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5 Charleston Breweries to Visit — Locals’ Picks

By U.S. News & World Report

Charleston, South Carolina, has been celebrated as a culinary destination for years, but every foodie knows that a rich serving of shrimp and grits deserves an equally tasty beverage. That’s where the city’s craft brewers come into play. While Charleston has several well-established purveyors of local suds, new breweries are opening at a rapid pace.

“Every day it gets harder to keep up with them,” says Darcy Shankland, Charleston Magazine editor-in-chief. To help visitors determine which merit a taste test, U.S. News asked local experts to chime in.

Palmetto Brewing Co.

Palmetto Brewing Co., which opened in 1993, is the oldest brewery in South Carolina. Its brewers were pioneers in the craft beer scene in Charleston and the Southeast, and today, the brewery is well-known for beers like its traditional, hoppy Huger Street IPA. Relatively close to the downtown historic areas, it’s an easy stop for visitors who can sample suds in the tasting room or outdoors in the courtyard.

[Read: The Best Hotels in Charleston.]

The tasting room serves specialty and seasonal varieties, as well as Palmetto Brewing Co. standards Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.

Edmund’s Oast

An acclaimed eatery and small-batch brewery, Edmund’s Oast restaurant is a favorite among local experts, including The Spectator Hotel‘s head butler David Hood. He touts both the cuisine and the large beer selection, “plus the outdoor courtyard is really fun.” Edmund’s Oast’s 48 taps include unique house brews, as well as curated drafts from regional, national and international specialty brewers. Edmund’s Oast is also expanding brewing operations to a new 20,000-square-foot site, called Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co., with an outdoor patio.

Edmund’s Oast restaurant’s bar is open Monday through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. till late and it opens at 10 a.m. on Sundays. When it opens in late summer 2017, Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.’s operating hours will be Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Tradesman Brewing Co.

After winning two gold medals in the 2017 U.S. Open Beer Championship — one in the Belgian Tripel category and one in the American Amber category — Tradesman Brewing Co.’s profile has been on the rise. The Tradesman’s beer-makers take the craft part seriously, constructing sturdy, memorable beers that hold up to its “well built” mantra. Located on James Island behind an old gas station, Tradesman has a loyal following among those who appreciate the hardworking vibe and good beer, and its popularity is driving the brewery’s expansion to a new King Street facility on the peninsula.

[Read: 6 Tours Unique to Charleston.]

Local beer aficionado Stephen C. Warner, vice president of global competitiveness for the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, says the brewery continues to offer “experimental takes, like the Fig Harvester Saison made with superlocal figs harvested from the neighborhood behind the brewery. Always something interesting and fun.”

Tradesman’s 15-tap taproom is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Revelry Brewing Co.

For adventuresome beer paired with stellar views, you can’t beat Revelry Brewing Co.’s breezy rooftop terrace on Charleston’s hip upper peninsula.

“It’s one of the closer options for seeing an actual brewery,” says concierge Robbie Fagerstrom of The Vendue. It’s home to a number of award-winning brews: Revelry Brewing won two gold medals and one silver medal in the 2017 U.S. Open Beer Championship, earning it a national ranking of ninth best overall brewery. The Gullah Cream Ale brought home a gold medal at the U.S. Open Beer Championship the previous year. The brewery also donates a portion of the cream ale’s proceeds to the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission.

[Read: 7 Great Charleston Water Parks and Beaches.]

Revelry Brewing opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and at noon on the weekends. It closes at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and at midnight Friday and Saturday.

Coast Brewing Co.

A short drive up the peninsula on an old Navy base, Coast Brewing Co. is a family-run brewery near a serene marsh creek, but don’t be fooled by the laid-back ambiance. Coast brews exceptional beers, including the first all-organic commercially brewed beer in South Carolina. The graphic designs on the beer cans and apparel turn heads, too — including the nautical logo on the Dead Arm Pale Ale, meant as a nod to owner David Merritt’s love of surfing.

“In terms of quality and consistency, I think Dave Merritt is the best brewer in town,” Warner says. “If you like hops, you have to try the Hop Art IPA and Boy King Imperial IPA. And if they have any bourbon-barrel-aged Blackbeerd Imperial Stout in stock, buy all that you can carry. It’s that good.”

The tasting room is open Thursday and Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. Tours are available upon request.

To experience more of what Charleston has to offer, check out the U.S. News Travel guide.

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5 Charleston Breweries to Visit — Locals’ Picks originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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