Charleston’s craft breweries are more than just beer production sites—they’re hangout destinations. We sampled the suds at four new spots
Rusty Bull
Located in a revamped warehouse near Tanger Outlets, Rusty Bull embraces an industrial vibe, with a roll-up garage-door entryway, concrete floors, and dangling Edison bulbs above the bar. While the décor is spare, the jovial atmosphere makes up for it, with regular live music, board games, and cornhole competitions, not to mention the cheeky names for beers like “Dance Naked” and “Tumbling Monk.” On Thursday nights, instructors lead “Paints & Pints” classes: $30 buys you a canvas and a pour. 3005 W. Montague Ave., Ste. 110. (843) 225-8600, http://rustybullbrewing.com/
Munkle
This brewery, seated on the train tracks on way-upper Meeting, got its odd-sounding name by combining “monk” and “uncle,” a nod to co-owner Palmer Quimby’s uncle, Rob Donehue, who moved to Michigan to join a monastery and soon discovered a passion for brewing beer. He passed that love down to his nephew, who worked at Edmund’s Oast before opening Munkle with partner Henry Eang. To design the taproom, the duo took inspiration from Belgian breweries, monasteries, and classic Charleston architecture, mixing stained glass with wrought iron and commissioning a painting that reads, “In heaven there is no beer; that is why we drink it here.” The craft brews on tap are Belgian-style ales, a recreation of the tastes that Quimby fell in love with while touring the old-world breweries of Belgium. 1513 Meeting St. (843) 789-3109, https://www.munklebrewing.com/
Frothy Beard
Started in 2013 by—you guessed it—bearded friends with a passion for brews, Frothy Beard moved into new West Ashley digs this year, sharing a building with Push Digital tech company (whose CEO, Wesley Donehue, now co-owns the brewery). A similar “work and play” theme continues inside the large taproom, which feels appropriate for both an afternoon office meeting and a Friday night out; and it’s family-friendly too, complete with a children’s play area. For hungry tots (and hungrier adults), the on-site Zombie Bob’s pizzeria serves up huge slices with beer-infused sourdough crust. To feel a little better about imbibing, join the “Frothy Fit Club,” a come-as-you-are crew that runs from the brewery on Tuesday nights. 1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. (843) 872-1075, http://frothybeard.com/
Edmund’s Oast Brewery
Fans of Edmund’s Oast, the rustic-yet-refined brewpub on Morrison Drive, now have even more libations to choose from at its brand-new brewery in the Pacific Box & Crate development. Inside, the place feels brighter and more boisterous than its sister eatery, with the company’s moody skull motif tattooed on white walls, an expansive bar, high-top tables, and a window that reveals the kitchen’s large wood-fired pizza oven. The all-glass back wall frames the daily happenings of beer production, with brewing director Cameron Read and his team manning towering kettles and fermenting cylinders. Come around 4 p.m. to take a tour of the brewery (they’re offered every evening), then slide up to the bar to order cold drafts and a house-made charcuterie platter. 1505 King St. (843) 718-3224, http://edmundsoast.com/
