Brewery Profile

Benford Brewing Company

In Lancaster, South Carolina, Benford Brewing Company represents a locally rooted craft brewery with a production-minded identity. The operation was started by owner Bryan O’Neal in 2012 under the name Boxcar Brewery, LLC, then later changed names after a trademark conflict. The Benford name connects the business to the O’Neal family’s history, including ancestors who carried the Benford name as far back as the late 1800s. For a visitor, that backstory helps frame the brewery as part of Lancaster’s small but distinctive beer landscape: not a branch of a larger chain, but a regional South Carolina producer with a name tied to local family history. The brewery uses equipment acquired from Tin Roof Brewing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, giving its operation another point of regional brewing context.

Travelers moving through this part of South Carolina often look for places that reflect the area rather than a standardized bar experience. A stop at Benford fits that pattern because its focus is on beer made for the South Carolina market, with distribution kept regional rather than national. The known details do not identify specific flagship beers, seasonal releases, or style specialties, so visitors should avoid assuming a fixed lineup before they arrive. In practice, the appeal is the chance to see what a Lancaster-based brewery is currently pouring or selling, whether that means familiar craft styles, rotating offerings, or packaged beer available through local accounts. It is also a useful stop for travelers who like to compare breweries by their scale and role: Benford’s public identity is tied as much to production and distribution as to on-site hospitality.

Before planning around a visit, check the brewery’s current hours and public access, since available amenities are not specified here. Food service, tours, outdoor seating, family policies, pet policies, and live events should all be confirmed directly rather than assumed. If the public taproom is open, it is the best place to verify the day’s pours, any limited releases, and whether beer is available to take away. Visitors interested in the brewery’s history may also want to ask about the transition from Boxcar to Benford and the family name behind the current brand. Because the company’s stated market is South Carolina, travelers may also encounter its beer elsewhere in the state, but stopping in Lancaster offers the most direct connection to the brewery’s origin and current operation.

Benford Brewing Company was established in Lancaster, South Carolina, by owner Bryan O'Neal, initially founding the operation in 2012 under the name Boxcar Brewery, LLC. The brewery subsequently adopted the Benford name after a trademark conflict, choosing the moniker to honor the O'Neal family's history, which includes several ancestors bearing the Benford name dating back to the late 1800s. The company operates using brewing equipment acquired from Tin Roof Brewing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This regional brewery focuses on production and distribution within the South Carolina market.

Website available

2271 Boxcar Rd, Lancaster, SC 29720, USA, Lancaster, South Carolina, 29720

Phone: (704)506-7806

Website: http://www.benfordbrewing.com/

Hours: We are normally working most days and will provide retail sales if available, but here are our hours: Wednesday - Friday 3:00 - 5:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 pm. (Due to the South Carolina Liquor Liability crisis all small businesses are encountering, we must close at 5pm because the policy is too expensive without serving food) Thank a politician for supporting the hardship!