What Holy City Brewing does

Holy City Brewing is an independently owned craft brewery and hospitality operator headquartered at 1021 Aragon Avenue on Noisette Creek in Park Circle, North Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 2011 by four partners who began with a fifteen-gallon all-grain pilot system in a pedicab garage. The company brews a portfolio of flagship and rotating craft beers including Holy City Pilsner, Overly Friendly IPA, Hazy Dice NEIPA, Pluff Mud Porter, Washout Wheat, Discosaurus DIPA, Sparkly Princess Sour IPA, Paradise Session IPA, and the Firefly-partnered Soundcheck Session IPA. Core operations center on a single-campus taproom with a full in-house kitchen, The Walrus Raw Bar, an outdoor creekside Cabana Bar, and an exclusive 1021 Room speakeasy.

The business operates five distinct private event venues — The Mezzanine (up to 65 guests), Aqua Lounge (up to 35), Courtyard (up to 150), 1021 Room (up to 15), and the wholly-owned Porter Room marsh-front venue (up to 180 seated or 450 standing) — generating hourly rental revenue plus food and beverage minimums. Distribution is dual-channel: direct-to-consumer through the taproom and online merchandise store (store.holycitybrewing.com), plus wholesale across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia via six regional distributors (Lee, Southern Crown Partners, Comer, Greenco, Skyland, and AB Augusta).

Revenue mechanics rely on unit-priced transactions across beer (drafts from $8 with Mon-Thu happy hour discounts), cocktails ($6-$12), full food menu including brunch and raw bar, private event space rentals ($50-$150/hr base rates), gift cards ($10-$100), and merchandise ($5-$100). The marketing approach is community-driven across Instagram, Facebook, Google Business, SMS text club, and recurring on-site programming including Friday live music, Wednesday trivia with house cash prizes, and the Sound Check pre-concert party series run in partnership with Firefly Distillery. A co-branded Painkiller Witbier developed with Pusser's Rum extends brand association into spirits collaborations. The company employs 51-100 people, has no disclosed outside funding, and is not publicly listed.

Name

Holy City Brewing

Legal name

Holy City Brewing

Website

https://holycitybrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Holy City Brewing is an independent craft brewery and hospitality operator in North Charleston, SC, founded in 2011. It runs a full-service taproom, in-house kitchen, raw bar, five private event venues, and wholesale distribution across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• Brewery taproom
• Craft beer distribution
• Private event venue
• Raw bar seafood

Headquarters

HQ city

North Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Taproom Beer & Beverage Sales: Direct sales of craft beers including flagship drafts (Pilsner, IPA, Wheat, Porter), cocktails, wine, hard cider, hard seltzer, and non-alcoholic beverages. Happy hour specials Monday-Thursday 4-6pm with half-off flagship drafts and appetizer deals.
2. Food Service: Full in-house food menu including burgers, sandwiches, wings, salads, seafare, and brunch specials. Raw bar (The Walrus) offers oysters, ceviche, and peel-and-eat shrimp. Full-service kitchen open seven days a week from 11am.
3. Private Event Rentals: Five distinct event spaces available for booking: The Mezzanine (up to 65 guests), Aqua Lounge (up to 35), Courtyard (up to 150), 1021 Room speakeasy (up to 15), and Porter Room marsh-front venue (up to 180 seated/450 standing). Revenue from hourly rentals plus food and beverage minimums.
4. Merchandise & Online Store: Branded merchandise sold through store.holycitybrewing.com including apparel (t-shirts, long sleeves, hats), glassware, koozies, enamel pins, and gift cards. Physical gift cards mailed, emailed/texted gift cards available.
5. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution partnerships across South Carolina (Lee Distributors in Lowcountry, Southern Crown Partners in Myrtle Beach/Florence, Comer Distribution in midlands, Greenco Beverage in upstate), North Carolina (Skyland Distributors Asheville-Charlotte), and Georgia (AB Augusta). Case sales on Mondays and Fridays (25% off four six-packs for three).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Holy City Brewing is a craft brewery that brews and sells a diverse portfolio of craft beers, including flagship Pilsners, IPAs, Wheats, Porters, Sours, and a Double IPA, through its North Charleston taproom, online merchandise store, and wholesale distribution across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The brewery also operates a full in-house food kitchen, an oyster and seafood raw bar called The Walrus, and five distinct private event venues including The Porter Room. Founded in 2011 by four friends on a fifteen-gallon all-grain pilot system, the business serves as a community gathering spot offering live music, trivia, and entertainment partnerships.

Product overview

Holy City Brewing is a craft brewery and taproom in North Charleston, SC, operating since 2011. The company offers a diverse portfolio of craft beers including flagship offerings like Holy City Pilsner, Overly Friendly IPA, Hazy Dice, Pluff Mud Porter, and Discosaurus DIPA. The core product is the taproom experience combining a full service bar with an in-house food menu featuring burgers, wings, seafood, and raw bar offerings (The Walrus Raw Bar). The company operates multiple event venues including The Mezzanine, Aqua Lounge, Courtyard, 1021 Room (Speakeasy), and The Porter Room for private events. Additional offerings include an online merchandise store (t-shirts, hats, koozies, glassware), hard seltzer, cocktails, and Sound Check pre-party events in partnership with Firefly Distillery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Walrus Raw Bar: In-house raw bar offering oysters on the half-shell, ceviche, peel-and-eat shrimp, and rotating seafood menu
• 1021 Room Speakeasy
• Cabana Bar
• Sound Check

Products and services

• Holy City Pilsner Flagship German Pilsner at 5.0% ABV. A well-balanced, golden lager brewed with Pilsner malt and Magnum hops; dry, crisp, and effervescent. Sold on draft at the taproom and in cans through retail and wholesale channels.
• HCB Lite American Light Lager at 4.5% ABV. A refreshing light lager positioned for any-occasion consumption. Sold on draft and in cans.
• Overly Friendly IPA West Coast IPA at 6.9% ABV featuring a double dose of Centennial, Warrior, Chinook, and Cascade hops imparting massive citrus notes. A flagship packaged six-pack.
• Washout Wheat South German Hefeweizen at 5.3% ABV named for a locally loved section of Folly Beach. Brewed with traditional yeast for notes of banana and clove.
• Hazy Dice Hazy IPA (NEIPA) at 6.0% ABV hopped with Citra and Mosaic for juicy and fruity hop character. Sold on draft and in cans.
• Pluff Mud Porter Brown Porter at 5.5% ABV named after the marsh sediment of the SC Lowcountry. Brings American Porter style to Charleston.
• Discosaurus Double IPA (DIPA) at 10.5% ABV built on Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Warrior hops with a malty body and clean finish.
• Sparkly Princess Sour IPA at 6.3% ABV. Kettle-soured and dry-hopped with El Dorado hops, combining sour and hoppy flavors.
• Paradise Session IPA at 4.7% ABV celebrating prevention of drilling off the SC coast, supporting the Coastal Conservation League. Brewed with Citra and Mosaic hops.
• Soundcheck Session IPA Award-winning Session IPA brewed for long days and nights, featured at pre-concert Sound Check parties at Firefly Distillery events.
• HCB Hard Seltzer Hard seltzer available in White Peach, Black Cherry, Blood Orange, or Mango flavors at $8.00 per serving.
• Holy City Taproom Full-service bar and kitchen open seven days a week from 11am, offering a diverse taplist, in-house food menu, daily specials, and table service at 1021 Aragon Ave, North Charleston.
• Cabana Bar Outdoor creekside bar offering twelve beers on tap, HCB beers in cans, and basic cocktails. Food can be ordered from the kitchen, ice cream truck, and raw bar.
• The Walrus Raw Bar In-house raw bar offering oysters on the half-shell, ceviche, peel-and-eat shrimp, and rotating seafood selections with wine pairing. Open Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat 11am-9pm.
• Full Food Menu In-house food menu featuring burgers, wings, salads, sandwiches, seafood, and brunch specials. Served seven days a week from 11am.
• The Mezzanine Private Event Space Private upstairs dining room with a satellite bar featuring rotating HCB beers. Accommodates up to 65 guests with comfortable seating for 40, drink rail, and 65" TV.
• The Aqua Lounge Private Event Space 21-and-up game room featuring a pool table, lounge furniture, and 65" TV with cable and retro Nintendo. Holds up to 35 guests.
• The Courtyard Private Event Space Open-air outdoor space accommodating up to 150 guests with views of the live music stage, awning, and satellite bar with staffed cocktail servers.
• The 1021 Room Speakeasy Exclusive speakeasy event space for up to 15 guests featuring elevated craft cocktails and personalized beverage service. Open Fri-Sat-Sun from 6pm.
• The Porter Room Marsh-front private event venue for up to 180 seated or 450 standing guests, including a prep kitchen, full bar, private restrooms, and marsh-front lawn. Available for weddings, corporate meetings, retreats, rehearsal dinners, and social gatherings.
• Sound Check Pre-Party Events Pre-concert party experience hosting fans three hours prior to Firefly Distillery venue doors. Includes fresh beer releases, food and beverage, and a 10% rideshare discount.
• Merchandise Store Online merchandise store selling branded t-shirts, hats, koozies, enamel pins, fanny packs, glassware, and gift cards through the Big Cartel platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recognized for best sours in SC and best pretzels on the East Coast per customer reviews

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Firefly DistillerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership positioning HCB as the official pre-concert party venue for Firefly Distillery shows. Features Soundcheck Session IPA brewed specifically for the partnership, 10% discount for rideshare customers, tix giveaways on social media, and special event promotions 3 hours prior to venue door times. The partnership captures concert-goer traffic and positions the brewery as an entertainment destination.
• Pusser's RumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to create Painkiller Witbier, a Belgian wit beer with orange, pineapple, and coconut inspired by Pusser's famous rum cocktail. The partnership honors the age-old cocktail that made Pusser's Rum famous and extends brand visibility through beer offerings.
• Lee DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary distribution partner for South Carolina Lowcountry region covering Charleston to Hilton Head. Critical channel partner enabling wholesale distribution of HCB products to bars, restaurants, and retail outlets in the core market.
• Southern Crown PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Myrtle Beach and Florence areas of South Carolina. Expands geographic reach beyond the Lowcountry into the northern SC market.
• Comer DistributionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner covering South Carolina from Rock Hill to Columbia to Aiken. Enables distribution across the SC midlands and western regions.
• Greenco BeverageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for upstate South Carolina region. Completes SC statewide coverage by reaching the Greenville/Spartanburg market area.
• Skyland DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner covering North Carolina from Asheville to Charlotte. Enables HCB expansion into the major NC market through two major metropolitan areas.
• AB AugustaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for East Georgia/Augusta area. First Georgia market entry enabling distribution to the Augusta region.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Westbrook Brewing Company: Craft brewery based in Mt. Pleasant, SC, producing a comparable lineup of IPAs, saisons, and adjunct-driven beers with strong local taproom presence. Closest geographic and scale peer to Holy City in the Charleston market.
• Frothy Beard Brewing Company: Charleston, SC craft brewery operating a taproom with food and rotating experimental beers. Direct local competitor for taproom visits, distribution shelf space, and event bookings in the same metro.
• Tradd's Brewing Co. Independent Charleston craft brewery with taproom, on-site food, and packaged distribution. Direct competitor for local craft drinker share and Charleston-area event venue demand.
• Palmetto Brewing Company: Charleston's oldest craft brewery with taproom and wholesale distribution. Competes directly for Charleston craft consumer and regional SC/NC/GA shelf placements.
• Coast Brewing Company: Charleston-area craft brewery with taproom and packaged distribution. Local peer competing for the same craft enthusiast and food-and-drink occasion.

Broad incumbents

• New Belgium Brewing: Large craft brewer (now part of Tilray) with Asheville, NC roots and broad Southeast distribution. Competes for the same regional draft and packaged shelf space as Holy City but at materially greater scale.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. National craft brewer with an Asheville, NC facility feeding Southeast distribution. Competes for craft tap handles and shelf space across the Carolinas and Georgia.
• Stone Brewing: Large independent craft brewer with broad U.S. distribution and taproom operations. Competes for IPA/shelf share across Holy City's three-state footprint at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• SweetWater Brewing Company: Atlanta, GA-based craft brewery with strong Southeast taproom and distribution footprint. Comparable operating model and overlap in Georgia distribution, but anchored in a different home market.
• Terrapin Beer Co. Athens, GA craft brewery with taproom and multi-state Southeast distribution. Geographic and channel peer in Georgia, with overlapping distributor relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HolyCityBrewing
• Instagraminstagram.com/holycitybrewing
• Xx.com/holycitybrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holy-city-brewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Holy City Brewing