Short trip to Atlanta

@wingnutter The Park Bar is cool and it's downtown. Also, The Clermont Lounge might be the best dive bar in America.

 

Eggs-elent. Thanks for the 411. Am definitely gonna hit the Wrecking Bar and Hop City, and will see how much time we have for other places...5 Seasons looks like it has great outdoor ambiance, so I may check that out as well, even though reviews are less than stellar...

 

I am a big supporter of 5 Seasons, but I recognize that not everyone is. The main complaints usually center on service, and I will not discount other peoples' experiences. But I've never had a problem with service--of course, I also tend to sit at the bar, and Chef Larkworthy frequently tends bar at the times I drop in (Friday afternoons).

Whereas Wrecking Bar gets well-deserved plaudits for its "American" takes on IPAs, stouts, and the like, 5 Seasons takes a more traditional approach, with strong reliance on English, Belgian, and German styles of beer. To be frank, they're a little better in the late fall and winter when the Dunkel, Doppelbock, and other "heavy" styles tend to be on tap. But make no mistake, Crawford Moran is one of the most competent brewers in the city. I love his beer.

The best time to visit 5 Seasons is usually early in the month, after the 5th, when they tap a new "cellar dweller" or on Thursday afternoons, when they tap a cask. That's where they shine the most, and I'd put their cellaring and cask programs up against anyone's.

If you're going to be at Hop City! (where I frequent), do consider walking next door and trying at least one beer. You may be pleasantly surprised.

 

Im gonna hit you up before I head out this weekend...Ill text or call ya. @studyinmoppishness

 

This is cute. How about you guys call or text each other?

 

Apologies for the semi-thread jack but any recommendations for bottle shops in south ATL? I am travelling from the airport to Albany, GA this Monday and don't have a lot of extra time to head into the city.

 

What are you looking for? If you're coming through Macon on 75, you could stop at Growler Spot or Just Tap'd. They'll both have a good selection but they aren't going to be superstores like Green's.

 

Basically anything I can't get in WI, preferably GA locals. I'll have to check those two out, thanks.

 

Both of those places are going to have lots of single bottles to build six packs out of. Growler Spot is next to a liquor store that has a small but decent craft selection as well. Most grocery stores will have a decent selection of the major stuff like Sweetwater and Terrapin.

 

EJ, Thanks for the kind words as always! Just brewed the doppelbock last week. 26 bags of grain (most we do for any of our beers) wort was delicious, graining out sucked!

Wingnutter, are you in town? I am an assistant part time brewer at 5S. Right now, we have an awesome Oktoberfest and a delicious molasses porter that you would prob. like. Lots of BA bottles you can consume on site (they are a little pricey...but only because the awesome hands writing this hand bottled the beers out of the barrel--totally kidding of course!) As EJ says, we focus on more European styles as our master brewer lived over there for a while. He has been in the game a long time and writes us some great recipies to execute. We do a cask every Thursday at 5:55.

Yes, most our bad reviews are for service. No one has any idea how hard it is to get good people that actually care to work in West Midtown. Up until a year ago, the place was pretty much a wasteland. Westside Provisions District has really done some good revitalization in the area. Seeing what my bosses deal with as far as employees, makes me never want to open a restaurant or anything involved with food! Beer is much easier, just 3 of us running 2 breweries in 2 brewpubs.

P.S. I'll buy ya a beer just for that awesome avatar--can't wait for M-F and Peg's this year!

 

Didnt get a chance to hit 5 Seasons, although I made a quick stop into Hop City when I got into town...picked up some Orpheus Life.Death.Life.Truth - outstanding IPA IMO. Was gonna stop into the Wrecking Bar real quick but the parking situation was pretty ridiculous and I didnt have time to walk a half a mile for 1-2 beers. Ended up behind on schedule so we hit East Point Corner Tavern for a late bite (good chips/salsa/queso and black & blue burger)...they had Tropicalia on tap so that was a bonus, and man, its so much better on tap than the cans Ive had. Also ate at American Roadhouse for brunch (excellent crabcakes benedict), Tin Lizzys for pre-concert beers and a quick bite (hot mess tots - delicious), and Camelis pizza after the show (good pizza). Didnt find any Creature Comforts in cans, although I only looked a couple places...was hoping to bring back some Trop and Athena. A buddy recommended eating at Vortex but I just didnt have time.

Oh, and driving in Atlanta is INSANE.

 

valet parking at wrecking bar.

 

Did you happen to do an IP trade/bottle share at Eric's house? Is this Matt? If so, I was the other Matt.

 

Negative.

 

Going to atlanta next week. Anything i should try currently on shelves that i can't get in WI? You guys have prairie down there, is BOMB! available sometimes or is it a limited thing. Thanks

 

Bomb is everywhere.

 

Hop City, and they have wicked weed beers sometimes.

 

I actually keep seeing a lot of ba bomb at smaller bottle shops too.

 

Dope thats awesome to hear. Ill be driving down, mainly in decatur, but ill drive to some bottle shops to try to snag some good stuff. Thanks for the help. @HopDawg03 what bottle shops u recommend i hit up?