Hilton Head Brewing Co.

Don't go out of your way

Jon Czerwinski
Staff Writer

I went to the Hilton Head Brewing Co., "South Carolina's first brewpub since Prohibition," recently. I was impressed to find almost a dozen of their brews listed on the menu, and disappointed to discover only two, The Calibogue Amber and the South Pacific Pale Ale on tap. The menu of bottled beers was scattered, with the semi-local Palmetto Brewing Co.'s (Charleston) offerings mixed in with a Goose Island IPA and the typical "import" beers.

I tried the S. Atlantic Pale Ale, and while I wasn't displeased with it, it was unremarkable. I passed on the Amber, opting for the Goose Island, or at least tried to. The waitress came back to tell me that they didn't offer it and she didn't know why it was on the menu -- she'd only been there a few weeks.

The service was awfully slow, and the food again was unremarkable, although it was a step above bar food. The menu's food offerings try to be everything to everyone, and I didn't get that they did any of it too well.

I asked the manager how many beers they typically carried on tap, and was told four, but that he was the latest/newest manager, having also only been there a couple weeks and prior to him, the brewmaster had worked the floor managing the restaurant.

Which about sums it up ... if they can get their execution down, and the brewmaster can turn his attention to the beer, they wouldn't be a half-bad stop. I would definitely call ahead and see what's on tap, however.