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There is no better place to enjoy Mother’s Day than downtown Charleston, SC!  At Southend Brewery & Smokehouse, we are looking forward to serving Charleston moms our best American cuisine.  Reservations are recommended so, please call 843-853-4677 or book online.

Southend will be serving from our regular menu so guests will have a varied and personal selection for their holiday meal.  A casual, family friendly restaurant, Southend Brewery is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy. Just one block from Charleston’s beloved Waterfront Park, Southend Brewery is located in the heart of downtown Charleston on East Bay Street.  With a spacious main dining room, Southend can easily accommodate large parties.

Mother’s Day lunch and dinner is served to Mom’s liking whether she loves a robust salad or a traditional Southern dish, such as Shrimp & Grits or Southern Fried Chicken.

Chicken Caesar Salad

Southend House Salad with Salmon

Shrimp & Grits

Chef Gregory Tatis promises fantastic chef’s specials each week at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse.  Be sure to check our online menu under “Chef’s Specials” or call our restaurant to see what new dishes he has created in the kitchen.  Popular specialties have included NY strip with Grilled Asparagus, Goat Cheese Scalloped Potatoes topped with Portobellos and Beurre Rouge and Grilled Pork Medallions over Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Gorgonzola Dolce Creme….delicious!

Double Chocolate Brownie

Of course, there is nothing sweeter in the world than Mom (awww…), but our dessert menu comes pretty close!  Light and refreshing, the Chef’s Lemon and Lime Tart with Whipped Cream is perfect for a great Springtime day.  If your mom loves chocolate, it will be hard to find a better indulgence than our Warm Double Chocolate Brownie with vanilla ice cream.

We look forward to seeing you and your family this weekend at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse!  We wish all our Charleston mothers a very wonderful Mother’s Day!

Heading to downtown Charleston for Cinco de Mayo? Come join the fun at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse!  We’re serving the best ice-cold cervesas, muy buen Mexican appetizers and  DJ Luigi will getting us all in the Salsa spirit on the third floor.  No doubt, all three of our bars will be mucho caliente!  Charleston, it’s gonna be GOOD!

Many people think Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, but we actually have to wait until September 16th for that celebration.  The observance of Cinco de Mayo marks Mexico’s victory over the French in the “Battle of Puebla” in 1862.  Today, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated all over the United States by everyone who loves and appreciates Mexican culture and heritage.  Of course, no celebration is complete without plenty of food, beverage and dance!

You can count on Southend Brewery to have the best beer in Charleston on tap, as well, as a bar stacked with bottled favorites.  If you are looking for something extra frosty, our frozen drink Margarita Especial fits the bill…perfecto!

You simply cannot…cannot!…miss out on the best nachos in Charleston found only at Southend Brewery.  Our nachos are overflowing with gooey cheese, chicken, black beans, pico de gallo, jalapenos and sour cream.  You can easily make a meal out of it or, if you are feeling generous, share with your entire table.  If you want a little Charleston mixed in with your Cinco de Mayo, check out our house speciality – shrimp and crab dip served with tortilla chip.  Sooo good!

Feeling creative? Build your own Mexican brick oven pizza.  Begin with the basics – our homemade crust and sauce – and add on cheddar jack cheese, diced tomatoes, jalapenos, chicken, black olives and ole!  you have a meal your whole family will love.

Every Saturday night at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse, we are treated to the sultry music and dance of DJ Luigi’s Latin Groove Nights on the third floor of the brewery.  What better night than Cinco de Mayo to take advantage of free salsa dance lessons?  The lessons begin at 10 p.m. and the salsa dancing gets into full swing at 10:30 p.m.  DJ Luigi is a guaranteed fun time!

At Southend Brewery, Cinco de Mayo is one of our favorite times of the year.  We are really looking forward to a great day and night on Saturday.  Can’t wait to see you!

Undalay!! Undalay!!

Looking for a new beer in downtown Charleston SC? Southend Brewery & Smokehouse has you covered with a new seasonal brew on tap – an Unfiltered Blonde with Lemongrass and Ginger. Let us just stop and tell you now, it’s gooood!

The new beer is unfiltered giving it a bit of a cloudy complexion, but don’t let that fool you.  It’s a definite blonde, light beer that is great for Spring and warmer weather. Brewmaster Ahren Warf says, “I prefer unfiltered beer because it has more character and is more dynamic.”  We’re definitely taking his word for it because Ahren knows his beer!

New Seasonal Beer

Made with East Kent Golding hops and Pilsner, Vienna and honey malts, the new Unfiltered Blonde is an easy, drinkable beer.  On the front of the palate, you will get the distinct ginger flavor while the finish draws out the lemongrass.  It’s perfectly blended without one flavor outshining the other.

The new Unfiltered Blonde is a versatile beer that is enjoyed on its own or with almost any Southend food menu item.  We suggest pairing it with wings, one of our famous brick oven pizzas or seafood dishes for dining and drinking perfection.

Brick oven pizza

We encourage you to come in soon to try out Southend’s latest addition as it won’t be around for long.  Our bartenders will be serving it on tap for about another week and a half before making room for Ahren’s next creation.  What will he brew up next?  Well, you’ll just have to wait and see…

What goes better with the best beer in Charleston, SC than the best pizza?  Southend Brewery & Smokehouse has the best of both worlds with our custom-crafted micro beers and brick oven pizzas.  All we can say is yummm…

Margherita Brick Oven Pizza

There is ordinary pizza then there’s brick oven pizza…and yes, there’s a big difference! We’ve sampled quite a bit of pizza in our time and can honestly say that Southend’s brick oven pizzas are cheesy, crispy pizza perfection.  Our menu offers many pizza options from classics such as pepperoni and sausage to culinary specialties like our Famous Smoked BBQ Chicken with fresh herbs and smoked gouda cheese.  Needless to say, there’s nothing ordinary about ‘em!

Smoked BBQ Chicken Pizza

What makes Southend Brewery & Smokehouse’s pizzas so, so good?

We use a true beehive style brick oven with a ceramic lining and wood-burning fire. Once the fire reaches the optimum temperature, the bricks store the heat then give it back by radiating the heat and cooking the food.  The result? An evenly cooked pizza.  The brick oven enhances the natural flavor of the ingredients while creating the crispy texture to the crust.

Southend's Wood Burning Brick Oven

At Southend, you will find our chef has put together some fantastic pizza menu items, but we also encourage you to come up with your own combination.  With over 20 different toppings to choose from, let your creativity run wild! You dream it, we’ll cook it to perfection.

Can it get any better?  Hmmm…add a pitcher of signature beers Love Me Two Times Blond or Rip Tide Red and we’d say oh, yes!

Pizza & Beer, A Happy Marriage

Easter is this Sunday, April 8th and Downtown Charleston, SC is the perfect place to celebrate!  Southend Brewery & Smokehouse boasts not only the best dining and brewery in Charleston, but also a fabulous family-friendly restaurant to spend the holiday.  Enjoy casual dining and a holiday menu to your personal liking.

Serving from our stellar lunch and dinner menus, Southend Brewery will be open on Easter from 11:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.  With our wide range of chef specialities and extensive beer and wine bar, there is something for everyone at your Easter table.  Begin with traditional Southern appetizers such as Charleston She-Crab soup, Fried Green Tomatoes or Lowcountry Crab Cakes and ease into your meal with favorite Springtime salads such as Berry Salad, Spinach Salad and Iceberg Wedge….so good!

A perfect Easter entrée for the Southerner and Southerner-at-heart is our famous Southern Chicken Fried steak served with country gravy, mashed potatoes and vegetables.  Another Southern classic is our Southern Fried Chicken served with mac & cheese and collards. (This is the South…mac & cheese is a vegetable here!)

For more traditional Easter dinner, we recommend our mouth-watering Garlic Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with white corn grits, grilled apples and flamed apple brandy sauce or our chef’s special,  NY Strip with grilled asparagus and goat cheese scalloped potatoes topped with Portobello mushrooms and Beurre Rouge.

Compliment your meal with one of our many offerings from our award-winning beer and cocktail menus.  Perfect for Springtime, our Bellini Martini is refreshingly made with Stoli Peachik, champagne, peach juice and whipped cream.  If beer is more to your liking, you’ve come to the right place!  We handcraft our microbrews right here at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse.  From light  to stouty ales, there is a beer for everyone’s palate.

Whatever your personal taste for your Easter meal, we welcome you to spend your afternoon or evening with us at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse.  Call ahead at 843-853-4677 or click here to make your reservation.

Happy Easter from everyone at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse!

Looking for an event venue in Charleston, SC with historic charm for your bridal shower, wedding rehearsal dinner, wedding reception, company party or birthday party?  Southend Brewery & Smokehouse, located in the heart of downtown Charleston, boasts two event spaces that are private, customizable and affordable.  Whether your event is casual and lighthearted or elegant and formal, the experienced and talented Southend event team will bring your vision to life!

The Bobby Jones Room

Located on the second floor, The Bobby Jones Room is tucked away from the bustling restaurant below.  With its exposed brick walls, tall windows and bright artwork, your guests will enjoy the breathtaking view of the Charleston Harbor and city skyline. The room extends across the front of the restaurant and provides a comfortable space for parties up to 80 people for buffet and plated dinners.  Private and elegant, The Bobby Jones Room is ideal for intimate gatherings.

The Wagener Room

Your guests are transported in our glass elevator to the third floor to our charming and newly renovated Wagener Room.   Casual and rustic, The Wagener Room is spectacular with its high ceilings, exposed brick, tall rafters and gorgeous hardwood floors.  At the head of the room sits the full stocked Harborview Bar with several flatscreen televisions for your guests enjoyment.  Off to the side, your guests will find two pool tables for further party entertainment.  The Wagener Room seats up to 100 guests for a seated event and up to 150 guests for a reception-style event.  If your party is smaller than 100 people, Southend can section off the room for a more intimate feel.

Special Event Food & Beverage Menus

Our chefs have created an extensive special event menus with a variety of options to suit your party style.  You may select from hors d’oeuvre, a la carte choices, pre-set menus or completely customize your own menu.  For casual events, we offer Southend favorites such as smoked BBQ ribs, smokey chicken wings with bleu cheese and golden fried shrimp, to name just a few.  For more elegant affairs, our event menu boasts herb roasted pork loin, pesto encrusted chicken and certified Angus prime rib among many more other delectable choices.  For buffet style events, we offer a range of options including Barbeque Pork Buffet, Southend Italian Buffet, Lowcountry Seafood Buffet and Buffet Gourmand. Click here  to see our complete Special Event Menu.  We promise it will be hard to choose from so many mouth-watering choices!

Southend offers competitive pricing on event bar rentals. We offer fully customizable bar packages that mix and match beer, liquor and wine to fit your budget.  Enjoy our delicious cocktails, fine wine and homemade microbrew beers created just beyond our glass walls.

For more information on holding your next event at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse, please contact our Event Coordinator Jana Hodge at 843-853-4677 for a pre-event consultation.  We can’t wait to make your party one that your guests will never forget!

It’s officially spring time or should I say time for a new beer in Downtown Charleston SC. The city is getting ready for the Cooper River Bridge Run Charleston, the temperature is in the 80’s and Southend Brewery & Smokehouse is rolling out a new seasonal beer that is sure to be the best beer in the Holy City this Spring.  All is good, Charleston!

Southend Brewery’s resident brewmaster, Ahren Wharf, has put his Juniper Rye IPA on the bar and it’s a great choice for Spring.  It has a light amber, copper color with an unfiltered, hazy complexion. Brewed with juniper berries (what gin is made from), Ahren says it has a piney, citrus taste with a twinge of sweetness.  With an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 7.2%, the Juniper Rye definitely isn’t a slouchy beer!

Southend's new seasonal beer, Juniper Rye

The Juniper Rye IPA is brewed with four different hops: Nugget, Galena, East Kent Golding and Willamette.  Ahren has offset the hops with malt sweetness. Enjoy the Juniper Rye IPA on its own or with a food pairing such as hot wings or one of Southend’s famous stone oven pizzas.  We know, it’s all sounding even better.

As the story goes with seasonal beers, Southend Brewery’s Juniper Rye IPA is only available for a short time.  Ahren estimates it will be around Southend for at least two weeks so, come in and try it while you can.  Fortunately, it will still be on tap for the Cooper River Bridge Run on March 31^st so, celebrate your finish line victory here with us at Southend Brewery and Smokehouse.   You run. We’ll brew the beer.

No doubt, St. Patrick’s Day in Charleston SC is a favorite casual dining and drinking celebration. Looking for a bar with great food to revel in all things green? Southend Brewery and Smokehouse will be brewing up a fun time this Saturday for all you lads and lassies whether you are Irish or Irish at heart.

Southend has the Best Beer Charleston SC

When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, shortly after conjuring up an image of a little green mischievous guy, chances are “beer” is top o’ the list of your favorite things.  Where else would celebrate all things beer than a place that specializes in craft beer 365 days of the year? Southend Brewery and Smokehouse’s large selection of regional cuisine and custom-crafted microbrewed beers is like the pot of gold at the end of a beer lover’s rainbow (c’mon, you knew we had to fit that in somewhere! Check out the beer menu and see for yourself). If your St. Patty’s Day won’t be complete without a green drink, our specialty Apple Martini will satisfy both your sweet and green cravings.

Planning on taking the family to the Charleston St. Patrick’s Day parade? Southend Brewery is just a few blocks and around the corner from the where the parade ends on Broad Street.  With our large dining room set aside from the bar area, there is plenty of family fun to be had with a full menu that is sure to please your little leprechauns.  Our restaurant is ideally located on East Bay Street and walking distance from WaterfrontPark.

Southend Brewery and Smokehouse has three floors and multiple bars so there is plenty of room to spread out, stay a while and enjoy the live music lineup.  While you are here, venture up to our newly renovated third floor to check out the full bar with fantastic harbor views and try your luck with a game of darts or pool.

Enjoy darts and pool on 3rd floor of Southend Brewery

With so many Irish festivities this Saturday in downtown Charleston, it’s a great day to go green! Put on your shamrock hats, get your jig on and come down to Southend Brewery this St. Patty’s Day. We’re looking forward to celebrating with you!

Have you been hunting for a good taproom in Downtown Charleston SC? At Southend Brewery and Smokehouse, finding your favorite beer among six, flavorful house-made draughts is no easy feat. We’re here to help you navigate our beer flavor profiles and put each brew up against it’s best counterpart. We have the perfect food and brew pairings whether you’re in the mood for light, refreshing and sweet, or silky smooth and hearty.

Love Me Two Times Blonde: This is Southend’s signature ale: golden, smooth and light. Its subtle hops add a little bitterness and refreshment. This blonde ale is mighty versatile and pairs well with just about anything on our menu. Our Blonde Ale is a classic American brew that deserves to be enjoyed right alongside a classic American delicacy: the burger. Try an 8-ounce handpattied Black Angus burger with cheddar cheese, grilled onions and bacon.

Watch It Grow Wheat:  A unanimous favorite among Southenders and our guests. Southend’s American-style Wheat Ale is bursting with orange flavor. Icy cold and smooth, this light bodied brew is the right amount of sweet and pairs well with a light entree.  Sip a Watch it Grow Wheat alongside our bright Berry Salad. The citrus-flavored beer washes down perfectly with the salad’s mandarin oranges, fresh berries and glazed pecans.

Castle Pinckney Pale Ale:  This lovely copper-amber colored ale is full of hops. This medium bodied brew tastes delightful with tomato-based foods because of the tomato’s slight sweetness. Our pizza dough is made with Pickney Pale Ale, making any of our wood grilled pizzas the perfect partner in tasting crime. A standout selection is the Smoked BBQ Chicken Pizza, topped with Smoked Gouda Cheese, Tomatoes, Herbs and Scallions. Be sure to ask for a drizzle of BBQ sauce.

Rip Tide Red: An American microbrew in its finest form. Southend’s medium bodied, ruby red colored swallows your taste buds up like a wave from Folly Beach. Red ales are intensely flavorful and pair exceptionally well with spicy foods and seafood. We suggest giving the Rip Tide Red Ale a go with our Lump Crab Cakes and Grilled BBQ Smoked Salmon.

Pict’s Stout: This dark, silky stout blends flaked oats and malted barley for a round, roasted, full bodied brew. Heavy, super delicious comfort foods go perfectly up against our stout. Order a stout with our Black Angus Sliced Brisket Platter, served with Collard Greens and Mashed Potatoes.

Seasonal: Ask your server or bartender what’s new on tap and they’ll expertly direct you towards it’s best food companion.

Find your favorite pairing at Southend Brewery and Smokehouse!

Time for a cold beer Charleston South Carolina at Southend Brewery!

It’s almost officially spring here in the lowcountry and dreams of cold beer and hops are dancing through my head. Lots of exciting new-ness is brewing at Southend. Things that will forever change the way you enjoy your beer here. In his glass-encased office/brewery, resident brewmaster Ahren Wharf is adding the final touches to his latest seasonal creation. In the last year, he’s brought us a delightful Coconut Porter, belly-warming Pumpkin Ale and Watch it Grow Wheat, a house favorite that seems to get more wonderful and citrusy each time we taste it. We are anxiously awaiting the reveal of his new springtime blend.

The next piece of exciting news in the land of the Fifth Booziest City in America is the announcement of Southend Happy Hour! From Sunday through Thursday, you can imbibe in any Southend Brewery microbrew for just $3 a glass. Happy Hour runs from 4:30-6:30 each evening and also features fantastic cocktail specials and finger-lickin’ burgers, tacos and sliders. Stay tuned for the official Southend Happy Hour schedule.

With the promise of sunny days and outdoor seating, friends will know where to find me. I’ll be taking it all in with a spot directly on East Bay Street. Bring a friend, split a wood grilled pizza and chill out with us for a while.

Well, it’s been a fun few weeks at Southend Brewery Restaurant Charleston SC. As a venue for the annual Lowcountry Blues Bash, we welcomed a different blues artist each night during this two-week event. Blues greats from all over the Southeast set up shop on the Southend stage and played some awesome live music.  We heard Blues Bash founder Shrimp City Slim, Taj Majal-inspired Norman Taylor, Acoustic hippie-rockster Marshall Belew, pre-war blues player Lightnin’ Wells, just to name a few.

Our final performance comes from a Southend favorite, Jeff Beasley. He opened and closed the Bash at Southend with his own personal re-do’s of blues and rock classics on the guitar and harmonica. Even as a  Savannah resident, Jeff is a regular fixture on the Southend music scene and was obviously right at home on our stage.

The Lowcountry Blues Bash turned 21 this year. True to it’s party-time age, this year’s bash was one of our favorite festivals to date. In an interview with the Charleston City Paper, founder Gary Erwin said “I’m not sure where the time has gone, but my passion for this music has never waned, and the audience keeps growing. As Brownie McGhee said, ‘The blues is truth.’ Maybe in these difficult times, people need the truth more than ever!”

We agree and thank all the talented musicians who took the Southend stage. We and our beer-drinking, music-loving guests enjoyed getting the (good kind of) blues. We’re looking forward to next year already.

Really blue after the Blues Bash is over? Join us on Friday, February 24th for a live performance from our house jazz band, the E.S.P. Trio. Catch them at Southend Brewery from 7-10 pm.  Stay tuned for more music news. We promise to keep the good tunes rolling.

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

 ______________________________________

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.