Ahh, the smell of fresh paint. Today we’re excited to share some updates to our newsletter design. We hope these changes will help us deliver an even better reader experience — but as with most remodels, we may experience a few hiccups along the way. If your email doesn’t look quite right or if you have feedback on ways we can continue to improve, please drop us a line. Bonus points for including the type of device and software/platform you’re reading our newsletter on.
🍻 Peruse these brews
Peak Drift production in the state-of-the-art facility. | Photo by Lynn Luc and Peak Drift Brewing Company
Our team was invited to an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Peak Drift Brewing Company’s production facility, enjoyed tastings of its signature beverages, and received an update on Peak Drift’s taproom. Here’s the need-to-know info.
Brewery update
Though initially planning to open a brewery in 2023, the company has shifted its focus to just being a large-scale production facility + distribution center, servicing other breweries throughout the state and distributing craft brews, hard seltzers, and non-alcoholic beverages featuring a line of Delta-9 THC seltzers to SC bars, restaurants, and stores. Smoked, home of the brand’s microbrewery, will serve as the brand’s official taproom on Main Street.
Taproom offerings
Peak Drift Brewing announced a new taproom menu at Smoked. Several food options include Wagyu Hot Dogs, Heritage Burgers, Peak Drift chicken sandwiches, and shareable plates. Guests can now enjoy an elevated seafood-forward dining experience inside or a brewery atmosphere on the patio and lounge out back, featuring 16 taps, the new canned Delta-9 THC seltzers, six-packs to go, and seasonal live music.
Trust us, the shareable bites like the smoked burnt ends, sea-smoked dip, and lemon parmesan chargrilled oysters are good. | Photo by COLAtoday team.
Local and global reach
Fun fact: Peak Drift’s production facility houses the only in-house can printer in the state which services 35 other regional breweries + brews over 35,000 beers per week. The facility has printed over 4.5 million cans since April 2023. Did we mention each can is 100% fully recyclable and customizable for community partnerships and events? The brewery has collaborated with several local nonprofits to create brews + specialty cans, including:
Riverbanks Zoo
Historic Columbia
The Congaree Riverkeeper
The Therapy Place Inc.
Famously Hot South Carolina Pride
Bonus — Peak Drift also sources local ingredients + uses in-house fruit processing equipment to bring orchard flavors into its products — think fruity sours.
Did you know — Peak Drift has recently been picked up by a major UK chain with plans to expand distribution into Denmark and Switzerland? Products brewed within the North Main facility are reaching across South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean through contract clients.
Events
Events
Thursday, Oct. 17
Book Talk + Signing with Nicholas Delbanco | 6 p.m. | All Good Books | Free | In his new book, “Still Life at Eighty,” Delbanco recalls his life through the homes he has occupied, the friends he has made, and the art and artifacts that have inhabited his life.
Meltdown: A Famously Hot Parade After Party | 9 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern | $13 | Get ready to dance all night as Folk Tech DJs light up the decks with beats that will keep the Pride vibes alive well into the late hours.
Saturday, Oct. 19
Artists Pop-Up at the Columbia Visitors Center | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Columbia Visitors Center | Free | Each week, Experience Columbia features at least two artists of different mediums and styles.
Loire Valley Wine Tasting | 3-4 p.m. | Hampton Street Vineyard | $33 | Enjoy wines from the jardin de France! These wines offer elegance and freshness and are excellent value with six wines from the Loire Valley during our hour-long event.
Free Sundays | 1 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | Free | The third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for free.
The War and Treaty — a Grammy-nominated husband-and-wife duo who sing a blend of roots rock, Americana, and country — is coming to Harbison Theatre on Friday, Nov. 1 for one night only. The opening act will be The Kentucky Gentlemen.
Traffic
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, SCDOT announced a temporary, single-lane closure on Clemson Road. The closure is expected to last until December. See a map of the impacted area.
Coming Soon
Chex Wings & Grill — a Carolinas-based chicken wing restaurant — is coming soon to Rosewood Drive and will be nestled within the Publix shopping center. This will be its third SC location, with the next closest being in Rock Hill. (The Post and Courier)
Eat
Meet Pepper X, one of the world’s hottest peppers, and the man who makes them. According to Guinness World Records, the Carolina Reaper and Pepper X are two of the world’s hottest peppers, and Fort Mill resident, Ed Currie makes them both. The Post and Courier interviewed Currie and shared the experience of eating one of the peppers.
State
The 2023-2024 SC State Education Report Cards are out. Over half of schools met or exceeded expectations in ELA, 42% of schools met or exceeded expectations in math, but only 30% of students are considered both college + career-ready. (WLTX)
Sports
Should the Carolina Panthers move on from Ejiro Evero? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Known for: Olympic champion, WNBA legend, and USC women’s basketball coach.
Costume: Choose an era of Dawn Staley to dress as with a gold medal, a vintage Charlotte Sting jersey, or grab a clipboard + some glasses for a champion coach look.
This Tommy Hilfiger men’s faux leather jacket — it’s a warm layering option perfect for date nights + evening get togethers during the changing seasons.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I was out and about when I spotted a new mural painting. I got a good look because, “a table for two, please” is why I was waiting. Showcasing a few local scenes inside a butterfly’s wing, the fairly new mural paired well with my dinner offering. Think you know where I saw this piece of local art? Play “Where am I” before you depart.
