Popular Charleston brewery launches hemp-infused seltzer brand

Commonhouse Aleworks has almost 15,000 followers on Instagram and two bustling locations. 

With its level of success in the Charleston beverage-making community, the owner has decided to take his business ventures to the next level.  

Pearce Fleming has spent seven years building his brewery location to offer varied beers, ciders and more. With alcohol production under his belt, Fleming is in the first month of production for CAVU, a hemp-infused seltzer. 

“It used to be that somebody may be a beer guy, or you might be a wine person,” Fleming said. “Now, increasingly, consumers are drinking across the spectrum of alcoholic beverages, as well as nonalcoholic beverages.” 

In addition to Commonhouse Aleworks providing prior experience for Fleming, it also serves as a space for production of CAVU’s drinks and its canning operation. CAVU will be partnered with the brewery under Fleming’s company, Commongreen LLC.  

Considering himself a “recovering hospital administrator,” Fleming said his previous career played a role in his interest in THC drinks.  

The name CAVU stands for “ceiling and visibility unlimited,” a phrase often used by pilots to reference ideal flying conditions, Fleming said.  

“What I hope these beverages help people with is to settle into the unsettled, find comfort in the in-between spaces, and to know their potential is unlimited,” Fleming said.  

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CAVU, which launched Feb. 1, comes in four flavors that will be released over the next few weeks. At the moment, customers can only purchase CAVU products from Commonhouse Aleworks, Fleming said.   

“I am very proud of the team for focusing on the actual liquid and the taste of the beverage,” Fleming said. “We also are trying to differentiate in terms of creating an experiential beverage.”  

On the can, CAVU calls it a “vibe” which is created from delta-9 and entourage cannabinoids, Fleming said. The hemp derivative is sourced from a manufacturer in California. 

Fleming said after that milestone, next will be to get the drinks into the Charleston market and work to keep up with growing demand.