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We love February. A month dedicated to showing love to the most important people and things in our lives, including our hearts. It’s American Heart Month and here in Charleston the whole town is painted red to commemorate this important time of year. Heart disease is the number one killer of American women and tops the leading causes of death among men. There are many easy ways to prevent heart-related health issues, a major factor being a healthy diet.

Though you might not necessarily think of “healthy” and “brewery” in the same sentence, Southend Brewery has a long list of healthy dishes for the heart and health-conscious. Try our anti-oxidant rich Berry Salad, or build your own and top it with naturally low fat grilled chicken or Omega-3 rich salmon and shrimp. Try our lean and delicious Pork Tenderloin with Grilled Apples or top a wood-grilled pizza with a tomato-based marinara sauce and pile it high with fresh vegetables. Mmm, mmm….

In support of Heart Month, Southend is hosting a 80′s-themed bash for the American Heart Association (AMA). This authentic dance party on Saturday, February 25th will have a true 80′s vibe and raise money and awareness for our local AMA chapter. Served throughout the event will be Southend’s heart-healthy h’ors duerves, including a fresh salad bar.

The “I Love the 80′s Bash” is described as an authentic 1980′s dance party. We’re hoping to hear lots of Hall and Oates, see some awesomely bad hair and neon spandex. Costumes are highly encouraged at the 80′s Bash, in fact 80′s-themed prizes will be given to they party people deemed to be best dressed. Yank that 80′s concert t-shirt from the Goodwill bag: this will be the night for its re-debut.

Greg Pitt, former 95sx radio personality will emcee the party, joined by The Charleston City Paper, ABC News 4′s Laura Harris from LowCountry Live. An on-site photographer from Epic Charleston will snap photos throughout the night. Get those song requests ready and prepare for a night of heart-thumping dancing. Tickets to the party are $20, money well spent during Heart Month.

Learn more and grab your tickets before the sell out.

Cabaret Event in Downtown Charleston SC on Friday, January 27th, Southend Brewery was treated to a unique event on our third floor. Our event space was transformed into a Cabaret with amazing performances from Charleston’s theater community, sponsored by the League of Charleston Theatre. Laughter and beautiful music flooded the room as performers, musicians and singers shared their talent for the very first Cabaret Night of its kind.

Southend Brewery sits in the center of downtown Charleston’s cultural hub. Broad Street art galleries trail down to our corner and continue on Queen Street, where we’re neighbor to beautiful homes, little boutiques and Charleston landmarks like the Dock Street Theater. This artistic air swept in Charleston Theatre, an organization dedicated to keeping Charleston’s theater culture alive and well.

Friends, families and supporters of the group were among our guests for the Cabaret. This evening was a real treat for us and we’re honored to have played host. We’re already looking forward to the next performance. Stay updated for future Theater Charleston events here and read a first-hand account from Cabaret Night Charleston blogger, Lisa.

Think of Southend’s event space as a blank canvas for your event creation. Though we typically host reunions, rehearsal dinners and happy hours gatherings, our second and third floors are particularly great venues for a DJ, band or musical performance. We have ample seating and standing room, a full bar, beautiful views and close proximity to the kitchen, from where your custom food menu is created.

If you’re interested in hosting your own event at Southend Brewery, contact Event Coordinator Jana Hodge (events@southendbrewery.com) for a tour and consultation.

Many of us experience the blues on Valentines Day in Historic Downtown Charleston: maybe you’re dateless or stuck going on a really terrible one. This year we invite you to actually enjoy the blues on Valentines Day. Southend Brewery  has matched up this unassuming couple to promise a really fun evening out in Downtown Charleston SC.

So, get cozy in a booth- with or without your Valentine- with a tasty fixed menu and an added bonus of live music, courtesy the Lowcountry Blues Bash. Valentines Day at Southend Brewery is a date worth making. Chef Greg Tatis has created an amazing three course Valentines Day Menu. For just $30, you’ll nosh on three hearty courses, all with a signature Southend flair.

To start, dig into a Southern food favorite: Pork straight from our smoker, served over Cheese Grits and Black Eyed Peas. If seafood is more your style, enjoy local Oysters, Rockefeller style with Melted Brie Cheese from Charleston Artisan Cheesehouse.

After you’ve warmed up your appetite, move on to your choice of Grilled Chicken Breast served with Asparagus, Braised Sweet Potatoes and Lemon-Herb Butter Sauce or Pan Seared Red Snapper, served alongside Carolina Red Rice with Shrimp and Basil Cream.

We hope you have a mouth full of sweet teeth to enjoy every last bit of dessert. Either grab two forks and dive into mini Red Velvet Cake or a Double Chocolate Pound Cake, Fresh Whipped Cream and Cheesecake-Filled Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Enough sweetness for you?

Your live blues entertainment for the evening will be Juke Joint Johnny & Drew Baldwin. This duo plays the harmonica and guitar and beyond the blues, their repertoire includes swing and vintage blues.

Find a Valentine or a whole bunch of friends and join us! Make your Open Table Reservations for a guaranteed spot and we’ll see you then.

The Lowcountry Blues Bash stretches on for fourteen days, and we’ll feature live music performances each night. Check out our line up here.

Southend Brewery will be singin’ the blues from February 8-February 21st as one of Charleston’s downtown venues for the Lowcountry Blues Bash. This two week event features over 100 shows from more than 59 local blues artists and Southeastern musicians. Though there are very few things to have the blues about in Charleston today, our city has a deep-rooted history in blues music.

Gary Erwin, better known as his blues alias Shrimp City Slim, started the Lowcountry Blues Bash in the early nineties. As a blues lover and blues musician, he wished to introduce his favorite musical genre to club owners and the people of Charleston. The Blues Bash developed into a venue-crawl, posting up different musicians, every night, all over town. The Blues Bash gives music lovers, diners and barflies the chance to fall in love with the blues.

Southend Brewery will welcome live blues music artists to the stage every night during the two-week long event. Most performances begin in the 8:00-9:00 hour, so you can start your evening early and join us for dinner. If you drop in when the blues begin, grab a table and a drink. Our beer tastes better with the blues.

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Who’s Playing at Southend Brewery?

A Southend Brewery Blues Bash Lineup:

Wednesday 2/8/12- Jeff Beasley (8-11 pm)

Thursday 2/9/12- Shrimp City Slim (6-9pm)

Friday 2/10/12- Norman Taylor (9pm-12am)

Saturday 2/11/12- Lightnin’ Wells (6-9pm)

Sunday 2/12/12- Maurice John Vaughn Duo w/guests (8-11pm)

Monday 2/13/12- Marshall Ballew (8-11 pm)

Tuesday 2/14/12- Juke Joint Johnny & Drew Baldwin (8-11pm)

Wednesday 2/15/12- Paul Geremia (8-11pm)

Thursday 2/16/12- Gail Storm (6-9pm)

Friday 2/17/12- AcousticA (9-12pm)

Saturday 2/18/12- Robert Lighthouse (6-9pm)

Sunday 2/19/12- Matt Walsh (9pm-12am)

Monday 2/20/12- Joey Gilmore (8-11pm)

Tuesday 2/21/12- Jeff Beasley (8-11pm)

See the full line up here and stay plugged in to Southend’s Facebook page for updates.

Try our Charleston Best Beer & Pizza combinations. Delicious by themselves, but even better together. Southend’s microbrewed beer is the perfect beverage to wash down a slice of pizza, but it also serves a dual role in our pizza perfection.

The secret behind our delicious pizza dough is behind those infamous glass walls inside the restaurant. The magic ingredient in Southend Brewery’s pizza is the additional buzz of flavor from our homemade ale.  Years ago, we began adding Southend Ale to our pizza dough and found that when yeast from the dough and yeast from our beer met, there was perfection.

Adding beer to pizza dough in place of water gives the the crust a nice consistency. Ale makes pizza dough light and flaky and cooking the pizza in our wood-fired oven makes the flavors to soar to the surface. You have yourself a rich, delicious, authentic pizza, that’s never thick and chewy; but just right.

With years of testing pizza topping combinations behind us, we’ve found a few crowd favorites, including The Margherita (with fresh mozzarella and basil pesto), The Smoked BBQ Chicken Pizza, and a Meat Lovers Pizza (with pepperoni, sausage, roasted red pepper and goat cheese). If you can dream of something better, you can also create your own Southend Pizza. Choose a base of standard marinara or smoked tomato sauce, a choice of goat, mozzarella or cheddar-jack cheese and a variety of fresh veggies and smoked meats.

Enjoy it here with a Southend Ale or take it home with a full growler. Check out pictures and reviews of fellow Southend Pizza lovers on Foodspotted.

Southend Featuring Live Music in Downtown Charleston SC

Jimmy Fallon got himself a late night house band, and now we’ve got one, too. If you had the pleasure of hearing the sweet, live jazz sounds of the Charleston-based E.S.P. Trio this fall, you’ll be thrilled with this piece of news. Southend Brewery has invited the guys to be the official Southend Brewery house band.

With exception of just a few evenings this winter, the ESP Trio will play for Southend dinner and bar guests on Friday evenings. From 7-10 pm, the “Eclectic Soul Perspective” will take center stage and play some light contemporary jazz. Saxophonist Mike Quinn was a former Southend bartender, now returning to his old haunts this time joined by his pals, bass player David Grimm and drummer Jonathan Peace. The trio add some much-needed live music to the East Bay weekend bar scene.

When warmer temperatures make their way back to Charleston, we’ll open our floor-to-ceiling glass walls and let the music carry out to our outdoor seating.  In the meantime, come catch the guys inside on Southend Brewery’s first floor stage.

Grab a beer, microbrewed on site, create your own wood grilled pizza and get ready for a chill evening downtown.

January and February Live Music Calendar at Southend Brewery
1/20  -  Jeff Liberty (blues)  6:30-9:30
1/27  -  ESP Trio 7:00-10:00
2/3   -  ESP Trio 7:00-10:00
2/10  -  Norman Taylor  9:00
2/17  -  Acoustic A   9:00
2/24  -  ESP Trio 7:00-10:00

With Restaurant Week less than week away, Charlestonians are poring over each and every Restaurant Week menu, drooling and frantically making reservations. There’s a reason why Charleston Restaurant Week is ten days long- there’s too much to taste in seven days. We are particularly excited to share our 3 for $20 menu, inspired by the spicy N’awlins lifestyle.

Long before settling in Charleston, Southend Brewery’s Executive Chef Greg Tatis cooked alongside famed Chef Paul Proudhomme at New Orleans K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen. After his first eight-year run in the south, he took his New Orleans education to New York and opened two restaurants for New Englanders craving creole cuisine. When Chef Tatis migrated back to the south, he landed at Southend Brewery in Charleston and brought along the spice and smoke of New Orleans cuisine. Hints of Cajun and Creole are woven throughout Southend’s menu, but next week, you’ll have a chance to taste the real deal.

French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and African cultures blend with traditional Southern soul food and bring us bright, spicy Creole flavors. On his Restaurant Week Menu, Chef Tatis features smoked or super spicy starters, classic Southern/Creole entrees and the perfect amount of chocolate to polish it off.  New Orleans is no stranger to drinking, and neither is Southend. Any of our house made microbrew beers or handcrafted cocktails make an excellent counterpart to our Restaurant Week Menu.

Make reservations with us for January 12-22nd, Charleston Restaurant Week! Happy eating.

Southend Brewery’s 3 courses for $20

Starters

Smoked Pork and Green Chili Enchilada with Guajillo Pepper and Pict’s Stout Mole.

 OR

Alligator Sauce Piquant with Jalapeno Toast Points

Entrées

Blackened Catfish with Sautéed Mirliton, Roasted Andouille and Béarnaise

OR

Chicken Clemençeau

Desserts

 Chocolate and Pecan Pie

OR

Red Velvet Cake

Who says January has to be a downer? At Southend Brewery, we can’t wait to share what’s on tap for the first month of 2012.

We’re starting off the new year with a Latin Groove Salsa Saturday New Years Eve Party! For just a $10 cover charge at the door, you’ll enjoy $2.50 Southend drafts, an appetizer bar, a chance to win SEB gift certificates and a midnight champagne toast. DJ Luigi will rock the party with Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton, and Top 40. You can party with us if you’re 18, but of course must be 21 to enjoy the bubbly. The party starts this Saturday night at 10:00 pm and rages on into the night. Beat the line and buy your ticket today.

Come back on Sunday morning to nurse your good-time hangover. Fill your belly with smoked BBQ sandwiches, build-your-own brick oven pizzas, and some hair of the dog handcrafted Bloody Mary or microbrewed beer. While you’re here you can scope out a front row seat for January’s full schedule of College Bowl games.

And of course- we will soon reveal the menu for this winter’s Charleston Restaurant Week. Back by popular demand will be our 2 for $20 menu. The perfect solution to beating the winter blues. Make your dinner reservations now and enjoy the special from January 12-22nd.

Thanks for making 2011 one of Southend’s best years yet. We’ve loved sharing our brew, food and event space with you and look forward to bringing more fun in the new year.

Southend Brewery beer tasting: there’s an app for that. It’s called Untappd and it’s main purpose is to “socially share the brew you’re currently enjoying, as well as where you’re enjoying it, with your friends.” It’s like a virtual pub crawl. A live feed shares pictures and reviews of beers that people are drinking-right now- all over the country. There’s a website and an app, plugged into Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter. Log in, search for your location, and see who’s drinking what nearby. You might even finds some friends at a bar down the block drinking a cool new beer.

We love it here at Southend! Southend Brewery microbrews have been extensively drank and reviewed on the Untappd app. Beer drinkers have tried our six year-round beer choices and a variety of our seasonal brews. This app is awesome, it lists the beer name, brew style, and gravity level. Each one of our flavors can be found on Untappd, including Brewmaster Ahren Wharf’s latest creation, Toasted Coconut Porter. If you like the beer you’re drinking, Untappd also gives you a few similar suggestions and directs you where to find it.

With the Charleston microbrewery community growing, this app gives beer geeks and beer lovers a sneak peek at the new beer on tap complete with an educated, unbiased opinion.

Untappd Creator Greg Avola says, “The beer community is passionate and as we’re learning, it spans the globe. Much like any other topic, social media is an amazing way for all of these beer enthusiasts to come together and share their thoughts, opinions and exchange beer related information. Additionally, many craft beer bars tend to change up what they’re carrying regularly, so social media allows for them to easily tell their patrons and keep people informed of what’s rotating on tap.”

If you make your way to Southend for a pre or post Christmas cold one, share it with Untappd! We love to hear what you think about our beers. It just takes a minute to sign up.

And- HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Southend!

Check out the Untappd Blog

Last night, Southend Brewery had a front row spot for Men’s Night at Bits of Lace and Croghan’s Jewel Box. We shared selections from our catering menu with a crowd of hungry shoppers and poured glass after glass of wine and champagne. King Street was alive with a festive feel, each storefront window lit up with white lights and an unusually warm “winter” breeze blowing. Men’s Night has become one of our favorite events on King Street. For all the men who enjoyed their hors d’ oeuvres: visit Southend for more.

On the menu were chicken satay skewers with peanut sauce, cheeseburger sliders, a fruit spread and a delicious artisan cheese platter complete with Buttermilk Bleu, Vintage Van Gogh Gouda, Gruyere and more.

While Southend Brewery is known for hosting parties in our second and third floor event space, we are also available for off-site party catering. Whether you take a food spread to go or host an event at the restaurant, our menu is extremely customizable. We can provide appetizers and small bites like these, or prepare a three-course, sit down meal. Contact our Event Coordinator Jana Hodge (events@southendbrewery.com) for pricing and a detailed menu.

If you need a last minute party spot this holiday season, we still have a few open dates for our gorgeous event space! It’s not too late to pull together an awesome party in December or in the new year. Check our event calendar for availability.

Blue skies and mild temperatures made the perfect morning for last Saturday’s Reindeer Run. We at Southend Brewery welcomed hundreds of runners, walkers and dogs into the restaurant for some beer, appetizers and merriment as the official Reindeer Run After-Party destination.

This is one of our favorite days of the year. We just can’t get enough of the santa beards, elf ears and Christmas tree costumes. It’s actually pretty amazing some people are even able to move- let alone run a 5K in some of these get-ups.

See Southend in the midst of Santas, reindeers and runners in this great video. Thanks to The Footstore  for documenting the morning! Charleston Magazine and Charleston Scene captured some hilarious photos. 

The official results haven’t been posted, but keep checking the official Reindeer Run site for updates.

Were you at partying at Southend after the run? Upload a picture to our Facebook page.

Photo credit: Charleston Magazine

It’s the event many men wait all year for: Mens Night on King Street. This year the shopping event will take place on December 15th from 5:30-8:00. The two participating stores are Bits of Lace Fine Lingerie  at 302 King Street and Croghan’s Jewel Box at 308 King Street. 

Shopping for lingerie and jewelry is bound to make a guy hungry, so Southend Brewery is catering the event. The menu looks delicious, and it will taste even washed down with specialty wine and champagne pairings… 

A Southend food spread at a recent Bits of Lace event

The news from Mens Night organizers: this year will be better than ever. The after-hours event includes personal shopping with the experts, drinks, Southend hor d’oeuvres, free gift wrapping and the same two gorgeous models from last year. Bits of Lace is offering gifts to the first 25 customers, special discounts and savings on gift cards. The evening benefits Debi’s Kids, which provides gifts to children of families with limited holiday resources and the MUSC Children’s Hospital Fund.

If you’re a Southend Brewery fan, put Mens Night on your calendar. Finish shopping for the ladies in your life, enjoy our food and experience a really cool night on King. It’s a can’t miss!

It’s Thanksgiving Eve. A day when every red-blooded American is prepping their minds and stomachs for a full day of eating, drinking, football and family.  

This year the “Smokehouse” in us challenges you to break your traditional bird preparation. If you’ve tried any of our smoked menu items, you know how delicious a smoky meat can be. Turkey is no exception. Smoking a turkey is also a great excuse to get outside, away from the commotion in the kitchen and far from uncomfortable in-law interaction.

To smoke a turkey, you will of course need a smoker. For the best results, try a 14-16 pound turkey. This size bird will cook the best, anything much larger runs the danger of charring.  Many sources recommend soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine, then rubbing it down with any variety of seasonings. Go for something as simple as olive oil, salt and pepper or intriguing as a fruit juice for a sweet taste. Many smoking chefs add apple chunks to their charcoal to achieve the same sweet flavor.

Once the smoker is hot and ready, the turkey should be cooked for about 30 minutes per pound. Much like roasting a turkey, the preparation will take most of the day. Basting the bird with butter occasionally while cooking will add some extra delicious flavor. When the bird is ready to eat, you can expect a juicy, tender turkey. As far as we’re concerned, smoked turkey is the only way to go.

If you are serious about smoking tomorrow, here are step by step directions for a “smoked turkey a pilgrim could love” and a great turkey-smoking video.

Once you’ve finally digested your Thanksgiving meal and subsequent leftovers, join the smoking-masters Southend for even more deliciousness. But until then, Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Southend Brewery and Smokehouse!

In just two weeks, beer-drinking Santas, reindeer and elves will pack Southend Brewery as the official party destination for Charleston’s annual Reindeer Run. It really is the most wonderful time of the year at the brewery. It’s not everyday we see this man throwing our beers back.

The Reindeer Run is a 5k walk/run through downtown Charleston that begins and ends at Southend. The race route circles the most beautiful streets in the city, down the Battery, past Charleston Harbor and up quaint side streets. The Charitable Society of Charleston sponsors the event each year and encourages runners, walkers, families, and dogs to join the festivities. Creative holiday-themed costumes are highly encouraged. Try if you might- to beat the three wise men and Christmas tree looks… I mean- that’s pretty good.

Courtesy Reindeer Run

The 2011 Reindeer Run is on Saturday, December 3rd. From 9-11:00 is when the “real party begins” at Southend. Your bib number gets you complimentary Southend beer, appetizers and yes- massages! Live on our stage will also be local band The Cordovans. After 11 am, Reindeer Run participants will still enjoy some specially priced beer and Bloody Marys…

Money raised from the Reindeer Run benefits the MUSC Children’s Hospital. If you sign up before November 20th, you save some cash!

Now that you’ve reached the end of this blog, lace up your sneakers and get some practice in for the run! See you December 3rd at the official Reindeer Run party headquarters.

Charleston artist Helen Duckworth‘s earthy, beautiful paintings are unmistakable. Helen’s art portrays the beauty of life with a rich color palate and emotional, thought provoking themes. Keith Jones, Owner of Southend Brewery and his wife Ruth Brennan are Helen Duckworth collectors, and Keith is now sharing Helen’s artwork with his restaurant guests. Several of Helen’s lovely pieces are now on display on the walls of Southend’s Bobby Jones Room. This Event room on Southend’s second floor is home to many formal occasions, rehearsal dinners and seated events throughout the year, making this perfect spot to display Helen’s work. The deep reds, oranges and greens look amazing against the room’s bright natural light, large windows and exposed brick.

Helen is a native of Yorkshire, England who found her new home in Charleston over thirty years ago. Her love for the arts began when she was a young girl and she was later classically trained at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She has found inspiration from the beauty of the lowcountry saying,”The air is thick with everything growing,” she says, “which feeds my ideas for both painting and poetry. My paintings are about feelings,” she continues, “I am trying to express through color and form, the full range of my own emotions.”

See Helen Duckworth’s work at Southend Brewery at 161 East Bay Street in downtown Charleston. Learn more about Helen and see her new artwork here.

On this blustery, grey November Friday, venture on down to Southend Brewery to hear Charleston’s own E.S.P. jazz trio.

E.S.P members Mike Quinn, David Grimm & Jonathan Peace frequently play down the other end of the peninsula at Kudu Coffee, but are now bringing their music to East Bay Street. The E.S.P. Trio play the saxophone, stand-up bass and drums respectively, so you can expect a chill, laid back night. The music starts at 7 pm and will continue on until 10pm.

Southend serves a full menu until 11:00 pm, so you can grab a later dinner, martini and enjoy the show. We expect these guys to be incredible and can’t wait for their Southend debut tonight.

Live Jazz at Southend Brewery

E.S.P. Jazz Trio

161 East Bay Street

7-10 pm

Tonight! Friday, November 4, 2011

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Live music nights at Southend Brewery are a great way to start your weekend. We’ve got a stage at the front of the restaurant, nestled in between floor-to-ceiling windows and the downstairs’ full bar.

When weather permits, our windows open out to the street and carry the sweet sounds of our music down the block. We keep the beer and beverages flowing right up until 2 am, so feel free to stick around after the show if you aren’t ready to head home.

See you there!

Halloween is a particularly creepy at Southend Brewery. With a historic building as haunted as ours, there’s no telling what kind of spirits and ghosts will come home to roost. If you are looking for something to do this Halloween, put together a killer costume and come to Southend Brewery on Saturday October 29th, for Latin Groove Charleston’s Party Rock Halloween.

DJ Luigi and DJ Leo from Latin Groove Charleston flood Southend Brewery’s dance floor with latin beats every Thursday and Saturday night. Salsa dancers of all kind have caught the contagion of Southend’s Latin Groove Salsa Nights. Party Rock Halloween promises to be the most unique Halloween experience to be had in Charleston this year. We’re picturing a night-long scene from Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, except to Salsa music, and with fewer zombies.

DJ Luigi and DJ Leo are giving away $500 in prizes for the best costumes. As always, there is no cover charge and Southend’s bartenders will be pouring homemade beer and icy cold cocktails all night. Remember to fuel up before the party with some nachos or wood grilled pizza.

If you’re stumped for costume ideas, check out what CNN predicts to be the most popular this year. We wonder how many Charlie Sheen’s and Snooki’s be attending Party Rock Halloween…

Southend Brewery’s bar is home to six, homemade microbrews, thanks to Ahren Warf: resident Brewmaster. Ahren created new beer recipes earlier this summer, brewing the very best for Charleston barhoppers and beerlovers. Five of his six recipes are available year round including the popular Love Me Two Times Blonde, Watch it Grow Wheat and Rip Tide Red. To keep things exciting at the Southend bar, a draft selection from a fellow microbrewery and Ahren’s rotating seasonal selections are always featured as well. 

From the Southend Brewhouse this fall, is Ahren’s Pumpkin Ale. This toasty brown beer is brewed with the spices you’d find in your favorite pumpkin pie. With one delicious sip, you’ll remember that familiar fall feel- maybe even see the trees’ leaves changing with a crisp breeze blowing by. October is the perfect time for people watching on East Bay Street. Grab a friend and a table outside for a front row view.

If cooler temperatures keep you inside for the weekend, make a stop at Southend before hibernating to fill a Southend Growler of Pumkpin Ale. A Southend Growler filled with our housemade microbrew is just $14.95.

There are many ways to enjoy Charleston’s only downtown brewery. Boost your beer brewing knowledge and read more about our thirst quenching selections.

Southend Brewery is downtown Charleston’s premier event venue for rehearsal dinners, banquets and corporate events. Our private second and third floor event space has long been the city’s best kept secret, but today the secret is out.

If you’ve been handed the dreaded task of planning the next company outing or holiday party, we’ve got you covered. Choose the second floor for a formal feel, choose the third floor for a fun, informal party and enjoy a fully stocked bar, games, darts and pool tables. Southend has party planning down to a science. All we need is your event date and budget. Leave the rest to us.

Here are five reasons why everybody loves a Southend party:

1. Our event space is free for parties of 20 or more. So are our tables, chairs, linens and utensils. Lots of companies and venues will nickle and dime you for these necessities. Choosing Southend as your event venue saves $1,000 or more from the get-go.
2. Super low food costs. We offer a buffet or multiple course, plated options that range from $20- 40 per person.You can choose themed buffets or go a la carte to hand select items for everyone. Our menus include a seafood option with Pirlau and Shrimp and Grit, an Italian menu with Chicken Parmesan and Shrimp and Veggie Truffled Risotto, even a Smoked BBQ Buffet with a variety of homemade sauces. Delicious desert options aren’t far behind.
3. Cheap bar rental packages. We have tiered options to fit your budget and satisfy your co-workers whether they prefer beer, wine or liquor. Another plus, we brew our beer in house- and it’s really good.
4. You’ll get the best view of Charleston: with glimmering lights and a clear view of the water. Our high ceilings, exposed brick and historic building deliver an experience that is truly unique.
5. Jana Hodge, Southend Brewery’s very own Event Coordinator. She runs the show from start to finish with years of experience in event planning and execution. She’ll help you plan and be there to ensure your event goes off without a hitch.

Get the full scoop here. Our holiday calendar fills fast- book your date soon! Call us at 843-853-4677 or e-mail Jana at events@southendbrewery.com for a tour and pricing.

Charleston Pub Crawl | Tour Southend Serving Our Best Beer & American Food

Starts: Saturday 24th, 2011 | 2:00pm – 10:00pm

Buy Ticket Now

Southend Brewery is the only downtown retaurant that serves tasty food and brews beer on site. Southend’s very own Brewmaster, Ahren Wharf, re-reciped six microbrews earlier this summer that the people of Charleston are lovin’. If you’re in Charleston this Saturday, have your chance to imbibe Southend’s brews all day long. Pace yourself, because it’s going to be a long day!

Start your afternoon with the Charleston Pub Crawl, an event to set the world record for the largest bar crawl. As if you needed more excuses to partake in a bar crawl, we have two for you.

1. The Pub Crawl benefits Charleston Waterkeeper, an organization that ensures we have clean water to enjoy, drink and brew good beer with.

2. The East Bay Bar Crawl starts at Southend, where you can check in and pick up your event Swag Bag, starting at 2 pm.  We suggest showing up early and noshing on a wood grilled pizza or BBQ Sandwich. You need something in your stomach to absorb all that beer you’ll be enjoying.

Buy your tickets here!

Though the Charleston Pub Crawl party lasts into the evening, Southend is taking its beers down to the Charleston Ballpark Festival of Beers for more drinkin’.

Your ticket (which you can purchase here) to the Festival of Beers buys your way into Joe Riley Stadium with a stack of tickets to sample some of the area’s best beers. What’s better than a giant outdoor keg party on a beautiful fall night in Charleston? That’s right, nothing. The Southend team will be pouring its very own microbrewed beer, so mosey on over to our booth and use some of those drink tickets.

So as you can see, there are plenty of ways to celebrate this unofficial Charleston Drinking Day on Saturday. And plenty of ways to enjoy the Southend Brewery bar and beers. If you can’t get enough this weekend, we’re open all day, every day, so come on by and drink with us.

Though it’s often left off in conversation, the “Smokehouse” part of Southend Brewery and Smokehouse’s full name is an integral piece of the operation. Our smokers turn out delicious meats for our popular Bar-B-Que inspired dishes like the Pulled Pork Sandwich, Sliced Beef Brisket plate and our BBQ Hickory Smoked Danish Baby Back Ribs.

We’re throwing our smoker into high gear this weekend and bringing it to Charleston Scene’s Rub My Rib Contest. Our ribs will be put to the test next to Charleston’s other highly acclaimed ribs. We’re up  against some pretty stiff competition, but we’re confident we will take home the prize.

A cool and cloudy weekend makes for perfect rib-eating weather. The event benefits Communities in Schools, a local nonprofit that inspires kids to stay in school, making this a fantastic, family friendly event. There will be live music from Gaslight Street and Old You and extra concessions if you need a beer to cleanse your palate between rib tastings.

Show up and give Southend Brewery and Smokehouse some rib-lovin’ this weekend! The Rub My Rib Contest is at the Maritime Center on Saturday, September 17th from 4 pm to 8 pm, giving you plenty of time to move the party back over to the restaurant for a night of Salsa dancing, darts or pool.

Read more about the event through the eyes of its creator, Paul Farrell and get the full scoop here.

In a city steeped with a devastating history of war, fire, hurricanes and earthquakes, one can only begin to imagine how many souls linger on in their homes and favorite haunts. Charleston’s countless ghost stories and firsthand accounts prove that this city is too great to leave, even after death.

Southend Brewery happens to be one of the most haunted buildings in Charleston. Long before people flocked here for food and beer, a cotton merchant had an office on the third floor, where he took his own life back in the 1800′s. Deep in dept and hopeless, the merchant hanged himself after watching a shipment of cotton burn to the water line from his window. This shipment was meant to repay his debts. As the ship burned down, he watched his last chance of redemption burn away, too. This man’s ghost has taken permanent residence at Southend. Though hundreds of years ago he lived a tortured life here, he now seems to be enjoy Southend Brewery’s modern day charms.

The ghost appears to be friendly. He has taken quite a liking to our beer. Bartenders report beer flowing from a tilted tap behind the bar- with no one in site. Servers report frequently feeling the breeze of a tall man blow past them in front of the windows on the third floor. This can only be explained as the ghost enjoying a clear view to the harbor, this time without the worry of a burning ship. Our Salsa-dancing guests have also experienced some time with the ghost- he must like to dance.

Can you feel the ghost?

Have YOU had your own brush with the Southend Brewery Ghost? Maybe something seemed a little eerie on a recent Southend visit. Maybe you felt some paranormal energy while dining or enjoying a drink at the bar. Maybe you felt there was an extra guest present at your second-floor party. Please share your ghost story with us.

Chef Brett McKee is serving deliciousness at Southend Brewery again this weekend. I thought it would be impossible to beat last weekend’s menu of Watermelon Tomato Salad and Tomato Pie, but maybe I thought wrong.

Like a mad scientist of food, Brett is in the kitchen mixing local produce with a coastal catch of swordfish alongside a light, simple arugula salad. Pair these plates with an icy cold beer, brewed on site might I add, and you’re ready to brave another steaming hot weekend. Here’s the official menu:

Arugula, Grilled Red Onion and Mushroom Salad with an Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette

Grilled Local Fresh Swordfish over Fingerling Potatoes with a Cool Cucumber Gazpacho and Teardrop Tomatoes topped with a Citrus, Mint Compound Butter.

I am counting down the hours until dinner as I write this. If you beat me to the table, let me know how you liked it.

Southend’s Summer Sangria is proven to boost dancing ability by 90%.

Test our claim on Thursday nights, when Southend Brewery transforms into your Latin music destination.

DJ Luigi-Latin Groove & DJ Leo Leonardo Ordonez pump perfect Sangria sippin’ beats. With a glass full of our wine, liquor and fresh fruit concoction, you’ll find yourself Salsa dancing like a natural.

Salsa Dancing Machines

For more evidence, just take a look at these good looking people dance! Southend helped unleash their inner talent, now it’s your turn.

Don’t be afraid to reach your full dancing potential. Come to Southend Brewery this and every Thursday from 10 pm – 2 am for Latin inspired tunes and libations.

Hopping from one local brewery to the next, sipping on icy cold microbrews with a personal driver waiting outside. That might be the best day ever.

This is why Charleston Brews Cruise is the best thing to hit Charleston this summer.  Brewery hopping is the bar hopping of 2011, especially in this close-knit community of breweries.

Just last week, the Charleston Brews Cruise took its maiden voyage and stopped at Southend Brewery to visit Brewmaster Ahren Wharf and his re-reciped beers. Ahren shared some tools of the trade and gave the group a taste of what’s behind Southend’s infamous glass walls.

Southend's Brewmaster, Ahren Wharf

Cruises depart every week with discounting pricing available for locals. Check out their site and reserve a spot on the next Brews Cruise.

It’s a great time to be brewing beer and drinking beer in Charleston.

Photos courtesy Charleston Brews Cruise. Visit their Facebook page for more!

Matt and Christie, two weekend warriors turned full time sailors, made a special stop at the Brewery on their worldwide sailing adventure.  We may be partial to this gorgeous town, but we also agree that Charleston is a must-see city!

Southend, too, is a must-eat, must-drink destination! Matt and Christie really got it right.

Microbrew with a View

With inspiration drawn from Charleston’s unique culinary scene, Southend’s new menu offers Lowcountry favorites like Chicken Fried Steak and Slow Smoked BBQ Pork Sandwiches with the perfect storm of sides (fried pickes and slaw).

Showcasing the coastline’s fresh catches are dishes like Lump Crab Cakes with Fried Green Tomatoes, Battered Catfish with Hushpuppies and of course, Shrimp & Grits.

Also, can’t forget about Southend’s homemade microbrews and tubs of summer sangria that make this town tipsy.

Throw in the view of the Ashley and Cooper River, a prime spot on historic East Bay Street, and you’ve got a true Charleston experience- in one fell swoop.

So for you landlubbers who only dream of sailing the world, you can get a small taste of Matt and Christie’s Charleston adventure at Southend Brewery and Smokehouse.

Good luck to you both! If the brewing/cooking gig doesn’t work out, maybe we’ll join you on the boat. Thanks for stopping by!

Like ‘em on Facebook and read more about their adventure.

Summer heat and humidity are expected here in Charleston. But really? 100 degrees again today? It’s already been a cruel summer and it’s only officially been one day. I was hoping to have a few more weeks of peace before being confronted with these outrageous temperatures.

On a day like today I feel like doing two things:

1. Not cooking

2. Drinking beer

The solution here is simple. I’ll have someone else cook for me. And I’ll drink a beer while they’re cooking. Luckily I can do both of these things at Southend Brewery. Even better, they are serving up some amazing Southern recipes that I’m craving despite the heat. Here’s what I recommend…

Shrimp and Grits with Fresh Tomatoes, Scallions and Tasso Ham

Fried Green Tomatoes with House Smoked Ratatouille, Goat Cheese and a Balsamic Drizzle

Everything at Southend Brewery and Smokehouse got a facelift, including the servers.

At long last, the new menu and draught beer selection is ready and raring to go. What other place in town can serve up fried favorites alongside seafood, pizza, pasta and homemade microbrewed beer? Nowhere, but Southend.

Many tried and true favorites are still on the menu like Uncle Gerry’s Almost Famous Meatloaf, Shrimp and Grits and endless varieties of brick oven pizzas. Making its debut are a few delicious entrees like the Southern Fried Chicken Steak and the Grilled BBQ-Spice Rubbed Salmon.

Six New Beers on Tap!

Our six new or re-reciped beers are icy cold and delicious, just in time to cool you off this summer. There’s nothing like a pint of Watch It Grow Wheat with a ripe orange slice at the bar or a Growler filled to the brim with Rip Tide Red ale. If you can’t quite decide, get a sampler tray or a few pitchers among your table of friends.

Come try it out and tell us about your new favorites!

We love you King Street Bars, but sometimes, the sights and sounds of nightlife over on that side of the peninsula can get a little too repetitive. There’s really only so many times you can pay a cover charge and push through a drunk mob waiting for a street cart hot dog. For those of you who have forgotten, yes, there is nightlife past King Street. Show East Bay Street some love!

When’s the last time you visited Southend on the weekend? It’s a whole new world and you’ve got to check it out. There’s always a new face, always a cool view to discover and a rotating batch of homemade seasonal beers on tap to test out. Plus, the third floor has rows of pool tables, dart boards and arcade games. If you’re sick of the King Street scene and can’t possibly see another raccoon-sunglasses sunburn, hop in a pedicab and try out Southend Brewery for your weekend adult beverage(s).

Not Quite Southend's Glass Elevator, But Close

A glass elevator ride isn’t just reserved for Charlie Bucket and Willie Wonka. There’s a glass elevator in Charleston that leads to a world of pure imagination and beer. If it’s been awhile since you’ve experienced the glass elevator, eaten a wood fired pizza with a view of the Charleston Harbor and tried a Southend Microbrew Sampler, now’s the time to pay us a visit.

In just a few short weeks, Southend Brewery and Smokehouse Executive Chef, Greg Tatis will unveil a brand new menu and beer recipes. Rumor has it the servers will have a whole new look, too.

Come in and see what new things are brewing.

It is undoubtedly the most important thing on my calendar this month. I have been celebrating by sipping on a different hand-crafted draught each day from Southend Brewery. There just so happens to be seven selections on tap, which makes for a very convenient coincidence.

The Brewers Association pulled out all the stops to ensure communities across the country properly commemorate American Craft Beer Week. Even our pals up in Washington D.C. made it official last year.  If you are coming up dry on unique ways to celebrate, read the BA’s ”Seven Days and Seven Ways” guide. 

As for the less fortunate, who live in a town without a neighborhood brewery or craft beer on tap, I suggest you sign the Declaration of Beer Independence and get to celebrating next year.

It’s only Wednesday, so that means you have the next four days to commemorate the country’s finest beverage. If you happen to find yourself in downtown Charleston, make sure to pay Southend Brewery a visit. What’s more American than an ice cold draft and a view of the Charleston harbor?

It’s getting muy caliente at Southend!

Let Southend Brewery set you up with the perfect night: cold, local brews, great dance music and lots of Salsa!

Latin Groove presents Salsa Night at Southend every Thursday evening at 10 with DJ Luigi spinning saucy dance tunes and keeping us on our toes.

Don’t miss out on Salsa lessons provided by Abdiel Acevedo of Estilo 6, included in the cover and guaranteed to keep you coming back, and showing off your new moves

With tons of special events throughout the year a killer following, Salsa Night has been a Southend staple for over 8 years and we’re gonna keep it rollin’ and keep you dancin’!

May we have this dance?

Cheers!

First Fridays on Broad and the French Quarter Gallery Association plan to host an art walk this Friday, March 4th from 5-8pm where works of Lenore Barnett will be featured under the theme of “Night Moves and Still Days.”

One of Barnett’s paintings shows a night scene of Southend Brewery & Smokehouse from the outside with a quiet sidewalk wrapping around and blue streetlight to offset the warmth of the Brewery lights.

For more information on the walk and the artist visit the Ellis-Nicholson Gallery Event Page and be sure to stop in to the Gallery during the month of march to see Barrett’s works first hand.

Cheers!

Tara

Everyone has the blues sometimes, and it’s best to have good brews when you’ve got the blues, right?

And good food too. Can I get a closeup of those fried green tomatoes?

Oh yea, that’s right.

Ok, back to the blues. A plethora of talented artists visited our venue during the 21st Annual Lowcountry Blues Bash and each one sang us their story, Charleston style.

One such artist that I was lucky enough to meet was My Buddy Todd out of Myrtle Beach, band comprised of members Todd Roth and Kevin Dunn. Above is Todd himself jamming out a little tune just for me as I enjoyed my beer and tomatoes (which were 100% delicious, btw; crispy on the outside, hot and juicy on the inside).

On February 10th I tuned into Andy Coats‘ blues stylings and admired the cool, relaxed feel of the evening.

His smooth (and slightly twangy) tone and easy style were perfect for the crowd that evening, putting us all in a good mood, incidentally, chasing away the blues!

So if you’re around during the Blues Bash, or really any old night (we host live music and DJs every weekend!), don’t get down

Get down!

Love from the Lowcountry y’all,

Tara

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