10 Best Breweries Near Atlanta You Need To Try
Atlanta is raising the bar for craft beer due to all of the new breweries popping up around the area. In the past half-decade, Atlanta Proper and OTP have exploded with local breweries that are creating a striking Southern beer profile. Here are a few new birth brews with taprooms based in The Big Peach or just outside the city limits. If you haven’t already, you need to check out these breweries near Atlanta.
Cherry Street Taproom
This brewpub is located approximately 40 miles outside of Atlanta. Initially starting as homebrew, they’ve found a home in the quaint Vickery Village where they keep 28 of their personal beers on draft year-round with guest taps. In addition, Cherry Street is a full bar that also offers light bar bites to pair with your drinks. Furthermore, the other side of this establishment is a rising restaurant owned by the same family.
Arches Brewing
This microbrewery is located near the Atlanta Airport in the emerging city of Hapeville. Arches Brewing’s proudest creation are their classic lagers, but they also offer seasonal ales which follow the European brewing calendar. This craft beer taproom and brew house is only two years old, but the biochemist has been perfecting their 30 distinct recipes over a ten-year span, and they continue to release specialty drinks found only in-house, but their beer can be found across the city and beyond.
Jekyll Brewing
They are not only known for their Handcrafted beers, but also for their funky packaging and live in-house performances. This brew house is based in Alpharetta, but inspired by Jekyll Island, GA. There are 26 diverse beers on tap every day, and the taproom is open six days a week. If for some unfortunate reason you can’t make it to the taproom, these beers can be found at Whole Foods Market, Kroger and Publix.
Naughty Soda
These hoppy and barrel-aged beers are unique due to their retro-inspired look. Not to mention their all natural ingredients and flavor in the style of alcoholic soda pop and of course, the same all natural quality applies to their fine, rich beer. Naughty Soda hard soda comes in flavors like Triple Berry and Toasted Marshmallow. Those flavors are pretty hard to pass on.
New Realm Brewing
Located in the shaking and baking part of Atlanta, this new brewery has a reputation for excellent booze, good food and a pleasant atmosphere. Some have undeniably described New Realm Brewing as the best IPA on the East Coast. Thirst seekers visit this grand brewery for complex hops such as Hoplandia.
Pontoon Brewing
This brewery has four flourishing flagship beers ranging from citrusy and fresh to malty and crisp. However, every weekend there’s a new cask creation to experience. To experience the year-round brews and the limited production, it’s merely a 30-minute drive north of Atlanta to this new taproom.
Lazy Guy Distillery
This whisky bourbon craft refinery is located inside a historic property in West Georgia within a small town called Kennesaw. The city of Kennesaw has historical roots tracing back to the Civil War, so naturally it’s a fitting place to make whisky. The brewers of this establishment emulate a traditional time with Old West packaging to match its beautiful brown rye whisky. Lazy Guy Distillery not only masters the art of whisky bourbon making, they also create a remarkable gin. All of these breweries near Atlanta are worth checking out, if only for a short visit.
Variant Brewing Company
This airy, modern and industrial looking brewery inspired by a pump house, maintains a 5-star rating on multiple crowd-sourced review platforms. This new joint has an impressive full tap menu including much-loved variants (coining its business name). Additional ingredients added to base beers include raspberries and lemon, coffee, pineapple and coconut, and blackberries.
Scofflaw Brewing
The company name originates from those that flouted the law during the prohibition period. Scofflaw was founded by two brewmasters who started small in a basement experimenting with neighbors. They have come along way from humble beginnings and are now prized in Midtown Atlanta and beyond for the character of their IPAs and stouts and their dog-friendly and spirited environment. My favorite of their draft beer is the golden color Hooligan, which is full of berries and has a smooth, low acidic swallow. The breweries near Atlanta are truly unique.
Wild Heaven Craft Beers
Beer advocates love this all-grain beer which is crafted in Atlanta’s most hip community. They’re taking on the beer scene the traditional route and are best known in Atlanta’s metropolitan for its Emergency Drinking Beer possessing zesty, citrusy notes. Over the years Emergency Drinking Beer has become a party must-have throughout Atlanta.
