Marketing idea of the week: Peak Drift Brewing’s Meet the Farmers event and Certified South Carolina beers

One big advantage legit craft breweries will maintain over other beverage producers, is that local flavor. In the right market, being as “local” as possible can resonate with customers, and result in the best tasting product.

As an example, the Craft Beer Marketing Idea of the Week goes to Columbia, S.C.’s Peak Drift Brewing Co. for its “Meet the Farmer” event. Hosted with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture on Sept. 7, Peak Drift used the event to announce its first “Certified South Carolina” products.

The Certified South Carolina program is an exciting cooperative effort among farmers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture that helps consumers easily identify goods that are grown and harvested or raised in the Palmetto State.

The new Peak Drift beers feature locally-sourced fruit from McLeod Farms and Coosaw Farms.

“I commend Peak Drift for collaborating with farms right here in the Palmetto State,” says Hugh Weathers, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. “Agribusiness is a powerful driver of our state’s economy, and it’s good to see local agribusinesses working together. McLeod Farms and Coosaw Farms are valued Certified South Carolina members, and this is a great way to celebrate them.”

Using its state-of-the-art in-house fruit processing equipment, Peak Drift used peaches from McLeod Farms and watermelon and blueberries from Coosaw Farms to create its newest seasonal beverages – the Peak Drift Peach Cobbler Sour Ale and the Peak Drift Watermelon-Blueberry Sour Ale.

“Peak Drift has always been committed to being an eco-friendly operation that builds relationships with local farmers,” says Sara Middleton Styles, co-owner of Peak Drift Brewing Company. “Local is better — and our new Certified SC products with McLeod Farms and Coosaw Farms exemplify local collaboration and innovation that support our state’s farmers.”

Launched in 2007, the program has more than 2,000 agricultural producers as members.

“McLeod Farms, still family owned and operated, has been growing peaches in South Carolina since 1916,” says Rachel McCormick, marketing coordinator for McLeod Farms. “We have nearly 1,000 acres in production and grow more than 50 varieties of peaches. We’re proud of what we do and we’re ecstatic to have our product be the highlight of one of Peak Drift’s seasonal beverages.”

The creation of the Peak Drift Peach Cobbler Sour and the Peak Drift Watermelon-Blueberry Sour are only the beginning for Peak Drift’s commitment to the Certified South Carolina program.. Peak Drift will continue to source as much fruit as possible from South Carolina farmers, including apples, peaches, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries.

“Coosaw Farms has worked diligently to innovate in watermelon growing, becoming one of the leading mid-Atlantic watermelon producers in the U.S. today,” says Brad O’Neal, minority owner of Coosaw Farms. “We’re excited to bring our farm’s flavors to this new beverage — introducing Coosaw to people in a new and exciting way.”

Peak Drift products are available in restaurants, bars and stores across the Midlands and Greenville area as well as at Smoked, which houses Peak Drift’s microbrewery. Peak Drift will continue to expand its products into additional markets this year and beyond.