Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Jason Caughman, former co-owner of Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, is preparing to open a new brewery in Charleston, S.C. Lo-Fi Brewing is set to open in January in an industrial area of North Charleston.
Caughman was well known on the Asheville-area brewing scene as the face of Pisgah Brewing, Asheville’s first organic brewery, even though he was a co-owner with Dave Quinn. Two years ago, Quinn, who had left Asheville, returned and the announcement was made that Caughman was leaving.
Now it looks like Caughman is ready for his return. Here’s the press release:
New brewery, LO-Fi Brewing, soon will start pumping out hand-crafted beers from a former car dealership in North Charleston. LO-Fi has partnered with Lee Distributors and will begin distribution throughout the Low Country of South Carolina in January 2016.
LO-Fi owner and founder, Jason Caughman, currently is brewing test batches. Caughman has spent the past several months rehabbing an industrial building on Meeting Street and installing a 20-barrel custom brewhouse and fermentation cellar. His inaugural brews–LO-Fi Lager, LO-Fi Blueberry Wheat, and LO-Fi IPA–will be available on draft at local restaurants and bars starting in January.
LO-Fi Lager is a Mexican lager–simple but luxurious, a crushable beach beer with spirit, coming in at 4.8 percent ABV. LO-Fi Blueberry has a malted wheat base drenched with fresh blueberry sweetness, popping at 5.2 percent. LO-Fi IPA, at 6.9 percent ABV, is a whole leaf-hopped, refined, and balanced ale with plenty of attitude on the finish.
“In today’s beer scene, you really don’t see many lagers around because they are a timely commitment and can be difficult to get just right. At LO-Fi, we’re putting an emphasis on the other half of the beer world that’s gone largely ignored in the craft beer boom,” Caughman said. “LO-Fi Lager is an everyday lifestyle beer.”
“The blueberry beer is a tasty departure from the norm and complements food really well. Totally crushable with a burger and fries,” Caughman adds. “Our IPA? Come on. You got to throw down some hops. New brewery. New IPA. Legit. I’m really excited to get this one just exactly perfect.”
Lee Distributors’ relationships with Charleston-area retailers and knowledge of locally brewed beer fits well with LO-Fi’s line-up of new beers.
“We are thrilled to represent LO-Fi and excited about the brewery’s offerings, which pair well with low country cuisine and culture,” said Stephen Reyes, President at Lee Distributors “We anticipate our LO-Fi business to grow quickly–fueled by the demand for local, flavorful craft beer.”
Keep an eye out, South Carolina, for the pure luxury of LO-Fi Brewing beers.
About LO-Fi Brewing
LO-Fi beers are conceived and brewed in an industrial zone at 2038 Meeting Street. Plans for the first year of production at LO-Fi include adding an on-site taproom, food options, and a live music venue. Owner and founder Jason Caughman, a Columbia, SC , native, moved back to Charleston after a 10-year stint in Asheville, NC, where we co-founded Pisgah Brewing Company. Caughman also started two successful restaurants in Western North Carolina.
For updates and more information, visit www.lofibrewing.com and follow LO-Fi on social at @LoFiBrewing.
How is this relevant to Asheville? Other than a guy that used to do something here is now doing something somewhere else. I’m sure that happens a lot in this town.