Aiken Brewpub | 24 Years in the Making

Rob Pruiett began his adventure in micro brewing on December 1, 2003, when he and his father, Lannie Pruiett, purchased the Aiken Brewing Company from Dan Beavers. Rob had moved with his wife and 4-year-old twins from Nashville to Aiken to be closer to his parents. The timing was right because after the move his mother Mary was diagnosed with cancer; they were fortunate to spend 8 years together before she passed away. Rob reflects, “Mary Pruiett was everyone’s hero. Her legacy is everything to me. Ensuring family first, my mother was amazing. She started as a secretary at Whirlpool in the 70s, and by the time she left she was the Vice President. She was one of Oprah’s top 10 women in manufacturing.” He continues, “My parents’ story was a true love story. They were together since the 8th grade. They were neighbors growing up. My dad was the greaser and my mom was the nerd, just like in the movie Grease. Always together always loving, not one person on this earth would say something bad about Mary and Lannie.”

Rob had been living in Aiken for 2 years and was 30 years old when the opportunity to purchase the brewery became available. He had worked at the Bowery, had done some catering, and was working for Bev South, a local Miller distributor, as a regional sales manager. Rob and Lannie had been looking for a location to open a restaurant. While distributing beer, Rob was introduced to Dan and got wind of his desire to sell the business. They closed on the purchase on a Saturday night and opened for business the following Monday.

Rob attributes much of the success of the business to the staff that stayed on after he took over the brewery. Mrs. B (Carmealee Beavers) worked with him for a year to help him learn how they had run the business. Randy Doucet had been a brewer since August of 1997, the year it opened. He has been brewing ever since and is the Master Brewer. Rob states, “We have always had a great team under Randy’s leadership. I am lucky to have someone of his caliber and his attention to detail.” Adam Fulgham was a bartender when the Beavers owned the business; he has stayed on and is the current bar manager. “Adam is my shining light. I have owned and operated businesses in 5 different states. I have never seen one like him. People come to see him. He brings it every day, great attitude, kick-ass smile, super cool. I love him to death. Best bartender I have seen since me.” When asked to describe the vibe of the pub to an outsider, Rob responds, “Watch Cheers on Netflix and then come to the pub. It feels like that, and Adam is Sam.”

Will Simms from Charleston is the current chef. Will came on in November to improve moral and make the kitchen more efficient. Rob shares, “Will is a great addition to the family and brings new ideas. In this business you get tunnel vision over the years. I need fresh eyes, opinions, anything to grow the business. He is an Aiken local, came back from Charleston to rule the roost. I am lucky to have him as well.”

Rob takes pride in doing the right thing. He says, “This isn’t the place to be selfish. This is a true family, group, and town effort. I am very fortunate to have the team I have. If you pay them right, treat them right, and give them the opportunity to succeed, anything is possible. The city has been great to us. We are glad to be part of the ADDA (Aiken Downtown Development Association). We are the longest-standing restaurant downtown and are proud to be one of the cornerstones.”

Besides the staff, the food and the beer are the main drivers of success. The mug club membership provides for good marketing as well as comradery and friendship. The food inspiration is to pair Randy’s world-class beer with world-class grub. The next addition to the pub will be a smoker, to add another layer of complexity to the food. “Come see what’s smokin’.” Rob states, “I am looking forward to a new menu, getting back to somewhat normality, a later curfew, and good weather. We are super stoked about coming back, but want to remain safe, so mask up.”

Beer, Bella: The Aiken Brewing Company | Palmetto Bella

My Recommendations

In case you haven’t been to the brewpub, I’m giving you some of my recommendations while you work at finding your own favorites.

What to Drink

The brewery is known for its Thoroughbred Red, and this is the most popular one here. It has won several medals and has been my personal favorite for the last 20 years.

On the menu you will also find English IPA, West Coast IPA, Honey Wheat, American Wheat, Gose, Kolsch, London Porter, and an Irish Oatmeal Stout.

What to Eat

Hands down, the brewpub has the best wings in Aiken. These are Deep Fried Jumbo Wings that come in the following flavors: Original, Ten X, Pluckin’ Hot, Big Mike’s Way, Teriyaki, Soy and Ginger, Hickory Smoke, Carolina Q, Old Bay, and Lemon Pepper. My favorite is to have them mix the Original and Carolina Q sauces, with a side of Fried Pickles, of course.

You also can’t go wrong with the BLT or the Mother Plucker — enjoy either one with onion rings.

Picture of Ladonna Armstrong

Ladonna Armstrong

Publisher of Aiken Bella Magazine.
Picture of Ladonna Armstrong

Ladonna Armstrong

Publisher of Aiken Bella Magazine.

In the know

Related Stories

Lux Libations | Traditional sours | Palmetto Bella

Lux Libations | Traditional Sours

Jack Rose — not quite a household name when it comes to cocktails, but maybe it should be. At first glance, there isn’t anything special about a cocktail like this. Simple measurements, three ingredients, two of which are quite common (you’ll recognize them if you read last month’s article), but then you taste it. It’s lush, delicious, clean, and complex, and it’s PINK! What more could you possibly want? A traditional “sour” like the Jack Rose utilizes a tried and true cocktail template. The basic 2:3/4:3/4 ratio is darn-near perfection. Don’t believe me? Ever hear of a gimlet? Whiskey sour? daiquiri? (Yeah, that’s right, a daiquiri!) They all use the

Read More »
guitarist

Music Scene

Local musicians, remember this — every step matters. It might not seem like it when you don’t have the number of Instagram followers, Facebook Live viewers, or YouTube subscribers you wish you had. But the fact that you are actually doing something is one step closer to building an audience. Bella is all about being better, but we are not blind to the fact that bettering ourselves can be challenging. There are many times in life that we feel we are not doing enough, that we’re not good enough. The truth is, we probably could be doing more, and there will always be someone more talented. However, the beauty of

Read More »
Creative Ways to Celebrate Halloween | Palmetto Bella

Creative Ways to Celebrate Halloween

5 Ways to have to Spooky Good Time Fall is one of my favorite times of the year — you get to wear sweatshirts and leggings and drink pumpkin-spice-flavored everything. There is also another reason that I love fall and that’s Halloween. October is the beginning of the Halloween season, or “Spooky Season,” as I like to call it. Usually around this time my friends and I would be figuring out our Halloween costumes. This year I was looking forward to college Halloween parties and I would be planning out the best trick-or-treat routes through our neighborhood. Now every one of those activities is not possible because of COVID-19. So

Read More »
Lux Libations | Palmetto Bella

Lux Libations

Whether you are 21 or 90, a Cosmo drinker or an IPA drinker, odds are that you’ve at least tried an Old Fashioned. It’s one of the few drinks you can order at just about any bar, nightclub, or restaurant and end up with something involving whiskey, sugar, and bitters. Now, will it be a sugar cube or simple syrup? Muddled orange or cherry? Bourbon or rye? I prefer mine with rye whiskey, simple syrup, and without the muddled fruit, but to each his own. So why can we find some variation of an Old Fashioned just about anywhere? Well, for starters, it’s usually pretty good, so people feel confident

Read More »