Craftsmen Kitchen & Tap House

 

 

When you first walk in you notice a small room dominated by a L shaped bar that can seat about 10 folks, and a few tables for dining. Follow the walkway into the back and you will see a larger space with another larger bar and tables. Lots of brick and kind of a historic and relaxed feel here.

Between the front and back bars there were roughly 40-50 drafts, and there was a large bottle and can selection in glass front refridgerators. The draft selection had a good percentage of local beers, and they were not the typical ones found around town. The beers I had over two seperate stops over the weekend were very fresh.

Service was good and knowledgable. Prices were a bit steep but it is downtown Charleston. If I had one stop in town, this would be the place. Great vibe and great selection.

A really solid tap House with a healthy draft list and very nice bottle list. The service is awesome with the beer mongers very much on top of their game. Food is tasty as well - Scotch eggs for the win! The big drawback here is the pricing structure - local brews named Westbrook or brews named evil twin or pretty much any non draft (bottle) is marked up...Alot. If you don't mind the high $ of say Cake Break or ba bomb for $36 then you gtg.

Only stopped in for one beer, but it was exactly the one I was hunting for... Key Lime Pie Gose. Didn't disappoint, and the beer list was seriously impressive. Plently of local representation, various styles organized well into straightforward categories. A reserve list with some high prices soaring up to $80.

The vibe was low key and relaxed, small bar in front and larger bar in back with the majority of the taps. A small patio in the back that was fully enclosed with windows into the bar area.

Bartender and hostess were friendly and helpful, offering tastes of beers and waters.

Overall this was a cool spot and I hope to return soon.

Visited the this place on a pub crawl of downtown Charleston and it was the best bar we went to all night. This is the type of place you I would have walked right past if not on a tour, but it is a true gem. Tons of stuff on tap and an extensive beer list, one of the biggest I have seen at a bar. Prices are reasonable. I look forward to going here again next time I am in Charleston.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do NOT miss this place.

I really like this place. The beer selection is very good. Currently 45 taps with many local beers. I was there on Thursday night and they have flights and bites. A sample flight with a sample food pairing.

The food is not standard bar food.they have great options and the food is better than the beer. The staff was very friendly and really enjoyed their work. My favorite place in Charleston

This was my second visit, and had great experiences both times. Several dozen taps, well selected and the beer menu was very organized by styles and identified local offerings. Our bar tender and the bar manager were very nice and welcoming, and offered great suggestions and were generous with samples. My wife who does not prefer beer really enjoyed her cocktail. Extensive bottle list, which is available for take out. We have made our rounds in Charleston and this is my favorite spot!

This was the first place we hit on our visit and was a fantastic surprise.

We started with a couple flights, and for their Stout flight they were out of a couple offerings and were substituting KBS for one - no big deal. Then pours of that were heavy when bought outright, bigger than anywhere else. Not a full pint, but I think definitely over 12oz.

Bartender was incredibly knowledgeable, especially on local beers which I was completely unfamiliar with. Food, especially happy hour type appetizers, were great especially for the price. Considering great food is incredibly easy to find around Charleston, I only give that a 4.5 but it gets high marks for quality for the price.

Things are pretty expensive in that area so a good deal, with great quality finds, and really helpful/friendly service - that goes a long, long way. I recommend at least checking the place out to pretty much anyone planning a trip to Charleston.

Friendly vibe and super cool people. Bar manager is the best. Selection of beer both on tap and to go home may be best in town. Can't wait to return and drink a pint or two! Revisit 2/22/18. Varied taps/lots of locals. Super friendly attentive staff. Awesome inventory for drinking or takeaway. Expensive bottles. Looking for scarce or highly rated? It’s probably in the cooler, but you will pay. Great location and space to hang, whether inside or out back on patio.

 

 

 

So glad I stopped in!! Sat at the front bar, but if it's crowded, go around back for the longer bar. Bartender Sarah could not have been any more awesome - every suggestion was spot on. Had the Thursday night sampler for $10, which featured four 4oz pours of killer Allagash brews with great little food pairings for only $10! Best $10 I've ever spent. Then had the Crunchy Dame sandwich (pork) with an Anderson Valley Gueze - holy crap, get this. It's special.

What I also loved about this joint is that they offer either 8 or 16oz pours for everything under 10% ABV... And they'll do little 2oz sample if you're not quite sure what to get.

If you find yourself in Charleston, get yourself here.

Cool place.
Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.
Beer selection is very good, both local & national.
1/2 price burgers & sandwiches after 7 on Tuesday. My Farmhouse burger rocked, my nephew had the Crunchy Dame which is pork belly, cherry jam, sunny side up egg, and gruyere and got a rave review. Sounds weird but works.
Go here.

Great place. Good bartenders and good beer

I have been in Charleston for a couple of days and have gone to Closed for Business and Craftsmen Kitchen & Tap House. There is no comparison between the two. Not that Closed for Business is bad, it is that Craftsmen is one of the top ten gastropub/beer bars that I've been too. And I don't say that lightly having been to Hopleaf in Chicago, Mikkeller in SF, Torst in Brooklyn, The Pony Bar in NYC and Two Stones Pub in Newark DE.

I was greeted by a great hostess, Alyson who offered to take my coat. That doesn't happen everyday at a gastropub.


I was already prepared to give Craftsmen 5's across the board, after eating the Crunchy Dame Pork Belly & Cherry Jam sandwich, sweet potato tamales and two great local beers. Frothy Beard's Mermaid's Milk stout and Freehouse's Hoodoo Imperial stout.

While considering which beer to order, I mentioned to the bartender, Sarah, that I have been looking for Westbrook's Mexican Cake. Sarah asked one coworker who said they thought they sold the last of it. Sarah said let me see what I can do, and she went to ask her GM, Robbie Chinn, if they had anymore. They proceeded to call one of the owners at home, and after a few minutes I was following Robbie to Nirvana. A room full of large format bottles. I was able to purchase a bottle of Westbrook Mexican Cake, 4th Anniversary and Old Time Brandy. That is what I call going above and beyond. Most bartenders would've just said sorry, but Sarah was on a mission to get me a bottle of Mexican Cake, and she really knows her beer. Also most GM's generally don't go beyond the cursory "How was your meal", but Robbie seems really passionate about great beer and food.

I was already loving Charleston, but this seals the deal. Awesome town and awesome gastropub. Charleston you need to make it to this place. If you rating Closed for Business a 4+, than Craftsmen is a 10.

Craftsmen Kitchen & Tap House combines high quality food and service with a very well thought out selection of 48 draft beers. It's truly a "gastropub" and you shouldn't even consider stopping in for just a beer.

The space is divided up into different sections which is interesting, and it gives you a little bit of choice in the 'feel' of your experience. Personally I prefer the "IPA bar" in the back because it's more quiet and comfortable, but if I went with a group I'd probably want to be at the main bar. The decor is basically brick and wood, and it's polished but with an edge. It's not the 'modern industrial' that you find so often these days - because most of it's real! I'm not sure what the building used to be, but it definitely has character and charm.

Beyond the food and the beer, the service really stands out, and they've got some of the best bartenders I've ever had the luck of coming across. It makes for an entirely different experience when you've got someone who's intelligent and interested, and not just pretending to care.

Although I love Edmunds Oast, I'd have to say 'Craftsmen' is my favorite place in Charleston due to it's welcoming and casual charm.

 

 

 

Craftsman is a big space on a little side road in downtown Charleston.The bartender told us it was many places over the years but originally a loading station for the old docks. Large timbers and high ceilings make the front bar cavernous. Winding through a hallway brings you back into another, larger open bar area. Raised seating at the bar and tables throughout the rest of the room. The back bar is longer with more tap handles although all beers are served at each bar. A couple appetizers were ordered, Scotch egg and squid fries. While the Scotch egg was good the squid fries are not to be missed. Insanely delicious!

The taplist is extensive. All beers are sorted by style, which is always nice. The bartender was easy to talk with and quick to offer a sample when questions were asked. There were also no punches pulled when asked about certain beer. I appreciate truth in servers. Suds from across the country were all on tap along with a goodly amount of draft only locals. Prices were more than fair. I would highly recommend a stop by Craftsman on your way through Charleston, get the squid fries.

 

 

 

 

 

The beer scene has dramatically changed in Charleston in the few years I've been away. This is a neat spot - two bars - great beer selection - attentive and knowledgeable staff. We had a blast and enjoyed an Evil Twin brew I'd never seen before. If you're in the area, definitely check these guys out.

I am totally impressed with the service at the Craftsman. They prematurely posted Mexican Cake on draft. When I came in and requested it, theyes told me it was a mistake and only had bottles. A few minutes later the manager, Robbie, came out and said they did have a keg they were going to put out later. He then said he would put it on draft right away to be fair. I am super impressed with this place and recommend this place to anyone.