Tap Handle #79: Charleston Brewing - Albatross

This is about as rare a tap as you will see for reasons you'll see below. This tap was not label specific, although there is another identical version with an East Bay IPA label. Lots of detail and color, featuring an albatross wearing pilot's headgear, a post encrusted with barnacles and coral, and a mermaid figurehead on the backside, make this an incredible tap.

Click through to read more about Charleston Brewing...


Finding information on Charleston Brewing is like using a metal detector in your backyard- you're more likely to find an oxidized penny than something of value. They were founded in 2005 and brewed 3 varieties of beer. Whether they themselves ever actually brewed beer in South Carolina is debatable. Some beer sites list an address & website, but say the brewery is closed, and the website is gone. The bottle labels, as early as 2006, say that it was brewed under contract at Wild Goose in Frederick, Maryland. Wild Goose was really Frederick Brewery that was bought by Flying Dog in 2006 and renamed Wild Goose, so it's likely they struck up a contract with Charleston Brewing. But in 2010, Flying Dog idled Wild Goose and other brands due to increased demand for its own beer. Charleston was forced to find another brewer, and finally struck up a deal with Thomas Creek Brewery in South Carolina, where it is still brewed today.There is a new Charleston brewing opening up in a brewpub very soon, according to their Facebook page. I'm not sure if they've bought the rights to the name or it's really the same company...