The hot stops in HOTlanta

If you're staying in Midtown or Downtown, then Hop Cuty and Green's are absolute musts. Beyond those two shops, Ale Yeah in Decatur and Tower in Buckhead are worth visits. Note that in Georgia, breweries cannot sell bottles directly (yet), so retail shops should be your top priority for bottles to take home. Have a great time.

As for places to drink, Brick Store Pub, Porter Beer Bar, 5 Seasons Westside, Wrecking Bar, and Argosy should be at the top of your list. Smaller places such as Midway and Steinbeck's are worth trying, too. As for breweries, most tours are limited to Saturdays and Sundays, and I'd place Three Taverns, Orpheus, and Wild Heaven at the top.

I'm a stout drinker myself. Be on the lookout for Evil Twin Even More Jesus and Jailhouse Thieves in the Law for sure. Your visit to ATL may coincide with the release of Westbrook Mexican Cake, but nothing has been announced yet. And if Three Taverns Departed Spirit is still on the shelves when you visit, be sure to grab a bottle.

 

My hot tip is you should bring some New Glarus.

Just kidding (not really...bring some).

Looks like he has you covered ^^^

Tower is also a good store...look out for Orpheus and Creature Comforts sours.

 

I'll elaborate a little more on the brewery end of things.

When you visit a brewery, you'll purchase a glass for around $12 that will come with somewhere around 6 tickets. Those 6 tickets will get you a total of about 32oz of beer, though volume is estimated so you'll likely end up with a lot more beer than that. As @elektrikjester said, check each brewery's website for their hours because they will be limited. It's a fun experience, but not what you're expecting coming from Wisconsin.

 

@Weaver is spot on, as usual. The pours do tend to be quite generous. I always make sure to bring some singles with me to tip my pourers, as well.

Atlanta seems to do Belgian styles very well. If you like sours, then Orpheus will be a real treat. If you like abbey ale styles, then Three Taverns is a must. Wild Heaven is a bit more of a hodgepodge, but their Eschaton quad and Civilization barleywines are really nice.

Which reminds me, Wild Heaven Height of Civilization is another recent release worth looking for--a tequila-barrel aged English barleywine made with Prussian lemons. Way better than it might sound.

I'll let others comment on sours, but Orpheus Atalanta does our city proud. And grab some Westbrook Gose (not a sour to me, but everyone regards it as such) and Creature Comforts Athena if you see it. I realize that you're not a hophead (neither am I), but do give Orpheus Transmigration of Souls, Creature Comforts Tropicalia, and Three Taverns A Night on Ponce (a variant of their A Night in Brussels) a try while here. You'll love them.

 

@MilwaukeeBeerMaker after 12:30 on Sundays