When you think of the craft brewery scene, what city comes to mind? Many people on the East Coast may think of the mountainous and eclectic city of Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville, which enjoys more breweries per capita than any other U.S. city*, is only a little over an hour drive from Greenville, SC.
But what if you don’t want to drive an hour or more to grab a craft beer? Well, folks, Greenville has got you covered. People unfamiliar with the craft brewery scene may not realize what amazing breweries Greenville, SC has right in its own backyard. What follows is a list of local craft breweries and taprooms and any upcoming events that they may have. Look out for the ones with an asterisk as those are my all-time favorite!
*According to exploreasheville.com.
Quest Brewery
Quest is a small, local brewery located near Haywood Mall in Greenville, SC. Be sure to visit on a Saturday between 2:00 and 5:00 pm if you want to go on a tour of the facility and learn about the brewing process! Quest has a weekly list of events as follows:
Monday: Hatha & Hops 7:00 am – $10 for an hour of yoga and a pint
Tuesday: Hoppy Hour – $1 off pints
Wednesday: Trivia & Cask Night
Thursday: Outdoor Concerts & Food Trucks starting at 7:00 pm
Friday: Indoor music starting at 6:00 pm
Saturday: Afternoon Tours
Sunday: Open from 1:00-6:00 pm
Be sure to check the website for Quest’s hours as they are not the same every day: http://questbrewing.com/taproom/.
Brewery 85*
A local brewery started by Clemson Alumni. How can you go wrong here? Located off of Interstate 85, Brewery 85 offers a unique spot to hang out with friends. Go out to the beer garden and enjoy some of their delicious beers like the GVL IPA, Southern Style, or Quittin’ Time. Brewery 85 doesn’t sell their own food, but there are frequently food trucks during regular tap hours and special events. You can even bring your own food! If you would like to tour the facility, the main tour is held on Saturdays from 3:00-3:30 pm. If you are there during tasting room hours, just ask for a tour and they’d be happy to give you one!
Thomas Creek Brewery
Thomas Creek began as Henni’s Brewpub in 1994 in downtown Greenville. The brewery, which opened in 1998, continued to grow and develop into the well-known brewery that it is today. Enjoy beers such as River Falls Red Ale, Appalachian Amber, Coffee Oatmeal Stout, or my personal favorite, Trifecta IPA in the tasting room or the outdoor patio area. Of course, they also have seasonal favorites like Octoberfest, Pumpkin Ale, and Pump House Porter. If you want to tour the brewery, be sure to contact them here. The taproom is open Monday-Wednesday from 9:00 am-6:00 pm, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 am-8:00 pm, and Saturday from 10:00 am-8:00 pm.
Upcoming Events:
-Brewery Bash/Saturday, October 29th 1:00-8:00 pm
Upstate Craft Beer Company
With an event almost every single day of the week, Upstate Craft Beer Company has you covered. Here’s the breakdown:
Monday: Game Night with half-priced appetizers
Tuesday: Free BINGO (with chances to win prizes) and $2 off house pints
Wednesday: Cicerone Study Group (for those who want to become a Certified Cicerone®)/$20 per class/sign up here.
Thursday: Thursday Night Acoustic Jam
Friday: Check the events calendar for upcoming Friday events.
Saturday: Block Party (brews, food, music, & games)
Sunday: Check the events calendar for upcoming Sunday events.
*The Upstate Craft Beer Company is hosting a Beer Dinner on Thursday, October 20th where they will be teaming up with my favorite breakfast spot in Greenville, Biscuit Head. Tickets can be purchased for $35 here.
The Community Tap
A cool place located not far from downtown Greenville, the Community Tap offers a variety of beers on tap as well as bottled wine for those wine lovers in your life. Want to try all of the amazing food trucks Greenville has to offer? With a different food truck every day of the week (with the exception of Sundays), the Community Tap is the place to be. Click here for the food truck calendar.
Upcoming Events:
-Montinore Estate Wine Tasting/Thursday, October 13th
-Founder’s Brewing Company “Beer & Coffee” Event/Thursday, October 20th
The Southern Growl*
Out of all of the breweries and taprooms in this awesome list, the Southern Growl is my absolute favorite. This craft beer joint gives the pickiest beer drinker 60 craft beers to choose from. Select your beer, pull up a chair, and enjoy your company. While you’re there, get comfy on their couch and play a board game with your friends. They have a plethora of games to choose from, but Cards Against Humanity is our go-to. And did I mention the food? It’s amazing! Although the menu isn’t extensive, the food is always changing, fresh, and unique. This place is perfect for an office happy hour, a spontaneous meet up with friends, or a relaxing night with a special someone. For more information visit http://thesoutherngrowl.com/.
Upcoming Events:
-New Holland Tap Invasion/Friday, October 14th
Barley’s Taproom*
One of my favorite pizza places and taprooms in town! This downtown Greenville taproom has so many different kegs on tap that it is hard to count how many they actually have. With constantly rotating taps, the beer menu is always being updated with delicious finds. Be sure to ask your server for a sample if unsure of a new beer selection. FYI, Barley’s also has an upstairs room that is outfitted with different kegs than the downstairs bar. For those of you who visit Barley’s during the peak hours (Friday and Saturday nights), you can play your friends in pool or darts upstairs while sipping on some beer and waiting on a table.
Upcoming Events:
-Hopoholics Anonymous/Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 pm
-Burial Beer Company Launch/Wednesday, November 16th at 7:00 pm
Pour Taproom*
Know the frozen yogurt places where you select your yogurt and toppings and then pay per ounce at the end? This is the adult version. Walk in, grab a bracelet, pick a glass, and begin to pour from over 70 beer, cider, and wine options. Need help? The staff has got you covered. If your pour has too much foam or the keg is on its last leg, just be sure to notify the staff and they will credit you back on your bracelet. Each of the selections has a description of the beer which also includes the price per ounce. Pour Taproom also has extremely comfortable couches, TVs, and a game area. While they don’t have their own kitchen, Pour Taproom has a full menu from Gringos Mexican Restaurant which is next door. I recommend the Chicken and Waffle taco…yum!
