The Culture of Beer Comes to Columbia

By Alana Jordan
January 10, 2014

When the World Beer Festival originally came to Columbia six years ago, the beer scene was very different than it is today.  Laws prohibited many craft beers from even being sold at stores in our state, and you couldn’t find anything close to a craft beer at the grocery store.  Now, six years later, our beer culture has changed.

With the change of some key laws, you can now find craft beer in convenience stores.  Many grocery stores have expanded their craft beer sections and we are starting to see more seasonal offerings everywhere.  This increase in availability and knowledge of craft beer has local establishments, like World of Beer, Carolina Ale House and Flying Saucer, thriving.  

In 2013, Columbia caught up to other cities in the region with the opening of its first brewery.  Conquest Brewing Company made its inaugural appearance at the World Beer Festival last year and since then has opened a tasting room at its location on Stadium Road.  

This year, Columbia will see its second brewery open, River Rat Brewery on Shop Road.  With the recently passed pint law, breweries will be able serve sample beer while visitors tour the facilities.  This creates a more complete brewery experience for patrons, with the potential to spur additional tourism in the city.

On Saturday, January 18, the World Beer Festival will commence for its sixth year in Columbia.  With all the advances of the beer culture in our city, the festival has become less of a novelty and more of a venue for seasoned craft beer drinkers to enjoy and experience new and different varieties.  

This year, All About Beer Magazine and Conquest Brewery came together to create a collaboration beer specifically for the festival.  It is a treat that wasn’t possible in previous years, and a testament to how far our beer culture has come.

This year’s festival is a showcase and celebration of craft beer in our city.  It is an exciting time to be brewing and serving beer in Columbia, and I anticipate it is only the beginning of the craft beer boom in our city.