Start planning your ultimate South Carolina adventure with a free copy of the 2025 Vacation Guide. Request your free copy, view the guide online or download a PDF version below.
Looking for a Wide and Varied Selection of Beers? Check out These Top SC Craft Beer Bars
Bob Gillespie
Bob is a former sports writer at Columbia’s The State newspaper. He enjoys golf at South Carolina’s 350-plus courses, and after a round, sampling craft beers from the Palmetto State’s breweries.
It seems all the world is in love with the craft beer phenomenon, so it was only a matter of time before bars started focusing on satisfying the thirsts of lovers of IPAs, lagers, stouts, wheat and fruit beers - the list goes on and on.
With nearly 50 craft breweries in South Carolina, it was also inevitable that beer fans would want places where they could sample not just one brewer's work (e.g., the breweries and brewpubs), but a variety of craft beers in one place.
Thus, the rise of the craft beer bar: a friendly local watering hole that sells and rotates others' beverages in bottles, cans and on tap. Dozens are now in business across South Carolina.
Here are 10 of our favorites along with some noteworthy honorable mentions:
Charleston
Edmund's Oast in Charleston offers an extensive beers lineup.
Edmund's Oast Brewing Co. & Taproom 1505 #115 King Street (843) 718-3224 This production brewery and taproom restaurant is ground zero for the Edmund's Oast brand of beer. Sample and sip 20 house-brewed beers on tap in the adjoining taproom restaurant Cans and growlers are available, too. If the weather's fine, enjoy the spacious outdoor seating options on the patio or in the courtyard and astroturf field.
This is a come-as-you-are craft beer bar, modern sports bar and fresh kitchen wrapped into one fun gathering spot for locals and visitors. You're welcome to sit at any of the three bars located upstairs, downstairs and on the patio. The Certified Beer Servers can help guide you across a long list of local and regional craft beers that are updated weekly. With 48 beers on tap, plus more in cans and bottles, you're sure to find lots of favorites.
Columbia
Get your fill of food and drink at Craft and Draft in Irmo.
Owners Kellan Monroe and Katelyn Shire have built a loyal clientele at both locations of their bustling brew bar. Beer lovers can sit at the bar to sample from a dozen rotating taps (Carolinas beers are always featured), or purchase cans and bottles for takeout. No food onsite on Devine Street, but food trucks often set up on weekends and for special events in the large parking area behind the store. The Irmo locale, however, has a full kitchen with a pub menu for patrons who are both thirsty and hungry.
What began as a family home brewing hobby blossomed into one of the city's most beloved watering holes. Serving craft beer to Soda City since November 2017, this award-winning brewery has a reputation for its commitment to quality, sustainability, innovation and hospitality. And it doesn't hurt to have a staff of highly skilled brewmasters on hand!
Greenville Area
Craft beer bars offer a variety of specialty and imported brews.
Community Tap 217 Wade Hampton Blvd,Greenville North Main (864) 631-2525
147 Welborn Street, Suite B4, Greenville Trailside at the Commons (864) 236-1375
321-B S. Main Street, Travelers Rest (864) 689-1182
Owner Mike Okupinski and partner Ed Buffington opened in 2010 to provide Greenville with a bottle shop and growler bar. They've since moved into a larger space nearby, opened two additional locations, and offer more than a dozen wines by the glass and 20 beers on tap, as well as wine and beer to go. The North Main and Travelers Rest locations offer tasty snacks and sodas. Sipping at the Trailside location? Well, belly up to any of the food vendors at The Commons for something yummy to go with your craft beer.
The Whale 1108 S. Main Street, Greenville (864) 263-7529 In the world of craft beer, a "whale" is a rare and highly sought-aftere beer. At this cool bar, you'll find a vast slection of carefully selected beer from some of the finest producers in the country and around the world. The offerings include everything from meticulously crafted classic styles to cutting-edge creations that push the boundaries.
Lexington
Whether you're a cowboy or cowgirl, there's something on tap for you at Keg Cowboy.
Keg Cowboy 108 E. Main Street (803) 957-2337 Though it started out as a store to buy home-brewing gear, co-owner Natalie Nelson's place now offers craft beers and wines on tap at the stand-alone bar or from coolers. Its gastropub kitchen offers such delicacies as duck panini and duck confit dishes, local art for purchase on the walls, and board games for guests to enjoy while they sit at large tables to imbibe. "Our motto is ‘no crap on tap,'" Nelson says. "We want people to step outside the box by buying something new."
Grand Strand
Refresh with a craft brew and water views at Inlet Beer Garden.
Inlet Beer Garden 4097 US 17 Business, Murrells Inlet (843) 651-4415 For brews with a view, try this lively beer garden arm of the Claw House, a New England-style lobster house and raw bar. It features more than 60 craft beers, along with great water views, a roomy outdoor deck, horseshoe-shaped oyster bar and an aquarium.
Atlas Tap House 1004 Chester Street (843) 945-9122 Take your pick of 25 craft drafts, plus more than 80 types of bottled and canned beers at the local favorite, Atlas. There's also a variety of food including appetizers, sandwiches, tacos, burgers and in-house smoked barbecue. A local favorite is its "Sunday Recovery" brunch, with a huevos tamale, chimichurri steak and eggs, beef brisket hash, and bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Spartanburg
Sample a variety of craft beers, including local brews, at Growler Haus in Anderson.
Growler Haus 313 N Main Street (864) 225-0057 The Growler Haus serves up suds and more from their cozy Upstate headquarters. Slake your craft beer thirst with something from the tap or select from bottled and canned beers. Satisfy your hunger with food truck offerings. Weekly live music, trivia and other events make for a fun party-time vibe.
Honorable Mentions
Bumstead's Pub, 400 Mr. Joe White Avenue, Myrtle Beach; (843) 445-6592
Bob is a former sports writer at Columbia’s The State newspaper. He enjoys golf at South Carolina’s 350-plus courses, and after a round, sampling craft beers from the Palmetto State’s breweries.
