Savannah has been a great place to drink beer for many years thanks to a liberal to-go cup policy and plethora of bars and restaurants with solid craft beer menus.

However, restrictive state laws and potentially even tougher local laws have made Savannah a less-than-attractive place for brewing entrepreneurs. Moon River Brewing Co. was the only place brewing beer in town for many years until Southbound Brewing opened its doors last year.

Now, with the addition of Service Brewing Co. and the anticipated opening of Coastal Empire Brewing, Savannah also has production breweries with tasting rooms to enjoy and jobs to employ. Owner Kevin Ryan shares with DO the ups and downs of opening a brewery in Georgia and his excitement to throw open his doors to the public on Sept. 13.

When did you decide you wanted to open a brewery?

Ryan: I have always enjoyed craft beer. Not long after my girlfriend (Service's marketing manager, Meredith Sutton) bought me a home brew kit, I decided I wanted to play a bigger role in the craft beer industry and open a brewery.

Why in Savannah?

Ryan: I live in Savannah, I love this town, and when we started the planning, there were no production breweries in Savannah.

Can you explain the name Service Brewing Co. and its significance?

Ryan: We are a veteran owned and operated brewery. The Service name carries many meanings. It recognizes our service to our country, the service that so many before us have provided to their country and community, and it recognizes our dedication to giving back to those charities that support people who service their country and community.

How would you describe Savannah's craft beer scene?

Ryan: Burgeoning! We will soon have three production breweries in Savannah, one brewpub and most likely more to follow. More and more people are recognizing the quality and creativity behind craft beer around the country, and a lot of them come to Savannah and want to taste the local craft.

What do you think needs to happen to help Savannah compete with other Lowcountry cities that have strong craft beer scenes?

Ryan: Georgia as a whole is one of the least friendly states for brewing. The Georgia Craft Brewers Guild is working hard to give a voice to the craft brewers in our state.

We are not looking to replace or unseat the distributors, but all of our businesses would benefit from a lower excise tax and the ability to sell limited quantities of our beer directly to the consumer at our breweries.

South Carolina is a great example of a progressive approach to managing craft beer that does not negatively impact our distributors. And a recent study by the Beer Institute 'has found that for every one job created by a brewery, an additional 45 jobs are supported in other industries, ranging from agriculture to transportation.'

How would you describe the atmosphere of your tasting room?

Ryan: The tasting room was designed by Meredith. A year and a half ago when we purchased the building, she already had a vision of what direction the space would take. Design elements throughout tell a story of my military history, from paint color to the installation of two shipping containers and the parachute that is draped on the South wall. It's tasteful, simple and disciplined.

What makes your tasting room and tours stand out from the competition?

Ryan: Our tours provide more than a behind-the-scenes view of how the beer is made. We have taken time to develop a space that honors service, but is welcoming to all.

In addition to creating a comfortable and interactive space, we have commissioned the work of many local and extremely talented artists to finish the space. As part of the tour and tasting experience, you will taste the R&D creations from our brewers poured from tap handles specifically commissioned for our tasting room by some of the most talented artists in Savannah.

How many seasonals do you plan to release each year?

Ryan: At least four in our first year. We have already released our Rally Point Bohemian Style Pilsner and our Oktoberfest Beer will be released at the Oktoberfest celebration on River Street, the first week of October.

How many year-round brews do you hope to eventually offer?

Ryan: We are launching with two year-round production beers, Ground Pounder Pale Ale and Compass Rose IPA. We believe the Rally Point Bohemian Style Pilsner has great potential to be our next year-round beer.

You package your brews in cans. Can you tell people why this is better than using bottles?

Ryan: We have a canning line and will be canning our year-round beers for October. The can is a great vessel for beer; it keeps out light and oxygen, which are both enemies to fresh beer. Additionally, the cans are recyclable, portable and lighter than bottles ... they are like mini-kegs!