There are only a handful of local breweries in Savannah, Georgia. While there are a lot of restaurants that supply beers, biergartens that pride themselves on having good drinks, or some major chains, only a few brew their own beer in-house.
These are:
- Crystal Beer Parlor
- Two Tides Brewing Company
- Coastal Empire Beer Co.
- Southbound Brewing Company
- Service Brewing Company
- Moon River Brewing Company and Restaurant
That doesn’t mean that they don’t have a good beer scene. Quite the contrary! They even have a pedal pub tour that reinforces the local tastes in a fun, unique way that also allows visitors to really get immersed in their gorgeous old city.
Savannah, GA might be home to SCAD, amazing live oaks dripping Spanish Moss in historic squares, entrances to some fabulous island beaches, and a very productive paper mill, but it also has quite a few fantastic breweries to check out. Be sure to check out the Pedal Pub tours, especially if planning a trip for the beer scene specifically, as it’s one of the golden highlights for beer lovers visiting Savannah.
The beer scene in Savannah is definitely one for the books. It’s got all the southern charm down pat, the history to back itself up, and the insane creativity that comes with being a city home to a top-tier arts college. Keep reading for some of the highlights.
Crystal Beer Parlor
(912) 349-1000
Not only is Crystal Beer Parlor a brewery, but it’s also a restaurant with tasty local favorites. If that still isn’t enough, they also have live music and rooftop dining. Makes for a great outing for a family or group of friends, just be sure to bring an appetite!
Now, they have more than just their own beers on tap. It’s hard to go wrong with any of their specialty brews though, especially their Blackberry Smoke. It’s an American lager that’s a fresh take on a classic, much like most other things on their menu.
Two Tides Brewing Company
(912) 667-0706
Two Tides is a small brewery that specializes in sour, haze, and funk. However, that’s not all they do. Sometimes it’s fun to try out new things, even when crafting drinks. They host events occasionally too, such as their Spooky Sundays in October, which is basically a Halloween party every Sunday at 7 pm.
Definitely check out some of their fruited sours when visiting. Chances are they’re going to be seasonal, but sometimes they squeeze out a little more time to remember. Tropic Sway does this by bringing in mango, passionfruit, soursop, and coconut to keep summer alive just a bit longer.
Coastal Empire Beer Co.
(912) 335-2804
Coastal Empire might be a name other Georgians are familiar with, and that’s because they distribute their beers statewide. However, Savannah is where their taproom is and is definitely something to experience. It’s always a little different being at the source rather than somewhere else when getting a local brew.
It’s not high in alcohol content, but Coco Piña Gose is an interesting drink for fans of unusual sours. It’s made with pineapple, coconut, pink Himalayan salt, and Atlantic sea salt to give a tropical spin to a classic German Gose.
Southbound Brewing Company
(912) 421-0113
Southbound has a relatively active Facebook where they keep followers up-to-date on their numerous events and deals. They were established in 2013 and have a taproom and beer garden just outside of the Downtown Historic District. They offer up to 20 beers on tap at once and also have house-made non-alcoholic drinks as well, so bring along everyone for a good time.
Beer tends to be pretty heavily German. If it isn’t from Germany, it tends to use German techniques, and with good reason. However, it’s not the only way to do things. Cosmic Howdy is one of Southbound’s India Pale Ales that’s good for someone trying to expand their palette with something citrusy and fruity that isn’t German.
Service Brewing Company
(912) 358-1002
Service Brewing gets its name due to being veteran-run. They make a selection of American beers focusing on quality, local ingredients. They do a lot of large-scale, year-round beers but also have small batches of seasonal and experimental flavors to check out as well. On top of that, they also supply a lot of local places with their drinks, so they might pop up in more places than just their taproom.
Their Compass Rose IPA is a sweet, aromatic drink they keep year-round. It’s made with Citra and Cascade hops and has notes of citrus, passion fruit, and pine to really drive home the flavors.
Moon River Brewing Company and Restaurant
(912) 447-0943
Moon River is a cheerful, cozy place to get fresh meals and a massive range of great beers. They host the occasional event but definitely squeak in for their Oktoberfest. It is definitely a fun time, which is saying something considering they are almost always fun and silly in there.
While a lot of their beers are seasonal and on a rotation, there are a few that are pretty regular. The Captain’s Porter is a robust drink that tends to stick around. The price is criminally low too and gets even lower during Happy Hour.
