For a friend visiting ATL: What are the best beers from these 5 breweries that would be on the shelf at the better bottle shops?
terrapin: hopzilla (retired). BHB: Zeke pale ale. Westbrook: Gose. Orpheus:Transmigration of souls. CC: Tropicalia/athena (pick up both)
To be entirely honest, you'll be happy with just about everything from those breweries with maybe the exception of Terrapin because they have so many offerings. My personal favorites are: Terrapin: Rye Pale Ale, Hi-5 Burnt Hickory: Ezekiel's Wheel, Big Shanty Westbrook: One Claw (but everyone else loves Gose) Orpheus: Transmigration of Souls, Atalanta Creature Comforts: Athena, Tropicalia I see more Burnt Hickory draft than bottles, so I haven't had a lot of their bottled offerings.
I've been in town for the last few days...really solid beer town for sure! Do your friend a favor and tell him to hit Hop City (they actually had a ton of Burnt Hickory bottles, and Bomb! for $6.49 a piece)
I agree with most of the others but if you can find BHB Didjits that is one of my favorites from them, if it's on the shelf it is likely to be about a month old though. BHB also just released Mudhoney (honey brown ale) in bombers. That Creature Comforts Athena is like crack for me, I love the stuff. Tropicalia is amazing as well but Athena is where it's at for me.
Terrapin: Hopsecutioner, followed by Rye Pale Ale Burnt Hickory: Ezekiel's Wheel, followed by Big Shanty Stout Westbrook: Gose, followed by One Claw Orpheus: Transmigration of Souls, followed by Atalanta Creature Comforts: Tropicalia, followed by Athena (because they're the only two cans we get in ATL right now). Some additional notes: If you're into the IPAs, Transmigration and Tropicalia really are the tops in this city. I will say that Tropicalia simply isn't staying on the shelves, so it will be difficult to obtain. Transmigration is limited but available. Beyond those two IPAs, Gose and Atalanta are the ones to have. Both are outstanding. It's a shame that we've not received Creature Comforts Reclaimed Rye yet, as that's really their best beer, IMO. But don't sell other breweries short. If you're into the hoppier offerings, I strongly recommend Second Self Red Hop Rye. And while it's received less attention, Jailhouse Thieves in the Law is a great RIS that was just received. As for Belgian styles, which Atlanta seems to do well, you cannot go wrong with Three Taverns Quasimodo, which was just released for 2015.
Terrapin - Hi5, Liquid Bliss, WnB Creature Comforts - Tropicalia, Athena (if for some reason there is Koko Buni available in any growler shop make sure to buy all of what's left) BHB - Zeke Pale ale Orpheus - ToS, Atalanta Westbrook - One-claw, Gose Others : Wild Heaven - Ode to Mercy, Eschaton Monday Night - Drafty Kilt, Blind Pirate, and they just released their Serrano peppers IPA in 6 packs if you're into that style) Eagle Creek - avoid
Oh yeah, if we're mentioning other breweries to check out - Three Taverns makes some pretty good stuff.
