Craft beer fans visiting South Carolina face a prospect that is both exciting and daunting.
With roughly 130 craft beer breweries and brewpubs spread across the state, most of which produce between a half-dozen and a dozen different beers at any given time (not counting specialties and "one-offs"), it would take hundreds of samplings to taste the full scope of the Palmetto State's brew scene.
While that's a challenging gig for even the most avid beerophile, you've got to start somewhere, right? Time to start checking off those Satisfy Your Thirst hotspots from your bucket list.
Here are 8 South Carolina brews, some offered year-round and some offered seasonally, that deliver satisfying and memorable malty, hoppy goodness.
Mexican Cake
Westbrook Brewery, Mount Pleasant
Mexican Cake is generally recognized as the king of SC craft beers. It tends to sell out quickly, so grab it when you find it. An unorthodox take on an imperial stout, this dark brew is rich with additions of cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon and habanero peppers that make for a complex and satisfying taste. And at 10.5% ABV (alcohol by volume), it's a solid nightcap.
Kolumbianer Kolsch
Bierkeller Brewery, Columbia
Bierkeller is noteworthy for its riverside brewery, restaurant and biergarten in the Canalside complex as well as its European approach to brewing. Kolumbianer Kolsch is a light-bodied German-style ‘lagered' ale with a low ABV and a super-crisp finish that complements hot Columbia summers.
Paradise IPA
Holy City Brewing, Charleston
For drinkers fond of IPAs but looking for lower alcohol content, this session IPA is a great thirst-quencher and one you can drink all you want. Paradise is a "hop-forward" ale with hints of grapefruit, mango, and lemongrass. While it finishes with an ever-so-slight hint of malt sweetness, the hops do the talking.
Funkmaster Brett IPA
Revelry Brewery, Charleston
A lively staple of the Charleston craft beer scene, Revelry has created a solid lineup. Funkmaster is a year-round beer with hop character that matches the earthy bitterness and finishes with a hint of fruitiness.
Key Lime Gose
Westbrook Brewery, Mount Pleasant
A pint of bracing Gose (pronounced go-SAY) or "sour" beer is hot right now. Westbrook handily revived the style out of near extinction with a perfectly tart, sour, salty, and refreshing German-style wheat ale. The key lime is punctuated with hints of lime sourness, vanilla sweetness, and a wheat-forward finish.
Boy King
Coast Brewing, North Charleston
A perfectly-balanced double IPA loaded with juicy, resinous hops up front and a malty sweetness on the end, this beer goes with just about anything. It also stands impressively alone. And coming in 16-ounce "true pint" cans, there's plenty to enjoy.
Ashley Farmhouse Ale
Freehouse Brewery, North Charleston
Freehouse distributes around the state, mostly selling its beer in "bomber" bottles. The Ashley Farmhouse ale is considered one of the best saisons in South Carolina by those in the know. This version is light in body, medium in floral essence, and clean and crisp in finish. Smaller servings are available at the brewery's tasting room, too. When in the Upstate, check out their Walhalla location, too.
ESB
Hunter-Gatherer Brewery, Columbia
Columbia's original home for local craft beers, Hunter-Gatherer regularly pours its ESB (extra special bitter), a popular English-style ale that makes you think of a visit to a London pub. It pours amber in color, has a medium, caramel-rich backbone, and a light bitterness to finish. It's also a great beer to pair with food from Hunter-Gatherer's eclectic kitchen.
