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Owen Ogletree's Brewtopia Brewsletter
January 26, 2022
Owen is founder/editor of Brewtopia.info, columnist for Southern Brew News and Beer Connoisseur Magazine, lecturer at Knoxville's Brewing & Distilling Center, founder of the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting and Classic City Brew Fest, a BJCP National Beer Judge and Great American Beer Festival judge.
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Follow our craft beer adventures...
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- Georgia Brewery Happenings
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SweetWater Brewing Company recently announced its acquisition of Green Flash and Alpine Beer, partnering up with the two iconic West Coast craft breweries that created a delicious range of award-winning brews. “We’re excited to join forces with two phenomenal brands and brews in Alpine and Green Flash,” said Freddy Bensch, co-founder and CEO of SweetWater. “We have a lot of respect for both brands. The West Coast lifestyle that is part of these brewery’s DNA perfectly aligns with our 420 lifestyle and SweetWater’s brand. We’re looking forward to keeping the legacy of these great brands intact and bringing them back to prominence.”
 When Brick Store Pub's co-owner Dave Blanchard decided to install a British-inspired cask ale bar at the top of the pub's stairs to the right, many people called him nuts. "No one is interested in cask ale anymore," said the naysayers. Owen Ogletree is excited to report that Brick Store's new cask ale bar has generated an extraordinary amount of interest and excitement in craft beer fans around the area. Patrons love the cozy décor, widescreen TV with European football, and the four amazing cask ales on authentic hand-pull taps from breweries such as Good Word, Sierra Nevada, Three Taverns, Wild Heaven and New Realm. Brick Store's popular Belgian Bar has reopened just across the hall from the cask bar, making for a tiny "overseas" experience at the well-loved pub in Decatur.
Cultivation Brewery in Norcross grew from the founders' love of craft beer. The brewery takes pride in being a part of the historically rich town of Norcross, and Cultivation resides in what was formerly a landscaping facility. Cultivation's Kat Ash explains, "Our founders wanted the brewery to be a nod to growing and cultivating something from the ground up. They planted the seed of their passions into a place for new memories and connections to be made while enjoying unique, quality craft beer recipes. Local food trucks come to our establishment most nights, and each week we release a "fresh beer Friday" alert."
 Wild Heaven's exceptional new Czar-Y Not Czar-Y Russian Imperial Stout was initially planned as a base beer for a totally different recipe. Wild Heaven's Eric Johnson notes, "Well, sometimes you just have to leave well enough alone. The beer came out too good to have anything else added, and we have to give a shoutout to head brewer Josh for this beer name of the year."
 Moon River's Sommer Godshall reports, "We're kicking things off in February with some winter seasonal classic beers: The Bomb, our World Beer Cup gold medal-winning Irish-style dry stout, along with Super Foxy Double IPA, an amped-up, super hoppy take on our flagship IPA Swamp Fox. Also making its return is legendary Apparition Ale, a classic English-style pale ale inspired by the haunted history of our now 200-year-old building. Come March; we'll tap another variation of our beloved flagship IPA - lavender and lemon infused Swamp Fox. You can also look forward to a special rum barrel-aged batch of our Tiki-inspired gose, R.I.P. Current. This beer is a real treat, as this gose is already a nod to the classic rum-based Tiki cocktail The Zombie. After all this excitement, we will ease into spring with our easy-drinking Slow-vannah session IPA."
Tucker Brewing's Barrel-Aged Sir Doppelbock has returned to the brewery's tasting room and beer garden. "This year, we aged our Sir Doppelbock in ASW's Resurgens Rye barrels for two months," explains Tucker's Eliana Barnard. "Ringing in at 11% ABV, this beer is dangerously smooth with flavors of rich chocolate and vanilla oak."
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- Owen Visits Oskar Blues in Texas
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Beer bloggers and writers attending the 2021 Beer Now Conference in Austin, Texas enjoyed a wonderful visit to Oskar Blues' local brewery and taproom. Click here or on the image below to watch Owen Ogletree's short video from the evening:
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- Atlanta's Porter Beer Bar
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Widely known as one of Atlanta's top craft beer destinations, the Porter resides in the funky Little Five Points section of the city. The popular craft beer bar and gastropub recently celebrated its 13th anniversary last September. Immediately inside the front door, the long bar offers several seats where customers can interact with the pub's experienced bartenders in selecting a beer, whisky or cocktail from the impressive menu.
Walk to the back of the pub for sociable booths and more seating areas. Porter owners Molly Gunn and Nick Rutherford hand-select the best craft beers in the Atlanta market and often offer collaboration brews and exclusive beers. Choose from creative, delectable food items that include Belgian fries, salt & vinegar popcorn, goat cheese fritters, southern buttermilk fried Buffalo wings, burgers, fish & chips and potato pierogies. There's even a lovely "beer cellar" for rent to groups for special gatherings and events.
Porter Beer Bar
1156 Euclid Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
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- Try This Canned Cocktail
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Dry County Brewing Company
Punchbowl
Punchbowl is a 7% ABV, ready-to-drink, cherry limeade canned cocktail from Dry County Brewing's spirits division in Kennesaw, Georgia. This newest version contains real fruit and a sweet finish reminiscent of party punch.
"In 2018, Dry County paved the way for same-site breweries and distilleries in Georgia, becoming the first brewery in Georgia state history to also produce spirits," notes Dry County founder Trey Sinclair. "In 2019, we put ready-to-drink cocktails and ready-to-serve cocktails on tap, and in 2020, Dry County led the charge for alcohol manufacturers around the nation to convert vodka production into hand sanitizer to supply communities free of charge throughout the COVID pandemic."
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- 04/1-2/2022 GEORGIA CRAFT BREWERS FESTIVAL. Join the fun at Atlantic Station in Atlanta for a two-day celebration of craft beer and live music that will pour many of the best Georgia craft beers. Owen Ogletree will coordinate a best-of-show judging session at the event.
- 04/8-9/2022 TERRAPIN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. Terrapin's much-anticipated 20th-anniversary celebration comes to the Athens brewery taproom and beer garden for two days worth of games, music and special beers.
- 04/09/2022 LITTLE BEER FESTIVAL. Good Word Brewing partners with the City of Duluth to celebrate lower gravity beer. This popular event offers pale lagers and other sessionable beers, showcasing the impressive flavors and drinkability of these classic styles.
- 01/21/2023 ATLANTA CASK ALE TASTING. Mark your calendars for one of Atlanta's favorite craft beer fests that's returning in 2023 to the wonderful Bold Monk Brewing. Tickets will go on sale here in the summer of 2022.
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- Follow Brewtopia Events on Social Media
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UP NEXT...
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With UK COVID numbers on the decline, England plans to make it easier for international visitors to experience the country. If you are foaming at the mouth to resume overseas travel, keep up with Owen Ogletree and Ian Meents on social media in early February as they travel to London and Yorkshire. They'll post useful tips on how vaccinated or recently recovered Americans can travel to England and experience the scenery, pubs and wonderful cask ales.
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