Bierkeller to host holiday market. Here's what to expect.
Thousands of miles from the cozy, centuries-old Christmas market in Dresden, Germany, Columbia brewer Scott Burgess will bring a smaller iteration to South Carolina.Â
Bierkeller, the German-style brewery that Burgess opened as a brick and mortar location this fall, will host weekend Christmas Markets from late November until mid-December. The market will host a handful of local vendors and artisans such as Cosmic Flower, an artist based out of Lexington, Indah Coffee and Carolina Wildlife, a Columbia-based nonprofit.Â
Burgess said the layout and offerings at the market are meant to emulate those of a German Weihnachtsmarkt. On top of vendors set up around Bierkeller's plaza, Burgess said the brewery will have live music from a five-piece brass band, a specialty hot-spiced wine and a play area for children.Â
Along with buying gifts from local vendors and listening to live music, Burgess said commemorative Glühwein — or mulled wine — mugs which will include a first pour and cost $10.Â
Burgess expects the event to be bigger than others he's hosted in the past — including both the pop-ups he once held on the river when Bierkeller was a roaming operation or at this year's inaugural Oktoberfest event. The event, which Bierkeller posted to Facebook, has nearly 13,000 people interested, according to the social media platform.Â
The market will take place on Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 25 until Dec. 17. It will run on Saturdays from noon until 10 p.m. with vendors operating from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday markets will be open 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. with vendors operating from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.Â
"People need to see this side of Columbia," Burgess said. "They need to see the riverfront. They need to see what it can be and what it's going to be and how it's going to grow."Â
Bierkeller opened in August of this year in the retail space under Canalside Lofts, an apartment complex right on the river that divides Columbia and West Columbia. The development sits on the land that once-housed the state's first prison, Central Correctional Institution, until the late-1990s.
Other food news you might've missed:
Let's taco bout it: There's a new Mexican restaurant coming to Five Points from the owner of Saluda's and Il Bucato. Steve Cook, who owns both restaurants, plans to open a traditional Mexican restaurant in the former space of Southern Belly BBQ, I reported earlier this week.Â
So long, Al: The longtime Italian eatery just across the river in West Columbia, Al's Upstairs, will close Dec. 19, according to a Facebook post from the restaurant. The business has been in the area since the late '70s and will close after over four decades in operation.
What's brewing: The folks behind WECO Bottle & Biergarten teamed up with Highland Brewing Company, a longstanding, massive brewery in Asheville, N.C. to brew up a collaboration beer called Cold Mountain. Cans of the specially-brewed beer became available Nov. 14, according to WECO's social media. Be sure to stay up to date on the new brew by visiting facebook.com/wecobiergarten.
Steel Hands Brewing, a Cayce beer producer with an impressive outdoor taproom, will celebrate five years in business in December. John A. Carlos II/Special to Free Times.
Five years of beers: Steel Hands Brewing, the beer producer and taproom in Cayce will celebrate five years in the area Dec. 9, the brewery announced on Instagram. They'll have live music all day, five new beer releases to celebrate and special VIP tickets. More information about the celebration can be found at facebook.com/steelhandsbrewing.
