The Charleston Beer Exchange

LouDogg114

Georgia

4.71/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | $$

Great atmosphere! The inside is a little tight but the shelves make use of all the space available. I kind of felt like i was in an old tavern in the 17th century with awesome beers all around. A great growler station in the back with a chalk board list of the days brews adds to the experience. Cool little building with so much history. It's definitely one of my main stops whenever I visit ol Chuktown!

05-07-2013 21:22:21 | More by LouDogg114

Pseudonova

5/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$$

When I moved here, Total Wine was the only place to find good beer. Nothing against Total Wine, but it always seemed like what someone thought was really rare and spectacular beer. No one even had a clue what a growler was. When these guys opened up shop in a tiny hovel right off of East Bay, the entire game changed. I see new stuff every time I go there, entire breweries I never knew existed. Scott, Rich, and Brandon are the most knowledgeable beer guys I've ever met and they are VERY well connected to the craft brew industry. They are usually the first in the region to get a shot at the really rare limited releases, some of which show up at their spectacular annual beer festival Brewvival. Now, they are a little more pricey than other spots in town, but they are also paying rent on some of the most expensive real estate in the country so I give them a break there. They hold a very special place in the local beer community. When you are in town, be sure take home a few cases from these guys.

01-31-2013 19:46:15 | More by Pseudonova

katahdin01

New York

4.94/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

The staff are knowledgable and helpful. I've placed orders for kegs via email and all went very smoothly. Excellent operation. The store is a bit cramped but that is due to the historic property they use, which is the norm for downtown. Highly recommended for kegs since they can get many products in just a few days, local or west coast.

Unlike other stores in downtown Charleston, parking was easy and accessible. They offer member rewards per dollar amount spent. I'be earned a sticker and a pint glass. Next level is shirt and I look forward to it! These guys truly outperform thier competitors in the ease and simplicity of getting kegs and growlers. I live 10 miles away and drive past a larger beer outlet to get to Charleston Beer Exchange. Well worth the trio downtown.

10-16-2012 12:24:18 | More by katahdin01

Jambarino

South Carolina

4.94/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I have shopped at the Greenville Beer Exchange numerous times but just recently had a chance to go by the Charleston location while on vacation.I went specifically to get the Westbrook apple brandy aged citrus ninja exchange and the staff was very helpful and pleasant to be around and talk to,just like the Greenville staff is.The store is a tad bit smaller than the Greenville on but is packed with nothing but quality and variety on the shelves and the prices are reasonable.In fact my sister in law from Colorado was with us and found her favorite beer and she was impressed with the selection as well.I can't say enough about these guys,they have defined what a beer store should be and have set a standard in the craft beer world.If you are ever in the Charleston area do yourself a favor and go visit.

10-12-2012 16:54:24 | More by Jambarino

DaveStroud

4.51/5  rDev -7.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

The Charleston Beer Exchange has a great selection. I found it one afternoon walking around downtown with my wife and a cousin. We walked down a side street and I saw the building and was super-surprised to find this diamond in the rough. I will visit this place everytime I go back to Charleston. Also, I did not have a chance to get a sticker while I was down there; I even made plans to go back and pick one up and never made it. If anyone from the CBE is reading this, I would love for you to send me one...

09-19-2012 18:23:56 | More by DaveStroud

DoubleSimcoe

New York

4.71/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

The famous Charleston Beer Exchange!

The wife and I stopped here during our brief tour of Charleston, between lunch at Husk Restaurant and a long drive to Boca Raton-Delray Beach with a friend who god-knows-why decided to move down there.

The place is a tiny storefront in a devastatingly gorgeous street of beautiful Charleston. Smaller than a studio apartment in Manhattan, but chock-full of quality beer. Picture the entire collection of Mikkeller single-hop brews, and a lot of their barrel-aged Black Hole series.

Allagash, Great Divide, Weyerbacher, Ommegang, Sierra, Stone, Dogfish and all the big names are well represented here, but they also have locals I never heard of, like Westbrook, Palmetto and Coastal.

Lava Imperial Stout from Iceland, and JW Lee's Harvest from '7. Sweet or what! Their growler selection includes 9 taps and the chance to fill a humongous 128-oz growler. Wow!

I bought a Weyerbacher Blasphemy bomber (which I am yet to find in NYC) and a local Westbrook Saison IPA. Prices are very reasonable, and the best thing at the Exchange is the incredibly friendly, personable service. Two beer dudes who chat you up, guide you around the store, offer advice and crack a joke or two. So damn nice!

Love this place!!

06-13-2012 05:41:22 | More by DoubleSimcoe

nickfl

Florida

4.58/5  rDev -6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

I was surprised to find this place right in the historic district of downtown Charleston. As a result of the location it is tiny, but they pack quite a lot into a small space. The selection is excellent, up there with the best places in the South, such as Brusin Ales and 5 Points Bottle Shop (perhaps not quite as good as 5 Points). Quite a good selection of imports and all of the craft stuff that was available in the area. They even have a growler station and while there wasn't anything astonishing on tap when I visited, they do seem to get some real rarities. This is the area where they really set themselves apart; they actually fill bottles of the rarest beers they tap and save them for future sale, meaning that there is a limited selection of draft only beers that they once had on tap even after they are gone. These bottles are very expensive ($16-18 each), but it is a nice option to have. The staff definitely know their beer and they even offer a frequent buyer rewards program (I didn't pay much attention to the details since I live out of the area). Easily the best beer store in the area.

03-28-2012 06:52:48 | More by nickfl

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

5/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

CBX is amazing. The place is a little small and kind of tucked away in a remote part of downtown Charleston, but don't let that fool you; this place is stocked floor to ceiling with great beer. And when I say great beer, I mean it. Even when I've walked in and grabbed a few bottles that I've never heard of before, they were always delicious. I don't think they stock a bad beer in the place. On top of all the bottles and 6-packs, they have a nice growler station where you can get 32, 64, or 128 oz fills. The taps rotate often, and on top of that, they have special events every week on Tuesday called "Rare Beer Tuesdays" when they tap a special release and sometimes have other perks to go along with it (meet the brewer, free glassware, etc.) As if the selection and quality wasn't good enough, the staff is very helpful, friendly, and courteous. If you need help, they are more than willing to give it to you and are very knowledgeable about their selection and just beer in general. On the other hand, if you want to be left alone to browse or you know what you're looking for, they let you do your own thing. For a place this good, prices are very reasonable.

If you like craft beer or are interested in getting into craft beer and you live in the Charleston area, you should already be going to Charleston Beer Exchange. This place is outstanding.

03-19-2012 17:22:48 | More by BlackBelt5112203

joandrade

Alabama

5/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I was in Charleston for the weekend (from Savannah about a week ago) and came upon the Exchange when running. I checked it out later in the day and have resolved that it's definitely worth my time to drive two hours for the selection, expertise and value of the beer found here. I don't think I will be participating much in the growlers due to the distance, but I was extremely impressed by the selection of beers on tap. The staff was extremely helpful and knowledgable, and provided great recommendations for new and different tasty beverages. I can't wait to get back...

03-04-2012 20:45:41 | More by joandrade

NathanielCalcamuggio

5/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

A: Quaint and sophisticated. The Beer Exchange is a perfect fit just off Broad Street at the edge of the historic neighborhood.

Q: Bar none, the best in town. I drove half an hour into town 1-2 times a week for a growler of beer throughout my 1 year stay in Charleston. There are several other places that will fill a growler but do not offer the selection, advice, or hospitality of the Beer Exchange.

S: Very friendly and personable. They were able to advise on periodic growler selections as well as beer for making beef stew, cranberry sauce, non-alcoholic ginger beer, and new directions for tasting. In addition, they accommodated my toddler. We frequented together. The shop helped her participate in beer selection and provided her with stickers for her cozy coupe. Overall, they made a very memorable experience for me in Charleston. I look forward to another growler or rare bomber when I return. On a side note, do not expect a taste before you buy from the tap. Charleston law forbids it.

S: For a small shop behind the old exchange, they have a varied selection. Several beers on tap as well as mix-n-match bottles. There is something for every palate.

V: The prices are respectable. You can expect to pay more for the rare beer days and craft bottles. I would not say they over inflate based on location. I mainly purchased growlers and prices were similar to the brew companies in town.

02-28-2012 01:11:28 | More by NathanielCalcamuggio