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September 26, 2023 11:59 pm

Local News

Cracking Open a Cold One in the Peach State – Georgia’s Best Craft Breweries

Credit: iStock

Mohamed Bughrara

Georgia’s craft breweries are more than just interesting places to sample beer. They’ve demonstrated their worth to their communities by creating employment, serving as meeting spaces, and developing a brand to be proud of. Here’s a list of the best in Georgia:

Oconee Brewing Company

Push 45 miles south to Greensboro, where Oconee Brewing Company has established itself just off I-20 in an area known for its waterways and golf resorts.

Macon Beer Company

Downtown Macon is reviving, partly due to breweries such as the Macon Beer Company. This bar makes fun of the city’s name by naming its beers Macon Love, Macon Plays, or, of course, Macon Money.

Service Brewing Co.

Stop by Service Brewing Company and Southbound Brewing Company to round out your visit to Savannah. The titles of the beverages at Service Brewing Co., a short walk from the city’s famous River Street, may give it away that the owner is a U.S. Army vet. Ground Pounder, Rally Point, Battlewagon, and Gun Bunny are among the beers available here. Southbound Brewing Company has been in business since 2013 and occasionally offers unusual sweet pairings such as donuts and Girl Scout cookies.

SweetWater Brewing Company

SweetWater Brewing Company is easily identified by its hopping fish and vibrant labels. It, like Atlanta Brewing Company, is a seasoned pro in this field. SweetWater, which also creates and encourages a chill vibe and is easily accessible to Interstate 85, is unique among its peers in that it has been in operation since 1997.

Wild Leap Brew Co.

Make time to visit neighboring LaGrange, where Wild Leap Brewing Co. has taken over an old tire shop and garage. It frequently hosts events, such as its grilled cheese contest on National Grilled Cheese Day in April.

Jekyll Brewing Co.

Jekyll Brewing, named after a coastal Georgia island, might have opened the door for craft breweries in Alpharetta’s northern suburbs. On the subject of branding, you might find the labels of their beers, such as Hop Dang Diggity, Southern Juice, Cooter Brown, and ‘Merican Amber, humorous.

Cherry Street Brewing Co-op

The 2017 U.S. Beer Open Grand National champion was Cherry Street Brewing Co-op in Cumming, across Lake Lanier. Gainesville’s Chicopee Woods Golf Course, Chicopee Woods Park, and nearby mountain bike trails will work up an appetite.

Eagle Creek Brewing Company

Eagle Creek Brewing Company takes its name from nearby Georgia Southern University. Eagle Creek flows by the football team’s practice field. On former coach Erk Russell’s birthday, the first beer was poured at the Statesboro brewery.