You wouldn't believe how hard to find craft beer has been in
my journey down south this week. It gives this category new meaning. I
stopped at Old Dominion in Ashburn, Virginia and found some great brews, but
the further south I got in this state and all through the Carolinas (where
beer is mainly sold in supermarkets and gas stations), you'd be lucky to
find Samuel Adams beers. Many locations didn't even have that.
There was light at the end of the tunnel however, and that was Atlanta.
Here there are interesting beers brewed by microbreweries and brewpubs, as
well as a good selection of imported brews. If you make it to the Atlanta
area and visit but one brewpub, make it Georgia's first: the US Border
Cantina in Alpharetta. This pub is brewing some extremely interesting brews
and makes a darn fine salsa too. They bottle it on premises and sell it in
several states, or you can order it online at www.sunsalsa.com.
It's interesting to note the different alcohol laws as you go from state to
state, and Georgia has a few quirks. Currently, beers over 6.1 % by volume
cannot be sold in the state, although there is a move in the legislature to
rescind that. In addition, liquor laws here vary from county to county
(though this is the case in some other states too). The county US Border is
located in is particularly strict. I went in and ordered a sampler as I
normally do at a brewpub. I was asked to produce an ID. Now, I did not say
anything, but the thought that I could not have lost so much hair in less
than 21 years raced through my head. The bartender noticed the puzzled look
on my face and explained that anyone under 100 had to produce an ID each and
every time they wished to be served liquor without exception.
The beers here were exceptional. There were 7 on:
Planet Claire Pilsner
Smooth, good malt body, balancing hop finish.
The prices were right here too. I had a sampler of six
beers, a pint of one, a huge basket of chips and house salsa with a cup of
spinach dip, and two bottles of salsa to go for under $20. If you are in the
Atlanta area, this is a must stop in my opinion.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft