This gooey-good combo of mini-marshmallows and dark chocolate sauce will make even the biggest maple syrup fiends forget all about that reduced tree sap nectar.

Adult milkshakes are one of the calling cards of Kaminsky’s, and the dessert bar likes to have fun with seasonal flavors, especially in the autumn. 

Grab a can or two or six and toast the season with one of these standout Carolina märzens.

7.2 percent ABV. Available at Hazelwood in Lexington ($7 pint; $15 four-pack 16 oz. cans; free glass with two four-packs; hazelwoodbeerco.com)…

The Hug in A Mug coffee drink features cold brew, milk, mocha and the aforementioned seasonal syrup, a caramel drizzle, and whipped cream topping.

The restaurant’s signature cocktail is a dressed-up blended-frozen juice bomb that’s still crushable and strong enough to make it a worthy check-off on any Gamecock’s 21st birthday to-drink list.

For some time, I have been searching for an India pale ale that balances a low alcohol content (less than 5 percent ABV) with enough flavor between its malt and hops to be satisfying for anyone who enjoys craft beer.

$13.99 for a 12-pack of 16.9 oz. tallboys at Whole Foods. ($15.99 for still or sparkling liquiddeath.com.)

5 percent ABV. $12 for a six-pack, $6 for a pint. 1223 Franklin St. 844-427-3952. cottontownbrewlab.com.

6.5 percent ABV. $3.74 for a 16-ounce can at Craft and Draft (2706 Devine St., 803-764-2575, craftanddraftbeer.com).

With the cover story of this week’s Free Times highlighting staples of typical Columbia summers sidelined due to COVID-19, it felt right to recommend one seasonal favorite you can still get this year.

Mexican beers are some of the best-selling imported beers in the United States, and American craft brewers are taking notice. Industry titans …

$7 for wine glass size, $13 for a pint. Rotating flavors. 711 E. Main St., Lexington. 803-3785-3947.

$4.50 for a can at WECO Bottle and Biergarten. 8.2 percent ABV.

40 percent ABV. $60 per bottle. 947 South Stadium Rd., BAY #3. 803-764-6839. crouchdistilling.com.

5.2 percent ABV. $13.99 for a 12-pack at Green’s.

$4. 2123 Augusta Rd., West Columbia. 803-321-2607.

5 percent ABV. $12 for a six-pack at the brewery. 520 Greene St. 803-799-6027. columbiacraft.com.

2020 was expected to be a difficult year for craft beer due to slowing growth of beer consumption, increased competition from new breweries an…

$14.99. 11.5 percent ABV. 724 Saluda Ave. 803-799-3705.

$18 per quart. 920 Gervais St. 803-256-6687. motorsupplycobistro.com.

Il Cantico Pinot Grigio and Black Ridge Pinot Noir. $8 per bottle. 803-851-1279. wecobeer.com.

5 percent ABV. $3.50 for a pint can at Craft and Draft on Devine Street.

5.9 percent ABV. $9.99 for a six-pack of 11.2-ounce cans at major retailers.

$35 for a gallon (includes reusable growler). 803-708-0476. lilduckkombucha.com.

$35 for a gallon (includes reusable growler). 803-708-0476. lilduckkombucha.com.

When beer shopping, a well-designed label goes a long way in helping to catch your eye. And while certainly not foolproof, more often than not…

Craft brewing is an art form, or it should be. And the brewer, like any artist, begins with the impression they’re trying to make with the fin…

[Editor's Note: Many of this week's events are getting canceled or postponed due to fear of the spreading COVID-19 coronavirus, and Free Times…

Allagash Brewing Company has been brewing in Portland, Maine, since 1995. The brewery is unusual in the craft beer world in that it specialize…

Last week, I ducked into the Vino Garage for the first time since it reopened last fall, and was instantly reminded of how much I had missed i…

As anticipated beer releases go, none loom larger than Bell’s Hopslam. The fresh-hop double IPA arrives in January/February each year to relia…

There’s something about a blue drink that speaks to the child within all of us, and Bourbon’s Blue Hawaiian Slushie — on offer for the bar’s annual Tiki Week(s) through Feb. 9 — is the perfect choice for those looking to stop and feel childlike for a brief happy hour.

This is the kind of release that can only be pulled off by breweries known for high quality and stalwart consistency above all else.

One of the few downsides of the rise of craft beer in North America is that some of the classic beer styles of Europe and the United Kingdom have been pushed aside by the American IPAs and sours that dominate the landscape.  

Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution or the simple need to gird one’s health against the ailments spurred by Columbia’s up-and-down temperatures in the colder months, January is prime time to sub out your normal coffee shop jolt for something a little more restorative. 

These beers have the characteristic hazy appearance with a big, creamy stand of foam when poured. Both feature bright tropical flavors reminiscent of tangerine, pineapple and hints of mango.

The Aristocrat cocktail is essentially a riff on a classic sour. It trades lemon juice and simple syrup for lime juice and agave, while maintaining the egg white.

These beers are American wild ales, though the brewery and fans of these types of beer call them “sour ales” or “sours.” 

I just moved here, but Free Times’ other staffers tell me the recent weather isn’t normal — the frequent rain, cool temperatures and grey, overcast skies. 

Free Times often praises the refreshing, richly crafted German-style lagers of Bierkeller Columbia. But let’s not forget that the nomadic brewery that set up shop on Brookwood Drive near Williams-Brice Stadium and the State Fairgrounds isn’t the only one in the building churning out some tasty brews.

what: Pumpkin Patch Smash

What: Columbia Craft Brewing’s Famously Hop IPA

What: Hunterschnitzel

The Oktoberfest marzen style is the most popular seasonal beer for many breweries. The number of offerings available at area retailers proves …

what:Olde Mecklenburg Brewery’s Mecklenburger Helles Lager

what: Shakerato

what: Miami Vice