Join one of the Charleston area’s distillery and brewery tours to see exactly what work goes into each glass. The best part? You get to sip and savor finely crafted ales, lagers and spirits along the way! We teamed up with Coby, Crafted Travel beer tour guide, and Charleston’s only registered history guide and certified Cicerone, to share his favorite 8 craft beers in Charleston worth traveling for.
Want your taste of these crave-worthy craft beers? Learn all about Crafted Travel‘s Charleston Brewery Tours here!
Edmund’s Oast
Charleston’s go-to locale for great beers and a mouth-watering charcuterie plate. Edmund’s Oast is steeped in local brewing traditions and is my favorite spot for brewery tours! Among their offerings are:
- Bound by Time: This intricately crafted local brew will satisfy your hops craving if you prefer West Coast IPA’s, but what makes it one of my favorites is the unique use of oats in the grain build giving this IPA a lovely creamy texture rarely found in the style. Sassy, yet smooth… just like Charleston!
- Ol’ Puffery: My favorite example of a true-to-style English Pale Ale in the Holy City. The wonderful biscuity malts are so inviting and entertaining. I have literally never suggested this to a tour guest that hasn’t been pleasantly surprised. Straight from the tap at the King Street Brewery is superb or, of course, at Edmund’s Oast!
Frothy Beard Brewing
Frothy Beard Brewing combines an excellent space with possibly Charleston’s largest selection of craft beers brewed on-site. I particularly love the “something for everyone” variety I find here, including:
- Back From the Dead Porter: At 6.66% ABV, this is a bit stronger than the roasty toasty flavor indicates. Pair with Zombie Bob’s Pizza and you will have so much more to live for! Insider’s Tip: If you go to brewery, they may have the nitro version as well.
- Tides of Galway Irish Red Ale: One of my favorite local beers! This is an authentic Irish Red with its lightly toasted malts and beautiful amber hue. A perfect “tweener” beer and my most trusted recommendation at Tommy Condon‘s near the Charleston City Market (where it is featured as “Tommy’s Irish Red”).
Revelry Brewing Company
Revelry brings their playful attitude and pirate style to their beers with several great options. The two I recommend most often are:
- Gullah Cream Ale: Already an indigenous American Beer Style, Revelry goes a step further by including locally grown grits from Edisto Island’s Geechee Boy in this light, but surprisingly complex, offering. If you want to drink local, this is like a Spanish moss-draped Live Oak in a pint glass.
- Never Sunny: New England Style IPA’s are on fire and this popular offering may very well be the best in Charleston. Hints of sweet orange replace bitter grapefruit and transform this IPA to delight the senses without wrecking the palate. The third one is just as good as the first – or so I hear from patrons on Revelry’s famous rooftop deck!
Munkle Brewing Company
Specializes in Belgian, German and Trappist styles of beer while honoring many of the traditions of these regions. Two of their best beers are:
- Brugge City Brune: This Belgian “Brunette” utilizes candy sugar and kilned malts for a lightly sweet yet toasty body and plenty of character from the Belgian yeast. My go-to beer at The Griffon in the Vendue.
- Monk Pils: Brewed in the German Monastic style, this Pils is a sharp, flavorful attention-getter that will delight the German beer purists among us. If you think “Pils” is code for bland, think again! I suggest getting it fresh at the Brewery on Meeting Street.
