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Owen Ogletree's
Monthly Brewtopia Brewsletter
June 13, 2024
Owen is founder/editor of Brewtopia.info, a group beer trip organizer, columnist for Southern Brew News and Beer Connoisseur Magazine, lecturer at Knoxville's Brewing & Distilling Center, founder of the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting, and a BJCP National Beer Judge.
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Follow our craft beer adventures...
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- Beer Happenings as Hot as a Georgia Summer
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Hazy Otter
Atlanta's Steady Hand Beer is excited to partner once again with Pontoon Brewing to bring back Stoned Otter Our Minds, a super hazy 8.2% ABV double IPA. Brewed with Strata, Sabro and Medusa hops, this flavorful IPA boasts bold flavors and aromas of guava, mango and citrus.
 Pontoon 2.0
Speaking of Pontoon Brewing, craft beer fans in Georgia were thrilled when the beloved Sandy Springs brewery announced its comeback after being forced to close for a bit. "After a little hiatus due to our distribution management partner not paying us, we fought back and took home some wins that allowed us to reopen our Sandy Springs taproom," notes Pontoon's Sean O'Keefe. "We're using this opportunity to consolidate our operations to the Sandy Springs location so that we can bring more limited releases, collaborations and special events."
Southern Charm
Southern Brewing Company (Athens) announces the release of its new Big League Brew - a light IPA constructed with Cascade, Citra and Mosaic hops. Expect pleasant hop notes of orange, pine and grapefruit in this crushable 5% ABV ale. Mark the calendar for intriguing summer events at SBC, including a "First Friday" celebration on July 5 with live music, food trucks and a local art market. June 14 sees the premier of Game of Thrones trivia, and July 12 focuses on Lord of the Rings trivia. Finally, check out the annual AthFest downtown music festival on June 22, where SBC will pour samples of its tasty beers.
 Steam Powered
Wild Heaven (Avondale Estates and Atlanta) announces the release of its much-anticipated Steamboat Cali California Common Ale. The brewery's Eric Johnson shares, "Embark on a flavor voyage with Steamboat Cali, our nod to the classic California Common style - reminiscent of a certain famous 'steam' beer from San Francisco. Steamboat Cali boasts woody, spicy hop notes and a balanced bitterness. Raise your glass and let tradition guide your taste buds. Other than the twenty or more beer varieties pouring at our two Wild Heaven taprooms, patrons can also enjoy wines from Georgia, margaritas, our non-alcoholic IPA, house-made sodas and sugar-free seltzers."
New Digs for Normaltown
Normaltown Brewing's Scott Fortson reports, "Construction at our new space at 425 Barber Street is close to being done, and we are shooting for a grand opening this summer. Once our new spot is up and running, we will close down the original brewery space at 149 Oneta Street in Athens, Georgia."
 SweetWater Gets a Makeover
SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta), the largest craft brewer in the Southeast and a subsidiary of Tilray Brands, recently announced a design update to make the Sweetwater brand more impactful, eye-catching and memorable. The new logo and packaging make up part of a renewal of the brewery's beer range, which includes an expansion of the iconic 420 Pale Ale to include three new versions of the popular beer. Prinz Pinakatt, chief marketing officer of Tilray Beer, explains, "This rebrand marks a new chapter for SweetWater and is a celebration of the craft beer revolution sparked in Atlanta. We want to build off the SweetWater legacy built over nearly three decades by finding new ways to stand out and attract the next generation of SweetWater fans with an appealing look and enticing lineup of classic craft beer styles, exciting innovations, and beyond-beer offerings. We've also renamed our IPA to Atlanta’s OG IPA and wrapped our cans and packaging with psychedelic artwork depicting Sweetwater Creek, staying true to our brand DNA."
 What's Better Than Pizza & Beer?
Pizza chain Mellow Mushroom celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer. Focusing on Mellow Mushroom's deep love for pizza and craft beer, the restaurant chain plans on hosting pop-up happy hours across various locations throughout summer and fall. P.R. director Natalie Weckstein adds, "While guests can already find a huge selection of the best local and international beers on tap at every location, Mellow Pint Night will serve as a one-night-only experience at select Mellow restaurants in an effort to spotlight regional beer partners and their standout pours with featured collectible 50th-anniversary pint glasses. To stay informed of future pint nights, keep an eye on local Mellow Mushroom social pages and news from the brand's Shroom Room e-club."
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- Modern Hops Brings Evil Twin Beers to Georgia
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 Georgia craft beer distributor Modern Hops is bringing flavorful beers to Georgia from Evil Twin Brewing:
Evil Twin Brewing was established nomadically in 2010 by Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø. By 2012, Jeppe and his family moved to New York City, immersing themselves in the city's growing beer scene. The opportunity to establish a permanent home for Evil Twin arose in 2016, leading to the birth of Evil Twin Brewing NYC. Collaboration is a significant aspect of Evil Twin, as they host and work with various brewers from New York City and around the world.
 If you aren't going to be in NYC any time soon to drink from the source, enjoy these Evil Twin beers at your favorite Georgia restaurants, pubs or retailers:
Even More Jesus (12% Stout) is a collab with Two Roads Brewing Company that has a thick, fudge-like body, pitch black color, and amazingly overwhelming aromas of chocolate, coffee, dark fruits, and Muscovado sugar. [UnTappd 4.1]
Even More Xmas (12% Stout) is an Imperial stout brewed with almond, vanilla, muscovado sugar, maple, marshmallow coffee, raspberry, & chocolate.
Make It Fruity Cherry Limeade (4.5% Fruited Sour) is a Berliner sour brewed with cherry and lime. It's the summer edition of Evil Twin's flagship sour. [UnTappd 4.01]
Our Most Popular IPA (6% New England IPA) is Evil Twin's flagship IPA brewed and double dry-hopped with all Citra hops.
Xmas Eve NY Hotel Royal Suite (12% Stout) is an Imperial Stout with marshmallow, coconut, vanilla, & cocoa nibs. [UnTappd 4.29]
Modern Hops is a valued sponsor of this Brewsletter.
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.........
SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, January 31, 2026
(Owen is "old" and will take a break from ACAT in 2025.)
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- Follow Owen Ogletree and Brewtopia Events on Social Media
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UP NEXT...
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Owen and The Beer Wench head to the wilds of the Scottish Highlands and Islay to post from the best breweries, cask ale pubs and whisky distilleries!
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