The Aiken Brewing Company is one of my favorite restaurants in the downtown district. I’ve been visiting the brewpub for over a decade and appreciated how well the restaurant is managed. The atmosphere is lively and the wait staff is attentive.
Located on the corner of Laurens Street and The Alley in Aiken is a longstanding downtown fixture. With indoor and outdoor seating, a fun menu and local artwork adorning the walls, the Aiken Brewing Company is the perfect place to grab a bite and rest your feet after an afternoon of downtown shopping.
Founded in 1997, the Aiken Brewing Company serves delicious sandwiches and salads for lunch and dinner. You can’t go wrong with a patty melt or the spicy Buffalo chicken sandwich cheekily named the Mother Plucker. The on-site microbrewery specializes in craft beers with a selection sure to please. A favorite of mine is the Thoroughbred Red, a delicious amber beer with a light caramel tang.
The Aiken Brewing Co. is located in downtown Aiken. Photo by Francie Klopotic. 
The Aiken Brewing Co. is located in downtown Aiken. Photo by Francie Klopotic.
Once you’ve eaten at the restaurant or enjoyed a pint at the bar, look for a set of stairs just inside the doorway in the back of the room. That almost-hidden stairway leads to a late-night party spot. Tucked away upstairs is a full-sized sports bar with ample table seating. It offers plenty of stools along the bar where you can enjoy a cold beer and watch the game.
My trip to the brewpub April 2 led me upstairs where I listened to the Aiken band Tara Lane.
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The five-piece group brought a high-energy, raucous good time to the packed house. Tara Lane’s vast repertoire pays homage to the 80s and 90s with the group belting out songs made famous by Melissa Etheridge, Bon Jovi and Tesla. For a Generation X-er like me, it was a step back to a time of musical heaven.
MORE: Savannah River Brewing Co. Celebrates Fourth Anniversary
If you’re craving live bands this weekend, head to Edgar’s Above Broad April 16 to see Ed Fuqua Jazz beginning at 7 p.m. or hear the Vega Harp Duo beginning at 7 p.m. April 17. Also on Saturday, catch Happy Bones at World of Beer beginning at 8 p.m. and Radio Source at Chevy’s beginning at 9 p.m.
To learn more about the Aiken Brewing Company, visit aikenbrewingcompany.com. Find more about Tara Lane at facebook.com/TaraLaneBand.
Francie Klopotic is an author, artist and music aficionado living in Augusta. She writes about nightlife on the first and third Fridays of each month.
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