Atlanta and the Infamous Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting part 1
We came, we saw, we drank..
Being from Atlanta originally, I still remember how to get around the town which helps find the beer bars and breweries. We did just fine and found the help of a few taxi cab drivers as well. The journey started out early Friday morning and soon after we entered the city limits we headed to the Brick Store Pub in downtown Decatur which is considered by the "rating sites" as world class and a lot of people feel this definitely one of the south's premiere spots to quaff a pint and I agree. Their draft and bottle lists were as usual quite impressive.. Among the extensive offerings from around the Atlanta area there were a few others including a Baltic porter from Finland (Sinebrychoff Porter) that I had never had the pleasure of trying on draft and they also tapped a cask of a porter (Ola Dubh 12yr) aged in a very special single malt barrel while we were there which was very yummy. We also stopped by Twain's which is also in the downtown area of Decatur. Their beers for the most part were very consistent, we did try a Belgian Black Ale that was slightly out of character from most anything I have tried before and while it was not unenjoyable, the balance from the phenolics as a result of the typical yeast strain did not mesh well with the roasted malts within the beer itself. Totally drinkable, it just was not what we were accustomed to which could of course be our problem, although a softer strain of yeast we felt would have lent it self a better compliment to the beer. No matter what, Twain's is a place not to be missed for the beer enthusiast living or visiting Atlanta. If I lived there I would be there quite often in fact.
On Friday Night we hit the Taco Mac in Atlanta near Lindbergh Station for the Brewer's Reception for the Cask Ale tasting which would take place the next day. Taco Mac's are more sports bars with an extensive selection of beer than anything else but hey, as long as they have all of the beer I can ignore the 100's of TV's tuned in to ESPN or the like.. They literally have at least 100 taps, and probably about 4 times that in bottles so there is always something new to pick from. This little pre-party party was a blast and I was able to see some familiar faces in the southeastern beer circle, as well as meeting quite a few more people who I had never had the pleasure of talking to. I have to say the beer scene in the Atlanta area and even the southeast is very strong and I can only hope this is a sign of things to come for the Tampa Bay and Florida area in general. After the reception was over we headed to Rockbottom in Atlanta which was disappointing to say the very least. I really hate to trash anyone, my focus is to promote any place that makes and/or serves fresh local beer but this place was really lack luster in every way. From the service, to the food and especially the beer we were disappointed on all fronts in fact we did not even finish the beer it was just not, well.. Good. I have been to many Rockbottom Breweries out west and always had a very good experience. I am not sure it was this one, or what but it was not a very pleasant experience this time..
On Saturday we woke up an headed to Green's Beverages which is the best place to pick up quality beers in the Atlanta area. Adam, who handles all of the beer has really shown a lot of focus on all that is available to the state and has built up an impressive cellar of rare and specialty Belgian and other beers from all over Europe and the United States. I found Boon's Marriage Parfait 2003, Cantillion St. Lamvinous, and Peche Mortel to name a few lurking about that we are unable to find here in the Tampa Bay area. I am sure there is much more but I had no room after loading the 2 kegs of DuckRabbit beer for the up coming Stogie and Stout at the brewery in the car.
We spent the rest of our time at 5 Seasons Atlanta, both before and after the Cask Ale tasting which was basically lunch and dinner. Sure it seems odd to spend that much time at one place, but if you have ever been there you know why. This place is simply one of my favorite brewpubs in the nation hands down so I had no problem spending a good amount of my time there. The Helles and Cartoon Brune which were old favorites held to the high expectations I have always had of them, the Hopgasm a creation of new brew master Kevin McNerney who in his former life brewed for Sweetwater Brewing Company was fantastic and I am happy he has come to continue his fine talent at this wonderful little brewpub. When we were there in the afternoon it was quite a mellow place, when we returned later in the evening it was packed and full of thirsty crowds! A great site to see!!
All in all a great beer town, especially for a state that has only been able to have beer over 6% for about 4 to 5 years..
Cask ale festival review to come.. Stay Tuned!
Being from Atlanta originally, I still remember how to get around the town which helps find the beer bars and breweries. We did just fine and found the help of a few taxi cab drivers as well. The journey started out early Friday morning and soon after we entered the city limits we headed to the Brick Store Pub in downtown Decatur which is considered by the "rating sites" as world class and a lot of people feel this definitely one of the south's premiere spots to quaff a pint and I agree. Their draft and bottle lists were as usual quite impressive.. Among the extensive offerings from around the Atlanta area there were a few others including a Baltic porter from Finland (Sinebrychoff Porter) that I had never had the pleasure of trying on draft and they also tapped a cask of a porter (Ola Dubh 12yr) aged in a very special single malt barrel while we were there which was very yummy. We also stopped by Twain's which is also in the downtown area of Decatur. Their beers for the most part were very consistent, we did try a Belgian Black Ale that was slightly out of character from most anything I have tried before and while it was not unenjoyable, the balance from the phenolics as a result of the typical yeast strain did not mesh well with the roasted malts within the beer itself. Totally drinkable, it just was not what we were accustomed to which could of course be our problem, although a softer strain of yeast we felt would have lent it self a better compliment to the beer. No matter what, Twain's is a place not to be missed for the beer enthusiast living or visiting Atlanta. If I lived there I would be there quite often in fact.
On Friday Night we hit the Taco Mac in Atlanta near Lindbergh Station for the Brewer's Reception for the Cask Ale tasting which would take place the next day. Taco Mac's are more sports bars with an extensive selection of beer than anything else but hey, as long as they have all of the beer I can ignore the 100's of TV's tuned in to ESPN or the like.. They literally have at least 100 taps, and probably about 4 times that in bottles so there is always something new to pick from. This little pre-party party was a blast and I was able to see some familiar faces in the southeastern beer circle, as well as meeting quite a few more people who I had never had the pleasure of talking to. I have to say the beer scene in the Atlanta area and even the southeast is very strong and I can only hope this is a sign of things to come for the Tampa Bay and Florida area in general. After the reception was over we headed to Rockbottom in Atlanta which was disappointing to say the very least. I really hate to trash anyone, my focus is to promote any place that makes and/or serves fresh local beer but this place was really lack luster in every way. From the service, to the food and especially the beer we were disappointed on all fronts in fact we did not even finish the beer it was just not, well.. Good. I have been to many Rockbottom Breweries out west and always had a very good experience. I am not sure it was this one, or what but it was not a very pleasant experience this time..
On Saturday we woke up an headed to Green's Beverages which is the best place to pick up quality beers in the Atlanta area. Adam, who handles all of the beer has really shown a lot of focus on all that is available to the state and has built up an impressive cellar of rare and specialty Belgian and other beers from all over Europe and the United States. I found Boon's Marriage Parfait 2003, Cantillion St. Lamvinous, and Peche Mortel to name a few lurking about that we are unable to find here in the Tampa Bay area. I am sure there is much more but I had no room after loading the 2 kegs of DuckRabbit beer for the up coming Stogie and Stout at the brewery in the car.
We spent the rest of our time at 5 Seasons Atlanta, both before and after the Cask Ale tasting which was basically lunch and dinner. Sure it seems odd to spend that much time at one place, but if you have ever been there you know why. This place is simply one of my favorite brewpubs in the nation hands down so I had no problem spending a good amount of my time there. The Helles and Cartoon Brune which were old favorites held to the high expectations I have always had of them, the Hopgasm a creation of new brew master Kevin McNerney who in his former life brewed for Sweetwater Brewing Company was fantastic and I am happy he has come to continue his fine talent at this wonderful little brewpub. When we were there in the afternoon it was quite a mellow place, when we returned later in the evening it was packed and full of thirsty crowds! A great site to see!!
All in all a great beer town, especially for a state that has only been able to have beer over 6% for about 4 to 5 years..
Cask ale festival review to come.. Stay Tuned!
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