We had the opportunity last fall to visit one of our favorite spots in Charleston, SC – Westbrook Brewing. Westbrook is known as one of the longstanding breweries in Charleston with a well rounded assortment of brews to choose from. While they are not the biggest brewery in South Carolina, they do have a firm handle in the southeastern market. Chances are if you go into a bar or grocery store in SC, NC or GA with a decent microbrew selection, you will probably see their stuff on tap.

The location and environment:

Located up against I-526, you can see their distinct grain tower next to the road signaling you have arrived. To be honest, the location itself does not scream exciting but it does feel secluded despite being in such a busy part of town. The taproom is on the smaller side but it is does have an open foot print that makes it feel bigger than it is. The design is what I would call “clean and sleek” in that the design felt a little bit more on the minimalist side. There is both a main tasting room as well as a beer garden for the nicer days in the spring in fall. Side note, the summer days in Charleston are brutal. You know what I’m talking about if you’ve been there. The staff is extremely friendly and is more than welcome to give you as many samples as you want to figure out which brew you’ll like. You can tell the guys that work there are passionate about their beer and are not just “slinging drinks.” This was pretty clear when asking the bartender his opinion of one of the IPAs and he proceeded to talk for a good 30 seconds about why he loved the galaxy hops profile of the beer.

The beer:

Going to the actual beer itself, I opted to go with the flight so I could sample a spread.

Mexican Cake Stout – This was good for time of year being winter. Definitely heavy at 10.5% ABV but surprisingly smooth.

IPA – Always a classic. Had several times over the years and has a strong scent and taste of cascade hops up front.

One Claw Rye Pale Ale – Such a smooth and drinkable Pale Ale. Being a rye based pale ale, it has a little bit of a “woody” taste to it which is very pleasant from an aroma standpoint.

Very Fine Lager – Simple but solid lager coming in 5% ABV. One of those beers you could drink each afternoon after coming home from a long day at work.

Hands down my favorite was the One Claw due to it being so easy to drink and it delivers a smooth balance of hops while not being over powerful. I will not be

Final Thoughts:

Overall, Westbrook is a solid brewery that is definitely one of the top ones in the Charleston area. You’re not going to have a bad beer here and you will learn a thing or two on your brewing journey when talking to the staff there. The environment can be lacking a little bit but honestly, the people that are going here are going to have to great beer and on that, Westbrook will never disappoint. Cheers!