Atlanta Trip

I work pretty close to there and there isn't a whole lot by way of the craft beer scene. The closest bar in walking distance is probably The Bucket Shop. They don't get anything super special, but you'll at least be able to have a good sampler of beers from Monday Night, Three Taverns, Terrapin, and Sweetwater.

You're really close to the Lenox MARTA station. That can take you to any place you really want to go if you have the time.

Cheers!

 

Up for an IP trade? I'll be heading to NC in between now and then as well and can grab some wicked weed and other things if you are interested.

 

Buckhead is not really known for craft beer offerings. As ATL's main business district, it tends to favor upscale cocktail bars and the like. Much of our craft breweries are located further south in the city, namely Decatur (Wild Heaven and Three Taverns), Morningside (Orpheus), Midtown (Monday Night) or the suburbs (Burnt Hickory).

Also, you should be aware of our laws, which limit a taproom culture in ATL. Breweries may offer "tours," but you cannot go to a brewery and simply order beer. Most breweries respond by using a "ticket" system that enables them to dispense up to 36 oz. of beer during a visit. You also may purchase a "souvenir" of 72 oz. of beer to go. It sounds odd on paper, but it's not too bad in practice and is better than what we had prior to the change in the laws.

Partly as a result, we have some awesome craft beer bars and excellent retail. The best bars in the city are generally acknowledged to be the Brick Store Pub and Porter Beer Bar (our two flagships), with Argosy, Midway, and Ormsby's quickly establishing their own reputations. If you like Belgian-style beer, you cannot go wrong with the Brick Store Pub. If you'd like a very strong sense of Georgia beer, then I highly recommend the Porter. Both have great food, but most people would give the edge to the Porter. Each has an amazing cellar program. Others can speak to the merits of Argosy, Midway, and the like.

Our best brewpubs are considered to be the Wrecking Bar in Little 5 Points and 5 Seasons in West Midtown. Wrecking Bar is known for its IPAs, stouts (including its famed Siberius Maximus and Mexican Siberius Maximus (MexiMaxi)), and other "American" takes on established styles. 5 Seasons is better at traditional English and German styles, but also has a strong cask program (they tap a cask every Thursday afternoon). Many people will favor Wrecking Bar, and you cannot go wrong there. But 5 Seasons does have its partisans, including myself, who appreciate its more traditional approach to the brewpub and its killer cask and cellaring programs.

As for retail, the "big 4" in the city are Hop City in West Midtown and Krog Street Market, Ale Yeah! in Decatur (and Roswell and Kennesaw), Greens on Ponce in Midtown and Buford Highway in Buckhead, and Tower in Buckhead and Doraville.

For you, I'd highly recommend trips to the Buckhead locations of Green's and Tower. But if you find yourself in the city, then Hop City and Ale Yeah! will be worth the trip. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Hop City Krog Street Market, which operates both as a retail store and as a bar. It has 60 taps of outstanding craft beer. The food options are coming along. I'm not a huge, huge fan, but many people are. (I will say that the Fig Newtons from Yalla pair amazingly well with KBS, however.)

Let us know more about your intentions and preferences, and we can steer you better. What styles of beer do you like most? Will you have a car? Will you have a whole day or just evenings? Will you be here over a weekend? Etc.

By the way, do make it a point to eat at Southern Art while at the Intercontinental Buckhead. The food is excellent, and I have a thing for their 12-layer red velvet cake, even if it isn't the most authentic. Art Smith is a genius. The bourbon bar across the way (which used to be the XO cognac bar) is worth a visit if you have the means.

 

@elektrikjester this might be the most in depth ATL recommendation post I have seen on here. Well done.

 

Well, it probably doesn't hurt that I'd rather be talking about beer than talking about work.
But thank you all the same.

 

Show off.

 

Yeah.... So when I pin an Atlanta thread here. I will be copy/paste what @elektrikjester just posted.

 

Be easier than rehashing it weekly.

 

Thanks, all. But truthfully, I'm saying nothing than any ATL BA wouldn't say.

 

Excellent post @elektrikjester!!!!! I'll be rereading this the next time I head to ATL.

 

EJ killed it, great job man!

 

You all are too nice. But that's the ATL way.

OP, let us know more about your plans once you get those details, and we'll be able to give you more specific advice. Contrary to what some might think, ATL is a great city for beer on all fronts--brewing, bars, and retail.

 

I'll be out in ATL as well next weekend I've been wanting to get a hold of Tropicalia but I've heard its quite popular and hard to track down. Any chances I'll be able to find some on the shelf?

 

The Porter usually has it on draft. You might luck out and find cans at a random Kroger. You could also bring some beer with you and trade it with someone.

 

Thanks for the tip. I was thinking about stopping in to the The Porter anyways. I see they have Tropicalia on tap as of now so that pretty much seals the deal. Hopefully it lasts for a week.

 

I just remembered that Brick Store is doing a Creature Comforts tap takeover next Saturday.

 

Tropical is a near constant feature at certain bars, particularly the Porter. Believe it or not, it's the smaller, less beer-centric places that tend to have it more. Two burger places in NW ATL, The Counter and BurgerFI, have it most constantly.

Also, it's a misnomer that Trop is impossible to find. It's the cans that are difficult to find for various reasons. But growler fills are relatively easy to come by.

Pro-tip: Check at Green's on Tuesdays, Tower on Wednesdays, and Hop City on Thursdays. Follow them on FB and Twitter. Ale Yeah!, too. No guarantees, but those are your best chances. Cans also are easier to find in the burbs.

 

Ale Yeah! Roswell on Tuesdays, Decatur on Wednesdays. From what I've been told.......but it's still not a weekly thing yet.