Bierkeller Brewing Company (Bierkeller Columbia), a Columbia-based brewer established in 2015, has announced that it will open a brick-and-mortar location in late 2022 at Sola Station in Canalside Plaza, nestled along the Historic Columbia Canal and close to downtown Columbia and the Vista. Existing landscaped green spaces and mature trees will complement this full production brewing facility, biergarten and restaurant, which will be the city’s first and only waterfront watering hole.

“We enjoy our current spot at Riverfront Park where we have hosted several seasonal pop-ups over the years, but this new space down the street will provide fresh breezes, sunset views, a scenic backdrop and plentiful outdoor space for the perfect traditional German biergarten,” explains Bierkeller founder and owner, Scott Burgess. “I spent close to a decade living and working in Bavaria, Germany before opening Bierkeller and this permanent location is just like the biergartens I came to know and love over there and I look forward to sharing this authentic experience with our guests at Bierkeller.”

The new location will feature shaded seating, long communal tables, self-service windows to grab lunch, dinner or drinks outside, a cafeteria-style restaurant with self-service counters inside the beer hall and free, covered parking in the Canalside garage with nearly 500 parking spaces available for guests. There is a 1–2-minute walk from the covered parking garage to Bierkeller and additional parking lots near the Riverfront Park with paths that provide easy access to the plaza.

The food menu will be primarily European and German in nature using local ingredients for various meat and cheese filled rolls, salads, sausages, rotisserie chickens and full plates such as schnitzel with fries, spätzle and other specialties. Bierkeller has also decided to bring back the Brotzeit Box, a small picnic meal box that was served at their pop ups, which consist of typical snacks as well as a couple beers to either enjoy on-site or take with you. 

The location will make guests feel as if they are world away, even though it’s only a few minutes from Main Street, University of South Carolina, Fort Jackson and many of the city’s in-town and suburban neighborhoods,” says Burgess. “With the immediate proximity to the river and its extensive trail and parks system, Bierkeller will be a regional destination and serve as a family-friendly spot and community meeting place for all.”

Canalside Plaza and the new setting tie in directly to existing walking and nature trails that comprise the popular Three Rivers Greenway, with an extension planned to connect the new Bierkeller space to the State Museum and EdVenture Children’s Museum. Bierkeller is Columbia’s first riverfront eating and drinking establishment and will fulfill a years’ long plan made by the city, with generous support provided to make this dream a reality.