If you’ve ever been to Savannah, Georgia, you know that this quaint little town near the Georgia coast is, well, a little different from the rest of the state. Savannah has a reputation as a party town (I like to think of it as a sort of “New Orleans Light”), a historic town, and according to some, even a haunted town.

But Savannah is not what beer enthusiasts would really call a beer town. Well, not a huge beer town anyway. But Savannah does have a very good brewpub (Moon River ) and a very small, artisan brewery named Old Savannah Brewing Company.

Old Savannah brews just two beers, both of them draft only, pale ale and a blonde. Distribution is limited to Georgia, Savannah mostly and recently parts of Atlanta. But take heart, bottles are on the way, and distribution will eventually increase. The company is rumored to have purchased the old bottling line of Atlanta’s late and lamented Dogwood Brewing.

Today’s beer under consideration is Ghost Ale, and of course the name is an allusion to Savannah’s storied past as a center of supernatural activity. It’s hard to not be aware when this one is on tap, too. The tap handle is a reproduction of the famous “bird girl” statue made famous by the novel and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which takes place in Savannah.

Both of Old Savannah’s ales are in the English vein. Here’s what they say about their Ghost Ale:

An English Blonde with only the best British malts and hops. The late addition of whole leaf East Kent Goldings adds a classic and traditional smooth hop aroma. During fermentation our special strain of yeast from Northeast England contributes light fruity esters. A great British session beer!

And here’s what I say.

Old Savannah Ghost Ale pours to a ghostly pale blonde color with a light creamy head formation and a delightfully crisp biscuity malt nose. The palate features the same crisp malt flavors that the nose promised. I very much like the fresh malt flavor the beer offers. The palate is clean of esters and there are no adjunct distractions from the malt, either.

A touch of grassy hops balance the finish with a very light bitterness. This isn’t a complex beer by any means, but it is a tasty one and a great beginner beer for those looking to experiment in the craft beer universe. It’s perfectly suited to hot Georgia weather, or hot weather anywhere for that matter. I think its delicate nature demands it should be best enjoyed fresh on draft, however.

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