7 minute read
Getting Crafty
BY VENÉ FRANCO
M
ore than ever, beer lovers are going to the source for craft brews. Beyond the suds, these dozen Gwinnett breweries offer camaraderie, outdoor spaces, entertainment, casual eats, and plenty of growlers to go.
6S Brewing & Tasting Room
Exposed brick adds character to this tasting room housed in a fully restored, 145-year-old building in historic downtown Duluth. This family-run operation pours craft beers, including Sweet Ryed IPA and Duluth Imperial Pale Ale, and proudly features daughter Tori’s artwork on the beer cans. Bingo and community bashes are on the roster year-round.
Social Fox Brewing
Outside Norcross’s fi rst craft brewery is a mural titled Tumblefi eld depicting a pair of foxes rollicking together. That playful mood carries over to the newly expanded space, which serves Trop Tail and Straight Outta Norcross IPAs and award winners like Old Reynard Barleywine and Irish Stout. Billing itself as “small, social, and hyperlocal,” the brewery hosts fun events, including Biscuits ’n Brunch and trivia nights.
Kettlerock Brewing
A proud family of Georgia Tech grads founded this winning brewery in Peachtree Corners. Settle in on game day with a crisp Trailhead Blonde or Scottish-style Bear Tracks Ale. And how about that Stake & Shake Milkshake IPA?
Stillfi re Brewing
StillFire Brewing
Brewers here are riding high from championship wins, including a medal for their Black Mask Imperial Stout, judged “Best Strong Beer in Georgia” for 2021. Sample it and at least 25 other selections (craft root beer, too), plus food truck eats, at this dog-friendly brew garden next to Suwanee Town Center Park.
Ironshield Brewing
Brewmaster Glen Sprouse brings Bavarian traditions to Lawrenceville, exploring authentic German-style lagers as well as Belgian-style ales. The biergarten is a welcoming spot to sample Divine Dubbel ale, or Seven Sisters Münchner, an amber lager, and enjoy musicians, food trucks, trivia nights, and holiday parties.
Good Word Brewing & Public House
Owners Todd DiMatteo and Ryan Skinner, both former employees of famed Brick Store Pub in Decatur, carry on the tradition of quality brewing, curated comfort food, and community building at their brewpub in Duluth. Fans of the spot’s burger, with caramelized onions and special sauce, include iconic chef Wolfgang Puck. Wash it down with Any Day Now, an Italian Pilsner.
Monkey Wrench Brewing
Located on the edge of Suwanee Creek Greenway Trail, this family business is expanding, and a 200-gallon distillery system means cocktails and a tiki bar will soon be in the mix. Meanwhile, there are up to 15 beers on tap, plus cornhole tourneys, weekend concerts, and food trucks to keep thirsty regulars happy.
Slow Pour Brewing Company
The mood is warm and welcoming at this 3,000-square-foot tasting room in Lawrenceville, thanks to a wide patio and string lights galore. Once a garment factory, the interior features a stylish bar, wood tables, and rustic brick walls. Beers on tap, signature brews, limited releases, and seasonal pours fuel gameday parties and nightly events.
Indio Brewing Co. Good Word Brewing & Public House
Indio Brewing Co.
A Lucha Libre mural featuring a masked wrestler sets the tone at this Latin-owned and operated hotspot in Sugar Hill. Enjoy craft cervezas, from hazy IPAs to sours, stouts, and more. Expect plenty of tropical fruit infusions (we like the Don Ramon New England IPA, with fl avors of tangerine, mango, and pineapple), plus comedy, bingo, and karaoke nights.
Cultivation Brewing Co.
Named as a nod to the owners’ former landscaping business, this Norcross microbrewery offers innovative brews. Staples include Simple Habits Farmhouse Ale, a fruited-style Kettle Sour, and a Kölsch-style brew called The Chancellor. Check out Fresh Beer Friday releases and sunset views from the patio, too.
Anderby Brewing
What do we love more? Chunkzilla’s Revenge Imperial Stout or the Chunkzilla T-shirt featuring a chubby killer cat? Find both at this Peachtree Corners brewery, plus refreshing Cat Lady Seltzer. The taproom offers 19 craft beers and a nice, tree-dotted patio. Experimenting with hazy IPAs is their thing, so ask about the latest. Food trucks, live music, trivia—check.
Blackbird Farms Brewery
Owner Matt Williams is the creative force behind this community hangout in Lilburn. With 20 years of beer-making experience and a slew of recipes in his arsenal, he offers a variety of traditional beers as well as sours and seasonals. The taproom vibe is playful with pinball machines and a one-of-akind bowling game.
Party of 12
We asked 12 Gwinnett beermakers and insiders to tap into a beer that best reps their brewery’s place in the thriving craft brew scene. Choosing just one wasn’t easy, but the fi nal dozen refl ects a solid mix of fl agship beers, seasonals, and new releases.
Slow Pour Brewing 6S Brewing Kettlerock Brewing
Southernality Sweet Ryed Bear Tracks
Southernality is one of the brewery’s fl agship beers, a tribute to Southern music and a “celebration of what moves you, with just a splash of soul.” Citra and Mosaic hops add a citrus punch to this easy-drinking favorite. –Nate Groves, Front of House Operations Director
Ironshield Brewing Seven Sisters Munchner
This variation of the traditional American IPA features the addition of 25% malted rye to bring out a little sweet and spicy character. There’s citrus there, too. It’s made using an American yeast strain paired with classic West Coast hops (Chinook, Bravo, Centennial).
–Robb Watson, Owner/Founder
match with smoked meats, barbecue, and cheeses, even crème brûlée.
A rich, dark Scottish style ale with a strong malt backbone, and caramel and honey notes. Coming in “a wee bit heavy” at 7.6% abv, it’s a good match with smoked meats, barbecue, and cheeses, even crème brûlée. –Sterling Peet, Head Brewer
Anderby Brewing Chunkzilla
Cultivation Brewery Simple Habits
This Bavarian-style amber lager (often called a Vienna lager) has a rich amber color, sparkling and clear, with a thick and rocky head. It’s malty, with low bitterness and a very gentle noble hop aroma in the head. –Glen Sprouse, Founder and Brewmaster
Chunkzilla (13% abv) is an imperial milk stout that is decadent, smooth, and bursting with chocolate and coffee fl avors. The popular pour is offered with a series of infusions. The farmhouse ale has been a staple since the brewery opened. Discerning imbibers will appreciate the golden refresher’s fruity and earthy flavor notes and will detect a pleasant hint of banana as well.
–Kat Ash, Marketing/Spokesperson
Social Fox Brewing Trop Tail
Good Word Brewing & Public House Die Todd Die
StillFire Brewing Glory Haze
Brewed and triple dry-hopped with El Dorado, Sabro, Idaho Gem and Zappa hops. This juicy, hazy NEIPA has a nice balance of earthy hop notes, tropical fruit and grapefruit. It’s rounded out by a light bitterness that even non-IPA drinkers will love.
–Mike Greene, CEO
Here an old-world technique is employed where a portion of the mash is separated from the whole and boiled for a period of time, which imparts a deeper malt fl avor. The beer is cold-conditioned for six to eight weeks before it’s served.
–Todd DiMatteo, Owner/Brewer
Popular since day one, the New England IPA (6.9% abv) is lush with passion fruit, guava, and orange aromas. The rich malt base is amplifi ed by a creamy and silky texture derived from oats. The bitterness is intentionally smooth, making it an IPA you can enjoy for hours.
–Phil Farrell, Brewmaster
Blackbird Farms Brewery Monkey Wrench Brewing
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Indio Brewing
Trophy Husband Brighter Future Sour Patch
Always kept on draft, this world-class imperial stout (11% abv) is made with Maris Otter English base malt, the undisputed choice for big bruiser stouts. It’s got serious backbone with a creamy chocolate coffee fi nish. – Matt Williams, Brewmaster
This New England IPA (7% abv) is made with Idaho 7 and Citra hops. The brew is hazy, juicy, and lush, with a “sticky” tropical fruit fi nish. Thinking of pairing it with food? Try it with pork and bright vegetables. –Wayne Baxter, Founder and Brewer
This cerveza artesenal is a strawberry and raspberry Berliner weisse that comes in at 5% abv. It’s on tap year round and is also available in crowlers.
