Craft beer isn’t just a beverage here in Columbia, SC. It’s an experience. It’s a way of life. From bouncing around breweries on a sunny day to annual festivals that feature beer at the forefront to selecting the perfect souvenir from our area’s bottle shops, here’s how you can drink up the local craft beer scene ounce by ounce.

 

Breweries/Brewpubs

More than a dozen breweries, brewpubs and brands call Columbia home and whether you’re new to the scene or a regular fixture, it’s always best to snag a frothy pint straight from the source. Head to our breweries page to build your checklist or map out the ultimate brewery-hopping afternoon. 

 

Beer Festivals

Columbia’s events calendar is robust and let’s just say you won’t leave any of them feeling parched. Wet your whistle at these annual beer-focused festivals – just to name a few. 

 

If you’re outdoorsy in that you like drinking in nature, then the Lower Saluda Craft BeerFest is for you. Part of the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission’s annual programming, the event takes place at Saluda Shoals Park and includes live music and food trucks under a warm spring sun.

 

Now the name of the event might be the Columbia Food and Wine Festival, but there’s plenty of beer to be found each April as many local breweries are on site to pour samples during the epic Grand Tasting finale.

 

What started as the annual May release of Columbia Craft’s award-winning Hop to Trot IPA has since grown into a full-blown festival featuring not only their own beer, but breweries from all over the region, as well.

 

With so many different types of cuisine to choose from, you also need a healthy roster of beer with which to pair at the South Carolina Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival. 

 

Come September each year, Columbia knows how to prost with the best of ‘em with several weeks of Oktoberfest celebrations happening all over town. 

 

Each October, the only thing more crisp than the fall air is the dozens of South Carolina-brewed beers available to taste at the SC Brewer’s Guild annual Crafted in Carolina celebration. 

 

Bottle Shops

Perhaps you’re on the go and are just looking to pick up a taste of something local to bring back home with you. That’s where our trusty bottle shops come in, allowing you to enjoy a pint or flight onsite while perusing the coolers and shelves for the perfect build-your-own six pack creation. Check out Craft and Draft with locations on Devine Street and in Irmo, WECO Bottle & Biergarten in West Columbia and Random Tap in the Northeast part of town.