Crowlers – recyclable 32 oz. cans that can be filled and sealed with the beer of your choice as an alternative to other growler formats – have grown in popularity since being launched by Oskar Blues within the past couple of years. The innovation recently made its way into South Carolina after Columbia’s Green’s Warehouse on Piney Grove unveiled the first crowler setup in the state.
The term “tap takeover” is used a little too liberally these days. Usually when a bar or store hosts one, it’s a handful of a brewery’s year-round releases and one or two special beers, and not something such as Stone’s Most Arrogant Bar party.
But Friday, Columbia’s Piney Grove Green’s location is hosting a true tap takeover from Conquest of 25 beers, including a slew of new one-off releases.
If you haven’t heard, Columbia’s Conquest brewery is expanding into the Greenville market later this month, marking the brewery’s move into its first major market outside of the Midlands. And for their launch, the brewery has lined up a range of events at some of Greenville’s biggest beer spots. Here’s where Greenvillians can get their first taste in the coming weeks.
If you missed out on Brewvival and all the great beers Conquest had on tap, tonight’s your chance to try some new and limited brews from Columbia’s only production brewery.
Conquest will take over a few of the taps at the Green’s on Piney Grove tonight. Brewery co-owner and Green’s resident beer geek Joseph Ackerman will be on hand sampling some special brews, including a double dry-hopped version of their Artemis Blonde with Warrior, Belma, Citra and Centennial hops; a rare keg of Bipolar High Roller, their 4% Irish dry stout brewed with Scotch Bonnet peppers; and the first-ever keg of Medusa, their 5.2% sweet stout.
The tasting kicks off at 5 p.m.
Need more evidence Conquest is a hit? At 5 p.m. last Friday, the brewery put up its Sacred Heart IPA and Artemis Blonde on the growler station at the Piney Grove Green’s location.
The result?
Many thanks to everyone that came to hang out @greenswarehouse tonight. We blew four full kegs and set the all-time growler record. Cheers.
— Conquest Brewing Co. (@ConquestBrewing) January 26, 2013
That’s 62 gallons – 31 of Artemis, 31 of Sacred Heart – gone in one night. That, needless to say, is a lot of beer to dole out in one night.
But have no fear. More kegs will be tapped at the Assembly Street Green’s this Thursday and you’ll have plenty more to enjoy once the brewery opens for business?
So, exactly when is that grand opening? From first- and second-hand accounts, I’ve heard we’ll all be enjoying some brews at 947 S. Stadium Road in a matter a weeks. There are a few more i’s to dot and t’s to cross, but the big day will be here soon enough.
