As you know, I am always ranting (some say whining) about the fact that Charlestonians are being denied access to a wide selection of the finest craft beer due to archaic beer laws and greedy macro-brand beer distributors. That makes it even more important for me to point out the “bright spots” when I see them.

I’ve written previously (here and here) about the wide-ranging beer offerings at Blues BBQ Etc., at the corner of Leon Sullivan Way and Lee Street across from the Clay Center. It seems that my positive recommendation of the place has encouraged manager Kay Dillon to keep the beer selection growing and ever changing. During a recent visit, I took notice of the expanding beer menu and new tap selections. They are now offering a few more bottled products from Rogue, such as the Mocha Porter (an interesting interpretation of the style) and Shakespeare Stout, a very chocolatey and dry stout which is a real treat if you’re a dark beer fan. Rogue’s Morimoto Soba ale and Juniper ale are my least favorites. These beers simply do not offer anything interesting, though I normally like ales with ingedients like juniper or rye.

I am so glad to see Anchor Steam being offered in the area again. If you have not tried what is America’s only true beer style, get to Blues BBQ ASAP. Steam beer (California Common) is a wonderful hoppy, crisp beer that teeters on being an ale or a lager, but is in fact right in the middle. An American with an identity crisis — so what else is new? Anchor Brewing Company and its savior, Fritz Maytag (yes, that Maytag) are often credited with starting the craft beer revolution in the US. I only wish we could get the full Anchor line of beer… (’Give me Anchor Liberty or give me death!’)

Samuel Smith’s has found space in Blues BBQ’s cooler, with the Organic Tadcaster taking top-shelf, position No. 1 on the left. I like this beer because it’s just so English, yet the hops seem to defy a typical English Goldings or Fuggles variety. I am still guessing that they might be using an organic Pacific Northwestern hop, or do organic hops just taste different? Sammy’s Oatmeal stout is available for you liquid breakfast fans; a real mouth-filling and tummy-filling beer. This one’s a candidate for making a “Stout Float” with a little vanilla ice cream. (No kidding).

Blues BBQ will not take second place to anyone in wheat beer offerings, with at least five different wheat beers available. Kay recently put Ayinger’s Brau-Weisse (Hefeweizen) on tap, but at $6 a pint, it’s better to get the 500ml bottle. Try the draft version (please! with no citrus slice of any kind) and decide for yourself. The Ur-weisse is a “dunkle” (dark) weisse beer which is very smooth. Franziskaner Hefeweizen is also available in the bottle.

BEER TIP OF THE WEEK: When pouring a hefeweizen, empty the bottle into your glass until there is around 2 inches of beer left, then swirl the remaining beer to pick up the yeast sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Pour the foamy, yeasty treat in the glass (topping off your beer) and enjoy!

Now let’s talk W.Va. beer: West Virgina Brewing Company’s Appalachian Ale is available on tap. I have tasted good and bad batches of this beer. Now that the brewer Ned Strauser owns the place, quality and consistency have improved. “Appy ale” is a crisp and well-hopped amber ale that deserves a try. I still do not have anything good to say about Mountain State’s Cold Trail Ale. I just can’t get by the metallic taste.

There are a few beers from down under as well. Coopers Sparkling Ale tastes like a bad homebrew. It’s highly carbonated and reeks of apricot Gerber baby food (haven’t tasted that in years!). This is a result of Ester production during fermentation. Esters are appropriate in ales, in fact essential; but in this beer, the imbalance makes it taste like a lager gone wrong. The Coopers lager is clean and nearly tasteless; just a bit more interesting than a Coor’s light.

So folks and fellow beer lovers, we have a winner here. Let’s keep encouraging Blues BBQ so Kay will keep harassing her beer suppliers to get some new and different beer into this State. Maybe other bars and pubs will get the hint. There won’t be supply without demand…

IF YOU GO: Blues BBQ: BBQ chicken and ribs, jerked chicken, pastas, salads and specials. Corner of Leon Sullivan Way and Lee Street, 304/720-7873. Mon-Thur 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. (kitchen closes 9 p.m.); Fri-Sat 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. (kitchen closes 10 p.m.); Sun brunch from 11 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Call 720-7873.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 2nd, 2007 at 4:20 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.