Road Trip from Ohio

Post your route. Then you'll get responses.

 

When are you driving through Atlanta? For the next few weeks you can't take beer home from breweries in GA, and even after the law changes in July you'd be limited to 72 oz. per person.

Terrapin is actually in Athens, which is well off your route. If you were going to alter your route to go through Athens, you would have to stop by Creature Comforts, which is the best brewery in GA IMO. Lots of options in Atlanta, of course.

 

Here's the deal in Georgia. A brewery can't sell you beer.

If you're traveling in June, a brewery can only sell you an expensive pint glass (usually $12) and they can provide you with up to 32oz of free samples and a free tour. You can be a jerk and drink for free from a plastic cup, but please buy the expensive pint glass since it's the only way they make money on site. You cannot purchase any beer on site, including beer to go.

If you're traveling in July or after, breweries are able to charge for the tour instead of the goofy expensive pint glass method. They can also give you up to 72oz of "souvenir" beer in a variety of packages to take home. They can still only charge you for tours and merchandise, the free samples and free souvenirs are part of the tour packages. The free samples are upped to 36oz but I doubt anyone will notice. This new law takes effect in July but it is currently unknown how quickly each brewery will adapt. It's certainly in their best interest to do it quickly.

They visually judge how much beer they're pouring you, so you'll probably end up with a lot more than the limit. Plan accordingly.

 

Crazy Georgia laws.

 

I'm sure you are looking for specific suggestions but check out brewerymap.com if you have not already. Will give a good idea of breweries along your route. Link below of those without 10 miles of your route. Safe travels. Sweetwater, just outside of Atlanta, is a given of the well known breweries in the ATL area. Just has a beer from Orpheus (also ATL) last night and it was fantastic. They just opened last Fall.
http://www.brewerymap.com/#t=r&from=dayton,+oh&to=orlando.+fl&d=10

 

Brick Store Pub and The Porter in Atlanta are both world class beer bars and will have a great selection. They both post their lists online if you want a preview of what they'll have. If you want to pick up some GA beer for your trip, Green's, Ale Yeah and Hop City will all have great selections and tons of GA locals. If you go to the Krog Street Market location of Hop City, they also have a growler fill station and a bar that mirrors the same draft options. In fact, if you don't want to take too much of a detour, I might suggest getting lunch, a beer and some beer to go at the Krog Street Market.

Orpheus and Creature Comforts are the current darlings of Georgia and anything you see from them is worth picking up. Sweetwater and Terrapin are the old guard and pretty representative of beer in Georgia. Many of their brewers end up opening other breweries. Plenty of other great breweries too, just depends on what you're looking for.

 

Or you could take 77 south and stop in Charlotte. Therell be fresh Hop Drop n Roll in it for you.

 

What about Swamp Head in Gainesville?

I haven't been to their new brewery, but the old Wetlands was pretty cool.

http://swamphead.com/

And if you're going to Orlando via 75, you'll be driving right by it on the way to the Turnpike.

 

Swamphead in Gainesville is about four minutes off of 75. They've got some good stuff. Get the Morning Glow if it is available. Their core cream ale is good.

 

Hop City http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/19879/ is a great bottle shop close to I-75 in ATL, and right next door is 5 Seasons http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/20017/ its a nice brewpub, the beer is good the food is excellent.