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.
Jordan Lawrence
Managing Editor for Free Times
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.
Cola Hard is a good name for a hard seltzer made in Soda City.
Jordan Lawrence
Managing Editor for Free Times
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.
Jordan Lawrence
Managing Editor for Free Times
what: Pumpkin Patch Smash
What: Columbia Craft Brewing’s Famously Hop IPA
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
For this week’s selection, I tried beers from three Charleston breweries. None were good enough to be the Drink of the Week, but here are my …
what: Steel Hands Brewing’s Punch Clock Pilsner
Jordan Lawrence
Managing Editor for Free Times
Though it’s mezcal-based, the Pepino doesn’t taste like huffing a campfire.
what: New Belgium Brewing’s Passion Fruit Kolsch
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I was afraid it would taste like coffee LaCroix, a whisper of espresso flavor diluted by fizz, but I was wrong.
Lenny Boy Brewing’s Passion Fruit Gose (4.8 percent ABV, $2.99 for a pint at Greens)
what: Oskar Blues Brewery’s Guns ‘n’ Rosé
what: Stone Brewing’s Tropic of Thunder
what: Indah Espresso Old Fashioned
what: Victory Prima Pils(5.3 percent ABV) and Bell’s Lager of the Lakes (5 percent ABV)
what: Szigeti Grüner Veltliner Brut
This fall, I decided to make wine from my mother-in-law’s backyard scuppernong grape vines. The green-and-gold orbs, a relative of the muscadi…
what: White Walker by Johnnie Walker
what: Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.’s Lagerbier
what: Westbrook Brewing’s Citra Brut IPA
Pint-Sized Chefs Compete
what: Bierkeller Columbia’s Festbier
Jordan Lawrence
Managing Editor for Free Times
Satisfy Your Curiosity for Booze
what: Columbia Craft Brewing Co.’s People Power
what: Edmund’s Oast Lord Proprietor’s Mild
what: Boylan Bottling Company’s Sparkling Lemonade
Jordan Lawrence
Managing Editor for Free Times
what: Stone Brewing’s Idolatrous IPA
what: New Belgium Brewing’s The Hemperor
