems. Mind you, Tradesman is a small brewery but they have big ambitions. They are growing! They have four stainless vessels now that can ferment and carbonate in the same container. I have 2 five gallon buckets and a glass carboy to ferment my beer in.  Big difference. We mashed 75 or so gallons of wort, boiled and ended up with a little over 70 gallons of a Chocolate Stout. They will add the orange to the fermenting beer later.
 Our club came up with the name, Orange is the New Chocolate. Look for it in about a month.

There is a lot of down time between each step of brewing and a great opportunity to get to know women who love beer. We had a writer from our local City Paper, researchers, grant writers and such a wonderful diverse group of women that make it such an interesting experience.

We took a break for lunch and had pizza and of course, a delicious craft beer. I had the Bricklayer Red Ale. Great with Pizza!!!!!!! I also tasted a Green Tea Trippel which has honey and green tea as a part of the brewing ingredients. Absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to go back again! Thank You so much   Tradesman for your hospitality and tasty craft brews.

BrewsterWarriors: Women Who Love Beer Blog #4 Summerville, SC Places to Go to Enjoy Great Beer

BrewsterWarriors: Women Who Love Beer Blog  #4 11/05/2015  Summerville, SC

Welcome back! As you may know, I live in Charleston, SC. This city is a growing treasure of new breweries. We have one just down the road in Summerville. This beautiful town use to be the destination for people visiting from Charleston during the summer months. Less than a day's ride by horse and carriage, they came to the Land of Pines to cool off and escape the searing heat and fragrant(stinky) smells of the city. That was back when you had privies outside as well as your cows, chickens and horses. The richer citizens built beautiful houses and plantations in this summer retreat. It's still a smaller town with Bed and Breakfasts, a quaint downtown and a town square. Beer speaking, there are a few really good places to drink beer in Summerville.

The first place I would like to recommend is a bar called Homegrown Brewhouse at 117 Main Street. If you love craft beer, they have 40 taps of local beer at this brewpub. We really enjoy this place frequently. The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. You can tell them what you drink and they can usually find something you would enjoy. They do have cider on tap as well. Interesting, simple industrial decor with small group seating make this a fantastic place to hang out with friends. Not really a place to bring kids though. Check them out for live music a few nights a week and Kill the Keg night on Thursdays. When walking down the long hall to the restrooms after a beer or two, practice your yodeling. We do! www.homegrownbrewhouse.com

Next on my list is a bar called Montreux Bar & Grill, located at 127 Richardson Ave in Summerville. This place has come a long way! It is a very nice establishment to hang out with friends and family. Plenty of seating. They have maybe a dozen draft beers which include a few craft brews. They have a substantial offering of bottled craft and foreign beer as well as a full bar and a decent menu. They offer live music on the weekend, have a nice back room with another bar and a place for a band. They also have a bar out back with corn hole. I would be comfortable bringing my kids here for an early evening but once the band starts, I'd take them home. Fun place to go dancing.
www.montreuxbarandgrill.com

The last place or maybe the first place you should check out is really a Combo Destination. There's the Oak Road Brewery on the right side of the building. This is a small but up and coming craft brewery. Located at 108 E. Third St in Summerville, you will find at least 5 of their beers on tap.
They are a wonderful, smart establishment. This is a kid friendly place. They have corn hole, board games and Hungry Hippo.  When was the last time you played that, 80's babies? The center of the building is dedicated to living in the moment. Live bands, open mike, poetry readings and fun. Left of the building is The Coastal Coffee Roasters. This a unique coffee shop that sells beer, good food, local products and great coffee. Sign up for their weekly emails. You cannot have a bad time at this brewery! You can find them on Facebook.

Keep checking back for more beer adventures. Drink responsibly and don't drink and drive!!!