The Drinks Issue

Louis Pasteur once said, “A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.” If that is true, I love philosophy. And beer. I really love beer—especially local, craft beer. Wherever my travels take me, I always make it a point to drink local. The Midlands is making those possibilities endless.

South Carolina has exploded with new breweries popping up faster than I can get a beer flight, and Columbia is no exception. But it isn’t just about the beer—some of the best mixologists live and work in our city; our local coffee shops are roasting their own beans; the local sommeliers are bringing unique, delicious wines to the Midlands. It only seemed appropriate to do a “Drinks” issue.

We start with a great cup of coffee—at Indah Coffee, locally roasted in Cottontown, or Iron Brew, served at Bloomin’ Bean in Blythewood. Next stop is Lula Drake Wine Parlour, where we get all the details about their newest expansion project, and have a glass of wine with James Alford, a local sommelier-turned-wine-importer, who supports the local markets and restaurants (like Lula Drake) in procuring great wine.

Traveling down to Lexington, we visit Mercer House Estate Winery, which proves to not only be about wine, but also an experience. Back in Columbia, we take flight to enjoy three non-traditional flights—cocktails, coffee and whiskey. We meet Scott Burgess of Bierkeller, and learn how he is “Going Back to Basics” in both brewing beer and business.

Edible Columbia is part of a bigger community—Edible Communities—that is committed to changing the way we eat. Starting with the original Edible Ojai and growing to a national community of more than 100 titles across the United States and Canada, the celebration of fresh, local food is now more important than ever. In “Where To From Here?” Marion Nestle looks back at how the local food movement has done just that, and how the world (especially the United States and Canada) can best ensure a healthy and sustainable food supply in the years to come.

Our cover feature shares a perspective of brewing beer: from the homebrewer and the local breweries in Columbia. We discover while they have many commonalities, the main one is not hops: it’s people, or a “‘village,” who have helped raise beer.

I take the “Fork in the Road,” and end up at Legal Remedy Brewery in Rock Hill, sitting down with a pint of Justice Juice IPA, Jim Ogburn, general manager, and Zach McNeely, head brewer. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend taking a day trip here. There are 13 breweries and brewpubs in the Midlands—are you Crusin’ for a Brewsin’ ?

We invite you to pour whatever suits you, take your Edible Columbia into the cooler air, porch-sit as long as you’d like and overindulge in what we are serving.

Cheers & beers!!
Jacquelyn McHugh