As we enter the blistering months of summer, it’s nice to update ourselves and you with some of summer’s best sippers. As you know, we here at HOPS love a good list. And since the Charleston City Paper just wrapped its annual Best of Charleston issue, we’d like to give you our own “Best of Summer Beers” as voted by our friends in the Charleston beer community.
Best Pool Beer: Frothy Beard Sip Sip Pass Hazy IPA
HOPS pick: Brewlab Charleston Tropical Vibrations
Best Boat Beer: Island Coastal Lager
HOPS pick: Palmetto Brewing Salted Lime Lager
Best Rooftop Bar Beer: Stella Artois
HOPS pick: Munkle Pils
Best Beach Beer: Corona and Landshark
HOPS pick: Commonhouse Air is Salty Gose
Best Airport Pre-vacation Beer: Any IPA but lots of Hazy votes, Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing being the tops
HOPS pick: Anything Sierra Nevada
Best Sunday Afternoon Beer: Any Radler
HOPS pick: Revelry Lazy Lover Belgian Blonde Ale
Best Backyard BBQ Beer: Miller Lite
HOPS pick: Coast Kolsch
Monday
All night Brewlab Charleston, Buy two pints, get six wings!
4-5 p.m. Munkle Brewing Co., Happy Hour, $2 off pours
6 p.m. Low Tide Brewing, Bingo
6:30 p.m. Estuary Beans and Barley, Trivia
7 p.m. Baker & Brewer, Trivia
Tuesday
All night Brewlab Charleston, Better Call Sal-Sa - 5 tacos for $12
4-5 p.m. Munkle Brewing Co., Happy Hour, $2 off pours
6:30 p.m. Estuary Beans and Barley, Music Bingo
Holy Smokes BBQ. Charleston Wine + Food. Mimosa. There is no lack of events and festivals to attend in the Charleston area. But there is one event unique to Charleston because well, it has its own beer. Locally crafted and created, the Black Food Truck Festival is taking food truck festivals to the next level.
The Black Food Truck Festival is the ultimate family reunion featuring kid-friendly activities in a safe, secure environment. The festival features more than 40 food trucks with a variety of cuisines all Black-owned and operated, but founder Marcus Hammond realized there was one missing element as he prepared for this past April’s event — a signature beer.
“A Black woman on a beer can, how often do you see that?” said Hammond, as he discussed his venture into festivals and the world of private labeling craft beer. Light, refreshing and not too hoppy, his new Flavorfest lager was created to please the festival goers with something approachable and crushable.
The designer of the can is Kolpeace, a South Carolina native and artist who now lives in Baltimore. According to the artist’s profile, the label is a visual ode “Fo’ Erbody Black” and “the colors dance in harmony as a reflection of what it means to admire the Black cultural characteristics.”
So how did this beer come to be? Like all good collaborations, it came through connections. Hammond was introduced to Kristian Edwards, brand and sales manager for Estuary Beans and Barley on Johns Island. Small world note: You may recall Edwards from our August 2022 cover and David White, who was on the cover of our December 2022 issue of HOPS.
Edwards was thrilled to initiate the project.
“The art, the beer, the love!” he said. “This was one of the dopest collaborations to date. We were stoked that our team was able to produce such a crushable lager for them.”
Hammond lauded the collaboration.
“I think if more people understood how they could reach out to people for diversity outside of influencers, we could share more spaces,” he said. “We’ve created a space [the festival] and we have the numbers where we can help with diversity with different part-
ners and cross pollinate.”
Hammond and White have been bridging that gap in the beer community.
“I met Marcus years ago, before we both stepped foot in the spaces we’re in now,” White said. “We attended some events together and eventually connected deeper on just being Black men in Charleston. I met Kristian around the same time. After Kristian returned from Savannah, he and I had conversations about doing more in our communities because it has always been about more than just beer for us.”
When Hammond began looking at what would expand the festival, he spoke with White.
“Marcus shared with me his visions for the festival, and I immediately thought about what Kristian and I talked about,” White remembered. “Before you know it, we’re sitting in the brewery talking about next steps.”
Next came the label design. “We all acknowledge the lack of Blacks in the beer industry in Charleston so it was really important that we found a Black artist to represent the festival’s brand. We know the artwork stands out. Kolpeace definitely delivered,” White said.
The festival was a hit, as was the beer. Hammond is already in planning mode for next year. With more than 15,000 followers, 2024’s Black Food Truck Festival is bound to deliver. With plans to take the festival to Baltimore and beyond, Hammond has his hands and his heart full.
“I’ve learned that one of my skill sets is building a brand,” he told HOPS. “I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew but yeah, I’ve got big plans.”
7 p.m. Palmetto Brewing Co., Two Fer Trivia Tuesday
7 p.m. Fatty’s Beer Works, Phish Nights
Wednesday
All night Brewlab Charleston, Burger & Beer Night - $15 Plus, Trivial Trivia (7 p.m.)
4-5 p.m. Munkle Brewing Co., Happy Hour, $2 off pours
7 p.m. Charles Towne Fermentory, Trivia
7 p.m. Low Tide Brewing, Trivia
7 p.m. New Realm Brewery, Name that Tune Trivia
7 p.m. Rusty Bull Brewing, Trivia (first Wednesday only)
7 p.m. Tidelands Brewing, Music Bingo
8 p.m. Fam’s Brewing Co., Trivia
Thursday
All night Brewlab Charleston, BOGO 50% off sushi, $4 core pints
4-5 p.m. Munkle Brewing Co., Happy Hour, $2 off pours
6 p.m. Ghost Monkey Brewery, Brewery Bingo
6 p.m. Hobcaw Brewing Co., Team Trivia
6:30 p.m. Indigo Reef Brewing Co., Music Bingo
6:30 p.m. SNAFU Brewing Company, Bingo
Friday
3 p.m. Revelry Brewing, Sun-sets with Sparkbox
4-5 p.m. Munkle Brewing Co., Happy Hour, $2 off pours
Saturday
1-9 p.m. Charleston Brewery District, Free trolley
Sunday
11-3 p.m. Commonhouse Aleworks, Sunday brunch
3 p.m. SNAFU Brewing Company, Name that Tune Trivia
Editor’s Note: If you know of a new brewery headed to the Charleston area, please let us know at: info@brewhopchs.com.
By Tarah Gee
Tucked away in a commercial building park off Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant is Two Blokes Brewing, a little brewery with a big heart. A taproom with years of nostalgia hangs decoratively in every place you can lay your eyes. The brewhouse looms in the background wafting the sweet smell of grain and hops through the air. It’s a “lived-in” space. It’s welcoming, cozy and the kind of place where you feel transported away from the commercial facade and into the hearts and minds of the owners’ past, present and future.
The evolution of breweries isn’t something that is talked about enough. We, beer lovers, talk about the beer, the “vibe,” the food offerings. But we rarely discuss the literal blood, sweat and tears that goes into creating, growing and maintaining a brewery. And, what happens when the owner/founder suddenly passes away.
I was relatively new to the Charleston brewing community when I heard the news that Matty Symons, owner and founder had suddenly left this world. The community was in shock. As if Covid-19 wasn’t enough to deal with, now, we’d lost one of our own, a staple and bright spot for the Charleston beer world.
“So many people considered Matty a good friend. He always made people feel like he was paying attention,” said Michelle Lapp, operations manager. She joined the Two Blokes team in March 2017 and worked closely with Symons daily.
“The whole community reached out. And, that’s how I formed so many relationships that I have now,” Lapp said. “A few breweries in particular went above and beyond to assist.”
Evelyn, Matty’s wife, took over as much as she could. And for almost three years, she and Lapp were Two Blokes, woman-owned and operated.
Two Blokes initially opened like a lot of breweries do — with a homebrewer and a friend who were passionate about good beer and wanted to build something together. Symons, Australian by birth, had previously lived in the United Kingdom before relocating to the United States and, eventually, Charleston. After nine years at Blackbaud, Symons and his business partner, Sean Geddis, lept into commercial brewing, opening the doors in 2016. And though Geddis maintained his full-time career, he was an essential partner to the brewery.
But sometimes, partnerships don’t work, and in early 2018, Symons and Geddis decided to part ways. That’s when Lapp stepped in to manage the front of the house. And here is what isn’t talked about much publicly when it comes to this particular
industry: Like any start-up business, there are a lot of changes and evolutions.
With Symons at the helm of brewing operations and Lapp leading the taproom, Two Blokes was on the rise. And well, we know what happens next. A global pandemic. And the brewing world as we knew it completely changed and shifted.
During the first three months of Covid-19, operations shifted to “to go” options only. Taproom sales for all breweries suffered and then the unthinkable happened. In May 2020, Symons suddenly passed away.
“Luke DesJardins [lead brewer] took over for Matty,” Lapp said. “We all just stepped into the roles that were natural. And he did a great job. Customers were happy we kept the same team and the beer quality didn’t change.”
Friends in the community stepped up to moonlight behind the bar.
“Two Blokes was my vacation job,” said Kim Arnold, head brewer for Frothy Beard Brewing Company. “I always looked forward to seeing the team and awesome regulars. It has also helped me creatively with branching out to want to brew different styles.”
For close to three years, the Two Blokes team soldiered on while it was known to few that the brewery was looking for new ownership. Evelyn Symons needed to move her family and life in a new direction. She posted the brewery on several websites and began the process to put in place a new “bloke.”
In August 2022, Evelyn Symons had two promising potential buyers and an offer was
accepted. The Two Blokes team began the process of being purchased. It was looking for that perfect fit. But the buyers didn’t materialize to be what they had hoped for, Lapp said.
“We wanted to keep the Two Blokes brand. The brand means so much to her [Evelyn] and me and the customers.”
So they pulled back and refocused on the second offer.
At the same time, head brewer Luke DesJardins also had a new opportunity with the Birds Fly South Ale Project in Greenville.
“He stuck it out for a while and it was time for a transition,” Lapp said.
And thus began the search for a new head brewer as well. To say that Lapp had her hands full is an understatement.
But things have a way of working out, of evolving. They always do. It’s called… Evolutions.
George greeted me at the door with a sweet smile and tall wag. George, honorary owner and new mascot of Two Blokes, belongs to Rhett Anderson, the new owner who attended high school on the East Coast before completing his undergraduate economics degree at Clemson University. After graduation, Anderson found himself in California in the Marine Corps.
“My passion is building things, leadership and creating,” Anderson said when we sat down one month after he purchased and took over operations at Two Blokes.
Anderson met his wife Haley in
Our brewhouse is labor intensive. We don’t have all the bells and whistles. It’s a labor of love.”
—Michelle LappRHETT ANDERSON, OWNER
Delaware, while the two were still in high school. During a summer break in college, they spent time in Napa Valley, with his family nearby.
“We went out there over one summer in college and started working at a couple vineyards. And fell in love with the industry. I originally wanted to do something in the wine industry in California but it wasn’t exactly feasible in this economy right now.”
Interning at Aubert Winery, Anderson learned the production side from start to
finish. He began to look for other opportunities. With starting a family, the couple decided to move closer to her family back in Charleston.
“We’d been here a couple times and we fell in love with it,” Anderson said. Anderson found Two Blokes on a business brokerage site and reached out to Evelyn.
“My initial thought was there was so much potential,” Anderson said. “The survival this brewery has experienced. And then, meeting the team was a major plus
because I know finding quality workers is difficult and the staff is amazing.”
Regarding the head brewer search, Lapp had no time to spare. James Bridwell replaced DesJardins as head brewer in midFebruary 2023, and Caleb Jurecki became assistant brewer shortly after.
“Our brewhouse is labor intensive. We don’t have all the bells and whistles. It’s a labor of love. James [Bridwell] was the first person I interviewed in the process and I felt like we clicked,” Lapp said. “We had hoped to hire from within the local community, but with the time constraints, we needed to act fast. And James was ready to move to Charleston immediately.”
Bridwell, former owner of Sockdolager Brewing Company in Midland, Texas, had recently closed its doors. Opportunities came knocking.
“I applied to several breweries, had interviews and several offers,” Bridwell said. Bridwell, who grew up in Savannah, also chose to move back closer to family and accepted the position at Two Blokes.
“It really speaks to the leadership of Michelle,” Anderson said. “Everyone comes together and works so well. It will be cool building this place with them.”
As if taking ownership of a new brewery isn’t a handful enough, Anderson and his wife just welcomed their first child and are undergoing renovations at their new home
in Mount Pleasant. Haley Anderson is super-supportive of the venture, and though is not involved in daily operations, owns 50% of the brewery.
“Growth, bringing a fresh set of eyes and taking some workload off Michelle is my focus at Two Blokes,” Anderson said.
Learning the intricacies of distribution, taproom management and South Carolina laws will keep Anderson busy for the foreseeable future. With the capacity to produce 56 barrels at a time, Two Blokes will be keeping its Publican Ale, an English pub ale, in constant rotation and introducing a few new styles as well.
“I want to make a thiolized lager,” Bridwell said. For those who are complete beer nerds or scientists, a thiolized lager is made with a genetically modified yeast that replaces the use of hops.
And what does Lapp want?
“Vacation! Taking some time off and having time to work in my garden,” she said. “I was excited for change to come. I thought I might also leave once the sale was complete. I felt a responsibility to stay all these years, to Evelyn and the customers. But now, I’m excited for the new opportunities, growth and the team feeling. I have missed that.”
Anderson said, “I said, you kept the company alive. I’m gonna let her enjoy the rewards.”
One thing we here at HOPS know, the Two Blokes team is locked and loaded. Don’t skip this brewery. You won’t be disappointed.
Pawleys Island Brewing Company’s Fraser Blake had a big impact on the area brewing community.
“There are people I’ve met on my journey, people who just leave their mark through mentorship. People you will never have enough time with but you know their character and are grateful for even just a minute of their time,” said Daisy Crater, assistant brewer at Rocker’s Brewing Company in Spartanburg.
Earlier this spring, the Charleston brewing community said goodbye to Blake, who died at 60 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. The craft beer community gathered on Memorial Day at Holy City Brewing Company in North Charleston to celebrate his life. And what a life he had!
Blake and his brothers opened Pawleys Island in 2017, a time when the craft beer industry in Charleston was gaining popularity. They were a critical and integral addition to the craft beer community.
Situated between what is now Tideland Brewing Company and Freehouse Brewery, the location was a labor of love between brothers, Dan, Bill and Fraser Blake.
“Fraser was the first to start home brewing,” Dan Blake said. While running an IT business in Atlanta, the three brothers began kicking around the idea of opening a brewery.
“Once the plan was approved by our wives, we began raising capital and Fraser relocated to West Ashley as the boots on the ground for the first three years.”
With Fraser Blake managing operations, the brewery grew quickly and was able to add a patio, kitchen and other amenities. Ted DeLoach, the Blakes’ cousin and affectionately referred to in the community as Uncle Ted, jumped aboard to facilitate brand awareness, work the bar and lead the outside sales movement.
“Fraser and I forged some great memories as we wrangled uni-tanks, built out the space and stained our iconic wood tables and bar. I’ll cherish them forever,” DeLoach said.
But it wouldn’t be long before tragic news of Fraser Blake’s cancer would come, and the family business would require all hands on deck. Dan relocated his family to Charleston and began to learn the business from top to bottom. However in April 2020 after a couple years of growth, Pawleys Island, like most breweries, took a bleak turn.
Although the location is now officially closed to the public, the once bustling location housed a 15- barrel system, supported by a 20-barrel mash tun and wapping 40-barrel hot liquid tank. Pawleys Island also once boasted eight 30-barrel fermenting tanks. That’s a heck of a lot of beer to hold!
“Fraser could be very stubborn at times. He refused to throw in the towel and suggested we reach out to the owners of Holy City Brewing,” Dan said. Next thing you know, arrangements were made to move some of the brewing equipment to its new facility in Park Circle and the remaining equipment would be used to increase another brewery’s production.
“Things are going pretty well right now, so we are going to be especially careful about future pivots,” Dan said. Right now, production will remain at Holy City Brewing, and you can find their brews at your local craft beer store, at craft beer festivals, and on tap in several bars and restaurants around town.
Fraser Blake made his mark on Charleston and the brewing community, leaving behind love and light on everything he touched.
“He really was someone who believed in me and my potential in this industry. He basically threw kerosine all over my flames and stoked my fire for this business. I would
not be where I am today without Fraser Blake and his family,” said Daisy Crater.
“To that end, I’m proud to announce the rerelease of one of our favorite seasonals, Bomb Island Berliner. I’m pretty sure that would bring a smile to Fraser’s face,” Dan said.
REMEMBRANCE: If you would like to make a donation to honor Blake, please visit South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center and donate in his name or go to justgiving.com/ campaign/FraserBlake. It would be a meaningful way to honor his memory and continue his legacy of giving back to the community.
COME PLAY WITH US!
1ST BASE June 29 - July 2 2ND BASE July 27 - July 30
3RD BASE Aug. 24 - Aug. 27
20 TH ANNIVERSARY HOME PLATE Sept. 21 - Sept. 24
$ 10 donation to Adaptive Expeditions gets a Beer Ball Passport. Receive 1 stamp for each event you attend. Each passport stamps equals 1 anniversary raffle entry. Raffle grand prize valued at $1,000.
AT CHARLESTON BEER WORKS
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
THURSDAY - SUNDAY
JAMMIN’ WITH JACK SUNDAYS
$6 JACK DANIELS BAR BINGO WITH HIGH NOON EVERY 1ST AND 3RD THURSDAY
$8 HIGH NOON MUSIC TRIVIA BINGO WITH JAMESON EVERY 2ND AND 4TH THURSDAY
$6 JAMESON
HAPPY HOUR
MON-FRI 4-7PM
FEAT. $5 LOCAL BREWS
MONTHLY SPECIAL 3 “P” EAT
CBW beer braised pork, creole honey butter BBQ with house sweet & spicy pickles on a Saffron Bakery roll
