Daily Loaf

With 15 years in the beer making game and distribution in several Southern states, Atlanta Brewing Company is the oldest operating brewery in Georgia. It all began with the malty brown Red Brick Ale – which won a gold medal at the 1998 World Beer Cup. In addition to Red Brick, the flagship brews include Peach Tree Pale Ale and a Blonde that took first place in the golden/ blonde ale category at the 2007 Great American Beer Fest. The 7.7% ABV Double Chocolate Oatmeal Porter, my favorite from the brewery’s lineup, started as a seasonal offering whose popularity eventually warranted year-round production.

Medals earned by ABC brewers decorate the walls of the tasting room, which features 6 freshly brewed beers on tap. Later in the evening that I visited, the agenda was beer cocktails prepared by the ABC brewers and live music performed by local acts.

Some of Atlanta Brewing Company’s equipment is nostalgic in appearance, really exciting for a beer nerd like myself. There’s quite a bit of personality inside this brewery, as is in the beer that is created there.

Using a 50 barrel brewing system, brewmaster Dave McClure and the brewers at ABC crafted 5,000 barrels in 2008. That’s about 10,000 full sized kegs. Or 155,000 gallons. Or 1,030,000 Imperial pints. Or 1,240,000 12oz bottles.

In addition to its regular production schedule, the brewery also barrel ages and undertakes limited brewing projects. Right now, inside the brewery’s cold storage, Atlanta Brewing Company beer rests inside Pappy Van Winkle barrels for a batch of booze barrel infused beer goodness that will be conditioned to perfection in October.

Currently, beer by Atlanta Brewing Company is not available in the Tampa Bay area, but if you ever find yourself in the panhandle, Georgia, Alabama, or Tennessee, keep an eye out for the most excellent southern-produced craft brews.

Posted in Drink | Leave a comment