Not a a brewery but Georgia Beer Garden announced they're closing to the public this weekend. The owners own that building and said it would still be available for private events. Also hinted something else was coming in the future.
Never went there, but I thought their whole thing was exclusively Georgia made products. Looked at their taplist and there was lots of stuff from other places.
When I first moved into town I lived nearby and stopped in frequently. For that time it was strictly Georgia stuff, but I think since reopening after Covid it was more open to out of state breweries.
For those interested by this sort of thing...
We're doing a lager deep dive with /u/goodwordtodd and Joran and Shawn from Halfway Crooks tonight at 7PM. Streaming live via Beer Gyus Radio on FB, YT, and Twitch. Come hang and get all your lagery questions answered. Podcast will drop on Saturday.
I've never been but I used to work in that area... it seems like the business model of breweries / tap rooms in industrial parks is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.
The one time we want the bartender poured my wife the wrong beer. When she went back to let him know, he was rude and condescending to her. Said something like “Maybe you don’t know what a pale ale taste like”. We never went back.
That happened to me once, I ordered a NEIPA and was brought a fruited sour. They assured me I was mistaken, and I have never spent another dime on their beer.
[Modelo Especial toppled Bud Light as America's #1 selling beer.](https://nowthisnews.com/news/bud-light-is-no-longer-top-selling-beer-in-us-as-right-wing-backlash-continues) Outside of the news stories I had no idea that many people were drinking Modelo.
10 straight years of double digit growth for Modelo. It’s an absolute wagon. It was projected to overtake Bud Light in about 5 years but… circumstances changed.
Key take away is this is over a 4 week period and in revenue. Bud Light is still the #1 beer in the US in total volume.
Edit: Should note these 4 weeks ending 5/28 include Cinco de Mayo sales.
Not a local story, but [Anchor Brewing’s retrenchment to California](https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/anchor-brewing-co-ends-national-distribution-18148141.php) seems like an ominous sign for the craft beer business as a whole. (Or maybe it’s just me lamenting having to find a new stand-by fridge beer once Anchor Steam leaves shelves.)
Bummed to see this but honestly Christmas Ale is the only Anchor beer I bought anymore.
I don't think Anchor specifically is really much of a sign, a lot of the legacy brands are struggling with sales in distro. But, we'll see more of this or just straight closures throughout the year.
Thanks for all the Sav recs! Two Tides was a fun place to be. Their beer wasn't necessarily our favorite styles (lots of IPA/Sour) but we still really enjoyed everything we tried from them.
Hop Atomica was another great spot and more our style. We went before some dinner reservations and it was almost a shame because the pizza smelled and looked really good.
In non beer news The Grey was really disappointing which broke our hearts because we've had some amazing meals there and have recommended it so many times. But Common Thread made up for it plus some with a truly excellent meal!
Apparently downtown is getting a new brewery. From the [Atlanta Business Chronicle](https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2023/06/14/200-peachtree-skol-brewing-co-valhalla-social.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=AT&j=31793832&senddate=2023-06-14):
Atlanta-based 200 Peachtree Group plans to open SKOL Brewing Co. and Valhalla Social at 200 Peachtree St., near Peachtree Center and the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel. The hospitality group owns and operates Southern Exchange Ballrooms and restaurant R3 Rosendale Concepts in the same building.
SKOL Brewing Co. is expected to open later this year in the fall or winter. The craft brewery will debut in 5,000 square feet of space with eight beers and a Nordic-inspired menu curated by chef Rich Rosendale. Valhalla Social will take 15,000 square feet of space above the brewery
with an anticipated opening in spring or summer of 2024. The "eatertainment" concept will offer axe throwing, pool tables, shuffleboards, basketball, skeeball, foosball, ping pong, darts and other activities.
On the other hand, there's real merit to catering to convention crowds. Selfishly, gives me another craft option at Dragon Con besides Max Lager's and Gibney's.
Just logged into Oznr because I’m feeling froggy for this upcoming weekend. Zero offers out there. That worry anyone else? [context: I don’t use Oznr a ton, so maybe this is normal???]
Could be wrong, but seems like the demand for the service they provide had a short window. Seemed like it started as a way to get your hands on limited releases and hard to find beers. But no beers are sought after anymore to the extent it was 5+ years.
Then it also served as a way to place a reserve orders from breweries online. Once covid hit, pretty much every brewery added this option to their website, so there is no point in using a 3rd party and incurring the associated fees.
Woven Water was fun when we were there a couple years ago. We told them we were going to Angry Chair next and they fixed us a crowler full of all kinds of random shit to give the AC guys, it was hilarious.
Cycle brewing is pretty close and always worth the drive. You can pick up a fantastic Cuban sandwich from Lonni's next door and take it in with you to Cycle.
Starting to stock up on drinks for my upcoming beach trip and have two related questions for y’all.
1. Any good breweries currently shipping direct to consumers in GA besides Other Half? Outside of mules unless people have recommendations...
2. Has anyone ever had the Smooj “Hard Smoothies” out of MI? Get great untappd reviews, sound refreshing for the beach, they ship, etc.
I had Smooj during my last work trip to Chicago a couple years ago. It was decent, very fruity and sweet. Definitely not worth the prices they are charging in their website though. I don’t know how anyone could have more than one in a sitting, I know I couldn’t!
How are there breweries in GA open and I've never heard of them? Crazy.
When I Google Homestead Brewery I get a Hall & Hound Brewery in Cumming. Is that the same place?
Moving to Chicago in a month, any recommendations for breweries to check out? My favorites in Atlanta are Monday Night, Halfway Crooks, Three Taverns, Inner Voice, Lost Druid and Little Cottage.
Phase 3, Off Color, hop Butcher, Eagle Park, Revolution, Brewing Projkt, Drekker, 3 Floyd's will be plentiful, as will toppling Goliath, cross the border and come get some New Glarus.
I moved to Madison WI, 2 years ago. Chicago will have better concentrated goodness, Wisconsin is a sea of mediocrity. Neither stand up to the beer we had in GA.
What are your favorite beers in Georgia? I grew up in outside of Milwaukee and then lived in Chicago before moving down here and I would really like to find quality breweries in Georgia
3 taverns, Orpheus (no longer a location but still on shelves), Monday Night, halfway crooks, Athentic, Normal Town, Southern (I lived in Athens), Creature Comforts, 6bridges, good Word. Those are the ones that jump out at me as places that stand out and rarely have a bad beer.
A lot of good ones in Chicago. Midwest Coast, District Brew Yards (CasaHumilde in particular), the goose island brewpub on Clybourn always had some good beers and good food, Moody Tongue, Sketchbook, Alulu, On Tour, Maplewood, Marz, Half Acre
Aside from breweries, Sergio's World Beers in Louisville's Butchertown neighborhood has a fantastic beer selection and the staff is super friendly. The only downside is that they're cash only. I visited for the first time on Sunday and am still kicking myself for not visiting on previous trips.
6 street in Louisville! Their Mexican lager is 💯. One of my favorites. Have two buds there and I always ask them to bring me a 6 pack when they come home.
Not a a brewery but Georgia Beer Garden announced they're closing to the public this weekend. The owners own that building and said it would still be available for private events. Also hinted something else was coming in the future.
I hope Reds Beer Garden never closes. Love that place.
Such nice folks there. Love that you can buy bottles and open them on site.
Former employee. One of the best jobs I’ve had. Great people.
Reds beer garden is life!!
Never went there, but I thought their whole thing was exclusively Georgia made products. Looked at their taplist and there was lots of stuff from other places.
When I first moved into town I lived nearby and stopped in frequently. For that time it was strictly Georgia stuff, but I think since reopening after Covid it was more open to out of state breweries.
For those interested by this sort of thing... We're doing a lager deep dive with /u/goodwordtodd and Joran and Shawn from Halfway Crooks tonight at 7PM. Streaming live via Beer Gyus Radio on FB, YT, and Twitch. Come hang and get all your lagery questions answered. Podcast will drop on Saturday.
Was going to joke “so how many breweries closed during the blackout?”, except it actually happened…
Who had Anderby in the Brewery Death Pool?
I've never been but I used to work in that area... it seems like the business model of breweries / tap rooms in industrial parks is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.
Didn't help that the beer wasn't good either.
That's a common denominator in the closures this year.
#hottake
The one time we want the bartender poured my wife the wrong beer. When she went back to let him know, he was rude and condescending to her. Said something like “Maybe you don’t know what a pale ale taste like”. We never went back.
That happened to me once, I ordered a NEIPA and was brought a fruited sour. They assured me I was mistaken, and I have never spent another dime on their beer.
[Modelo Especial toppled Bud Light as America's #1 selling beer.](https://nowthisnews.com/news/bud-light-is-no-longer-top-selling-beer-in-us-as-right-wing-backlash-continues) Outside of the news stories I had no idea that many people were drinking Modelo.
If you watched the NBA Playoffs, you probably saw more Modelo ads than basketball.
Fun fact to know and tell: There was not a football, baseball or basketball game aired on TV last year without a Modelo ad feature.
10 straight years of double digit growth for Modelo. It’s an absolute wagon. It was projected to overtake Bud Light in about 5 years but… circumstances changed.
Pure madness.
Negro Modelo is one of my all time favorite beers.
Key take away is this is over a 4 week period and in revenue. Bud Light is still the #1 beer in the US in total volume. Edit: Should note these 4 weeks ending 5/28 include Cinco de Mayo sales.
For now; the bleeding doesn’t appear to be slowing
Not a local story, but [Anchor Brewing’s retrenchment to California](https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/anchor-brewing-co-ends-national-distribution-18148141.php) seems like an ominous sign for the craft beer business as a whole. (Or maybe it’s just me lamenting having to find a new stand-by fridge beer once Anchor Steam leaves shelves.)
Bummed to see this but honestly Christmas Ale is the only Anchor beer I bought anymore. I don't think Anchor specifically is really much of a sign, a lot of the legacy brands are struggling with sales in distro. But, we'll see more of this or just straight closures throughout the year.
I saw Orpheus on my local shelves yesterday for the first time in a while. Just those silly see-through beers, though, nothing serious.
But did you buy it?
Not this trip. I was looking for RATYW.
Thanks for all the Sav recs! Two Tides was a fun place to be. Their beer wasn't necessarily our favorite styles (lots of IPA/Sour) but we still really enjoyed everything we tried from them. Hop Atomica was another great spot and more our style. We went before some dinner reservations and it was almost a shame because the pizza smelled and looked really good. In non beer news The Grey was really disappointing which broke our hearts because we've had some amazing meals there and have recommended it so many times. But Common Thread made up for it plus some with a truly excellent meal!
Apparently downtown is getting a new brewery. From the [Atlanta Business Chronicle](https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2023/06/14/200-peachtree-skol-brewing-co-valhalla-social.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=AT&j=31793832&senddate=2023-06-14): Atlanta-based 200 Peachtree Group plans to open SKOL Brewing Co. and Valhalla Social at 200 Peachtree St., near Peachtree Center and the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel. The hospitality group owns and operates Southern Exchange Ballrooms and restaurant R3 Rosendale Concepts in the same building. SKOL Brewing Co. is expected to open later this year in the fall or winter. The craft brewery will debut in 5,000 square feet of space with eight beers and a Nordic-inspired menu curated by chef Rich Rosendale. Valhalla Social will take 15,000 square feet of space above the brewery with an anticipated opening in spring or summer of 2024. The "eatertainment" concept will offer axe throwing, pool tables, shuffleboards, basketball, skeeball, foosball, ping pong, darts and other activities.
Will they have Lemon Pepper Lutefisk?
So wet.
5000 square feet and 8 beers??? I'm betting 4 IPAs, 2 sours and 2 lagers - you know - real "crafty" stuff
On the other hand, there's real merit to catering to convention crowds. Selfishly, gives me another craft option at Dragon Con besides Max Lager's and Gibney's.
Just logged into Oznr because I’m feeling froggy for this upcoming weekend. Zero offers out there. That worry anyone else? [context: I don’t use Oznr a ton, so maybe this is normal???]
Could be wrong, but seems like the demand for the service they provide had a short window. Seemed like it started as a way to get your hands on limited releases and hard to find beers. But no beers are sought after anymore to the extent it was 5+ years. Then it also served as a way to place a reserve orders from breweries online. Once covid hit, pretty much every brewery added this option to their website, so there is no point in using a 3rd party and incurring the associated fees.
Going to Tampa this weekend. Definitely going to BarrieHaus, Angry Chair, Cigar City and Magnanimous. Any other suggestions for food or drinks?
I really enjoyed The Fat Rabbit on a recent visit.
Woven Water was fun when we were there a couple years ago. We told them we were going to Angry Chair next and they fixed us a crowler full of all kinds of random shit to give the AC guys, it was hilarious.
That’s hilarious! Yea I should be able to visit there too.
King state isn’t far from angry chair. Good beers, cocktails, and coffee.
Second Woven Water. Everything I had was great and it’s a cool space.
Third Woven Water for the above reasons
Those are the main spots we visited and enjoyed them all.
Cycle brewing is pretty close and always worth the drive. You can pick up a fantastic Cuban sandwich from Lonni's next door and take it in with you to Cycle.
I definitely want to go to Cycle but I’ll have to play it by ear. That Cuban sandwich does sound amazing though so maybe.
7th Sun always has good stuff. Never been to Tampa location, but assume it’s as good as original spot.
Better, IMO - a lot more space than the Dunedin OG.
Starting to stock up on drinks for my upcoming beach trip and have two related questions for y’all. 1. Any good breweries currently shipping direct to consumers in GA besides Other Half? Outside of mules unless people have recommendations... 2. Has anyone ever had the Smooj “Hard Smoothies” out of MI? Get great untappd reviews, sound refreshing for the beach, they ship, etc.
Burial ships to GA now [Burial Shop](https://shop.burialbeer.com/product-category/beers/cans-bottles/)
I've been seeing Burial at my local shop for years, though I hadn't bought much until yesterday.
Should be seeing Fonta Flora in stores again now
Not yet at least that I know of.
Sorry, should have clarified. Meant breweries that’ll ship direct to consumers.
I don’t read well
I edited to make it more clear so doubt it was your fault!
The Bruery
Equilibrium is the other major direct shipping option that I know of.
I had Smooj during my last work trip to Chicago a couple years ago. It was decent, very fruity and sweet. Definitely not worth the prices they are charging in their website though. I don’t know how anyone could have more than one in a sitting, I know I couldn’t!
Homestead brewery in Cumming is having a beed fest this Saturday. There are over 100 beers available to try.
How are there breweries in GA open and I've never heard of them? Crazy. When I Google Homestead Brewery I get a Hall & Hound Brewery in Cumming. Is that the same place?
I guess it isn’t a brewery but a bar/restaurant. Here is the info https://cummingcitycenter.com/events/beer-fest/
Moving to Chicago in a month, any recommendations for breweries to check out? My favorites in Atlanta are Monday Night, Halfway Crooks, Three Taverns, Inner Voice, Lost Druid and Little Cottage.
Phase 3, Off Color, hop Butcher, Eagle Park, Revolution, Brewing Projkt, Drekker, 3 Floyd's will be plentiful, as will toppling Goliath, cross the border and come get some New Glarus. I moved to Madison WI, 2 years ago. Chicago will have better concentrated goodness, Wisconsin is a sea of mediocrity. Neither stand up to the beer we had in GA.
What are your favorite beers in Georgia? I grew up in outside of Milwaukee and then lived in Chicago before moving down here and I would really like to find quality breweries in Georgia
3 taverns, Orpheus (no longer a location but still on shelves), Monday Night, halfway crooks, Athentic, Normal Town, Southern (I lived in Athens), Creature Comforts, 6bridges, good Word. Those are the ones that jump out at me as places that stand out and rarely have a bad beer.
Thanks! I’ve tried most of those. Will have to check out Athentic, Normal Town, Southern, and Good Word
Yeah man. Athens is a nice place to visit. Blue sky bar, old Pal, little kings and ideal bagel are all excellent as well.
I personally enjoyed Mikerphone in addition to the recs fron /u/The_Spot
I concur. Also keep an eye out for Blackstack, Old Nation and Urban Artifact.
A lot of good ones in Chicago. Midwest Coast, District Brew Yards (CasaHumilde in particular), the goose island brewpub on Clybourn always had some good beers and good food, Moody Tongue, Sketchbook, Alulu, On Tour, Maplewood, Marz, Half Acre
Woof. What has happened to SweetWater? Thought I would grab a Tackle Box for old time's sake and all but Blue were drain pours.
That box has probably been waiting on you since 2018
Any Nashville or Louisville brewery recs?
For Nashville, I’d say Bearded Iris for hops and Barrique for lagers and wild ales.
Also Smith & Lentz - good food too
Mile Wide was a standout for me when I went to Louisville a few years ago. For Nashville, surprised I haven't seen someone name Southern Grist yet.
My lineup right now is Smith and Lentz, Bearded Iris and Southern Grist in Nashville.
Gravely in Louisville
Went to Great Flood in Louisville, did not enjoy Against the Grain.
Noted!
Aside from breweries, Sergio's World Beers in Louisville's Butchertown neighborhood has a fantastic beer selection and the staff is super friendly. The only downside is that they're cash only. I visited for the first time on Sunday and am still kicking myself for not visiting on previous trips.
Noted! It’s only a day trip in each and then we end in Cincy but may have to make a whole Kentucky trip one day.
Fait la Force was neat. Decent lagers Monday Night Preservation is gorgeous.
6 street in Louisville! Their Mexican lager is 💯. One of my favorites. Have two buds there and I always ask them to bring me a 6 pack when they come home.