Fifteen years ago, it was still illegal in South Carolina to sell specialty beers with a higher alcohol content than a Budweiser. But a succession of pro-craft beer laws has created a booming brewery business in Charleston.

The list of nearly 40 local breweries includes spots selling sours, lagers and seasonal ales. These 10 Charleston-area breweries are among the destinations that have been serving the longest. 

Charles Towne Fermentory

809 Savannah Highway, West Ashley

Housed in a storefront warehouse space with a garage door opening up to the sidewalk, Charles Towne Fermentory is home to a list of thoughtfully crafted brews, including its flagship Sungazer IPA. Wooden walls and tables give the limited space a more homey feel, and local pop-up Bok Choy Boy serves food out of a small on-site kitchen.

Last year, the Avondale brewery added a second location at 1331 Ashley River Road, also in West Ashley. The Garden by Charles Towne Fermentory, more taproom than production brewery, has ample outdoor space with plenty of food trucks passing through.

Coast Brewing Co.

1250 N. 2nd St., North Charleston

The Lowcountry’s brewing scene was just getting started 16 years ago when Jaime Tenny and her husband David Merritt first opened their brewery, serving organic craft beers like HopArt.

As Charleston’s brewing industry grew around Coast, craft beer drinkers continued to visit the North Charleston taproom, which was really just a handful of taps in the heart of a humid brewhouse. In 2015, the couple realized it was time for an upgrade.

That dream came to fruition in December 2022, when Coast’s “nautical” taproom opened. It features a 36-foot black walnut bar, two community tables and a handful of four-tops. There is a small stage inside and a bar window that can serve guests on the deck.

Commonhouse Aleworks

4831 O’Hear Ave., North Charleston

Located on the doorstep of a strip of Park Circle restaurants, Commonhouse Aleworks’ spacious outdoor area is a popular place to be on a weekend day. A list of core products and seasonal sippers like the Tax Day hazy IPA are on the menu, alongside an on-site food program curated by Swig & Swine. 

Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.

1505 King St., downtown Charleston

Located alongside Rancho Lewis at the Pacific Box & Crate development, Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co. is anchored by a bar outfitted with 26 taps. They’re filled with a slate of standbys and seasonal specials, like the Something Cold golden ale and Sun Kissed sour wheat.

With a far-reaching distribution program, don’t be surprised if you find cans from Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co. while traveling outside of the state.

Frothy Beard Brewing Co. 

1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., West Ashley 

This family-friendly brewery pairs drinkable IPAs like the Sip Sip Pass with others infused with yuzu, jalapeño and other surprising ingredients. The West Ashley destination, which operates satellite locations in Summerville and Charlotte, has a full food menu of soft pretzels, wings and monster slices of pizza. 

Holy City Brewing

1021 Aragon Ave., North Charleston

Located along North Charleston’s Noisette Creek, Holy City Brewing’s relatively new digs offer ample seating indoors and out. Patrons go to Holy City for the waterfront views and brews like the Sparkly Princess and Washout Wheat. They stay an extra hour or two for food from the brewery’s scratch kitchen and new raw bar. 

Low Tide Brewing

2863 Maybank Highway, Johns Island 

Low Tide is the longest tenured brewery on Johns Island, with its seasonally-changing sippers and longtime favorites like the pineapple wheat Aloha Beaches. In the coming years, the brewery will relocate to a 10-acre site next to Trophy Lake off Maybank Highway.

Munkle Brewing

1513 Meeting Street Road, downtown Charleston

Locals love Munkle Brewing for several reasons, starting with ownership’s community-minded approach. This extends into the in-brewery experience, featuring comfortable seating and employees who look forward to talking all things beer with customers. One of my simple pleasures is sipping on a Munkle Pilsner while looking out across the railroad tracks as the sun sets on Charleston.

Palmetto Brewing

289 Huger St., downtown Charleston

You can’t skip over Charleston’s first licensed brewery to open since the fall of Prohibition on your Lowcountry brewery tour. Palmetto Brewing is a staple, and its Huger Street IPA and Lowcountry Lager are two local favorites.

Revelry Brewing Co.

10 Conroy St., downtown Charleston 

Revelry Brewing Co., which opened in 2014 and operates a second location on Folly Beach, sets itself apart with a dog-friendly rooftop and drinkable craft beers. While downtown development starts to crowd Revelry, a staple among locals, it’s still one of the top spots in the city for a picturesque sunset view. 

Since March, Le Farfalle owner Michael Toscano’s Da Toscano Fugazzi has been serving what the chef calls “unauthentic Italian-inspired Americana” at Revelry. That could look like porchetta crackling and mozzarella sticks to start, and a lobster roll or porcini prime rib cheesesteak on an Amoroso’s hoagie to finish.