Let’s just start by saying that, as a rule, I am not a fan of dry counties. Most people know a dry county is one where no alcohol is sold, which is in my opinion not only a violation of the rights of the drinker but, when you think about it, a waste of time.  Let’s be realistic: people just go outside the county and buy their booze elsewhere, costing the dry county tax revenue. Yet, dry towns and counties persist. When I lived in Rhode Island, there were no dry counties, though Barrington was a dry town (that ended in 2011).

Here in Georgia, there are still 11 dry counties out of a total of 159. Or are there? With the launching of Dry County Brewing in Kennesaw, you might want to make that 12. Dry County isn’t really in a dry county (Kennesaw is already home to the Burnt Hickory brewery), and they haven’t opened a brewery yet, though they’re getting close. For now, they’re contract brewing draft beer only, mainly Dry County IPA which I first sampled at Stout’s Growlers in late 2015. Tonight I’m enjoying a foaming mug at Taco Mac in Canton.

Before I let the brewery talk about their IPA, I’ll add that there is also a Dry County Brewing in North Carolina, so make sure when you ask for a Dry County beer, you ask for the right one! Here’s what Georgia’s Dry County Brewing says about their IPA:

IPA. We won’t bore you with the worn out story about a long boat trip to India. All you need to know is summed up in one word: Hops.

This beer is packed with five varieties of American hops, creating a beer that is bursting with hop aroma and flavor.

This is the beer that started it all. This is the beer that drove us to make our run.

Ingredients from the website:

Malts: American two-row, Crystal 40L, Carapils

Hops: Chinook, CTZ, Cascade, Amarillo, Simcoe

Dry County IPA has an alcohol content of 6.4% by volume with 58 IBUs. I paid $6 for a full mug pour at Taco Mac, quite reasonable these days.

My mug of Dry County IPA arrived a bright orange color with a medium head of chunky foam and a bright grapefruit citrus and piney resin nose. Taking a sip, I got some chewy caramel malt up front followed by more citrus and even more resin, then a very long, very dry bitterness in the finish.

Is the beer bursting with hop flavor as the brewery advertises? It is. I’ve had hoppier, but this one is well balanced with a good malt body to support those hops. So many of today’s IPAs don’t have that. The more I sipped it, the more I liked it. It was one of those beers you could just pull on all day and never get tired of. Then too, it passed the ultimate IPA test (for me anyway): it went wonderfully with a plate of Taco Mac’s famous Buffalo Wings.

Rest assured, I’ll be visiting this Dry County again. And again….

Last Updated 4/1/2018: And here I am, back again! Dry County IPA is in cans, and a great deal at $9.49 a six-pack. Classic American IPA just as before.

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



Home