We just got back from a two-night stay in Charleston where we went to conduct some research and development while educating ourselves at the Brooklyn Brewery beer dinner at High Cotton with Garrett Oliver. This is quite possibly the absolute worst part of our jobs, going to new beer places and meeting new beer people. That was a joke. It’s our favorite part of the job, which we take seriously enough to travel in search of beer and breweries and education. (Even the sister-in-law conducted a covert operation at Michigan’s Founders Brewing Company while on business this week to procure some Kentucky Breakfast Stout and we hear they are nice folks up there!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First stop was the fresh-as-a-baby Coast Brewing Company, owned and operated by Pop the Cap SC’s own Jaime and David. (David still brews for nearby Palmetto Brewing Company, too.) Coast is a “green” brewery with reused equipment of beautiful copper kettles, organic ingredients, a biodiesel-powered boiler, and a plan for recycling that includes feeding spent grain to “happy cows.” Even their hand-crafted tap handles—shaped like surfboards and branded with the “C” from their logo—are made from discarded wood. Coast has only been up-and-running about six months, but they’ve already got three full-time brews being picked-up all over Charleston. First was 32/50 Kolsch, which thankfully we were able to taste before the keg sputtered on empty. The sample straight from the tank was a real treat, too—unfiltered with all the yeast just swimmin’ in there. (We love that.) Second, a personal favorite, was the Chocolate Rye Brown, a classic brown ale with just enough hop on the end for a fresh finish. Last was the HopArt IPA, a sneaky 7.7% abv with plenty of hop flavor to keep your tastebuds whirling. There’s also a new Russian Imperial Stout just four days young in the tank, but the subtle flavor of smoked barley is peeking out from behind already. Even better, their friend Les, of Gravity Distributing got us a fresh oven-baked artisan pizza from EVO called the Pork Trifecta. That is the best pizza name ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were visiting, a certain Garrett Oliver showed-up, much to our surprise and luck, so we hung around there and got some photos of Garrett, Jaime, David and Jason lurking around the brewery together. Some might think that a guy of Garrett’s stature would be too busy to make this little visit, but take that as a lesson: You’re never too big for a little beer. (And, if you’re wondering about the Texas Pete bottle… we got talking about hot sauce and Garrett had never had the stuff, so David gave him some to take home.) These folks are great fun—and they love what they’re doing—so, next time you head to the coast, visit Coast in the old Navy yard and check ‘em out.