Halfway Crooks Beer

Cutesy and artsy yet relaxed taproom with real lager know how. Service was helpful and attentive, walked me through the tap list and the pour options for the czech lagers. Lager mania with some ipas thrown in here and there to keep you hopheads happy. Beers were delicious with proper lagering, though I did get a kick about them complaining about their water for the lagers as I feel like every lager brewer shares this complaint. Well worth a stop!

Got ourselves all burgered up and went looking for beer, by which I mean ‘something open early on a Thursday where we can make mischief before the ball game’. Well, highway, highway, and there’s the stadium, it’s got to be around here somewhere, right? Found this place on the strip and parked in a questionable lot. And rolled on in as Davo knows a guy…

A seemingly single room shoebox space but there’s more to it. White marble ‘L’ shaped bar to the left, panel base and brass foot rail. Stoolings for 9. The stretch holds a lower section on the front end with litre mugs atop so it’s not really for the sitting at. Barback wall is mirrored squares with a dozen non-descript wood spike handles on center. Green & white tiling to both sides, with 4 more handles to the right. Glassware shelved & slotted above fronting, and cans, litre mugs, and Underburg storage atop. Underberg belts on the ends and flats above.

Bar counter spur behind us separating the seating; some 8 tables mix & match there, rec & roundie, on shared benching or stand alone, and a bit of cushy. And some slight bar counter space to the rear of the bar along ornate wallpaper uppers.

Optical illusion cube floor tile around the bar and concrete further out. Light colored wood rafter ceiling with blended ductwork. Drop baseball bulbs over the floor & tracing the bar. Distressed concrete far wall with hops flagging, a few paintings, dried flowers, bundled and filament wands mounted. Forward panel windows with alt height potted plants hanging. Front corner merch and beer to go action. Shelving to both sides of the kitchen peek-a-boo holds cans, bottles, steins, books, plants, a Dunderburg truck, plate, candle, etc. Oktoberfest parade being shown on the TV (‘tis the season).

Ryan ran us around some. Small brewery to the rear and serving tanks lying down in the nook behind the bar, 2 over 2. They do a lot with what seems like very little space. And there is an indoor/outdoor rooftop space, covered, but with window cuts in the brick. 15 brightly colored picnic tables, a small enclosed bar, and a flat screen on the far wall showing bears hanging riverside eating easily gottenable salmon who were just asking for it (stupid salmon, can’t you see the bear’s like right there?)

Lagers on the front side of the menu (where they belong in a prominent location), I have no use for the non-Lagers on the back side of the menu. 4 IPAs? Yeah, that’s nice, tell me more about *insert amazing Lager here*. 13 beers + a Radler (Farina, top fermented Lager, 4.8%; Kelvin, German style Smoked Lager, 4.8%; Far Away, New Zealand Pilsner, 5.2%; Fest Marzen, German style Fest Lager, 5.4%; Whole Cone Fest Marzen, Hopfen Lager, 5.4%; All Caps, German style Export Helles, 6%; Shell, German style Schwarzbier, 4.8%; Repo, American IPA, 6.5%; BSOD, American IPA, 6.5%; Ubik, American IPA, 6.8%; Metadata, American IPA, 6.8%; Sanguine, Belgian Pale Ale, 4.8%; Nostalgia Ultra, Belgian style Bitter, 6.3%), + Halfway Crooks Radler, 4.4% (done with your choice of Lager).

Beer by the 33cl or litre, I’m playing shorty for sanity’s sake. Farina, top fermented Lager, floral, dry, lovely; Fest Marzen, German style Fest Lager, good maltiness, light hop; All Caps, German style Export Helles, clean, floral, just my sort of Dort; Shell, German style Schwarzbier, roast, check, chcolate, check, a keeper; Kelvin, German style Smoked Lager, this beer was actual fire, or was near one recently, anyway, or both. Holy crap, the beers are amazing. Not a clunker in the Lager lot.

An absolutely solid place. I had no bad memories and the beers were outfuckingstanding. Tight for bar & table space downstairs, whatever, just go upstairs. It’s spacious and they offer free air. Also, get your Waterzooi Stew on, you won’t be sorry.

 

Cool taproom in Georgia Ave in the trendy Summerhill neighborhood. Unique space with a lot of brick and wood, but in a way unlike most generic modern brewpubs. Upstairs enclosed patio with picnic tables and a bar that is sometimes open. I like the spot. Beer is solid, largely lagers of Germans and Czech inspiration, but a handful of other styles to give some diversity. Quality is above average though I’ve never had a world beater from halfway crooks. Service is fine, they use a QR code ordering system which is efficient but eminently impersonal. They also require 21% gratuity, which is less than I’d usually tip for good service but I had that it’s forced. I’ve only had pretzels which were fine. Overall one of the better breweries in Atlanta.

 

A unique place. As described by others, has an intentional European look and feel. A cozy European pub look inside. Upstairs is covered outdoor area. Biergarten supposed to open at some point. The beer is high quality European styles focused on lagers and some non-lager styles. Beer Advocates will be able to find something they enjoy. Limited selection of food, but good quality. Service is good but be warned they currently have a 21% "service fee" that is automatically charged to all in person dining. Parking is limited near the brewery but there is a large public parking lot within easy walking distance. It is located downtown Atlanta in the Summerhill neighborhood. This is a sketchy part of Atlanta, so do be cautious, especially after dark.

 

Nice lighting with a European feel with the wallpaper and other decor. Still an overall sterile feeling to the place not helped by the usage of an app for all ordering and payment

Nice European vibe. Quality of place/beer/food and service were very good. Selection of beers ranged from ales to lagers with even a very tasty rauchbier. Food was killer - had the frites and chicken waterzooi. I'll definitely be back. Second floor semi-outside drinking area was totally unique!

 

I picked up a 4-pack of Settings and hope to buy more. I am pleased that they offered pre-sales through CraftCellr. I was able to purchase and pickup at my convenience.