Archive for 'Brewing'

Spring is a great time to welcome new seasonal beers at local Charleston, SC brewery, Southend Brewery and Smokehouse!

May is a busy month in Charleston with Cinco de Mayo, college graduations, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day weekend and a full docket of great sports to watch. With all that going on, we knew we’d have to double up on the seasonal brews on tap at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse.

On tap now is our Golden Ginger Lemongrass Ale.  Light hopped with German Tettnanger hops, it has an a.b.v.of 5.5% and a definite ginger taste.  Our brewmaster has East Bay Brown in the tanks which should be ready to go by Memorial Day Weekend.

Sip the new beers  and any of our signature brews for  just $3 a pint or $10 a pitcher during Happy Hour, Sunday through Thursday from 4-7 pm at our bars.

Both new seasonal beers go great with appetizers at the bar while watching sports on our first and third floor flatscreens.  Be on the lookout for a new appetizer menu coming later this month.  All we can tell you is that if you love our beers, you are going to love the new starters….!
To reserve your table at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse, please call our restaurant at  843-853-4677 or visit us online.

Look forward to seeing you soon!

Perfect for Spring, there’s a new seasonal beer on tap at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse in downtown Charleston SC. Brewmaster Ahren Warf has just crafted the Rye Citra Pale Ale which has been flowing very nicely with the beer crowd in Charleston.

The Rye Citra Pale Ale is named for the hop (Citra) used during both the brewing process and the dry hopping.  An amber-colored beer with 6.0% a.b.v., the new seasonal brew has a pronounced rye flavor and is as hoppy as an IPA. A great beer to sip on its own by the pint or pitcher, the Rye Citra Pale Ale also goes great with the expanded pub food menu at Southend.

Like  all of our signature microbrews, the Rye Citra Pale Ale is locally crafted and brewed right here on site. Beer lovers will appreciate the meticulous brewing  process that goes into every one of our beers.  Learn more about Southend’s beer here.

Although our seasonal beer offering changes every few weeks, Southend offers five handcrafted beers that remain on tap all year-long:

LOVE ME TWO TIMES BLONDE: Our signature ale, almost musical, golden, smooth and light. Its subtle hop finish will leave you feeling refreshed and begging for more.

WATCH IT GROW WHEAT: Ice cold, smooth and unfiltered, with a hint of citrus and summer. Float an orange slice in your glass and savor this light bodied ale like a long summer day.

CASTLE PINCKNEY PALE ALE: Conquer your thirst with this medium bodied, copper colored ale. Your taste buds will surrender with just one sip of this full flavored, hoppy brew.

RIP TIDE RED: An American, full flavored microbrew in its finest form. This medium bodied, ruby red beer will swallow up your taste buds like a wave from Folly Beach.

PICT’S STOUT: A round, roasted, full-bodied brew, unearthed from medieval Scotland. Enjoy this dark, silky stout and its perfect blend of flaked oats and eight varieties of malted barley.

Enjoy Southend signature brews by the pint, pitcher, growler or try them all with our sampler tray.  Southend Brewery is open daily from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. with Happy Hour Sunday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

See you soon!

Looking for weekend music? Southend Brewery & Smokehouse in downtown Charleston SC is the place to be for live music on Friday nights and DJs mixing live every Saturday night.

We are excited to welcome back to the Southend stage, light contemporary jazz band The Mike Quinn Trio.  Formerly known as The E.S.P. Trio, the band has been performing at Southend Brewery for years to a devoted following.  After a winter hiatus, the band is back to entertain guests at the first floor bar and main dining room with their fabulous light jazz sound.  With the warm Spring temps, we’ll be opening the floor to ceiling glass walls making Friday nights perfect for kicking back to the sweet, mellow sounds of jazz with a cocktail or beer in hand and enjoying the cool Charleston breeze.  Ahhhh….

You can catch The Mike Quinn Trio at Southend Brewery every Friday night from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

If you like your weekend music caliente, we’ve got you covered. Saturday nights at the brewery are all about Salsa!  DJ Luigi and DJ Leo are mixing live the best Salsa, Mergengue, Bachata, Reggaeton and Top 40 hits every Saturday night beginning at 10:30 p.m.   Come early to get a quick dance lesson before letting loose on the dance floor.   There’s a $5 cover at the door for Salsa Nights.

Latin Groove Nights at Southend Brewery are Thursday nights at 10 p.m. and Saturday nights at 10:30 p.m.

To reserve your seat this weekend at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse, call our restaurant at 843-853-4677 or book online. We look forward to seeing you!

Running the bridge this weekend? After the race, come rest up at Southend Brewery in downtown Charleston, SC!  Located at 161 East Bay Street, we are just a few blocks away from the finish line of the Cooper River Bridge Run and near historic landmarks such as Waterfront Park.

Southend Brewery’s bar and restaurant will be open at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 6th.  Whether you walk or run, come toast completing the best race in Charleston with a pint or pitcher of our handcrafted microbrews.  New on tap this weekend is our seasonal beer, Citra Rye Pale Ale, which is a great race-finisher.  If mimosas and cocktails are more your style, we have a full menu of crafty drinks that are perfect for easing tired feet and aching limbs.

Our full food menu will also be available including Southend favorites such as Smoked Jumbo Chicken Wings, Southwestern Nachos, large Salads, and Southern favorites Fried Green Tomatoes and Southend Fried Chicken.  Our famous Brick Oven Pizzas are perfect for sharing with your running team.

Looking to carb up the night before the race?  Come to Southend on Friday night and kick back with the light jazz sounds from The Mike Quinn Trio while indulging in one of our delicious pasta dishes such as Vegetarian Tri-Colored Ravioli with Toasted Ciabatta (stuffed with sweet potato, smoked gouda and spinach with roasted red pepper coulis) or Grilled Chicken with Capellini ( artichoke hearts, roma tomatoes, garlic, basil, white wine and pepper flakes).

Of  course, the fun continues all day on Saturday as Southend Brewery gears up for the NCAA Semifinals.  We will have all the best games on this weekend including  Louisville  vs. Wichita State at 6 p.m. and Michigan vs. Syracuse at 8:30 p.m.

Looking forward to a FUN weekend, Charleston!  See you at Southend!

St. Patrick’s Day weekend at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse in downtown Charleston, SC is one of the best times to sip our locally brewed beer and sample our tasty pub food.  With a weekend devoted to kicking back and enjoying great beer, there is no better place to have a pint or pitcher than at the brewery that specializes in craft microbrews every day of the year.

Whether you are Irish or Irish at heart, you know it’s not St. Patrick’s Day unless there’s green beer, right? Our Love Me Two Times Blonde gets into the spirit for all you lads and lassies by going green this weekend.   It’s one of our signature ales that is smooth and light. Its subtle hop finish will leave you feeling refreshed and begging for more.

While they aren’t changing colors, our other signature brews are definitely worthy of celebrating.  From lights to stouts, we’ve got a beer for everyone’s taste including: Watch It Grow Wheat, Castle Pinckney Pale Ale, Riptide Red, Pict’s Stout and our current seasonal beer, Milk Stout.  Order a sampler try so you can sip them all to find your favorite.

We know St. Patrick’s Day weekend is a family event with activities throughout the Holy City.  If you are planning on checking out the St. Patrick’s Day parade, join us for lunch afterwards. We are  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 including a kids 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 two full bars so there is plenty of room to spread out and stay awhile.  While you are here, venture up to our third floor to check out the fantastic harbor views and try your luck with a game of pool.  The best weekend sports games will be on the flatscreens throughout the room and with Happy Hour beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, you will be able to sip for just $3 a pint or $10 a pitcher.

See you this weekend at Southend Brewery!

Enjoy the best weekend sports at Southend Brewery bars! Charleston, SC hotspot, Southend Brewery & Smokehouse is getting ready for the best college basketball, NBA, hockey and NASCAR coverage this weekend.  With two flatscreens at our  first floor bar and six flatscreens at our third floor Harborview Bar, you will be sure to catch every game.

We know you’ll be settling in for solid game watching time, so it’s important to quench your thirst with the best local beer brewed right here at Southend.  Grab a pint, growler, pitcher or order a sampler tray to try every one of our microbrews.  From light beers to hearty darks, our beer menu includes the most popular brews in Charleston:  Love Me Two Times Blonde, Watch it Grow Wheat, Castle Pinckney Pale Ale, Rip Tide Red and Pict’s Stout.  Also on tap this weekend is our seasonal brew, Milk Stout.  This is a true session beer, dark but lighter in body than most stouts.  It has the great flavors and abv of a stout without being too filling.

On Sunday, Happy Hour begins at 4 p.m. so, sip those beers for only $3 per pint or $10 per pitcher.

Although many of you will disagree, you can’t live on beer alone.  We know, we know – there’s a case to be made against that statement.  However, you might change your mind when you check out the mouthwatering appetizers and entrees on both Southend’s lunch and dinner menus.   From burgers to wings to pizza baked in our wood oven, we’ve got all the best American style food to keep your energy going game after game.

Southend Brewery opens at 11:30 a.m. daily and serves dinner until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.  We have full bars on the first floor and the third floor of the brewery which are open until 2 a.m. seven days a week.

For more information or to reserve a table, call Southend Brewery at 843-853-4677.

See you this weekend!

Planning a Spring wedding, corporate event or anniversary party and want Old Charleston charm? Look no farther than the wonderful special event venue at Southend Brewery in downtown Charleston SC.  With two floors dedicated to private parties, Southend is the ideal downtown location for any event ranging from 15 to 150 guests.  Both spaces boast views of the Charleston Harbor and city skyline.

From seated dinners to buffets, we offer  many options from our award-winning food, beer and cocktail menus.  Southend Brewery’s flexible, efficient event team delivers seamless events time after time, promising every guest a unique and memorable experience. On-site Event Coordinator, Jana Hodge, handles each event from initial planning to day-of execution so you are able to relax and enjoy your event.

“Thank you so much to you and your staff for the outstanding service at our son’s rehearsal dinner.  Everyone raved about the food and the professional manner in which everything was handled.  The entire group had a wonderful time.

-Tom and Karen M.

The Bobby Jones Room

The second floor Bobby Jones Room is tucked away from the  bustling restaurant below. It sits between exposed brick walls, tall windows, bright artwork and glass brewery walls. The room extends across the front of the restaurant and provides a comfortable space for parties of up to 70 people for buffet and plated dinners. The Bobby Jones Room offers a private and elegant atmosphere, but can be transformed into nearly anything you envision.

The Wagener Room

The third floor Wagener Room is casual and rustic with high ceilings, exposed brick and tall rafters. When utilizing all of the room’s seating capacity, the Wagener Room is a wonderful space for parties of up to 100 guests for a seated event and 150 guests for a reception-style event. It can also be sectioned off for a more intimate feel for small parties. The fully stocked Harborview Bar sits at the head of the room, providing easy access to cold drinks during your party. The Wagener Room boasts multiple flat screen televisions and pool tables for extra entertainment. Please inquire about the food and beverage minimum required to reserve this space.

Southend Brewery’s event space is free of charge for parties over 25 people; a $50 rental fee is applied for smaller parties. No matter which space you choose, the event team at Southend Brewery will create the party of your dreams. Let your imagination run wild and your room will be transformed to meet your exact needs.

Southend Brewery is conveniently located on East Bay Street in the heart of downtown Charleston and steps away from beautiful, iconic landmarks such as Waterfront Park.  For more information on our special event packages or to schedule a tour of our event space, please contact Jana Hodge at 843-853-4677.

Love is in the air in downtown Charleston, SC with a special couples Valentine’s Day menu at Southend Brewery and Smokehouse.  Chef Garrett Priester has put together an amazing 3 courses for $30 per couple menu that is meant to be shared with your special someone.  That’s right – two dine for only $30 on February 14th at Southend.  We’d call that a pretty sweet deal!

Residing on East Bay Street, Southend Brewery is located in the most romantic part of downtown Charleston.  Just a block away from the gorgeous Waterfront Park, Southend is the perfect restaurant for dining after a romantic stroll through the Holy City.

In addition to the special menu, we will also be serving our regular dinner menu as well as crafty cocktails, outstanding wines and our in-house brewed signature beers.  You will surely fall in love with all the delicious options!

Reservations are recommended for Valentine’s Day and can be made by calling Southend Brewery at 843-853-4677 or booking your table online.

Valentine’s Day Menu at Southend Brewery

3 courses for $30

A Smokey Affair

Oyster Trio

2 – On the Half-Shell with Tabassco Pearls

2 – Rockafella sytle with Smoked Hollandaise

2- Cornmeal Crusted with Green Goddess

Match Made in Heaven

10 oz. Cab Flat-Iron Steak with Crawfish Butter, Fried Crawfish Tails, Salt Baked Fingerling Potatoes and Broccoli Rhaab

Fairy Tale Ending

Smoked Chocolate Creme Brulee with Bourbon

We look forward to making your Valentine’s Day extra sweet!

Looking for the best Charleston bar to watch the Super Bowl? Southend Brewery & Smokehouse in downtown Charleston SC  is the place to be for the best food, best cold beer and best viewing!  Whether you are a Baltimore Ravens or San Francisco 49ers fan, put on your team’s colors, grab your friends and come down to the brewery for what is sure to be an awesome game.  Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. but we’ll be celebrating all day long!

With two large flat screen televisions on our first floor and six large flat screen televisions placed throughout the 3rd floor, you will easily catch every play.  Have a seat at the bar or at one of our tables – either way, you will have a great seat and plenty of room to invite all your friends.

What goes better with the Big Game than the best cold beer in Charleston? Southend Brewery’s local, handcrafted microbrews will be available  from opening to close at our Happy Hour prices.  All your favorite Southend house draft beers will be just $3 per glass or $10 per pitcher.

Of course with the Big Game and the best beer, you will also need the best pub food.  Along with our beer, enjoy our entire Happy Hour menu from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. at our first floor bar and on our entire 3rd floor (only).  Game day Nachos, Shrimp and Crab dip, Fried Green Tomatoes and Sliders will all be just $5.

Southend Brewery & Smokehouse is located at 161 East Bay Street in the heart of downtown Charleston.  We are open Sunday, February 3rd at 11:30 a.m.  with our bars open until 2:00 a.m.

See you at the brewery for the Big Game!

Looking for downtown Charleston’s best happy hour? Southend Brewery & Smokehouse‘s Happy Hour menu has all your beer, wine, cocktails and appetizers cravings at amazing prices.  Happy hour at Southend Brewery is available only at our bars Sunday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Love Southend’s signature microbrews such as Love Me Two Times Blonde, Castle Pinckney Pale Ale, Rip Tide Red and Pict’s Stout?  Love them even more during Happy Hour when you can sip $3 house draft beers and $10 draft pitchers.

If wine and cocktails are more your style, check out these great daily Happy Hour drink specials:

Sunday – $4 Mimosas

Monday – $4 House Cosmos

Tuesday – $4 Sangria

Wednesday – $4 House Wine

Thursday – $4 Rocks Margaritas

During happy hour, grab some of our most popular bar food appetizers for only $5 including: Southwestern Nachos, Shrimp and Crab Dip, Fried Green Tomatoes and Certified USDA Black Angus Sliders.

Sundays are definitely “Fundays” with Happy Hour and the NFL ticket showing all the best games on the third floor.

Happy, happy, indeed!

Click here to view our complete Happy Hour Menu.  See you soon!

The Charleston SC Reindeer Run Official Race Headquarters is at Southend Brewery! The race is just a few weeks away on Saturday, December 1, 2012 with the race route beginning and ending at the Southend doorstep.

If you’ve never been to the Reindeer Run in Charleston, we can tell you that it is an event not to be missed! Charlestonians (often in festive costume) come out with their friends, families and even their dogs to run or walk the 5K route through downtown Charleston, all in support of  The MUSC Children’s Hospital.

The race begins at 9 a.m. and the free beer begins flowing at 9:30 a.m.!  All race participants with an ID and race number will receive a complimentary beer from Southend Brewery between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Following the costume contest and awards ceremony on our first floor, local favorite rock band The Cordovans take our stage. That’s when the music, drinks, food and fun really kick into gear!  From 11:00 am. – 2:00 pm, runners, walkers and guests can enjoy extended Happy Hour. Southend’s signature brews will be just $3 per draft or $10 per draft pitcher, Bloody Mary’s $4 and our delicious appetizers will be half price.  We will also be serving from our regular menu which includes hearty burgers, a large selection of salads, specialty sandwiches and  kids menu.

photo courtesy of reindeerrun.org

The Reindeer Run is a 5K family-friendly and pet-friendly run/walk through the lower peninsula of downtown Charleston, SC.  Now in it’s 22nd year, the Reindeer Run has grown considerably over the years.  When it began, the run drew only a few hundred runners but last year,  it boasted 3,200 runners.   Throughout the history of the event, the Charitable Society of Charleston (CSC) has donated over $500,000 to the Medical University of South Carolina. The funds generated from the Reindeer Run help MUSC develop and maintain a variety of programs in the Children’s Hospital and the Darby Children’s Research Institute, including research in the prevention and treatment of childhood diseases.

Registration for the race is currently open and can be found on the Reindeer Run website by clicking here.  Late registration fees begin after November 18th so, sign up soon!

Happy Hour in Charleston, SC is very happy indeed! Southend Brewery & Smokehouse just rolled out amazing appetizer, beer and cocktail specials.  Happy Hour at Southend Brewery is available Sunday through Thursdays from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Love Southend appetizers?  Love them even more when they are half price?  We thought so.  During Happy Hour, choose any appetizers on our menu and pay only half the regular menu price.  This includes our Smoked Jumbo Wings, Southwestern Nachos, Shrimp and Crab Dip, Cajun Style Popcorn Shrimp, Fried Green Tomatoes, Lowcountry Lump Crab Cakes and Roasted Garlic Locally Made Soft Cheese and Tomato Chutney. So many delicious choices! This offer is valid Sunday through Thursday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Of course, we know that you love our signature brews….Love Me Two Times Blonde, Castle Pinckney Pale Ale, Watch It Grow Wheat Pict’s Stout, Rip Tide Red and seasonal beer selections.  When you come into Southend Brewery during Happy Hour, you can enjoy $3 drafts and $10 draft pitchers.

If our specialty cocktails and wine selections are more to your liking, you will love our daily Happy Hour specials:

Sunday – Mimosa $4

Monday – House Cosmopolitan $4

Tuesday – Our Famous Sangria $4

Wednesday – House Wine $4

Thursday – Margarita on the rocks $4

Sunday is a great time to kick off your Happy Hour heaven.  During the entire professional football season, the NFL Sunday Ticket package will be showing at our Harborview Bar on the 3rd floor of the brewery.  With flat screen televisions distributed around the bar, you will be sure to see every game!

Like we said, very happy indeed. Come on get happy (hour) and head down to Southend Brewery!

Southend Brewery, beer charleston south carolina, celebrates Oktoberfest all month long! With a seasonal brew handcrafted by our resident brewmaster and an unbelievable specialty dish created by our new chef, Southend Brewery is the place to indulge in Fall favorites.

The first Oktoberfest was held back in 1810 in Munich, Germany as a celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria’s engagement.  The celebration lasted for 16 days and provided the best local beer and brats to all residents of the village.  In the spirit of the original Oktoberfest, Southend Brewery says let the beer flow…for days on end!

With a nod to our Bavarian friends, our new seasonal brew is Autumn Brown Ale.  Available for only a few more weeks, it is not to be missed! It is brown ale made with toasted oats, Belgian candied sugar, malt and spices of cinnamon, clove, allspice and hopped with German Tettnanger hops.

What goes better with a great brown ale than the perfect brats dish?

Inspired by the great signature beer found in our brewery, Chef Garrett Priester has created the mouth-watering special, Brewmaster Brats.

Introduced during Charleston Restaurant Week, this dish has quickly become a favorite at Southend.  Featuring local Keegan-Filion Farms Carolina Garlic Brats, the dish is perfected with sautéed peppers and onions, sea salt baked potatoes and whole grain mustard aioli.  We know it sounds good and it definitely looks but wow, does it taste amazing!

We look forward to seeing you at Southend Brewery!  Bis Bald!

Southend Brewery Top Restaurant Charleston South Carolina welcomes new Chef, Garrett Priester.  A Lowcountry native, Priester brings his exceptional culinary talent and love for Charleston cuisine to the popular restaurant.

Originally from Beaufort, South Carolina, Chef Garrett Priester comes from a long line of great family cooks who valued fresh ingredients and an appreciation for Lowcountry cuisine. His paternal grandfather was a farmer in Hampton County and his maternal grandfather was a local shrimper who once owned restaurants himself.  Priester credits both his mother and grandmother for introducing him to his passion for fine Southern cooking.

Over the past 15 years, Priester honed his craft by attending the Culinary Institute of Charleston and training in some of the finest restaurant kitchens in Charleston.  Before leading the Southend culinary team, he was the sous chef at Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar, worked at the Saltus River Grill in Beaufort and an upscale restaurant on Seabrook Island. Priester’s culinary style is defined by Southern Gullah and French influences.  For Priester, the artistic presentation of each dish is just as important as the taste.  He said, “We eat with our eyes first.  When I’m creating a new dish, I visualize the finished product and then backtrack.”

Brew Master Brats created by Chef Priester and made with Keegan-Filion Farms Carolina garlic brats, sauteed peppers & onions, sea salt baked potatoes and whole grain mustard aioli

Priester plans to update the menu at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse to include more local ingredients and sustainable seafood from local purveyors.  Priester said, “I want the entire town reflected on the menu.  Charlestonians will appreciate and feel pride about the local influence in the dishes.  For tourists, I hope the menu will inspire them to learn more about the Lowcountry.  I want tourists to see, for example, an ingredient from a Johns Island Farm on the menu which will then encourage them to drive out and visit the farm and surrounding area.”

Longtime patrons of Southend Brewery can continue to expect their favorite classics such as pulled pork and brisquet on the menu, but Priester plans to introduce several new items over the next few months.  The new dishes will infuse the distinct brewery flavors of Southend’s signature beers and smokehouse feel such as Brew Master Brats made with local Keegan-Filion Carolina garlic brats. Priester’s excitement about the new menu was palpable, “There is no limit to what you can smoke-cook…seafood, pork, vegetables, absolutely anything.”

We can’t wait to sample all of Chef Priester’s fabulous creations!  Be sure to check our Chef’s Specials to see what is new this week.

Sunday means NFL football, best bar, Happy Hour beer and great times at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse in charleston, sc.  We’ve got the DirectTV NFL Sunday ticket upstairs on our third floor Harborview Room so, you will be sure to catch all your favorite teams on our many flat screen televisions.

Of course, nothing goes better with football than our great microbrews and bar food classics.  Be sure to get in on Southend’s Happy Hour specials which run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Enjoy $10 pitchers of all draft beers, $3 drafts and $3 Mimosas.  Our Harborview bar has all our signature beers on tap, as well as, bottled favorites.  Our complete food menu is also available upstairs.  Need to move and stretch between games?  No problem. Our third floor also houses two billiard tables for a little healthy competition among friends.

The Sunday NFL ticket begins this weekend on September 9, 2012.  Here’s a list of all the games:

1:00 p.m.

Indianapolis at Chicago

Philadelphia at Cleveland

New England at Tennessee

Atlanta at Kansas City

Jacksonsville at Minnesota

Washington at New Orleans

Buffalo at New York

St. Louis at Detroit

Miami at Houston

4:15 p.m.

San Francisco at Green Bay

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay

8:20 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Denver

See you on Sunday!

Heading to downtown for Labor Day weekend Charleston SC? Specializing in American cuisine and the best beer on tap in Charleston, Southend Brewery and Smokehouse is the perfect place to relax with friends and family!

The weather is calling for hot temperatures this weekend so, we are calling for cold beer at Southend.  Stop in and cool down from the heat with one of our signature  microbrews.  A staff and regular guest favorite, Love Me Two Times Blonde is golden, smooth, light and quite possibly the quintessential Summer brew.  Looking for something with a hint of citrus flavor?  Our Watch It Grow Wheat is ice cold, smooth, unfiltered and perfect for a hot day or balmy night.

Of course, no Labor Day weekend would be complete without a great, all-American burger.  Southend’s hand-pattied, 8 oz, Certified USDA Black Angus Burger delivers all the juicy flavor you look forward to on Labor Day.  Make it your own creation by adding one or more of these toppings: American or Swiss cheese, grilled onions, bacon, mushrooms or coleslaw.

Looking for the Southern cookout taste? We recommend our Carolina Slow Smoked BBQ Pork.  Served with fried pickles, Southern slaw and your choice of BBQ sauce, this sandwich offers the distinct Southern  flair to traditional American dining.

Our complete menu offers so many great American and Southern cuisine dishes, it will no doubt be hard to choose!  But, by all means, we highly recommend that you top off your meal with dessert. It’s ok to indulge…it’s a holiday!  Our Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream sounds absolutely perfect for Labor Day, doesn’t it?

Whether you are downtown during the day or evening to enjoy the sights, celebrations and festivities in Charleston, we look forward to celebrating with you at Southend Brewery!

Charleston Pub Crawl, NFL package, sports, bar, best beer, best American cuisine….whew, there’s a lot going on at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse in downtown Charleston SC this weekend!  Here’s the run down so you won’t miss a thing.

Are you ready for some football?!  Yup, so are we.  Come to Southend Brewery this weekend and don’t miss a single preseason game.  Beginning on Thursday night, see the full NFL Package on our third floor.  With six 47 inch flatscreen TVs placed throughout the third floor Harborview bar, you will be sure to see every touchdown this weekend.  For the complete schedule of games, check out http://www.nfl.com/schedules.   Not only does our third floor boast great television viewing, it has a full bar that overlooks downtown Charleston.  All that football making you hungry? No problem.  We serve from our complete food menu upstairs so, there will be plenty of nachos, wings and brickoven pizza to feed your appetite. Oh, and of course, you can’t forget that we serve the best beer in Charleston!  In addition to our signature brews and bottled favorites, our seasonal Citrus IPA will be on tap.  Based on the number of pitchers we’ve been filling this week, we say it’s one of Brewmaster Ahren Warf’s best beer yet. You’ve gotta try it.

Speaking of beer, you will not want to miss the Charleston Pub Crawl happening on Saturday, August 18th from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Southend Brewery is on the route again this year and will be serving up all of our signature brews as well as $2 Sweetwater beer and $3 Red Bull and vodka bar specials.  This year, the crawl features a scavenger hunt which is just plain awesome.  Making the event even sweeter, a portion of the proceeds will benefit  Charleston Waterkeeper, a nonprofit organization that is 100% focused on the water quality issues in the Ashley/Cooper River Basin. Advance tickets are $25 when you purchase online, but receive a 10% discount with promo code SOUTHENDBREW: http://a.pgtb.me/dgSM.  Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event for $35 at Marion’s.

This weekend is guaranteed to be a blast and we are looking forward to seeing you here at Southend Brewery!

Summer is still in full swing at Southend Brewery in downtown Charleston SC…and we have the new seasonal beer to prove it!  Just in time for the Charleston Pub Crawl on August 18th, Brewmaster Ahren Warf has crafted the perfect Summer beer, a Citrus IPA. If you can’t wait until the weekend to have a sip, our new beer is on tap now. Come on in to our taproom and have a taste…you will not be disappointed!

A pale ale with an alcohol content 6.3%, the Citrus IPA is the perfect beer to enjoy with one of Southend’s great appetizers or menu entrees.  If you have a preference for orange and lemon with your hops, the Citrus IPA is definitely for you because when Ahren makes a citrus beer, he does not fool around.  He used 12 lbs…yes, 12!…of orange and lemon peel to create the Citrus IPA.  If you’re thinking that’s a whole lotta peel, here’s how its broken down in the brewing process: 4 lbs were used during the mashing process, 4 lbs in the boiling process, 2.5 lbs in the fermenter and 1.5 lbs in the serving tank.  Without a doubt, not only is there a lot of citrus, but there’s a lot of love in this new beer…

Whether you sip a sampler, grab a pint or fill  up a pitcher with the Citrus IPA or any of our signature brews, we promise the lazy, hazy days of Summer are still going strong inside our brewery.

A great bar with great bar food in Charleston SC is easy to find at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse.  Let’s face it, there are times when you are just looking to grab a bite to eat at the bar while watching the game or catching up with friends.  Southend’s pub food menu has something for everyone whether you are looking for an appetizer that can easily double as a meal or just a little snack to enjoy before your dinner entrée.

Nachos - it’s a bar food classic and one that is easy to share with friends (if you want to, that is).  At Southend, we put our own twist on tradition but serving up our nachos Southwestern style. Piled high with chicken, black beans, pico de gallo, jalapenos and sour cream, our nachos are truly one of a kind in Charleston.

Sticking with classics, there’s nothing better to go with our signature beers than really great wings.  We’ve gotcha covered with our Smoked Jumbo Chicken Wings.  Choose which style you like – Smokey Hot Sauce or Spicy Rubbed – or go for a combo of both.  Either way, both are served with celery and a side of Ranch and are equally perfect!

If fresh seafood is more your style, we suggest our Lowcountry Lump Crab Cakes. Served with corn salad and fresh herb buerre blanc, you will most likely want to keep this delicious starter to yourself.  If you love seafood and have to share, you will want to consider our Shrimp & Crab Dip. Served warm with crispy corn tortilla chips perfect for dipping, this dip is by far one of our  most popular pub food selections.

No matter what appetizer you choose for noshing at our bar, there’s one thing for certain.  You will find the best beer in Charleston and the best cocktails to go along with it!

While there are many bars in Charleston, SC, there are few taprooms. At Southend Brewery, brewing our own beer is only half the fun – of course, drinking our beer in our taproom is the other half.

The core of Southend Brewery & Smokehouse is our signature beers.  Our brew tanks are rightfully on display in the center of our restaurant. Each distinct Southend microbrew is crafted in-house by the hands and creativity of our resident Brewmaster, Ahren Warf.   Being Brewmaster is both a job and a passion.  A second generation brewmaster, Ahren says, “It’s fulfilling, rewarding and fascinating, with an intricate level of chemistry and engineering involved.”

In 2010, Southend’s owner requested to “revamp” the beers, including name and formula, for a new taste at Southend Brewery.  This led to our five signature beers with one unique seasonal beer only available for a few weeks. Ahren comes up with the Southend seasonals, which is always a labor of love on his part. Previous seasonal brews have included an Unfiltered Blonde with Lemongrass and Ginger,  Juniper Rye, a Vanilla Wheat beer (vanilla, lemon peel and Belgian candied sugar); and the current, Honey Wheat.  Additionally, Southend welcomes guest beers to our beer board for even more variety.

Once the brewing process is complete, Ahren shares his creations in our taproom. More than just a bar, a taproom is a place for the true beer lover to gain the full experience of specialized handcrafted beer and discuss beer making with our bartenders, brewmaster and other customers.

Southend’s handcrafted microbrews include:

LOVE ME TWO TIMES BLONDE: Our signature ale, almost musical, golden, smooth and light. Its subtle hop finish will leave you feeling refreshed and begging for more.

WATCH IT GROW WHEAT: Ice cold, smooth and unfiltered, with a hint of citrus and summer. Float an orange slice in your glass and savor this light bodied ale like a long summer day.

CASTLE PINCKNEY PALE ALE: Conquer your thirst with this medium bodied, copper colored ale. Your taste buds will surrender with just one sip of this full flavored, hoppy brew.

RIP TIDE RED: An American, full flavored microbrew in its finest form. This medium bodied, ruby red beer will swallow up your taste buds like a wave from Folly Beach.

PICT’S STOUT: A round, roasted, full bodied brew, unearthed from medieval Scotland. Enjoy this dark, silky stout and its perfect blend of flaked oats and eight varieties of malted barley.

SEASONAL DRAUGHT: Straight from the Brewmaster’s dreams to our tap, a high gravity, full-bodied beer that’s always right for the season.

Great night life and live entertainment go hand-in-hand when you are enjoying an evening in Charleston, SC. Located on the corner of East Bay and Queen Street, Southend Brewery & Smokehouse is located in the heart of Charleston.  Steps away from Waterfront Park, Southend is an easy stop on your tour of the downtown.

Our Restaurant Bar is located on the first floor and is the largest bar in the brewery.  Watch live music while you nosh away on a pub menu of nachos, brick oven pizza and beer or enjoy any selection from the full dinner menu.  Order your favorite beer or cocktail while people-watching through floor to ceiling glass windows.

Join us every Friday evening from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. as Southend’s house band, The E.S.P. Trio treats the crowd to light contemporary jazz.

If you’ve just gotta dance, then come on out on Thursday and Saturday nights for DJ Luigi’s Latin Groove Nights.  We begin at 10:00 p.m. on Thursdays and 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays, but if you arrive early you can get a lesson before dancing the night away.

Our glass elevator brings you to our 3rd floor  Harborview Bar where you can indulge in craft beer microbrewed in-house, a full dinner menu or pub food.  With six flatscreen televisions strategically placed around the room and two billiards tables, it is an easy place to kick back with friends.  As the name suggests, The Harborview Bar offers unbelievable views of Charleston Harbor and twinkling lights from the peninsula.

Whether you are relaxing with friends, dancing the night away or swaying to great live music, we always have a fun time at Southend!  The best cold beer and American cuisine only makes it that much better.

We look forward to seeing you soon at Southend Brewery!

Still looking for a gift for Father’s Day in Charleston SC? This Sunday, June 17th, hop over to Southend Brewery & Smokehouse because we have Father’s Day covered! What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than with the gift of great beer and great American cuisine in a fun, relaxing, family oriented restaurant?

Sunday promises to be a beautiful day in Charleston – perfect for strolling East Bay Street and having lunch.  Our Carolina Slow Smoked BBQ Pork, Pot Roast Hoagie or Hand Pattied 8oz Certified USDA Black Angus Burger appeal to the guy who has a great appreciation for a truly superb sandwich.  (Really, who isn’t that guy?)

If your Father’s Day won’t be complete without great seafood, our famous Shrimp and Grits served with tasso ham, tomatoes and scallions or our satisfying Crab Cakes served with fried green tomatoes, corn salad and buerre blanc can’t be missed.

If your dad is more of a steak guy, we recommend our Sliced Brisket or 10 oz Filet of Sirloin.  A staff favorite, our  Garlic Rubbed Pork Tenderloin served with white corn grits, grilled apples and flamed apple brandy sauce is a treat for any occasion.

There is nothing better on a Sunday afternoon or evening than enjoying a great, hand crafted micro brew.  Perfectly suited for any dish on our food menu, our signature beers range from light ales to dark stouts are made right here at Southend.

If your dad has a sense of fun, we suggest you bring him up to our third floor.  With several flat screen tv’s around the room, you can catch the game with Dad or challenge him to a game on one of our billiards tables.  (Letting him win on his special day is entirely up to you…) Our third floor has a full bar with outstanding views of the harbor and downtown Charleston.  Our full food menu is also served upstairs so, feel free to dine while you play.  On Sunday, our third floor room will be open from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m.

We look forward to seeing your family this Sunday for Father’s Day!  We open at 11:30 a.m. serving from our menus until 10:00 p.m.  Reservations can be made by calling 843-853-4677.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

It’s a rainy January day and the air has that distinct Charleston chill that makes even your bones feel damp. The solution? Hey, I know what you think I’m going to say, but it’s not always beer; sometimes its conversation…and beer, which is exactly the order of the day. I’m meeting with Ahren of Southend this afternoon for the foamy details on his position as Brewmaster and resident soccer fanatic (more on that later).

As I enter the high-ceilinged dining room of Southend I am thankful to be out of the ominous thunder outside, and pleased to see that the furrowed brow of the sky doesn’t show on Ahren’s face; compact, dark and witty, he’s there waiting for me by a tall glass door, the only opening of the glass-encased brewery in the center of Southend’s ground floor. Consequently, the door is right across from the bar. “Buy you a drink?” he asks with a smile and I know the afternoon is looking up.

Talking to Ahren is easy and, sipping cold beers (I had the Ironman Wheat and Ahren enjoyed a tasty Pale Ale, which he says is his favorite, unless there’s a Stout around) incites a short walk down memory lane. Ahren attended Furman University, studying Psychology and with plans to attend graduate school and delve into neuroscience. While at Furman, he worked with a Brewmaster at a microbrewery part time and furthered the education that his father, a home-brewer, had begun many years previous. At that time, brewing was a part time passion for Ahren, helping with the bills and fueling his imagination, but it wasn’t his main pursuit. He graduated from Furman with his Psychology degree and then worked for several years as a chemical engineer in Summerville before stumbling upon his job at Southend, which did not start out as Brewmaster. “Oh, I was just like all these guys,” Ahren tells me as he sets down his beer, “I did whatever was needed: waiting tables, cleaning, food, you name it.”

He stands and walks towards the front of the restaurant to examine the new grain shipments, which were received that morning. I forgot to mention that, as I entered the dim, yet welcoming space, I was greeted with huge bales of grain packaged in 25 kg bags and stacked like Lincoln logs to chest height. “Five and a half years I’ve been working here,” he says, “and about four and a half of those have been spent brewing. I’m very lucky.”

The empty, and spacious, Lauter Tun before…

Brewing! Exactly what I came to talk about. I ask if he’ll give me a little tour of the brewery and he enthusiastically obliges. Now, bear with me here, I’m no chemist, so I’ll just do my best to relate the important stuff. Ahren trained under Jay, the previous Brewmaster at Southend, and was originally hired to “fill the gap” between Jay’s departure and the arrival of whomever the new Brewmaster would be. His good attitude and quick uptake, however, made him perfect for the position and he’s been Southend Brewmaster ever since. “This is the Lauter Tun, which accepts the mash and allows it to settle,” Ahren explains, “and sometimes you have to get in, to help clear out the remaining husks and spent grain.” The size of the kettle is demonstrated to me as Ahren laughs and climbs inside of the enormous copper pot through a set of small doors, and giving me a great photo op.

Ahren climbing in…

He's in! And never missing an opportunity to teach, he explains how it works from the inside…

None too amused at all of my photo-taking, I get a half smirk and a completed "how it works" speech from the Brewmaster.

The Brew Kettle is equal in size to the Lauter Tun, but I can’t convince him to climb inside again, so I concede to take pictures while he tells me that the Brew Kettle is where the hops are added, and Ahren really love hops. The distinct bitterness that accompanies a hoppy beer is a mark of good breeding for him and one of his signatures in a brew. “Can’t have sweet without bitter;” no indeed sir.

I’ll admit that I got a little distracted while he was relating the functions of all the various handles and displays, and my photos show it. It was really beautiful in there! He pushed some buttons, turned some knobs and hot water (over 200° C) begins to spray into the kettles from within, cleaning and sterilizing the equipment for the next brew. For more of the technical stuff, visit Southend’s Microbrew page and Launch the Brewing Process.

Lured back out of the brewery by a refreshed glass, Ahren imparts his feelings on brewing: “It’s fulfilling, rewarding and fascinating, with an intricate level of chemistry and engineering involved. It can be frustrating too, and teach you how to problem solve, quick. At one point, the heat exchanger fouled up and caused quite a situation. I had a deadline and didn’t have too long to figure out what the problem was. Jay (former Brewmaster) was gone and I had to work through the situation with diagrams, research I had gathered myself and just a raw desire to correct the situation.” Luckily, he came through intact and better for it. Ahren gained the respect of Southend’s owner and, about a year ago, he was requested to “revamp” the beers, including name and formula, for a new taste at Southend Brewery. Ahren came up with the current Southend seasonal, the coconut porter, which was a labor of love on his part and what he considers “a personal accomplishment.” Many new changes are taking place with something of a beer reconstruction underway. Very soon Southend is expecting spankin’ fresh labels, tap handles and more for their newly branded Southend brews (a little hint, the names are very rock n’ roll inspired, ie. Love me Two Times Blonde).

Ahren begins to tear into the clear plastic packaging around the pallets of grain sitting around the bar and, between lifting the great sacks, he says: “this isn’t just a job for me. It’s a hobby, a pastime, hell, a passion that I get paid for. It doesn’t even feel like work most days.” Which is hard to believe, as I drain the last of my glass and watch him heft the weighty shipment towards the glass elevator, to be carried up to the Mill. “You know what, though? You know what my favorite thing is?” I eagerly await his answer as I pause in packing up; what could he possibly like more than brewing? “Soccer. It’s my first love and my real love. Don’t tell the brewery,” he adds with a wink. Apparently he plays soccer year round in multiple leagues in the area, spending as much free time as he can out on the field, fulfilling his need to move and compete.

~~~

My ride honks from the street, letting me know that it’s time to conclude this interview and stop drinking all of the delicious beer (boo!). Ahren doesn’t miss a beat: he shakes my hand, thanks me for my time and continues shifting the grain as I head for the door, out into the rain and the rest of it all. I slam the car door shut against the torrent and my fiancé asks me “how’d it go?” “Well, I spent the afternoon learning about beer, drinking beer and talking about beer, with a guy who makes beer, so pretty good I think.” “Yeah,” he responded with a smirk, “sounds pretty good.” “He’s so lucky!” I sighed, to which my fiance balked and replied “I think you are too, babe.” And for the first time in a while I stopped and thought, yeah, I am. I’ll cheers to that!

What would you do if you had an evening at Southend alone? Well, I was lucky enough to be able to snag some private time with the Brewery a few nights ago and the results were delicious.

I tried the Ironman Wheat in all of its creamy, smooth glory.

My cohort tasted the Southend Pale Ale and was surprised by the crisp hoppiness and moderate foam.

The ground floor stage is the music spot and pictured here is equipment from the band that had just played.

A stoked wood fire prepared to bake fresh, fantastic pizzas.

The Brewery equipment is beautiful at night.

The light fixtures above the dining area have fantastic metal fashioning and deep amber glass that casts warmth on all the walls and tables.

Southend keeps the whole family happy by providing cups of crayons and paper tablecloths for art at the table.

Grain bags on display in the stairwell of the Brewery.

A view of the Brewery ground floor from above on the third floor (I had to perch on a chair and lean to get the shot, so don't try this at home!

We tried not to tarry too long, but the inviting glow of the building was hard to leave. After thanking the staff and manager we headed out of the heavy double doors onto the street towards home.

While it is rare and great to spend this kind of time in a space to yourself, it’s even better when it’s filled with people and music and conversation, gatherings of friends and new acquaintances made by travelers staying downtown. Won’t you join us?