Justin Paprocki is a features writer for the Island Packet. | 
In case you haven't heard, we've got our own brewery now. River Dog Brewing is up and running in the Ridgeland area. They're having a tasting and beer pairing dinner at Fiddlehead Pizza Nov. 9. Read on for details.
In the meantime, check out their Facebook and Twitter pages. The guys behind it are local. The brew master, James Brown, has organized brew clubs locally and recently helped start the Firkinstock Beer Festival
From a release:
WHAT: Where great dining and living intersect at Fiddlehead Pizza so too does the opportunity to enjoy locally crafted beer. On Friday, November 9th the Bluffton restaurant will offer guests an opportunity to taste beers developed at Ridgeland-based River Dog Brewing. The restaurant will offer a free beer tasting beginning at 8:00 p.m., but will also provide a special beer and food pairing menu to showcase the character of these beers when paired with exceptional food.
Food Pairing:
Deviled Quailed Eggs
Mingling the best of land and sea!
Fresh eggs from Yahveh Farms; Smoked Local Sea Trout from Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks; Benne seed biscuit straight from the Fiddlehead kitchen.
Lowcountry Oyster Rockefeller with Cochon de Lait*
Marrying a New Orleans tradition with a Lowcountry tribute!
Oven roasted Lowcountry Oysters from the May River Docks served with speckled collards simmered in River Dog Pale Ale.
*Cochon de lait - This translates from French to English as "pig in milk," but in actuality cochon de lait is basically pit-roasted whole suckling pig.
Traditional Oyster Roast
Offering the best of both worlds!
A natural pairing with these local beers is of course oysters. Steamed and roasted. Two preparations the brine in this beer a chance to enhance and/or infuse the flavor of local oysters.
The Beers (Pale Ale, Wit, and Coastal)
River Dog makes straightforward, assertive brews that will leave a lasting impression. Under the
direction of Brewmaster James Brown, River Dog has managed to capture the flair and vibrancy of west coast brews, while using the scratch-made, slow-cooked style of the south.
A wine tasting will also be offered. Shelby White of Advintage Fine Wine & Craft Brews Distributors will be pouring a delightful Picpoul de Pinet, a crisp white wine.
The back drop for the evening is music provided Whitley Deputy
WHY: Fiddlehead Pizza is a South Carolina Certified Grown, Fresh on the Menu establishment sporting a funky casual atmosphere that offers a unique beer bar with an eye on local ingredients. “Small, but specific and seasonal” describes the restaurant’s approach to dining.
WHO: Darren and Stacey Macioszek, owners of Fiddlehead Pizza. The restaurant name is derived from the edible fern sprouts of the Fiddlehead Fern and is as much an ideal as it is a thing:
WHEN: Friday, November 9, 2012, 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: 142 Burnt Church Road, Bluffton, SC 29910; 843.757.6466
HOW: Beer and Wine Tastings are free. Beer and Food Pairing $30 all inclusive. Reservations can be made in advance by calling the restaurant and or purchased on site during the evening.