Blues Etc. ("BEER BAR REVIEW #1)

I have been to Blues Etc. a few time since they opened in the old "Chef Dan's" location. It is one of the better beer bars (and a pretty good wine selection) in the Charleston area w/ at least 15 bottled micro brews, 20 or so bottled imports and a few surprises on tap. Kay the bar manager is actually a former wine sales specialist with a respect for beer. She is trying to do it right, and Jay the owner is willing to do what it takes to get the right products in.

Blues Etc. is first, a restaurant with pretty decent food. I am here to talk about the bar...

The bar is "non-smoking", which makes for a good place to hang out and actually taste what you are drinking. A few notable items on tap are Appalachian Ale from WV Brewing, and Cold Trail Ale from Mountain State Brewing in Thomas. Cold Trail tastes like an underwhelming version of Kolsch style beer. I would classify it as a "transition beer" to convert macro lager drinkers.

Another tap space is taken by Harpoon "IPA", which is an OK beer, but by no means has kept up with the "Hophead" movement in this country.

Of course, Blues features the obligatory Guinness and Bass taps for making "Black & Tan".

My Fav's on the bottle list include Ayinger Altbarisch Dunkle, Great Lakes "Edmund Fitzgerald" Porter and Shiner's 97, a nice Schwarzbier (Black Lager).

The bar staff will always give you a cold glass with your beer, they are amply stocked with room temperature beer glasses when asked to provide one. Kay also keeps many of the bottles at "back room" temperatures instead of freezing them tasteless.

Overall It's a decent place to go for a beer.

Highs: Good beer selection for CRW, Friendly & knowledgeable staff, Free music, Great wine selection

Lows: Really not a late night bar (closes at 11pm on weeknights)