When Angie and Jonathan Bryan opened Golden Isles Brewing Co. this fall in St. Petersburg, Florida, they wanted it to be a community hub and gathering space. Located in a former 1960s-era gas station, the space features an indoor-outdoor bar with roll-up doors, plus lawn games and old-school arcade games like Ms. Pac-Man—touches that make breweries like theirs throughout the Southeast go-to destinations for corporate and nonprofit gatherings, both large and small.
Alex Crall, director of sales and marketing for The Porter Room at Holy City Brewing in Charleston, South Carolina, believes breweries can provide “an incredible level of service and unique products that most event venues can’t offer, from a multitude of craft beer offerings to guided tastings and bespoke experiences.”
Breweries offer “not just unique decor that will set your event apart and make your guests excited to attend, but [also] a new way to do business that lowers the hassle event planners often face, with flexible spaces, good value on food and beverages, a suite of audiovisual and technology, and plenty of easy parking for guests,” says Christiana Craddock, event sales manager with Monday Night Brewing in Atlanta, Georgia.
David C. Baker, who has held the Mind Your Own Business conference for owners of small- and medium-size creative businesses at Monday Night Brewing’s Garage the last two years, agrees. “Our clients are leaders in the business of creativity, and we wanted to hold our event in a place that was interesting and inspiring, not some drab ballroom or conference
center,” he explains.
Keep It Bespoke
Located in Atlanta’s historic West End, Monday Night Brewing houses its barrel-aging and souring operations. For gatherings of 500 or more, opt for the Chandelier Room, which features a private bar and deck, a catering prep kitchen, event staff, a suite of audiovisual services, and industrial-chic elements like vintage chandeliers and greenery walls. Want to go even bigger? Book the Courtyard for an indoor-outdoor space that accommodates up to 1,000 attendees for events of all sizes.
The 4,400-square-foot Porter Room meeting space at Holy City Brewing in North Charleston, South Carolina, offers planners a versatile, open floor plan for seated events of up to 180 attendees or larger standing receptions of up to 450. In addition to dramatic glass walls and a 1,600-square-foot patio with scenic marsh views, the venue features add-ons like customized beer labels for events—ideal for branded celebrations and product launches—plus a bourbon tasting bar for a guided tasting of rare spirits. The brewery also partners with the Sean Williams and Mary Martin Art Gallery to display artwork in the space, with proceeds from the sales benefiting nonprofit clients hosting events in the venue.
“We feel the venue is the perfect balance of a blank slate to set for meetings or conferences, but then transitions perfectly into formal dinners, cocktail hour-style receptions, or even casual oyster roasts/picnics,” says Crall.
Jacob Baumann, Devil’s Foot Beverage Co.’s co-founder, says the full-service taproom in Biltmore Village in Asheville, North Carolina, was designed to “have a cozy, community-oriented feel.” The 7,000-square-foot space has an indoor-outdoor capacity for over 300 eventgoers and hosts “everything from local nonprofit fundraisers and staff appreciation gatherings to corporate breakout sessions and holiday parties, as well as beverage-centric ticketed events,” he continues. Devil’s Foot also offers clients the option to create a private-label craft soda for their events.
Entertain Your Guests
Come for the craft brews, stay for live music ranging from local zydeco bands to up-and-coming singer-songwriters at Crying Eagle Brewing Co. in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Both of the brewery’s outdoor spaces—the 60-person-capacity beer garden deck and 50-person-capacity upper deck—include elevated stage views, a private bar, group brewery tours, and catering from the on-site cafe, which serves crowd-pleasing fare like wings, truffle fries, and hand-tossed pizzas.
With lawn games like cornhole and Connect4 and an indoor video game room, Golden Isles Brewing Co. in the booming Magnolia Heights neighborhood of St. Petersburg, is ideal for a fun, laid-back corporate or nonprofit gathering. The retro space has a 3,000-square-foot interior with a large private events room that opens to a 4,000-square-foot patio. In addition to local brews, Golden Isles offers prosecco and other wines, organic sodas, and food from rotating food trucks.
Prioritize Versatility
Can’t decide between a large open room, an intimate gathering place, or a lively open patio? Get all of the above at Deadwords Brewing in Orlando, Florida. Combined, the taproom, covered outdoor patio, cozy lounge, and semiprivate barrel room can accommodate 300 people to enjoy and celebrate with golden sours or modern takes on pilsner and irresistible India pale ales.
With original brick walls and exposed rafter ceilings, the 3,000-square-foot, customizable Barrel Room at Cahaba Brewing Co. in the Continental Gin Complex in Birmingham, Alabama, is an elegant choice for seated meals, accommodating up to 120 people sitting or 300 standing. For daytime events, book the more casual taproom, with rustic reclaimed furniture and in-place projectors and televisions for minimal setup. Both rooms feature the brand’s signature brews like the Steel Cut City Oatmeal Stout and the American Blonde Ale.
