Brick Store Pub

Top notch.. excellent.

At last I have visited this legendary locale! My previous visit to ATL years ago this was supposed to be the location of celebration after a big moment at work, but alas life had other plans that day, almost a decade later redemption has been had! It was well worth the wait. I even ate dinner here and the food was delightful elevated pub fare with plenty of home cooked feel. Old world styled lively space, love the wood. Service is speedy and helpful, they also know proper pours and glassware for the styles. All the beer was delicious! The selection ranged from all over the US and europe, especially for the latter when you got into the bottle list. Oh there were 4 ales on cask. 4! This was my first visit and I pray it is not my last! A must when in atlanta

There are great reasons why the Brick Store Pub, a beer cafe within walking distance of MARTA , is considered one of the best beer destinations in the United States and perhaps the world. As you approach from the MARTA station, it looks a like a cool little beer cafe with plenty of little tables on the sidewalk. Walk in from the entrance and I felt that I had gone back to a vacation which I spent in Belgium; the feel and decor reminded me of that. There's a U-Shaped bar towards the middle back pouring most of the taps. Getting crowded, no problem! There's a second floor which is split between two rooms; a miniature English pub complete with a dart board, a bar with four cask handles (and they pour beer, not for decoration) and a hidden TV which comes out for Premier League matches, and a Belgian-themed room which several Belgian beer taps pouring at the bar. The Belgian room was inaccessible on a Wednesday, only open on certain days. The beer cellar is upstairs as well, and I was fortunate to receive access and a tour of the room. Your jaw will hang open as you see a room full of vintages and even matching glassware at 55F while also housing the source of the cask ales.

Writing that made me thirsty; let's talk beer. Impeccable in every faucet! I stayed for five rounds; got beer served from tap, bottle, cask, and vintage bottle. The service, pouring of the beers, knowledge of the beers, pace of service, matched like a beautiful symphony. Nothing's too cold, even from tap, bottle pours unhurried and presented in as close to matching glassware like artwork. Cask pours got imperial pints, my Orval and 2010 De Dolle Export Stout got the brand's matching glassware, and my kolsch got a half-liter mug. Okay, a small 200 ml glass like in Cologne would have been cool, but I might be asking too much. The tap menu is very good; eight or so Belgian beers, ten or so beers from Georgia, and ten or so from elsewhere. Four cask ales pouring until one of them got tapped out during my visit.

The vintage selection deserves its own paragraph. This and Antwerp's Kulminator are the best vintage beer lists I've come across, and could play with Kulminator at its own game; vintage Belgian beer. You are given a large menu of what's available divided between Belgian, American, and the rest of the world. A small sampling of what I saw included 2006 St Bernardus Abt 12, 2017 Golden Carolus Noel, 2007 Rochefort 8, Cascade (now no longer available in Georgia), Cantillon (as rare as <insert cliche here> in the US today), even 8 Wired. Ask for the menu and don't be afraid to splurge a little for something kept and presented in such great shape.

For food, a cup of Brunswick Stew surprised me in how delicious a stew can be. I should have asked for more, and just to try more of the food. With the Belgian-theme going on here, I might have had the closest to Belgian frites since my visit to Belgium a decade back, but I didn't.

The experience from the Brick Store Pub will carry with me for a very long time. It is unbelievable how excellent nearly every aspect on the scale is. Had I come on a Friday and the Belgian beer bar upstairs was open and I ordered a full entree, I could imagine those little differences pushing me to reward my first ever Straight-5 place on Beer Advocate. Regardless, I advise every beer geek to put Brick Store Pub on their visit list. Fly into Atlanta and take MARTA directly from the airport to here if you must.

From notes 2012 visit to Atlanta /area. Amazed I hadn’t posted review at the time.
Had a great afternoon visit. Sat outside “cafe fresco” layout/under shade umbrella on a just about perfect sunny day. Self toured inside. Gorgeous fun/bustling 1st floor layout; upstairs classic reserved old school style European/Belgian layout. Essentially 3 perfect settings to enjoy beer, food, people and decor.
Excellent beer choices and delicious food. One of the best beer bars I’d visited at that time. (However, still vividly recall enjoying The Porter better during that visit.)

Truly a world-class establishment. Worth a special trip, especially in if you're in Georgia. Great beer selection in the cellar with a constantly rotating on-tap list. The Belgian bar is particularly top notch with excellent service. The food is well prepared and a good value- I recommend the Pork Belly and Pot Pie.

The illustrious Brick Store Pub…

This place was my haven when I first moved to Georgia. I lived a 15 min walk, so this was my frequent spot for a few years til I moved further out.

Atmosphere is rustic, old world, lot of wood and iron, yet eclectic.

Selection is off the charts, always fresh beers rotating on tap. They keep some local stuff on always, with a great variety of styles on the tap list and in cans/bottles.

But, this place is popular, so when things tap that are new/rare to the area, they go quick. Very quick.

The Cellar Bible is always fun to glance through. Many vintages, separated by style, country, you name it, it’s most likely in their cellar. They get some rarities from time to time which is nice.

Food and service are usually pretty okay, they can get busy and it can be a hassle to move around in there sometimes. Expect to wait on prime weekend nights. You aren’t the only one with the idea to hit the place up.

Great upstairs bar totally dedicated to Belgian beers.

Overall, a spot I’ve been many times, and one I will always frequent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sat at the bar starting about 9pm on a Tuesday night. Place was crowded. Would have had to wait for a table.

Great place, but legendary probably goes too far. Maybe I'm jaded, but I have 3 or 4 establishments within 15-30 min that have similar or better tap lists, a bottled/can/vintage list, great food and awesome service. Frankly, I'm not sure Brick Store is better than Porter Beer Bar.

V - Beer vibe, no doubt about it. A bit dark (bring your reading glasses). 4.75

Q - Correct and often labeled glassware. 4.5

Ser - Bartender was appropriately attentive. Good knowledge of beer and even gave me a half pour free after I order two different beers that had just recently kicked. 4.5

Sel - Great but no awesome. A good range of styles, but maybe a little light (on my visit) with respect to the heavier darker stuff. Would have loved to see a imperial stout, RIS type beer on the draught list during my visit. A nice bottle/beer list. Yes, they do have a vintage list as well, but unimpressed. Most bars do not have a vintage list, but I thought Brick Store's was a bit thin. Could have had a broader range of brewers and some beers we all might consider whales. 4.5

F - I had the chicken pot pie. It was excellent. The field greens salad was just average. 4.25

When I visit Atlanta I almost always stay in midtown, which makes Decatur and the Brick Store Pub a bit inconvenient (though using the MARTA is relatively quick and gets you within two blocks). I will come back, but other establishments may catch my attention and divert me.

 

 

It's not easy for a legendary beer bar to live up to the hype. In fact, quite often in our experience, places such as this often wind up resting on their laurels while newer places pass them by, using their reputation as an invitation to snobbery and arrogance. No so here, though. An amazing place in a really nice town. Great vibe, wonderfully welcoming and friendly people, and a beer list that matches any I have ever run across.

BSP really is all that. Don't miss it.

HV

 

 

 

The Brick Store is a great place for beer, food, and just hanging out. I've had an introduction to plenty of great brews here, including Wild Heaven's White Blackbird saison, Creature Comforts Reclaimed Rye, and Wicked Weed's Lieutenant Dank.

 

I had heard great things and was really looking forward to this stop on the last guys beercation we did. I was very disappointed. We arrived after 9pm on a Saturday and were told a two hour wait. We decided to eat at the Mexican place around the corner and it had a great tap list, I was quite impressed. We went back to Brick Store just before 11pm and were able to sit upstairs in the back. Tap list was weak, lots were blown. The bottle list was like a bible, but they were out of everything we asked for. Why have a 50 page beer menu if it is not accurate? It was a joke. We left very disappointed and will not return. Don't waste your time on this place Seriously hit the Mexican place around the corner if you want a good draft list (Hopslam, WW Pernicious, CC Trop, CC Athena, etc.)

 

I travel very often on business, and I rely on Beer Advocate for good beer and food places (mainly beer, let's be real).

This place had everything from great food to great beer at a reasonable price. I'm a powerlifter, so I'm always looking for a great burger when I find a good beer place. This place has just that. One of the best burgers I've ever had.

I suggest the $12 burger with their fries, and try anything local for beer on draught.

They have nearly 40 draught choices, 100 fresh bottle choices, and probably close to 500 beers in their cellar from American to Belgian to any imports.

Definitely check this place out if you're anywhere near Atlanta! Cheers!!

 

Outside Atlanta, after a comedy of hotel reservation errors. Finally checked in, and while some will stay and sleep, Alex & I will venture out to Decatur. An easy breezy ride down the road some on the heels of 6+ hours in the car today up from Florida. It’s Sunday night, I think we’re going to do time and close whatever wherever is…

In the square on the strip there. Box room, with mad vaulted high ceilings. One wall of big brick, with flower boxed windows and mounted candle play. The opposite wall done splotch gray painted something. Slat wood floorings, and a gray painted ceiling with ductwork. A few spinnys, drop pan lamps over the floor seating, and spots & drops otherwise.

To the rear, a ‘U’ shaped poured concrete topped bar with a wood trim, copper panel base, & a foot bar. Seating for a dozen and a half on rounded and squared stools. 21 taps down here in 3 sets of 5 singles (steel knobs on light green glass plastic ceramic pint-like bases with small baseball sized tap labels on black handles), and then 2 sets of 3 nondescript on the far side. Handpump currently unused on the end of the bar and glassware shelved below. Barback unit at the end of the bar rear, with countered booze tiered over mirror backing, and glassware dangling above from the underside of a horizontal wine rack above. Pieces atop the barback; barrels, a big clock, lamps, an accordion, bottles, mugs, & growlers. Smaller unit sections of the same to both sides. Wine coolered below and a bottled beer cooler standing up on the end.

Corner blackboard with colorful event info (Halloween costume contest & Atlanta craft beer week). Local art cartoon cut outs on one wall, a looooong horizontal framed soweth/reap 5 panel mural on the other, ‘Ein Prosit’ checkered flaggings from the ceiling, a drop ornate pear shaped stave chandelier over the bar, a lantern lamp post up front, barrels and a bike over the front vestibule, and a cool branch handle front door. Seating forward the bar, 15 in all; booths on 1 wall, tables on the other sharing bench play, a crescent booth in one of the blinded front windows, and some raised barrel table roundys in the center.

Upstairs, a slight seating area with a handful of wine case tables, and then the Belgian beer bar to the rear. A small ‘L’ bar seating a bakers dozen, a 7 tap tower (Chimay Doree, Duvel Single, Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor, St. Bernardus 12, Timmermans Pumpkin Lambicus, Tripel Karmaliet, Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel), glassware dangling from above, and a cooler to the rear with Belgian bottles. Bar counter space and pillar wrap around, too. Space to the rear with 4 tables & booths. Local art, a few of them owls; it’s a different scene to be sure.

But back at the main bar, 21 taps. 16 of them are Georgia craft beer (Monday Night Drafty Kilt Scotch Ale, Orpheus Barrel Aged The 12th Labor, Red Brick 20th Anniversary Ale, Three Taverns Sour Asylum, Wild Heaven Ode To Mercy, Burnt Hickory Public Animal #9, Cherry Street The Grateful Frenchman, Jailhouse 4 Deep Undercover IPA V20, Jekyll Big Creek Kolsch & Pineapple Habanero Hop Dang Diggity, Reformation Cadence Reserve Dubbel, Creature Comfort Athena Paradiso, Service SBC 1, Southbound Loving Cup, Southern Wild Azalea Tart, Terrapin/BFM Spike & Jerome’s Collaboration Ale), a regional Gluten Free (Wicked Weed Gluten Freek), a few non regional craft (Bells Best Brown, New Belgium Hoppy Stout), a single import (Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier), and a Georgia cider (Treehorn Dry Cider). I drank the Three Taverns Sour Asylum, Creature Comfort Athena Paradiso, & Southern Wild Azalea Tart. That Creature Comfort Athena Paradiso was fantastic.

And a phone book of a bottle list. Wait. The fucking list holds 400 fresh & 900 vintage items? There’s some sick shit here. Orval runs $9 fresh, and $22 for an ’07. I could mad peruse but I’m about the local craft tonight.

Caught Lee tending, a friend of a friend, and the Plantation ‘Stiggin’s Fancy’ Pineapple dark rum for the tasting, all burnt Pineapple cake incredibleness. It’s closing time, we must go, oh, shots for all, I see. Some people are curious about my scribblings. No, you cannot participate and write in my book. Because it’s not yours, that’s why. I will share my art with art girl, though. Good crowd of playful kids. Wish beer was like this when I was in school. And speaking of beer, another is in order I suppose. Okay, it’s now waaay after hours. They do food here, not that we could entertain after that bizarro family style place we caught off the highway on the way up. But the beer thing they do here, it's just fantastic. This is a good damn house. I could do some serious time here. Whose idea was this again? Alex, it was you.

Okay, I've been here twice more like 8 years later. The upstairs 'slight seating area' is now a cask bar. Is Sierra on? Um... yeah. The food is excellent and the people here know their game. Fanfuckintastic!

 

I will be forever greatful to the Atlanta BAs for suggesting this place. It was a memorable visit.
Great vibe the minute we walked in. Brick, wood. Downstairs bar and tables, and an upstairs bar and tables. Promptly seated and given menus.
Great tap list. Georgia beers, domestic beers, and Belgians. My wife had a Stupid Silly Sour and I had a quad from Wild Heaven, Eschaton. Great beers. But probably the most interesting find at The Brick Store Pub is its cellar. Over 15,000 bottles!
I had Old Stock Cellar Reserve 2009, and was blown away. And that's only one from the cellar. I think if you name it, they've got it. Even 3 and 6 L bottles. An amazing collection!
We thought the food was excellent. We were having difficulty choosing a meal. The manager asked our preferences, and made us custom-ordered vegan sandwiches.
So what can I say about an establishment with a phenomenal beer list, personalized service, and an attentive wait staff?
1: I wish I lived in Atlanta.
2: I'll be back.

 

Wow! This place is a treasure.
Let me start by saying that I drove from Baton Rouge to Atlanta. I was hungry when I got there. I ordered the butterbean hummus. The freaking bread had sausage in it! The hummus was really good and was served with some pickled green beans and green tomatoes. Onto the beer
I started with an Allagash Victor Ale and followed with some local IPAs.
Now, let me tell you where the Brick Store exceeds other places...their cellar room(s). A smorgasbord of vintage gueuzes, lambics, stouts, wild ales and other stuff are available to purchase by the bottle. I popped a bottle of 2010 Lost Abbey 10 Commandments.
Overall, the staff is very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. This place is a must check out.

If you enjoy good beer, then it is a must.

The best beer selection, bar none. Just today, I had a cbs and mexican cake for brick stores' 20th anniversary. Tap selection rotates a lot, but always great beer. Highly recommend it if you can make it to Decatur while visiting Atlanta.

Incredible selection. A second bar of only Belgian beers, plus delicious food. The only problem is parking, but there is a paid lot fairly close. An Atlanta classic, definitely one of the best beer places I've ever been to.

setting a gold standard for craft beer hospitality - and in a bad-ass building too

The only downfall of this place is that if you try a beer you like it could be gone this next day due to constant rotation of taps. The level of quality beers that they have is second to none. Everything that they have is good.

In a word Heaven. The selection of beer is incredible, the servers all knowlagable and happy to help and the food a perfect compliment.