June 25, 2009
Couldn’t wait to try this place - dragged the whole family here for dinner. The building the brewery is in is really cool - I love the way they used the historic building to create the brewery and smokehouse. The food was pretty good as well. I got the Salmon and it was prepared very well and would try it again. That is where the kudos stop however. The service was marginal at best. The server was average. The beer was less than average - and they were out of one of the their main beers - the Pale Ale.. how does this happen? So, when I ordered the sampler is was one beer short and I had to remind the server to bring a 2nd glass of one of the other selections. When I decided to buy a shirt on the way out the girl at the counter acted like I was putting her out - I should have just told her to forget it. It is no wonder that the other locations have closed.

February 16, 2009
I’m going to rate it a little higher than some of the other recent ratings, perhaps because I’m not that susceptible to diacetyl. It takes a lot to register with me. Our waitress handled us nicely (we weren’t at the bar) the food was ok. My wife’s pasta dish was a little bland, but my shrimp and grits were pretty good. The beer was drinkable, but not outstanding. The Southend Bombay Pale Ale was probably the best. Not super hoppy, but hoppy enough. Really nice looking building and interior. Cool looking place, although it obviously caters some to families with the jar of crayons on every table.

February 6, 2009
A great disappointment. the flawed beers matched the flawed service. Ordered two pints, and one was undrinkable, was basically a pint of pure diacetyl. The barkeep never noticed the untouched pint and never cared to ask about it. Couldn’t wait to leave. Twas sad.

January 29, 2009 [ Updated February 6, 2009 ]
Ack! Disinterested staff. The beer was terrible (diacetyl and more). Honestly, we couldn’t get out of here fast enough and that almost never happens at a brewpub. Truly, they are squandering a beautiful building (where the atmosphere point comes from).

August 25, 2008
Our family ate here twice during our recent stay in Charleston. Very cool looking place with wide open space above, what appear to be custom lighting fixtures, and a lively atmosphere. Beer selection was ok, although they were out of two of their mainstay beers, which shouldn’t happen. The food was very good. I had the shrimp and grits, which was very good. Just an fyi parking can be a little problematic, but we were eventually able to find a spot on a side street about a block away. Definitely worth the visit.

July 11, 2008
well worth the visit. good selectionof ales reasonably priced and good food and service to match. would definately visit again if i get back to charleston.

June 14, 2008
I finally got down to Southend Brewery the other day and had a decent visit. The atmosphere was nice with the brewing still and tubs in the middle behind clear glass. The beer selection was ok, normal flight of flavors, although they were out of their most popular the wheat beer. I had 2 different pale ale and some of the best smoked bbq wings i have ever had. Not a great place to go for an enthusiast as the beer wasn’t spectacular, but as a regular joe i probably woulda liked the place.

May 27, 2008
Visiting my mother for mother’s day in South Carolina and we went to Charleston to get out of the country for some adventure. She knows I’m a big fan of craft beer and I told her I wanted to sample something local. We initially headed to Ted’s Butcher block and really liked Ted. He had a unique selection of beer but nothing local. He mentioned that the local Coast beer goes fast. All in all I liked Ted’s a lot. We looked around a bit and found Southend Brewery and Smokehouse. I was very excited to see a brew pub and we got a table for dinner. I got a sample paddle with 8 5oz offerings. A pale ale, blonde, weizen, two red ales, a porter and an oatmeal stout. The pale ale and porter had a very strange taste like contaminated yeast or soap left in the tank. Didn’t finish those. The weizen was bland. All of the samples were very watery. The only beer that was OK was the oatmeal stout. Hardly any hop taste to any of the beers. Very low quality. I would never drink there again. The only silver lining was the food. My barbeque chicken pizza with smoked gouda was fantastic. Other than that, very disappointing. I disliked the beer so much that I asked for whatever else was available in the bottle and the reply was BUD and BUD LIGHT. That’s not a place that cares about beer drinkers. The Tampa Bay Brewing company has their own beer offerrings (which are fantastic) and a wide selection of bottles.

January 28, 2008
Large, restaurant-feeling brewpub with multiple stories. Upstairs is much more bar-like. Either way, the service is pretty good and the food is satisfying. The beers can be hit or miss, but they aren’t horrible. Downstairs in the restaurant they cover the tables with paper and give you crayons, which is really awesome after a few beers.

November 12, 2007
Been Going here for a bout 10 years when I get a chance. I love the building. The food is decent. The chocolate cobber is to die for. But this is a beer reveiw and they are at best average. Only had 5 on draft at last visit. Did not have a seasonal and beers only average. Shame really but I have come to expect no less in South Carolina when it comes to beer.