USA, SC: Rusty Bull Brewing aiming to open early next year

Charleston’s Park Circle has previously figured into local craft brewing discussions, with Palmetto Brewing Co. recently floating a proposal to purchase the Garco site. But Brian Bogstad and Ben Mayer have a smaller scale project in mind for a former seafood market at the corner of Spruill Avenue and Justice Street, Charleston Post Courier reported on July 7.

“It’s going to be a neighborhood brewery,” Leslie Bogstad says of Rusty Bull Brewing, aiming to open early next year. “It’s more of a storefront location where people can commune and enjoy.”

Bogstad and Mayer are new to brewing on a commercial basis, but Bogstad says her husband - who’s making the leap from the automotive industry - and his partner have carefully planned their project.

“They started in on this journey three or four years ago,” Bogstad says. “They got really interested, and learned everything they could: They’ve been brewing on a professional system in our garage for two years. This isn’t going from a burner to a 15-barrel system.”

According to Bogstad, the Rusty Bull team was able to quickly sharpen its brewing skills partly because the local craft beer community was so giving of its time and support. Although the two men haven’t decided exactly what sort of style will distinguish the Rusty Bull brand, they’ve been able to taste beers around town and seek advice from established players.

“It’s like the more the merrier,” she says of the attitude toward new breweries. “They loan each other tools. That’s another reason we’re really interested in this industry: Everyone cheers each other on.”

07 July, 2016