
The Last Pour

Pioneering West Ashley beer bar Oak Barrel Tavern taps out after 13 years by Lorne Chambers | Editor The beer world has changed a lot in the last decade and a half. Through all the revolving trends and tastes the Oak Barrel Tavern has been there pouring pint after...
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The N.E.(w.) IPA
For the majority of my time as a drinker of great American beer, when it came to IPA and Pale Ale, it was always West Coast style. Think of the piney, citrus hops grown locally on the west side of the land, and beginning with one of America’s first brew pubs, opened...
Embrace The Wit
Wheat beers come in a variety of types, but the majority of original styles come from either Germany or Belgium. Regardless of country, the styles have in common the requirement that about 50 percent of the malt bill must be made up of wheat. The Germans boast several...
The Summer Of Kölsch
I know in recent weeks I have been trumpeting the horns of many big time beers. Double IPAs, Old Ales, a crazy curry Imperial Stout. There are some wild and wooly and strong beers on the shelves. But I want to again praise the continued trend of the craft beer that’s...
Pilsner For Your Summer
With summer nearly upon us, I’ll continue the discussion from last week and look back to the origins of the beer we call pilsner. This effervescent, bright, clear and flavorful beer could easily be your warm month choice. And while nearly all pilsners are golden and...
A Taste of Philly
The lunch rush is still winding down at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday, but Danny Bailey manages to slide off the line, still in his apron, to chat about his new restaurant, DB’s Cheesesteaks, which opened recently in the popular Avondale Business District. He’s a...
America’s Jazzy Pilsners
I’ve recently been watching Ken Burns’ 10-part documentary Jazz from PBS. Now, to many of you, I suspect that sounds like 10 hours of pure torture. While I think the filmmaker spent much too long on Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, I understand the importance of...
Farm Fresh Suds
It seems these days every beer you pick up is brewed with something besides water, yeast, hops and malt. Without going down the road of “where have all the classic styles of beer gone,” you would be hard pressed to visit your local pub and not find at least one bottle...
2017 Spring Cookbook Issue — A Trip To The Farmers Market
Every spring and every Fall West Of puts out our semi-annual Cookbook Issue. Essentially it’s a food-centric issue that is a kind of cookbook, with recipes, cooking tips, and ideas from local chefs and food purveyors. There is always a theme of some sort and recipes...
May is Bessinger’s Barbecue Month
Last week, during the monthly meeting of the St. Andrew’s Rotary Club at Bessinger’s Barbecue on Savannah Highway, Mayor John Tecklenburg came to the podium to talk a bit about the Plan West Ashley meetings that have been taking place over the last several months....
The Lovely Days Of May
As we continue on through May, the hint of summer is juxtaposed with the last grasp of winter. As pollen clogs the drains and coats the cars, I awoke recently to my heat kicking on late at night; it was set on 66. That said, I see 90s looming this week, so I don’t...