Check out SweetWater’s Warm Art event this weekend!

Art, music, and beer? Oh my!

Whaddup?!

Now you know I love hosting events that incorporate music, art and yes, beer! Well evidently, so does SweetWater! My homey and gangster brewer Chris Meadows along with his SweetWater squad are hosting a dope event this weekend. If many if you remember, we did an awesome event together to launch my creative agency called Beast Feast. It was amazing and we will surely collaborate again in the near future. But for now, this joint called Warm Art held in their new sour facility called The Woodlands next to the main brewery is popping this upcoming Sunday, March 5^th. Here is the info below straight from the source.

The homey Chris Meadows is throwing down this Sunday. He knows how to party!

Do you enjoy art, music and beer? Then check this out!

Warm Art has been bridging the gap between music and art in Atlanta since 2002. To celebrate our history and friendships together, we've rented out SweetWater Brewing Company's newest facility, called The Woodlands. This new facility is not only a world-class event space, it's also home to SweetWater's new sour beer & barrel-aging projects.
As if the stunning backdrop of barrels, puncheons and foeders was not enough to look at; we are turning the facility into an art gallery for the evening. Prints and paintings of all sizes will be on display and for sale throughout the facility. Ten different artists will be in attendance, & Pieter van der Meer will be painting live during the event. Warm Art has quite the history with Pieter. We've played music during many events while he paints live, creating many pieces throughout the years. The injection of music, djs and a social environment add to our experience as artists. Our music can influence his art, and his art can influence our choice in music.
Join us on Sunday, March 5th for a very special event. Warm Art will set the mood with smoked beats, served chilled; SweetWater's Woodlands Project will provide the liquids.
The event is free to attend, however to enjoy the selection of craft drafts being served, a custom commemorative glass is available for $20 and includes your tickets for beers at the bar.
Commemorative glass is yours to keep as a souvenir.
* DJ's include Rob Dowell, Brett Soll, Christian Thomas, Justin Brady, Chris Meadows & Ryan Wofford
** the specific beer list will be published prior to the event and will be custom-tuned for this event by SweetWater's Lead Brewer Chris Meadows and The Woodlands Project's Manager Troy Montrone. Several one-of-a-kind kegs and pilot brews will be served in addition to the regular SW lineup. Funky beers, sour beers, barrel-aged-beers, pilot beers from "The Hatchery" and "Big Fish" from the year-round lineup.

Second Self Releases Manic Pixie Russian Imperial Oatmeal Coffee Stout today!

These dope cans are hooked up by Artist Keith P. Rein!

Yo! 

Another dope beer event in Atlanta from 1 to 4 today. I am on the way!

Here is the official info: 

Available in Four-Packs with 16-Ounce Cans Designed By Artist Keith P. Rein

“Beer That Exists for Your Mere Enjoyment”

Atlanta-based Second Self Beer Company announces the upcoming release of MANIC PIXIE DREAM BEER #1 (13.9% ABV, 65 IBU), a Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged for 11 months in BLiS bourbon-maple-syrup barrels. Fusing art and beer, MANIC PIXIE DREAM BEER #1 comes in a four-pack wrapped in art by illustrator Keith P. Rein.Each 16-ounce can showcases its own unique design highlighting one of the four main elements of the beer: BOURBON, MAPLE, COFFEE, and OATS.

Tasting Notes: Nose of oak, rich mahogany, and hint of coffee, fading into the sweetness of maple syrup. The first sip brings a wave of flavor, starting with aged maple syrup mixed with roasted malts and a bourbon finish. Hints of rich leather, tobacco and oak tannins add to the complexity of this beer. Like with all Manic Pixies, the result is a lingering feeling to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.

Suggested pairings: Belgian waffles with maple syrup, roasted lamb chops, pungent cheeses, foie gras, anything quirky.

Deserving of its name, this super rare and exceptional beer was created “for your mere enjoyment.” It has been in development for over a year, and the cinematic-inspired moniker mirrors Second Self’s recent release MAVERICK & GOSE (a dry-hopped, fresh take on a traditional gose)—referencing “Top Gun.”

Starting in February, the first iteration of MANIC PIXIE DREAM BEER will be sold in cans and on draft at Second Self Beer Company’s Westside Atlanta brewery at 1317 Logan Circle NW and at limited bars and restaurants around Georgia. Second Self will periodically release MANIC PIXIE DREAM BEER in coming years, in extremely limited quantities and only when a recipe is particularly outstanding and worthy of the name. Each release will feature its own art.

Born in Athens, Georgia, artist Keith P. Rein is a neo, pin-up artist who has worked as an illustrator in the design industry for nearly a decade. His art combines his love of humor, sexuality, geek and pop culture to produce an original body of work, blending watercolor with digital painting.

Go See 'Get Out' the movie. Plain and Simple.

You will be like this. 

Whaddup?!
Plain and simple, go see Get Out. 
I went to the media screening on Tuesday and still can't forget it. 
It has horror, humor, tackles real issues, and of course when Jordan Peele is involved, things are pushed to the very edge for the win. Well worth the admission, book your tickets. It opens today. I suggest you avoid the previews though. They are a little generous with the coverage. Regardless, there a lot more surprises.

Holla!
Ale

Orpheus releases Abandon All Hope Imperial Stout aged in three different barrels tonight!

One of my favorite artists, R.Land, did the art for this joint!

This, plus the gangster draft list below makes it a ridiculous evening!

Say What?! Vanilla beans, three barrels, and 13.9%? Oh my!

Plain and simple, you do not want to miss this one. Listen to this Abandon All Hope Imperial Stout description straight from the source:

“Over a year in the making, we're finally releasing bottles of Abandon All Hope, a 13.9% Imperial Stout that aged on vanilla beans and spent 12 months in a blend of Woodford Reserve Double Oak, Heaven Hill 10 year, and Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select bourbon barrels. Ticket includes brewery tour with two (2) 22 oz bottles of Abandon All Hope and a beer tasting with 7 samples.” 

Tickets on freshtix  are $51 at the brewery and well worth it! You get two 22 oz bottles of the All Hope Imperial Stout and tastings of numerous other special sippers below go live this Thursday at noon. Get 'em here. (From Orpheus: Tickets are limited, and the event will be open only to people with tickets. You'll be able to buy up to 2 tickets at a time, but by law you'll need the other person with you to claim the 2nd. There will be no refunds or chance to come back and get the extra bottles if the 2nd person isn't there.)
The gangster draft list includes:

• Abandon All Hope (Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout with Vanilla Beans, 13.9%)
• Ye Who Enter Here (Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout with Coffee, Chiles, and Vanilla Beans, 14%)
• The Sirens (Green Strawberry Wild Ale aged in Wine Barrels, 5%)
• Cognac Barrel-aged Sykophantes (Fig Sour Ale aged in Cognac barrels, 9%)
• Those Who Cast Shadows (Sour Ale aged in Port barrels, 8%)
• Transmigration of Souls (Double IPA, 10%)
• Maenads Tripel (Native Yeast Tripel, 9%)
• Sykophantes Blanc (Sour Ale with Golden Figs, 9%)
• Noise and Flesh (Wild Ale aged in wine barrels, 4.4%)
• Stone and Flesh (Wild Ale aged in wine barrels and refermented with GA peaches, 4.4%)

See you there!

Ale

Alpine has ‘Windows Up’ all year plus two more gangster IPAs on deck!

No doubt, ‘Windows Up’ IPA is my shizznit! And there will be more? Hell yeah!

Whaddup!

Getting back into the swing of things after a killer 20^th anniversary celebration at SweetWater this past Sunday and then a flood of work following it on Monday, here is my first of many Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ updates. So much is going on so be ready!

First up, one of the top three IPAs I've had so far in 2017 is the Alpine Windows Up IPA. Reppin’ Cali, this brew is simply phenomenal and I love the name. I am sure you get it if you are reading my site. Ha! Here is its official breakdown straight outta Alpine:

“Windows Up is a single IPA made with Mosaic and Citra hops. It pours a hazy straw color and is topped with bright white beer foam. Piney aromas mingle with fruity notes, while hints of citrus fruit and an overall lingering resinous quality lend a touch of complexity to this dank IPA and is 7% ABV.”

Well, I got the good news that that there will also be an Exponential Hoppiness Double IPA followed by the Bad Boy Double IPA in the Spring. They know their IPAs so expect nothing but continued greatness.

Stay tuned for more news on what Alpine has poppin’. For more info, hit up AlpineBeerCo.com.

Holla!

Ale

The SweetWater 20th Anniversary Party is here!

Me and SweetWater co-founder Freddy B clownin'.
It’s sold out so I hope you got your tix!

Yo, yo!

Yep, the biggest brewery in the Southeast is about to go hard in celebrating their two decades of serving us their extensive portfolio of “heady beers,” launching their often fearless—and risqué— marketing, and just overall killing it in the beer scene for so damn long! I have covered them since they opened their doors way back in 1997 and especially on this blog here, befriended their always personable staff, and continue to share their amazing growth since its inception by Freddy Bensch and Kevin McNerney.

Well now it’s 20 years, there is their all-new sour facility called the Woodlands open to partygoers, and the numerous festivities for the dayt promise to be turnt up! Oh yeah, and the brew will be crazy!

Their next major event will be 420 Fest so make sure you book a ticket for that too!

Here’s to 20 more, SweetWater! 

Here is what’s on tap for Sunday straight from the source:

Sunday, February 19

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Ticket Price: $30

Celebrate 20 Years of Heady Beers with:

§  Moe. ripping the lid off this joint!

§  Custom 20^th Anniversary glassware with (10) tasting tickets, 1 tasting ticket will give you entrance into our new Woodland’s facility where you can sample one of our sour/barrel aged beers.

§  Specialty drafts and casks throughout the building!

§  Souvenir beer to go

§  Food Trucks onsite with goodies for sale.

§  Shuttles running from the SIP Coffee at the Lindbergh MARTA station to the Brewery. Parking is VERY limited onsite, so MARTA, UBER, cabs, etc. will be your best bet!

§  Entry at 2:00pm, Last Call at 5:30pm, Taps Off 5:45, Event Ends at 6:00pm.

Please note: SweetWater is a 21+ venue. All guests must have a valid ID. No ID = No Entry. (Children may attend with a parent or guardian). Also, due to the scope of this event, please leave the fur babies at home. Ticket Price @ the Door: $40

Cheers!

Ale

Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’s 2017 Last-Minute Gift Guide

Besides what I wrote for VinePair, here are four more gifts you should consider.

Hey Lovers of Beers, Significant Others, Gadgets, or…. Beer!

My piece on VinePair. 

Okay, y’all, you know I love writing up gift guides because I like to be in the know with what's out there, and do them for a lot of different magazines and websites. My latest was a fun Valentine’s Day-themed one for the awesome libation-driven site, VinePair; it was specifically for beer lovers called Gifts For Your Beer Lovin’ Valentine (check it out). I included some great items by BUILTNY, Sub-Zero, and even Stone’s Enjoy By…February 14 to name a few.

Well, there were a couple of other items I wanted to include for beer enthusiasts who were more on the electronics side since tech gadgets are often in conversations at the bar. Scoop ‘em up today at a BestBuy, Verizon store, Target, or at least online and show your significant other a receipt so they can expect it and still give ya a hug. Even if you are flying on a solo mission, I am sure you would value every gift below.

ASUS ZenPad Z10

Get your tablet surfing, show watching, and gaming on with LTE-advanced ASUS ZenPad Z10, boasting a crispy 9.7-inch wide-angle display, solid sound, and blazingly fast downloading due to the Hexa-Core processor. The catch: It’s a Verizon exclusive, so I hope you have the carrier with the check mark!

verizonwireless.com/tablets/asus-zenpad-z10/

FitBit Charge 2 Heart Rate and Fitness Wristband

Yep, everyone is rocking one of these it seems, so you would be getting your mate up to date. (Hey, that rhymed!). Anyway, this shows you care about your loved one’s health, plus it keeps them in tune with their body. The Charge 2 is also a standout because it has the exclusive PurePulse feature with continuous heart rate monitoring, auto-exercise recognition, multi-sport tracking for a concise workout summary including real-time stats, interchangeable bands, gives smartphone updates, guides breathing sessions and even tracks sleep. The latter will help when dreaming about IPAs you can’t get in your city.

fitbit.com

Groove Life Ring

Wedding and engagement rings can get clunky and uncomfortable when biking, powerlifting, or doing any other activities where the bling can get in the way. Enter the Groove Life ring that will keep you fully committed to your mate no matter what you do because it’s made of flexible silicon, is waterproof, breathable, and is forgiving for any regimen! Heck, even wear it on a night out since they come in numerous styles and colors. As an added plus, use the promotion code “LOVE” and get 50 percent off on their site. Dope, right?

groovelife.co

Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II

Okay, envision this: You and your main squeeze are making dinner together, cleaning the house or simply chilling with a glass of brew or wine. Turn on the Bose SoundLink Mini, activate that special playlist you made on your phone just for that occasion via Bluetooth, and boom! It’s on! Colors include carbon, pearl or the limited edition black/copper exteriors.  The sound is impressive for such a little guy complete with a charging base that you can put anywhere, free of playa-haytin’ wires.

bose.com

Hoppy V-Day!

Ale  

The 2017 Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ Valentine’s Day Dining Guide

Hampton+Hudson is one of the many throwing down on the 14th!

Guest blogger Andrea Janise (@atlfoodwriter) lets us know which V-Day dinners are gangster with beer in mind throughout ATL.

Whaddup!

For the 2017 edition of Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’s Valentine’s Day Dining Guide, I thought it would be perfect for beloved food writer Andrea Janise (@atlfoodwriter) to bless us all with some dinner specials going on throughout Georgia’s capital with beer in mind. Where applicable, I even threw in a side note every once in a while in a while. Whatever you pick, make reservations asap.

Thanks Andrea!

Ale

Valentine’s Day Restaurants for Beer Lovers

By Andrea Janise

@atlfoodwriter

No need for beer to take a back seat on Valentine’s Day. While chocolates and flowers dominate the day, several Atlanta restaurants are making sure beer lovers don’t miss out when Cupid’s arrow strikes as well. Whether you are looking for craft beer as the main attraction or not, these eateries boast a little something for everyone, complete with entertainment, mouth-watering food, delectable desserts and of course, a great beer list.

Nine Mile Station

Ponce City Market

675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

Atlanta, GA 30308

www.9milestation.com

Nine Mile Station, located on the rooftop of downtown’s Ponce City Market, is Atlanta’s newest beer garden and will be serving up a craft beer with beautiful skyline views to create a romantic atmosphere this Valentine’s Day. They offer a special, four-course menu for $75 with beer, wine or cocktail pairings for an additional charge.  

Ale says: Look for libation experts Rob “Brew-Ru” Merrick and Ryan Crocker to help pair your fare with something from their awesome beer list.  

Hampton + Hudson

299 North Highland Ave. NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

www.hamptonandhudson.com

No matter if you are “single” or a “double” this year, the folks at Hampton + Hudson are making plans for the perfect cozy evening. Join them for a four-course dinner for two ($65) or opt for any of their themed specials: oysters and caviar for $18; oyster shooters for $8; strawberry and celery salad for $13; steak and scallops for $32, and their chocolate pudding cake for $8. Even if you are just looking for a “night-cap” to the evening, any beer -loving valentine will enjoy a Harlow’s Vegan Cupcake and beer pairing for $12 per person. 

Hop City and Krog Street Market

99 Krog St. NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

www.krogstreetmarket.com

What’s better on Valentine’s Day than dinner and a movie…and beer? Hang out at Krog Street Market for a double treat; at 5:30 pm, stop by for Dinner + A Movie at KSM featuring the 80's cult classic, Dirty Dancing, and then mosey on over to Hop City to stroll the aisles with your sweetie. Pick up a six-pack of craft beer to take home or sit side-by-side at the bar and toast with the perfect Valentine's Day ale. You can walk around with your beers around too! 

TWO Urban Licks

820 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE

Atlanta, GA 30306

www.twourbanlicks.com

Two Urban Lick’s always brings a chic and sexy atmosphere any night of the year, so why not join them for the most romantic one? This Valentine’s Day, in addition to the live band and views of the Beltline and Atlanta skyline, Chef Michael Bertozzi has put together a special menu for you to share with your special someone. Menu highlights include the Prime Porterhouse for two served with twice baked potatoes, chicory salad and bordelaise sauce; Wood Oven Roasted Duck breast “carnitas style” served with house made tortillas, avocado, cilantro and lime; and Whole Red Snapper served crispy with a warm Vietnamese salad and cilantro ginger broth. Pair your meal with beer from a local brewery, too! Lick’s beer list includes selections from Sweetwater, Monday Night Brewing, Wild Heaven and Terrapin, to name a few.

Venkman's

740 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE, 

Atlanta, GA 30312

www.venkmans.com

Venkman's is fulfilling beer lovebirds' dreams by hosting a Valentine's Day Beer Dinner featuring Athens own Creature Comforts brewery. Enjoy a lively 5-course meal from Executive Chef Nick Melvin, complete with curated craft beer pairings to accompany each course (think: Bibo, Southerly Love, Get Comfortable IPA, Tropicalia, and Koko Buni) Tickets are $127 with tax and tip included, making this the ideal date night for true beer aficionados. 

Divan

3125 Piedmont Rd. NE

Atlanta, GA 30305

www.divanatlanta.com

Change things up this Valentine’s Day and add a little hookah to the night’s festivities. Enjoy a night of delicious Middle Eastern food, drinks and hookah as Divan will be offering a three-course menu including a champagne toast for $55 per person. Menu selections include basil sea scallops, kufta (turkey) meatballs, kabobs, and baklava cheesecake. As far as beer, Divan offers a wide variety of beers from all around the world, such as Efes from Turkey, Almaza Pilsner from Lebanon and Atlanta’s own Sweetwater craft beers.

TAP

1180 Peachtree St. NE

Atlanta, GA 30309

www.tapat1180.com

Tap is calling all singles this Valentine’s Day. Executive Chef Tyler Williams is focusing on the bachelors and bachelorettes with a fun themed menu full of delicious bites, complete with $5 drafts and a complimentary glass of champagne for all ladies on solo missions. Couples need not apply.

Dantanna’s Surf and Turf

3400 Lenox Pkwy

Atlanta, GA 30326

www.dantannas.com

Always great for special occasions, Dantanna’s, is celebrating Valentine’s Day with special four-course dining options for both couples and singles. Pricing depends on the selection, as they are offering either a 40-ounce porterhouse for two at $120, filet and lobster surf n’ turf for $125, or Cioppino for $90. The four-course dinner also includes choice of appetizer, signature soups or salads, and a sharable dessert. If you are single, no problem; their “Lonely Hearts” Valentine’s Day menu includes choices like the T.V. Dinner - four foil compartments of mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, fruit cobbler and choice of fried chicken or Salisbury steak; or the Lonely Cowboy: grilled bone-in cowboy ribeye, coffee rub, fried red potatoes, black beans, and a fried egg. In addition to the Valentine’s Day special menus, guests can also take advantage of Dantanna’s extensive wine, cocktail and beer list.

Cheers!

Creature Comforts' 2017 Athena Paradiso is coming!

Photo by Creature Comforts.

One of Georgia’s favorite Berliner Weisse’s is coming back on February 11^th!

Whaddup!

Short and sweet, here is the scoop on one of the best breweries in the U.S., Creature Comforts, launching their 2017 version of Athena Paradiso. I say 2017 version because they flip the fruit fused into their Athena Berliner Weisse with every batch; this one is made with tart cherry, raspberry and cranberry. Try it for the first time on February 11^th at the brewery in Athens, GA, and/or wait for the cans to hit the shelves throughout Georgia shortly after.

Get some!

Ale