the food here was outstanding! we ordered the sourdough patty melt with sweet potato fries and the beer brat special with mac and cheese. everything was absolutely delicious. these are the best sweet potato fries i've ever had! the patty melt was tender and very flavorful and the sauce that came with it paired really well. the brat was flavorful and juicy and the mac and cheese was so cheesy and sharp! the inside of this place is so cool! used to be a prison way back when. they still have the original door and windows i believe. the employees were so helpful and fun! :) read more

Iron Key Brewing - sourdough patty melt - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

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My wife and I had lunch on the patio with our two dogs. It was a picture perfect day so that really added to the experience. We tried the American Slammer with sweet potato fries and the Patty Melt with the regular fries. Both were cooked a perfect medium and were delicious. The sweet potato fries and regular fries were also excellent. The regular fries have a batter on them which added crispness and flavor. We also shared their Carrot Cake which was fabulous! It consisted of a layer of carrot cake, a layer of cheesecake icing, a layer of carrot cake, another layer of cheesecake icing, and topped crumbled carrot cake, served with a dollop of whipped cream. The staff was friend and provided vey good service. This restaurant is located in an old prison which adds an additional layer of intrigue to your experience. read more

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Great selection of beers, and they even have a full bar. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great history behind the building. Can't wait to go back and maybe we'll try the food next time. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Story behind the brewery! - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

Holy smokes this is a delicious burger! So juicy and flavorful! I could order this again and again! It would be awesome if there could be an option to get the same burger with a single patty for those times when you know you can't finish the burger or take your leftovers with you. Each bite is better than the last! What they did to the building and the concept of the Iron Key is so fun and creative. Sadly I haven't tried any of their brews yet but the restaurant and service do not disappoint. Highly recommended for a fun and casual place to hang out with friends. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Pimento Cheese Double Burger - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

We had a great time. Great food, good atmosphere & service. We enjoyed everything we ate and drank. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Ginger's Revenge - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

Cool place! Great beer, good food. Excellent service was 10 outta 10. Food was 4 stars--chicken wings and coleslaw could have been a little fresher but overall they were still good. Extensive menu for being such a small place IMO read more

We've been here twice since moving to the area, and so far, so good! Despite another review, we've had nothing but good service here as well as cold beer. I really like the Saluda Road Pale Ale - very tasty! Atmosphere is fun. The high ceilings and open concept suit this kind of business. You can sit inside or on the back patio, and both are comfortable. Cheese curds are a huge portion better shared with more than two people. We finished our basket and couldn't finish our dinner! They are served with a Chipotle ranch and fried to perfection. Burgers are great. You can get them cooked to the temp you like, which is great since we are not smashburger fans (tho they do have that option if that's your thing!). Best sweet potato fries and their regular fries are also delish. I had a pulled pork sandwich on a previous visit, and other than the addition of red sauce, I thought it was really good. I'm just not a red sauce girl and prefer mustard or vinegar. But the slaw on it made a great balance. Great spot for a brew! Can't wait to try more of their options as well as food. We came from a country town outside of Charleston, SC where we had to drive at least half an hour for anything like this, so I love that Iron Key is just minutes away in the cute town of Columbus. read more

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I want to give this place another chance because I love supporting local breweries whenever visiting somewhere. I will start by saying the owner is great and you can clearly tell he cares by the level of service and hustle he has to keep things moving smoothly. We stopped by around the holidays when many restaurants were closed so Iron Key was understandably busy. We had to wait quite sometime for our food and our server was not super attentive. The owner on the other hand was checking in and checking on our food for us. The menu I would say is rather limited and does not include many vegetarian friendly options outside of salads and a veggie burger option which was disappointing. Although I underestimated how excited I would be to see pimento cheese on the menu one reason I miss the south. I think it would be worth another shot but maybe for apps and beer next time. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

Great place to hang out to grab a beer and burger. Summer days can be hot inside. Parking can get tricky when packed read more

As always, the beer is great. I always try a few different styles every visit. The burgers are among the best in the area. My wife is a picky burger person and she loves them. Pretty cool that it is in an old jail, too read more

Very Friendly staff, Great beer and the cheese curds are amazing! Family friendly with a great outdoor area. read more

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The food was delicious, we got chips and quac which was phenomenal and homemade, and i got the patty melt. fries were crispy and perfect but the patty was a little unseasoned, and the service was very very slow with a very empty restaurant. the beer was also good! used to be an old prison so very cool atmosphere read more

Iron Key Brewing - chips and guac - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

Good pub style food, and their brew selections are all good. Pet friendly-this is a strong plus. Great staff and service. I will be back! read more

Awesome, repurposed venue (former NC prison!). Good beer and food! Keep up the good work.

Taking a trip from Cola-town to Asheville! Take a break in Columbus at this brewery to stretch your legs and waist band! Beer selection was awesome and if you can't find a beer variety here, stay home with your PBR. Food selection compliments the beer selection and was great from appetizers to Lunch. Whoever is the music DJ is obviously from the 80s... yeah baby! You'll thank me later! I said what I said! Enjoy! read more

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The drinks, food, and service were absolutely amazing. The environment and staff were incredible. My work crew and I went to trivia night on a Thursday! Everyone had such a great time. Thank you Iron key and we will definitely be back. read more

I've been here several times and it is obvious they are just trying to keep up with the customers. Expect to wait 10+ minutes for a drink order and then another 5+ minutes to actually receive your lukewarm beer. Glasses are typically dirty and tables and bar top and not wiped down between customers. You can hear people's conversations from the women's bathroom window that is typically kept open. The workers are nice and polite however not attentive. 45 minutes after ordering 1 salad I was told " there was a large ticket In front of you and once that's finished they will START your order" AC rarely works and again.. the beer is NOT cold when served.... All and all not a terrible option considering there's no competition since this place is the only brewery and ONLY place open past 8pm in town... read more

Iron Key Brewing - Teriyaki wings, beer, and live music on a Wednesday. Cannot beat it - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

Great food! Service no issues. We went again and took our dog. There are picnic tables with synthetic grass in the front, you go to the bar inside to place order. There is a patio in the back. Full service at the table, dogs are allowed on patio also. read more

This is a great brewery. Their beers were excellent and they have a nice variety. The food was very good. I had the fried fish plate and would get it again. Service was friendly and helpful. Plenty of parking nearby. It looks like you are going into a utility yard but it is just outside of that. You can sit at the bar, or be waited on at a table, or sit outside. read more

We love Iron Key Brewing! The owners work hard to make sure everyone is taken care of and the quality is great.

We stopped into this place because it was right off the highway on our way from Indianapolis to South Carolina. My wife & I travel with our dog, Butters, and this is a great pit stop even if you don't have a furry friend with you. Plenty of outdoor seating available as well as a large grassy area to walk the dog and stretch your legs. The beers were solid. I enjoyed the seasonal black IPA as well as the hazy off their regular draft list. All of the food was terrific, but the tater kegs stole the show. Think of them as a tater tot / loaded potato skin hybrid. The catfish sandwich was legit. Fried crispy but without being oily, and the dill heavy house made tartar sauce made a good thing even better. Friendly staff a chill vibe. read more

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This is a great spot with a nice patio and big doors that let the outside in when the weather is nice. I had the steak wrap special and my friend built her own burger. The food was pretty standard pub fare. The fries looked delicious but I got onion rings. I love that there are rotating special that use seasonal ingredients. My hazy IPA was really good... REALLY good. I'm usually one to get multiple different beers but not today. That hazy just really hit the spot. Our server was wonderful and polite. I'll definitely stop here again when I'm in the area! read more

Great stop after a long hike at chimney rock! Beers were very tasty and the spring rolls definitely hit the spot.. dog friendly too! Service was great, they even brought our pup a water bowl!! read more

Iron Key Brewing - Spring rolls - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

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Two of us went for lunch. The owners were sitting beside us. No one came to take an order for 30 min. I finally spoke to owners who replied that they were busy & when food came 1 hour later.... No apologies... just a bill! read more

The service was friendly, the restaurant was lively, and the food was delicious. I came here on trivia night and was greeted by a restaurant full of friendly competitors. While I did not join in, it was fun to follow along. Besides trivia, they had a corn hole set up and a table that sold local products (I believe it was candles and/or soaps). The brewery comes with a cool origin story that is detailed in the menu; it was formerly a state prison and still has some original structures along with the original Iron Key. Today they offer great beers and food. My table liked the Saluda Road Pale Ale, but since we sat at the bar we were able to hear what others enjoyed. Someone else ordered a Blueberry and Basil hard seltzer that sounded delicious. We enjoyed the cheese curds, jumbo soft pretzel, chicken and wild rice soup, asian salad, and chicken tenders. Everything was seasoned well and flavorful. My only complaint is that the beer cheese which accompanied the soft pretzel was sour and did not taste like any specific cheese (e.g. cheddar, gouda). Luckily it also came with a really good mustard for dipping. read more

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One of favorite spots to stop on our frequent trips from Cincinnati to Hilton Head. A former prison makes an intriguing location for a brewery. A extensive beer selection; they all taste great. This time we enjoyed their chicken sandwich and the fried fish plate, though the wait time from order to delivery o;a Saturday night was quite long. But, we passed the time listening to a very good 2-piece band and enjoying our beers. read more

Solid find in Columbus - we were recommended this brewery by some beer friends in Asheville - definitely worth the drive. The staff is outstanding, super friendly and quick. The business is set up in an old jail - very clean and spacious. Craft beer is excellent, I'm a big fan of their Kolsch. Blacked Chicken sandwich was done just right and huge - fries in the side. She had the fish sandwich and it was too big for her to finish. Once the weather warms up a bit we will be back to check out the patio - might just be the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a couple of cold Saturday beers!! read more

Holy Mackerel! This place was amazing! Food portions were huge and extremely delicious! Had to get a to go box! Wait time was definitely worth it and the service was absolutely top notch! Amazing that this place used to be a prison! If this is prison food, lock me up! Will definitely come here again! read more

Iron Key Brewing - Chicken sandwich add cheese and bacon. - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

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So my bride and I have recently purchased a home in the area. We are big craft beer drinkers . So we made the trek to the Prison !!! We were not disappointed. We sat in the outdoor area. It was a nice space. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the beers on tap. Afterwords we found out she was the brewmaster!!! The food was excellent. My wife had the shrimp plate . She said the shrimp and Brussels sprouts were cooked perfect. I had the chicken tenders. Probably the best I had. Had breaded not Sysco system pre-breaded. The timing of the food was great. The cheese curds are a must! The food time was on point. The beers were true to style. After we finished we walked around the premises. If you go you need to check out the solitary confinement cells. Looking forward to our next visit! Cheers !!! read more

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We busted the iron key on a Saturday night. It wasn't too busy so we were seated immediately and the hostess informed us it would be at least a 45 minute wait for food, which we were ok with. The waitress came by pretty promptly after and we put in our food with out drinks. I had a beer flight and my husband had a couple of porters all of which were pretty good. We literally did not see our waitress again after she delivered the beers until after we got our meals. Remember it's a 45 minute wait for food. We had put in an order of wings which came at the 45 minute mark. They were delicious and honestly the only reason I didn't give one star. We waited about another 25-30 minutes and got our meals a patty melt and fish and chips. The patty melt was just a plain sandwich. I will say it's nice that they have options for he cheese you can add on. For a side we had Mac and cheese, also pretty meh. The fish and chips were not good. Fries were ice cold and the fish was clearly cooked in old grease it was DARK and salty. The tartar sauce they serve it with tasted spoiled and I didn't even bother to try the slaw. I would say when you wait a long time for food, expected or not, the food should definitely be good. This was not the case here. Would certainly recommend the wings but otherwise no thanks. read more

Food was good. Service was good. Brussel sprouts were better first time visited will go again

4th of July Birthday Brunch! This was worth the short drive from the cabin we were staying at and waiting for them to open. We were in the area celebrating my birthday and figured we would give them a try. The food was great, the service was great, the mimosas were spectacular! If you are in the area...take a gander in the area. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Beers...mimosas...chicken fingers and burgers... - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

We loved our visit to Iron Key Brewing. We were with a group of 8 people and we were all on vacation. We easily managed a table outside. We brought an empty growler but the brewery was not able to fill it- something about their system to clean growlers was out of commission. I think they said it was a state regulation or something like that. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

Rock star food and beer. I love this place. I had the blackened chicken sandwich that was masterfully prepared with just the right amount of blackened seasoning to kick it up a notch and cooked to perfection to remain moist and tender. The beer does not suck either. I will be back if in the area. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Blackened chicken sandwich - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

What a cool place. An old jail turned into a brew pub. We walked around the acreage and there are guard shacks still standing. Great selection of beers too. One odd thing, the day we were there, there was a very bad gasoline smell. Not sure if it was coming from the town facility next door where police cars etc fill up. It was bad enough that we did not stay to eat - or have a second round. Assuming that was an anomaly, I would definitely go back. The food I saw on other people's tables looked pretty darn good. read more

Decided to check this place out while staying in Forest City. We stopped by on a Thursday shortly after opening and it was fairly empty. The space is cool and the service was fast and friendly. The two beers we tried were good. We were hungry so decided to try some food. Shared the cheese curds (I'm a big fan of cheese curds!), the veggie bruschetta and an order of the fish and chips with some onion rings. The cheese curds I feel needed a little more time. They were a bit pale and could have been crispier. The bruschetta was very good and probably our favorite item. The fish and chips was good, however they use flounder instead of the typical cod. It's tasty, but since the flounder is so thin it feels like a small serving. If I were having it as my meal for dinner or something I would have stayed hungry. Fries were tasty and onion rings were different, but good. Overall we enjoyed or meal and drinks even though some items could have been improved. We would come back to try other items. read more

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Iron Key was the first place I ever went for lunch and dinner on the same day. :P The menu has a great selection. As a vegetarian, I was delighted by the options. The beets and watermelon salad with freshly-made berry vinaigrette was yummy and filling. The fried green tomatoes were some of the best I have had. We were served by the same girl at lunch and dinner and she was pleasant. In fact we lost an electronic device at lunch, called in the afternoon and was told it was turned in, which is why we went back at dinner time. The husband couldn't resist another pint (or two) of the Big House IPA, so we stayed for dinner. Very cool place with friendly people. Pet friendly as well. We will be back next time we are in the area. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

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Great food and super cool atmosphere. It is our go-to when in Columbus and there is a great outdoor seating area where kids can be in the grass and play while we wait for the food. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

The balcony out back is a great place for dinner. Dogs, people, talking, breezes and white lights. A perfect outing post pandemic! Our waitress was friendly and provided great service. We got a table quickly, food was delivered pretty quick as well. The food isn't the best, but it's tasty and priced fair. A great addition to Columbus! They have gluten-free buns and a nice variety of menu items to select from. read more

Iron Key Brewing - Fish and chips. Very tasty - Breweries Near Me - Columbus, North Carolina

If you're thinking of stopping by this brewery for food, drink or anything in between... do it! The service was god speed. If this were really jail,I'd commit a crime a day. Started with a couple beer flights and their cheese curds and it couldn't have come out better, cheese curds were crispy and perfect with southwest ranch. Then came the beer cheese pretzel which may have somehow outshone the cheese curds. The beer cheese was among the best we've ever had and the pretzel itself had a perfect salt to pretzel ratio and consistency. Going into the main we were feeling a little full, but after seeing the pulled pork sandwich and crispy skinny fries I found some more room. The Carolina gold sauce and Cole slaw on my pork sandwich left no room for question it was outstanding. The fries just disappear in your mouth with a nice tasty crunch! read more

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