Columbia brewery strikes partnership with two South Carolina farms.

A Columbia brewery has developed a fruitful new relationship with two South Carolina farms.

Peak Drift Brewing Co., an award-winning brewery with facilities located on N. Main Street in Columbia, recently launched its first Certified South Carolina products, two signature sours featuring locally-sourced fruit from McLeod Farms and Coosaw Farms.

McLeod Farms, located in Chesterfield County in the Pee Dee, is one of the state's oldest enduring peach farms. Established in 1916, the family-owned and operated farm produces more than 50 varieties of peaches on nearly 1,000 acres.

Coosaw Farms, located in Fairfax in Hampton County in the Lowcountry, is a major area grower of several types of watermelon as well as blueberries. The farm also has a satellite location on St. Helena Island in Beaufort County.

McLeod's peaches are used in Peak Drift's new Peach Cobbler Sour Ale, while watermelons and blueberries from Coosaw Farms add a unique tang to the new Watermelon-Blueberry Sour.

"Peak Drift has always been committed to being an eco-friendly operation that builds relationships with local farmers," said Sara Middleton-Styles, co-owner of Peak Drift. "Local is better, and our new Certified SC products exemplify local collaboration and innovation that support our state's farmers."

Related article: Here's a look at how craft breweries in South Carolina have fared over the past decade

Related article: New Greenville beverage brand looks to 'change the culture of drinking'

Clint Leach, assistant commissioner for external affairs for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, said this type of partnership aligns perfectly with the department's goal of helping farmers bring their products to more markets and increase the financial impact of agriculture on the state's economy.

"We're excited to be involved in this partnership because we are in the business of helping farmers add value to their crops and farms," Leach said. "You can see the passion Peak Drift has for supporting South Carolina agriculture, and this is just the beginning."

Leach said programs like Certified South Carolina have been instrumental in helping the department reach a long-term goal first proposed more than a decade ago to make agribusiness have a $50 billion impact on the state's economy by 2020. That goal was reached, he said, and the impact continues to grow, with current estimates showing 260,000 people statewide are employed in agribusiness, with an annual impact of $52...