What are the RULES AT BREWERIES, exactly?
BREWERY VISIT ENJOY THE ‘WHERE’S MY BEER?’ PODCAST
Meet our new co-editor, crafty CLAY PALMER
I can’t say exactly when or where I met Clay, but I knew when I did that he was one of a kind — the kind of person who captivates a room and puts a smile on everyone’s face. I knew I wasn’t alone in my observations. The more people I meet who know Clay, the more apparent it becomes that he is without a doubt a rock star in the brewing community.
“Clay is full of energy and when you meet him, it feels like you’ve made an instant friend,” said Kara Straub, a colleague at Holy City Brewing. “He’s passionate about the things that matter most to him and will draw you in with his engaging smile and contagious laugh.”
Born and raised in Mount Pleasant, Clay graduated from Wando High School and began his career in craft brewing soon afterwards. With stints at the Whole Foods specialty department and Bottles Mount Pleasant, Clay eventually landed at Commonhouse Aleworks behind the bar. It was here that Clay began frequenting other breweries and building relationships.
I would love to see more diversity in the beer community, plain and
“The first three things that come to mind about Clay are that he always finds a reason to dance, anywhere and everywhere,” said Ryan Hetzer, taproom manager of Commonhouse Aleworks. “He is a kind soul who will lighten the mood with his outgoing personality and joyous laugh. And if he thinks a food dish or beer is delicious, he’ll be sure to tell you it’s ‘bussin’.’ ”
After working a couple of years at Commonhouse came an opportunity to grow with one of Charleston’s largest beer brands, Holy City Brewing, as a sales representative.
“He’s been great for Holy City Brewing,” said owner Chris Brown. “He’s so outgoing and can jump into any situation with anyone and talk beer and make friends.”
When I began thinking about who would be a great option to help with HOPS, I immediately thought of Clay. If there is anyone else in the community who has a pulse on what is happening in beer, it’s Clay. And I’m grateful to say, he was interested! So here we are bringing you a little bit of history on the happiest man in local beer. And we’re publishing Clay’s first article, “Comfort in craft.”
“I would love to see more diversity in the beer community, plain and simple. The rich history of the Geechee/Gullah people is the root of Charleston’s culture and it needs to be celebrated,” Clay said.
I asked what he would be doing if he wasn’t in beer. “Honestly, I don’t see myself doing anything else. I don’t have a backup plan. I’m all in, this is all I know. Beer is life.”
Palmer
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I’ve always found comfort in craft beer ... for the most part.
I’ve always found comfort in having my elbows on the bar, in tasting new beers and checking out new swag and new equipment in the brewhouse. I feel comfortable in these places, being in the “staff only” areas. I feel at home, at ease. Generally, I have been the only person of color in the building. And I mean the whole entire building! No beertender, production staff, management, kitchen staff, not one other person of color.
But, the culture in these “spaces” is beginning to change. On the national scale, you have Benny and Teo’s #blackpeoplelovebeer movement on social media. Crown and Hops, a crowd-funded gypsy brewery turned brick and mortar location on the West Coast, is primarily owned and operated by Brown and Black people. These industry people are focused on giving opportunity to underserved communities in the craft industry. The number of Black and Brown influencers on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok has dramatically increased in recent years. But is it enough?
In 2017, Floridians Latiesha and Dom Cook launched Beer Kulture, a marketing agency and lifestyle brand that worked to raise awareness of craft beer in communities of color. The company is now a nonprofit fundraising for underserved communities through beer education programs.
We’ve also recently seen a surge in publications that shed light on the lack of inclusion in this industry, your Al Sharptons and Jamaal Lemons of the world, speaking from a perspective that has never had a voice in these rooms.
During the pandemic, the world tilted. Businesses closed, lacking resources. But others continued to operate. Between mask mandates and the rules put in place to protect the citizens of this country, I saw division and chaos. This and the endless brutality against Black people at the hands of law enforcement was a lot for me, for everyone.
But there was light. Marcus J. Baskerville, owner and operator of Weathered Souls Brewing Company in San Antonio, Texas, brewed an imperial stout that gained national recognition. He launched the movement, Black is Beautiful. The initiative aimed to shed light on the issues of police brutality within Black and Brown communities and the lack of opportunities in the industry for people of color. It became a beacon of hope for many. During this time in 2020, I was hired
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 $10
4-5 p.m. Munkle Brewing Co., Happy Hour, $2 off pours
6:30 p.m. Estuary Beans and Barley, Music Bingo
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
at Commonhouse Aleworks. My interview process was very casual and welcoming — nothing that I had experienced. Honestly, I was nervous and a little apprehensive. This was new to me, and we were in the middle of a pandemic!
Pearce Fleming, owner of Commonhouse, and then the taproom manager, Brittany Geddis, invited me to the brewery to have a beer on their “Common Ground.” I felt like I was just having a beer and catching up with old friends. We sat in the rocking chairs outside on the porch and just chatted. We talked about beer and my interests. We got to know each other in that short time. But then, the conversation took a turn and it got real. They told me how Commonhouse was a safe space, a space for ALL people, Black, White, gay, straight, Christian, atheist.
“This ain’t a brewery, Clay,’’ Fleming told me with the most sincere and serious tone he had used all afternoon. “This is a nonprofit that sells beer, and we’re here to help people. And if you can get down with that, we would love to have you join our team.”
I was excited and not just for the job or for myself. I was excited for Charleston beer. I was excited to hear an owner invite everyone into a space, a space that was usually like a White fraternity house. A space where even though I was always invited, I still felt like an outsider. A space where I would never invite my close friends and family because they wouldn’t understand. I was excited to be a representative of my community.
Fleming’s hiring of me meant there is and can be representation for a group of
people who feel like they didn’t have anyone “putting on for them.” I was a real hire, not a token hire. This wasn’t an affirmativeaction ploy. This was saying this person is perfect for the job. This person’s character is what we want in our space.
Commonhouse led the charge in the Black Is Beautiful brew push and the Charleston beer scene followed. From that point, an explosion of events, connections and collaborations spawned. Holy City Brewing Company and Tha CommUNITY launched a lager that propelled a multibrew initiative across the city. It also stirred conversation on how to get more Black and Browns in the taproom not only as guests but also from an employment standpoint.
Chris Brown, owner and operator at Holy City Brewing, wants to create a pipeline of grassroots brewers and staff. He constantly asks, “How do I get more Black people in this space? How do you get a person of color to feel comfortable about applying for a front of house or production position?” Sometimes, the answers are complicated. But they can also be simple.
Let’s continue to push the boundaries. Let’s continue to support each other. Representation matters so much and if people don’t see themselves in the people working in these spaces, they don’t see themselves in that space.
I’ve always found comfort in craft beer — elbows on the bar. Trying the new beers before release. Getting a look at new equipment and new swag. I’m glad more people that look like me are now getting that chance to feel comfort in craft.
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. Tideland 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.
“Rules” — the five-letter word that I’d venture to say the vast majority of people find ways to bend or completely break. Because it's human nature. The word itself likely invoked some kind of feeling in you just now. As children, we are taught basic manners of behavior in public. But as adults, especially when alcohol is involved, the rules seem to go right out of the window.
Let me set the stage. Google “breweries near me.” A plethora of locations pop up. So you start scrolling and decide on a location that meets your needs. Maybe your need is “kid-friendly” or “dog-friendly.” Maybe it’s both! And so you and your progeny and your fur-progeny set off into the day to patronize said location. You arrive. Take a look around and decide, “this looks like a good place to unpack and relax.” And so you do.
As a brewery manager, I can collectively speak for the majority of us when I say, we want you to relax. We want you to have a good time. We want you to enjoy the beer, the atmosphere and everything else that comes with visiting our locations.
Recently, we’ve seen brewery owners and managers taking to social media to air some grievances. This usually results in something being banned. You’ve probably even seen an uptick in a number of breweries posting “rules” for all to see at the location and on social media.
I reached out to our beloved “Charleston Beer Enthusiasts” Facebook group again recently to ask, “What are the rules, exactly?” I also spoke with many beertenders, managers and other patrons in the community. Here are the results.
This one might rub a few people wrong, naturally. But it is worth mentioning because unruly children are the No. 1 thing that will clear a taproom. And it’s understandable from both sides why this is a hotly debated topic. Breweries historically are adult places. But recently, breweries across the country have become literal playgrounds to be more inclusive of those with children. Suddenly, full jungle gyms are popping up. And that’s fine. But here are some thoughts from your friends in the local community.
“If you can’t control your kids, don’t bring them.” —Charleston-area beer lover Jennifer
LeGrand-O’Brien“Don’t be the A-hole with feral children ruining everyone else’s visit as your kids reenact Lord of the Flies. Well-behaved
Low Tide Brewing had to post a sign with the brewery’s expectations of parents with children in tow
kids are always welcome. Good parenting is hard. Heck, buy the parents of wellbehaved kids a beer. If you take offense to this, you just might be the A-hole.” Charleston-area beer enthusiast
Tim Price
Many breweries welcome man’s best friend (above), but many places are having to put their foot down due to unruly fur babies and their inconsiderate owners
“ Be considerate of those in line behind you. Don’t ‘sample’ five different beers before settling on one.”
—Andy HuttPhotos provided
“Breweries have become a modern-day daycare. Parents are on one side of the brewery and children are just running around wild. We, childless people, would like to enjoy our beer in peace.”
Anonymous
Earlier this year, Low Tide Brewing posted a sign stating, “Attention Parents” that had a list of expectations for their patrons with children. Their social media stated, “We love kids, however, our main priority is making sure patrons 21+ are enjoying their experience at our brewery.”
This is most definitely the second main reason that patrons will stop visiting a taproom. Overall, Charleston is one of the more dog-friendly cities in the country. We love them like we love our children. But unfortunately, there are also some bad/unattentive dog parents out there.
Breweries like Holy City Brewing, Low Tide Brewing and Tradesman Brewing
have adopted either a no-dog policy or dog owners must sign waivers of liability.
“I wish people didn’t allow their dogs to sit up at the tables,” said Charleston beer enthusiast Tammy Lamb. “I don’t think these people let their dogs sit at the dinner table at home so why do it at the breweries.”
“Be mindful of your kids, your dogs, cats or whatever else you bring to the brewery that isn’t paying for beer,” added Travis Zeiset, a Charleston brewery patron.
There are a couple things that HOPS would like to add:
• It is hot in Charleston. If you bring your dog out with you, be prepared with a towel
or mat for your dog to lie on. You wouldn’t want to lie on the hot concrete.
• Also, bring your own water bowls. While many places do keep some on hand, it is not their responsibility to keep your pup cool and hydrated.
• And for everyone’s sake, if your pup is on the vocal side, be mindful of those trying to listen to music, play trivia and other things happening around you.
For regular brewery goers, flights are the best way to sample multiple beers in small
ounce pours rather than committing to a whole pint. And a good beertender will absolutely love helping a patron choose the best flight for them based on their preferences. However, flights take twice as long as the average pint to pour. Here are a few thoughts from your local beertenders and fellow patrons.
“When asking for samples, choose one or two max. Or just get a flight,” said Palmetto Brewing’s Leslie Isaksen. In other words, don’t run your beertender back and forth sampling five or six beers. It’s rude and an unnecessary waste of time.
Local beer enthusiast Andy Hutt added, “Be considerate of those in line behind you. Don’t ‘sample’ five different beers before settling on one.”
And local Facebook beer enthusiast Tony Williams agrees, “If it’s super busy and you can see there’s a line behind you waiting to order, maybe think about ordering something other than a flight?”
Another general rule regarding glassware: Be a peach and return your empty glassware to the bar when you come to get a new beer or tab out. Not only does it help keep flies away, but it helps the staff clean faster and provide more prompt service.
Patron Dee Collins added, “Just buy one [glassware]. Don’t steal one. It helps more than one way to support local.”
Ah, the old rules of thumb — treat others how you’d like to be treated. Keep your hands and feet to yourself. Mind your manners. Have general consideration for others around you. Technically, all of the rules above fall into this category. Somehow or another, we as a society have become very wrapped up in ourselves and the immediate world of us. Let’s take a look at other ways to be a good patron.
“If we're busy, maybe try and not hold up the bartenders with lengthy conversation. We love to talk to our customers but when we have a full house, we want all of our customers to be given timely service,” said Mackenzie Reep, Brewlab beertender.
Another observer added, “If you walk into a tasting room with a ‘I’m going to try and stump this bartender with my extensive knowledge of beer’ attitude, the only person impressed is yourself, and you will be treated worse than the worst.”
Remember that beertenders are generally making $2.13 an hour plus tips. They rely on tips to make their wages.
Finally, here are four rules that breweries should follow:
1. Update and follow your posted hours.
2. Be knowledgeable about your product.
3. Have a water station.
4. Offer printed and online menus.
I wish people didn’t allow their dogs to sit up at the tables, I don’t think these people let their dogs sit at the dinner table at home so why do it at the breweries.”
—Tammy Lamb
By Tarah Gee
Charleston is no stranger to change and innovation. In fact, Charleston is not only Travel + Leisure’s best city for God knows how many years but this port city is also one of the most innovative cities in the United States right now. New bars, restaurants and leisure activities are popping up daily. And four men are here for it all, even creating their own innovative space within the community.
The Where’s My Beer? podcast was developed earlier this year as a safe space for four friends to commune with each other and others while enjoying a pint of beer. They are recruiter Jackson Ayers, architect Collin Cope, personal trainer Nate Page and software developer Michael Schwind. How did the friendship come to be? A girl, of course.
Hannah Dweikat, Schwind’s girlfriend, introduced the four through various channels. The “quad-pod” as I’ve decided to affectionately refer to them, have an ease and smooth calmness about them when they are together. One would never know they’ve not been friends all their lives. Laughter flows from each almost continuously. It’s no wonder the podcast is growing as fast as the city it’s produced in.
“We’re four different guys who come from different backgrounds and areas. We’ve got different sports likes, religious upbringings, different parental upbringings. We are into different kinds of girls and beer tastes. But you put four guys together who genuinely like each other, and the conversations are generally interesting,” said Cope. “Iron sharpens iron. Tale as old as time friendship.”
As their friendships blossomed, they soon found themselves meeting at a brewery every week to catch up, a mandatory ritual to keep each other a priority.
“And that’s literally how the podcast came to be. We all love to drink beer, and we’d meet up at local breweries, and we thought maybe other people would be interested in some of our stories,” Schwind said.
The podcast itself covers a variety of topics but overall promotes a safe space with good friends to talk about the daily struggles and triumphs of life. Episodes with titles like “The Boys Sit Down and Talk Masculinity” and “Optimizing Life, Inherited Traits” find listeners clinging to what happened next and understanding a bit more about
their lives and in essence, even your own.
“Our friendship has grown because of this podcast and regularly meeting,” said Page. “Tackling some of these deeper subjects. Even if it doesn’t turn into anything, I enjoy sharing it. I know my mom enjoys it.”
The quad-pod is promoting a sense of healthy masculinity.
“We are four guys who have strong opinions,” Ayers said. “I’d like to continue to show people that yes, we are ‘guy’s guys’ but we are also willing to look introspectively and talk about our vulnerabilities. And that’s important.”
The podcast is not all serious, however. Cope said, “We have silly ass conversations that make no sense to anyone. At the end of the day, those are the conversations that keep us going. Regardless if [the audience] enjoys our conversation or the breweries, we would like to remain brutally genuine.”
And even though the podcast grows week over week, the boys aren’t ready to quit their day jobs.
“We’d happily accept sponsorships. But we aren’t looking to take on any brewery sponsors at the time as it might lead to something different that might sway their objectiveness,” Schwind said.
They agree, however, that they’d like to record at all 37 breweries at some point and feature an owner or a brewer every three to
four weeks, schedules permitting. The biggest issue facing the recording of the show is sound. “Based on sound quality, we have to choose good spots with minimal background noise,” Schwind said.
Luckily, the boys received an angel gift/ investment to make the podcast top-notch quality. Minimal background noise is a musthave when recording. They say some of their favorite spots to record have been Munkle Brewing Company and Beve Beni Brewing Company.
“Palmer Quimby puts himself in the public eye a lot at Munkle and he was easy to build a relationship with,” Schwind said. Marissa and Clay Carlisle were also very accommodating,” Schwind said.
With just over 20 episodes under their belt, the podcast is keeping space for these four friends to be accountable to their listeners and themselves.
“This is an inward conversation about how we can be better at life, how is your life going, where are you struggling, how can we be better friends,” Cope said.
The boys meet once a week to record an episode to be released the following week. New episodes release every Wednesday on platforms like Spotify, Audible and Apple.
“It’s a forced reason to keep each other in check,” Page said. “And we love it.”
“
You put four guys together who genuinely like each other, and the conversations are generally interesting. Iron sharpens iron. Tale as old as time friendship.”
—Collin Cope“The boys” at Beve Beni Brewing
CHARLESTON BREWERY DISTRICT
EVERY SATURDAY 1PM - 9PM
:00Tradesman Brewing Co.
:03 Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.
:07Brewlab Charleston
:10Cooper River Brewing Co.
:20Palmetto Brewing Co.
:25Baker & Brewer
:30Revelry Brewing Co.
:35Fatty’s Beer Works
:40LO-FI Brewing
:45Bevi Bene Brewing Co.
:50Munkle Brewing Co.
