The Original Charleston Pub Tour



I'm on night float this month, so if I look tired
 it's because I'm good at hiding my exhaustion. 
If I look exhausted, well, shut up.

     Having recently been deemed the #1 Top US City by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, Charleston has no shortage of tour companies ready to tell you things about the city.  There is a relatively new kind of tour, however, that merges history with drinking.  My brother-in-law and I recently went on one of these Pub Tours and, I must say, enjoyed it thoroughly. 

Our tour guide, Alex, playing a drinking
 game called Bimini. He's had beer before.

    Ever since I went on a b.s. ghost tour in high school, I've been skeptical about the veracity of information on these tours, and that's how I started out this time.  But, as the slogan of our tour company put it, "Tours are better with beer."  Our tour guide, Alex, took us to some local pubs and bars: Mad River, Tommy Condon's, Blind Tiger, Pearlz, The Griffon.  He told us a lot about the history of the Charleston and how the pubs played a vital role.  To be honest, I don't remember many details, but it was fascinating to hear at the time.
    My first libation of the night was Holy City Brewing Pluff Mud Porter.  The brewery is local, which makes me an automatic fan.  The beer is a dark brown with a smooth, light taste and mouth feel.  Not too hoppy, the main flavors are toasted chocolate and roasted malts, both of which are lighter than you'd expect based on the look of the beer. 
    My next was COAST Brewing Company's 32/50.  A good way to describe this is that it's exactly what you think of when you think of perfect beer.  It's not got fancy ingredients or oak barrel aging.  It's just a well made kolsch using simple ingredients.  A light, opaque yellow with a white head, the malt is slightly honeyed and is well balanced against some floral hops.

Evidently, Wait is gay.

    I also had a Newcastle Brown Ale.  Whatever.
    Most of the people in our tour group were from out-of-town, and even though these were all places I've been before and beers I could get any time, the pub tour was really fun.  I could see it being a cool way to see the city with out-of-town guests or with a group of local friends.  As our tour guide put it, Charleston is a drinking city with a history problem.  I like it here.
Until next time, Cheers!