Located in the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach but hidden away in a nondescript warehouse district, New South Brewing brings the best (and only) local product to a market flooded with handcrafted beers. But New South was a microbrewery long before microbreweries were cool, and the independent local label continues to crank out its unique brand of brews.
Located about 6 miles south of Long Bay Resort, New South Brewing offers weekly tours and almost daily tastings for beer lovers who want to see where their suds come from. The tour takes visitors through each stage of the beer-making process, beginning with the complex fermentation process of hops, barley, malt and other grains all the way through the maze of vats and barrels. The final stage involves canning and kegging the fresh beer by hand, although there is one last step.
Following the 90-minute tour, patrons can make their way to the tasting bar area to sample some of the fresh brew. New South's most popular product, the White Ale, is the most similar to the major national brands, but the microbrewery also makes six other regularly appearing beers – the IPA, Nut Brown Ale, Dark Star Porter, Lager, Stout and Oktoberfest – as well as other seasonal favorites and creative concoctions that the brewmasters experiment with from time to time.
Visitors can take the fun and educational tour each Wednesday at 3 p.m. to learn about a lot more than just how a quality beer is made. Featuring some of the longtime workers who helped launch the local label in 1998, the tours allow guests to hear stories about the good old days when New South served a limited number of local bars and restaurants. Despite a rapid expansion, New South is still one of the little guys in the industry.
Staying true to its motto “The Beer From Here,” New South Brewing takes great pride in its local roots. Although popular demand has expanded New South’s market to include bars and grocery stores throughout the region, the New South crew continues to treat each batch like they are going to drink it themselves. In fact, some still do after a long day of work, joining tourists and locals in the bar or on the outdoor picnic tables to share a few laughs over a couple of “home brews.”
Open from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturdays, New South's bar area serves all of its products in 6-ounce and 12-ounce glasses or in large growler jugs for those who want to get some to go. The bar area also offers sales of souvenirs, such as six-packs, pint glasses and T-shirts, to help you remember your visit to Myrtle Beach's only brewery. Tours are $7, which includes several samples and a souvenir pint glass, and are open to visitors age 21 and over.
Long Bay Resort guests can pick up a six-pack to enjoy back in their room while relaxing on their oceanfront balcony, or to carry back to their hometown if it isn’t in New South’s delivery zone. You will discover what so many others have over the past 18 years – New South has a unique flavor that can only be found in Myrtle Beach.