My wife and I were glad to leave the kids with their grandparents for lunch one day during our recent vacation on Hilton Head Island. We rode our rented bikes from our condo near Coligny Circle toward The Lodge Beer & Burger Bar but soon realized they were not open for lunch. We spotted the nearby Hilton Head Brewing Company and decided to give it a try instead.

Inside

I was surprised to have never heard anything about this place before, especially after realizing that they have been making beer for twenty years. On tap was a double IPA in celebration of their 20th anniversary, which I ordered, along with three other of their own brews and a handful from other breweries. The double IPA was actually pretty good, not one of my favorites, but it was definitely good enough to drink another glass.

20th Anniversary Double IPA

My wife enjoyed their Burning Man Red Ale, which was much darker than expected and seemed to be more of a porter. It was actually pretty good but not true to style at all. The beers rotate seasonally but at best I think a half-dozen are offered at a time.

Blackened Grouper Sandwich

My wife ordered the blackened grouper sandwich, which surprisingly came with no toppings, but was served with hand cut fries ($10). The fish was cooked well but the sandwich overall felt too dry in the mouth and needed something extra added to it, such as tartar sauce that my wife requested.

Brew Pub BLT

I went with the brew pub BLT with fried green tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, and crisp romaine leaves, also served with fries ($8.50). I remembered a similar sandwich that I had last year at the nearby A Lowcountry Backyard, but unfortunately this was nowhere close to being as good. Like my wife’s grouper, this sandwich was served dry, but even a little added mayonnaise couldn’t have helped with the stale and over-toasted bread. The tomatoes themselves were pretty good, but that alone could not save the sandwich.

The Hilton Head Brewing Company is not a bad place for a beer or two, but the food was below average. With so many other great places to eat, I doubt I will be back unless it is for a quick afternoon drink.