Steel Hands Vista Distilling and Brewing sits on Gervais Street in Columbia’s Vista district, bringing craft spirits and beer to South Carolina’s capital city. Founded by husband-and-wife team Brad and Jennifer Nettles, this operation combines distilling and brewing under one roof in a converted industrial space. They opened their doors focusing on small-batch spirits alongside craft beer, creating a unique hybrid experience in Columbia’s entertainment district. The Nettles brought different backgrounds to their venture – Brad’s engineering experience and Jennifer’s business acumen helped shape their methodical approach to both distilling and brewing. They’ve built their operation around quality control and consistency, using stainless steel fermentation tanks and copper stills to produce vodka, gin, and whiskey. The facility houses both the production equipment and a tasting room where visitors can sample spirits alongside their craft beers. The space feels industrial but welcoming, with exposed brick and steel that reflects the distillery’s name. You’ll find locals mixing with visitors, especially during weekend tastings when both the spirits and beer are flowing. The dual focus on distilling and brewing sets them apart in Columbia – you can taste their gin while trying their latest IPA, making it more of a complete craft beverage experience than a traditional distillery visit.