Savannah might be known for its ghosts and history, but you can also get a good taste of the city by diving into the local craft beer scene. Here are some of the great brews I tried while visiting this amazing city.
Moon River Brewing Company
Moon River Brewing Company is a combination of two of my favorite things: brews and boos. In addition to spending Halloween night locked into the notoriously haunted brewery for a paranormal investigation, I enjoyed Moon River’s brews and atmosphere. They have an outdoor beer garden that’s the perfect place to grab a flight – served on a wooden crescent moon – and hang out.
With dinner before my paranormal investigation, I had the Boo Hag Black Ale, a seasonal beer named after an old Gullah folk tale. This 6.2% black IPA was hopped to taste like your typical IPA but with a rich black stout-like color. Delightfully refreshing and unique.
Someone else in my paranormal tour group ordered the Taterlicious Harvest Ale, and I was so intrigued by it that I had to stop back later on in my trip and try it for myself. Instead of a pumpkin ale like you see at just about every brewery in the autumn months, Moon River went with sweet potatoes. Even though it’s brewed with sweet potatoes, the beer itself does not have a very sweet taste, but you will get some sweetness from the pumpkin pie spices that they rim the glass with.
Service Brewing Company
Not far down the road from Moon River is Service Brewing Company, a veteran-owned and operated craft brewery with a strong mission of giving back to our nation’s veterans and first responders. I sat outside at Service and enjoyed a flight of the following beers:
- Savannah Brewers Collab, a 5.2% small batch Research & Development beer brewed with peaches and pecans
- Lincoln’s Gift Oyster Stout, a 5.5% stout brewed with locally harvested May River oysters in honor of the sixteenth president and one of his favorite dishes
- Compass Rose IPA, a 6.6% citrusy IPA that is one of Service’s year-round brews
- Devil Dog Octoberfest, a 5.4% Oktoberfest-style Märzen lager
Two Tides Brewing Company
I didn’t get a chance to visit Two Tides’ taproom in the Midtown district, but had their Tan Lines pilsner with some great views at the waterfront Top Deck Bar. This 5% German style pilsner was light, crisp, and refreshing.
Southbound Brewing Company
Also at the Top Deck Bar I tried Southbound Brewing Company’s Scattered Sun Belgian White, a 5.2% traditional Belgian-style witbier brewed with orange peel and coriander.
Coastal Empire Beer Company
In the quaint basement bar of the historic and supposedly haunted Olde Pink House in downtown Savannah, I enjoyed a pint of Coastal Empire’s Southern Delight Praline Amber. It’s a 5.2% amber ale brewed with Georgia pecans and Madagascar vanilla to give it a flavor reminiscent of pralines. So if you can’t get your hands on the delicious traditional Southern candy, this beer is the next best thing!
From oyster stouts to praline ales, Savannah’s craft beer scene lets you drink your way through Low Country cuisine and culture!
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