Brewery Spotlight: Holy City Brewing in North Charleston
During our recent trip to North Charleston, SC, we were fortunate enough to pop by Holy City Brewing!
This gorgeous location boasts multiple bars, a beautiful event space, and a huge outdoor area.
In this interview, we chatted with JT Stellmach, Sales Director at Holy City Brewing. Let's jump right in!
About the Brewery
Work For Your Beer (WFYB): We are so excited to be chatting with you, JT! What year did Holy City open and what's one fact we may not know about the brewery?
JT: Holy City opened in 2011, and it was started by 4 friends in the garage/shop of the Pedicab/Rickshaw businesses of downtown Charleston!
WFYB: That's very cool — love a good friend-built business. What would you say really makes Holy City unique?
JT: We have 4 acres of property on Noisette Creek with space inside and outside with a full bar and full kitchen — literally something for everyone (beer and beyond!).
WFYB: Yes, your property is absolutely stunning. We were super impressed with the space. (We were lucky enough to visit during a market, and it was such a cool community event!).
Let’s Talk Beer
WFYB: Let's shift into some beer-specific questions: what is the best-selling brew you've got at Holy City?
JT: Our best selling beer overall is Pluff Mud Porter. In the taproom, Holy City Pilsner and Overly Friendly IPA are the most popular!
WFYB: We love to see a porter as a best-seller! What beer would you say the Holy City team is the most proud of brewing?
JT: Any of our traditional German Lagers. I'm glad we've stuck to tradition and not chased trends with adjuncts and ABV. I personally love our Helles Lager, Dunkel, Doppelbock, Marzen, etc.
WFYB: You're speaking straight to our little hearts with that one. Okay, but what is the WEIRDEST beer you've ever brewed?
JT: A Roast Beef Seltzer. We brewed that for "Strange Brew", an event hosted by Unknown Brewing in Charlotte designed to be as weird as possible. It tastes better (not saying much) when you added a drop or two of Arby's Sauce.
WFYB: Um, I'm sorry, HOW DID WE NOT TRY THIS WHEN YOU WERE IN CHARLOTTE?! Can't tell if we would have vomited or not, but we love the creativity.
Okay, back to our fan-favorite question: if you had to make your *perfect* mixed six-pack, what beers would you include in it?
JT:
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Wienstephan Helles
Maisel Weisse Krystal Wiesse
Maine Lunch IPA
Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout
Boulevard Love Child No. 6 (wild beer)
WFYB: You've got some amazing brews in there — we'd drink it!
Let’s Focus on Community
WFYB: We love to learn more about how craft breweries give back to their local communities — tell us about how you give back to North Charleston/Charleston.
JT: We partner with lots of local charities and clubs, give back to the F&B community, and create a safe space for all people to gather and interact.
WFYB: Talk to us more about keeping Holy City as safe space — how do you make sure your brewery is inclusive?
JT: First, we have a Code of Conduct that we abide by. Second, I can say we have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment or disrespect at the brewery. We have EEO employment practices, multi-levels of management for safe reporting, and diverse staff.
WFYB: We LOVE to hear it! You also seem to host a ton of events to keep the community engaged. What event are you the proudest of hosting?
JT: It seems like we host events every week! I'm proud of our F&B open houses because they are really all I plan. We invite all local bars/restaurants/retailers to have a tour, grab a free lunch, and get free beer and swag. It's a great way to advertise and show our support for the community.
WFYB: That's so awesome! Keep hosting those events!
Huge thank you to JT for taking the time out of his day to chat with us.
If you're visiting North Charleston, definitely pop by for a beer or two (they have 50+ on tap!) — you won't regret it!
Want to be considered for an upcoming feature? Email cheers@workforyourbeer.com to set up an interview!