New brewery planned in West Columbia’s turn-of-the-century jailhouse

A new brewery is slated to open in West Columbia in the spring of 2019, according to a statement from the city of West Columbia.

Savage Craft Ale Works will be the newest addition to West Columbia’s River District, which the city is working to revitalize, according to the statement.

While it isn’t clear what types of beer the brewery will specialize in, officials said Savage Craft will have an outdoor space for the community, according to the statement. The business will be remodeling the old Brookland Fire Station and City Hall building on Center Street, as well as the old jail.

“I’m excited that we have the opportunity to repurpose the original fire station, jail and city hall for use in the modern era,” West Columbia Mayor Bobby Horton said in the statement. “It will be an awesome addition to the entire redevelopment of the State Street and Meeting Street communities.”

The old jail was built in 1906, and the fire station and city hall building followed in 1925, according to the statement. The new brewery will try to pay homage to the old buildings by preserving them.

The new addition to the River District is part of a larger revitalization in the area promoted by a city ordinance adopted in 2016, according to the statement.

This story was originally published August 21, 2018 at 4:08 PM.