The Charleston Beer Fest has seen a variety of changes in its 10-plus years of operating in the Lowcountry. The festival, which raises money for Palmetto Community Care’s assistance for those living with HIV/AIDS, takes place from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26.
In 2018, the festival changed its name — from the Charleston Beer Garden to the Charleston Beer Fest — and its location, from a smaller venue at Patriots Point to the much larger Riverfront Park in North Charleston.
Like so many festivals, Charleston Beer Fest had to pause its operations during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, but that hasn’t slowed the fest’s growth since. The past two festivals have seen approximately 5,000 attendees each year.
Palmetto Community Care’s director of development and marketing, Richard Reams, said that since joining the organization, he has seen the number of participating breweries increase gradually to this year’s high of 68. And breweries are coming from farther afield, too.
“While this is still the Charleston Beer Fest, it’s definitely getting much more regional, and even national attention from distributors and brewers that want to come to Charleston,” Reams said.
Visitors are traveling longer distances to get to the festival, too. Reams said 24% of last year’s festival-goers traveled from outside of the tri-county area.
More than beer
Reams said the festival wanted to appeal to more than just beer lovers, although beer is certainly still the main draw. Now, attendees can sip on ciders, hard seltzers and hard kombucha if beer isn’t really their thing. The festival is also featuring its first nonalcoholic beer this year, from Athletic Brewing Co., as well as several mocktails.
Earlier this year, Forbes wrote that “many local, smaller beer festivals have ceased as that trend has waned in the past few years.” In 2023, Axios took an even stronger stance in its article: “The death of the beer festival is jolting the craft brewing industry.”
Needless to say, beer festivals today need to offer something special to appeal to attendees. Reams said this year’s participating breweries will likely bring some of their flagship beers, as well as one-offs and specialty products.
“They’re going to bring something that’s special for all the locals,” he said, noting that in the past many festival attendees have lamented the presence of local breweries bringing just flagship beers, which they could get at any bar and restaurant around town.
Reams also noted true beer nerds will want to take part in the festival’s VIP section, which will feature unique options.
Most importantly though, Reams said, the festival raises funds for philanthropic initiatives.
“Every dollar we raise is [for] a fundraiser,” he said. “I think there’s still a little bit of a misconception because of how big it is that we’re just a festival that makes a donation to Palmetto Community Cares and that’s just not the case. … That’s why we say ‘drink beer, do good.’ ”
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