Around the World in Beers: Charleston, SC

Sitting in Abe’s on Lincoln in Savannah, a local told me that the brewery scene in Charleston was even better than Savannah (read about the Savannah beers I tried!), which excited me even more for the second half of my Low Country adventure. The brewery scene in Charleston is quite robust, with several breweries concentrated on a northern part of the peninsula in what has come to be considered the “Brewery District,” and even more in the neighborhoods surrounding the city. I didn’t have enough time to hit all of them (that would have been quite a challenge for 2.5 days!) but here are some of the local brews that I did get the chance to try while in town.

Low Tide Brewing Company (Johns Island, SC)

On my way into Charleston on the drive from Savannah, I stopped at Low Tide Brewing Company for a one-off. Low Tide is about a 20-minute drive outside of Downtown Charleston and 5 minutes away from the famed Angel Oak Tree which is worth making the trip to see. I sipped a pint of Basil Better Have My Honey, a 5% ale brewed with – you guessed it – basil. It was refreshing and herbal, and their outdoor patio was the perfect atmosphere to stretch my legs a bit after the drive from Savannah.

Pearlz Oyster Bar

My shrimp and grits dish at Pearlz Oyster Bar was one of the best meals I had, and I washed it down with the restaurant’s home-brewed Pearlz Red Ale.

Revelry Brewing Company

I stopped into the bar at Poogan’s Porch, one of Charleston’s oldest restaurants serving up Low Country cuisine in a historic house. Here I tried Revelry Brewing Company’s 5% Gullah Cream Ale. After learning about Gullah culture at Boone Hall Plantation, it was cool to read that a portion of proceeds from this beer benefit the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.

Commonhouse Ale Works

At the Blind Tiger Pub in Downtown Charleston, I tried Commonhouse Ale Works’ Park Circle Pale Ale, named for the park a few blocks away from the brewery’s North Charleston taproom. This 5.5% American Pale Ale was tropical and citrusy.

Munkle Brewing Company

Paired with a fried oyster roll at Leon’s Oyster Shop, I had Munkle’s Gully Washer Wit, a 5.2% Belgian Wheat Ale brewed with 3 different types of citrus peels, chamomile, and Indian coriander seeds, giving it a citrusy yet smooth and creamy taste.

Palmetto Brewing Company

I stopped in for a couple of beers at Palmetto Brewing Company just as they were gearing up for open mic night. My first choice was the Nice & Brite Gose, a 5% seasonal beer brewed with lemon and elderflower that was tart but not overbearingly sour like some goses can be. I went in the opposite direction for my second beer, daring to try the Ghost Rider, one of Palmetto’s limited release beers. This 6.2% American Pale Ale is brewed with ghost pepper and a touch of cherry. It’s spicy to drink but balanced out by a bit of sweetness from the cherry so it’s not unpleasantly hot. Would you try it?

I think that Charleston’s Brewery District might warrant another pass through someday so that I can hit more of the ones I didn’t get to this time around – as if I actually needed another reason to return to this beautiful city!