Columbia, South Carolina is a place where dreams come true. No, it’s not Disney World, but to a college student it sure is a close comparison. SEC football Saturdays, fun nightlife every day of the week, concerts in walking distance from campus at Music Farm (RIP). More on what to do in this city in a later post, because today we’re talking about all things brews and hops. Oh yeahhhh, this one’s for you beer lovers! If you’re looking for a crisp cider or a malty ale, Columbia’s got just the brewery for you. Take a look at some favorites from myself and my best friend and go-to brewery buddy, Adrienne Lowery, below so that you know just which ones to hit on your next day drink.
River Rat
Like a kid in a candy shop, I can sit at the counter scanning for which beer I'll take on that day. Not only will the friendly staff greet you with joy, but they’ll also sit with you and feed you samplers until you’ve found a beer you like. This, my friends, is what dreams are made of. To understand the hype around River Rat, or King Rat Daddy as stated in their Instagram, you have to envision the atmosphere. So let me paint you a picture. The main level has a turf patio area accompanied by picnic tables and corn hole games, as well as, an under covered area for shade on the simmering and sunny SC days. For more fun, take the spiral staircase up to the silo balcony for a view of the one and only, Williams Brice Stadium, or for a view of a watercolor Carolina sunset. Sounds like a perfect way to spend a weekend evening if you ask me.
Adrienne and I have had so many fun trips to Columbia’s breweries, but she shared that her most memorable is at none other than River Rat. “My favorite memory is the first time I took my boyfriend, Brandon. We each got flights with different beers so we could try almost all the beers on tap,” Lowery said. “We started out at a picnic table on the bottom level, just talking and laughing. As the night went on, we moved up to the silo balcony and watched the sunset over Willy B. We were there for hours and honestly had the best time.”
Now, for some personal favorites…I love the Broad River Red Ale and the Astronaut Sauce IPA, not to mention that the packaged cans of the latter are art in themselves. Adrienne’s favorite is not a beer, but a speciality drink that is only found here: the King of Pop. Choose a wine of your choice and pair it with a flavored popsicle and there you have it. “I LOVE the King of Pop with a raspberry popsicle in Prosecco,” Lowery said. “It’s so refreshing and fun to drink!” Don’t believe us? Head to @riverratbrewery on Instagram and see for yourself.
Hunter Gatherer
Stop number two! Hunter Gatherer has great beer and great vibes, a killer combo. With a very open warehouse concept, this brewery hides nothing from its guests. The taps and indoor seating are placed right in front of the brew kettles, or tanks, so you see exactly where the product is coming from. Tank to table, am I right? Outside there are a few picnic tables on the ground level and more seating on the upper deck. With beautiful string lights up top and an open upper patio, you have a clear and beautiful view of the sunset. While the actual landscape isn’t much to brag about, it’s just enough. As Hunter Gatherer is located on the outskirts of the city and far from the Vista or Main Street, you’re taken to a more rural, quiet setting. That is before the music and chatter that accompanies a brewery, but you get the gist. In short, it’s the perfect place to wind down on a Thursday after class (because Thursdays are the start of the weekend in college, duh) with your closest buddies and ice cold brews.
My favorite here? Easy. The ESB. The Extra Special Bitter beer is of the best amber ales I’ve ever had. It’s smooth, malty, and perfectly paired with a hot pretzel. Here are a few others that I recommend you try when you head over to Hunter Gatherer: Straight Up IPA, Lager No. 29, Hazy IPA, and Raspberry Sour.
Columbia Craft
A brewery within walking distance of my apartment? Say so much less. Columbia Craft is on the smaller side, but in no way any less of a contender. As they say in real estate: location, location, location! Cola Craft is just outside the Vista and within walking distance of five USC apartment buildings, making it the perfect place for a quick drink or happy hour after a long day in the office or library. What’s fun about this brewery is that they have board games, Jenga, cards for guests to play with, and Music B-I-N-G-O on Wednesdays (most likely not now during COVID, but pre pandemic you could really get your competition on). But that’s not all, they have food trucks in the parking lot most Wednesdays through Saturdays. You won’t be able to sit at the picnic table and resist the smell of a juicy philly cheesesteak from Philly Phellows or a taco from Los Chicanos. Delish. Check out which food trucks they'll have each month on their Instagram, @columbiacraft.
What to try here: Hazy Low-Cal IPA (100 calorie IPA, yes please), Cölsch, Vom Fass, and Raspberry Sour-ade.
Steel Hands
Of course, we saved the best for last. Drumroll please...the brewery of this and every hour, Steel Hands. I have nothing but amazing reviews for this brewery, seriously I can go on for an hour. The first feature to point out is that it is simply not in Columbia, but just over the bridge in Cayce, SC. Regardless of its location, it’s the best and deserves the spotlight, so here we go.
The atmosphere is nothing shy of perfect in terms of brewery aesthetic. With a wide open indoor setting with tons of tables and high tops, Steel Hands happily seats many guests. There is a long bar on the side of the room where you can taste test and order your drinks while gazing at the merch on the wall behind the staff. And I can almost guarantee that you will leave with a hat, tee shirt, koozie, growler, or glass because the designs are that good. Unless that’s just me and my friends who deplenish our bank accounts for a good slice of merch, which is very possible. Enough about the inside because the patio is really where the magic lies. Expansive lawn, bonfire pits, picnic tables with umbrellas, a stage with the best live bands, a container bar (convenient little beer bar so you don’t have to go inside to order), and dogs everywhere. Are you about to hop in your car and head there right now? Because I am. Seriously, if you’re looking for the perfect place to enjoy drinks, amazing food, and bop your head and tap your foot to the classic hits coming off the stage then Steel Hands is the place for you.
When asking Adrienne what she looks for most in a brewery’s vibe, she shared that the environment is the special factor. “I honestly go for the atmosphere. I always love trying new drinks and beers, but the atmosphere makes the experience,” Lowery said. “My favorite brewery is Steel Hands. I go there for the outdoor band when I'm in a dancing, singing mood. They always have an amazing band playing fantastic songs. Their beer cheese always hits the spot and it’s just all around a great place.”
Which brews to try here? Oh there are so many good ones. My favorites are the following: Foreman Golden Ale, Pilsner, Lager, and the Irish Red. Adrienne’s go-to beers here are the Raspberry Lemonade wheat beer and like me, the Irish Red. Steel Hands also has unique beers such as the Coffee Lager, which literally has the initial taste of a rich roasted coffee and the aftertaste of beer, as well as, the Habanero Agave Tequila Lager for the brave and bold. And please do yourself a favor and try the beer cheese, they have the absolute best! Pair it with a pretzel, duck fat fries or tots and you will be quickly ordering a second batch.
Whether you’re in the mood for a Coffee Lager or an ESB, a sunset view or a singalong to classic hits, Columbia’s breweries will be sure to give you a great time. Pair those with a day in the South Carolina sun under an umbrella on one of the patios or playing corn hole on the lawns with friends, and I promise you’ll leave with a full stomach and heart.