Finding Craft Beer @TheMasters – 2016

Top places to find good #CraftBeer while you're in AGS! 

My third edition of this annual write-up won’t be as extensive as it has been in the past. Most things haven’t changed, and I would encourage you take a look at my 2014 & 2015 posts for some more in-depth expositions. 

So where do we stand in 2016? To answer that, lets look at the area’s newest craft beer developments. 

This Beer Purgatory will soon be the home to two (at least) new craft breweries! Just outside of Downtown Augusta, the newly opened Riverwatch Brewery is Augusta’s first brewery in ~90 years! Owner and brewer Brey Sloan has already begun production, and looks to have product on local taps for Masters.  Brey recently retired from the Army, has been homebrewing for years, and has a great business plan and Siebel schooling to stand on.  We cant wait for our first pint!

By this time next year, Augusta will also be home to Savannah River Brewing. The operation just received its tanks and equipment, and hopes to be up and running by this Summer. Just this week however, they ran into a bit of trouble when the received a Cease & Desist letter from The Masters for looking to name one of their brews 'Green Jacket Pilsner'.  I suppose we will allow them a Mulligan for that one.  Or perhaps a 'Mulligan Pilsner'....

Outside of this exciting development, what are the best places in Augusta to get your Craft on? Follow me… 

If you are looking for the best place to sit down and enjoy great craft beer variety, along with great food, then look no further than the block of 10th St between Ellis and Broad Sts. This is the area’s epicenter of craft beer, housing 3 restaurants that you should most definitely be on your visit’s itinerary. 

- Bee’s Knees (211 10th St; @beeskneestapas): Bee’s Knees is the has the longest tenure on the block, well known for its tasty small plate tapas (Get the Smoked Gouda Nachos!) and a good craft beer selection.  They have several taps and additional bottle/can selection, mostly of rotating and eclectic craft variety.

- Hive Craft Beer Bar (215 10th St; @hivegrowlerbar); Right next door to TBK is its new younger sibling. Hive features 76 taps, 58 of which offer an impressive and constantly changing craft menu, and a food menu with a yummy eclectic take of pub grub. You can also get growlers filled here as well. 

Hive Growler Bar

- Füse (1002 Broad St) The new kid on the block is built around an ever-changing menu of international and southern recipes using local ingredients. And to top it off, it has 30 taps of craft and another dozen or two in bottles.

Füse

If you are looking to top off you’re a growler or two during your visit, Augusta now has several places that can do so, which is a huge improvement over 2 years ago.  

- Gravity Growlers (341 Furys Ferry Rd, Martinez; @gravitygrowlers) Run by two years ago by two brothers who know their stuff, at Gravity offers 25 taps and numerous bottles of great craft beer. Visit them and you will not be disappointed! 

- Tip Top Taps (4317 Washington Rd, Evans; @TipTopTapsEvans) Opened just after Masters last year, Tip Top you can find 20 taps for growler fills. Convenient for those further up Washington Rd. 

If you are looking to find a bottle shop in order to build a craft six-pack, or buy a sixtel, there are three great choices in the area. First is Toast Wine & Beverage (417 Furys Ferry Rd, Martinez). Equally as impressive is the selection at sister stores Beverage Outlet (248 Bobby Jones Expy, Martinez) & North Augusta Wine & Beverage (1135 Knox Ave North Augusta, SC). Beverage Outlet is currently claiming 50+ brands available in kegs of various sizes. Both also have what seems to be acres of wine and liquor selections to finish out your drinking needs. Lastly, if you are pressed for time, you can find a fairly good selection at our new Whole Foods while out shopping for some gourmet eats. They have a 5-tap growler station, and have a good variety of craft single and six-packs to choose from. 

While we don’t have any Brew Pubs here in Augusta, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Aiken Brewing Company (140 Laurens St SW, Aiken, SC). This brew pub is located in the Aiken shopping district, and if you are staying North of the river, I would recommend you check them out. 

So that is it for this year....enjoy the golf, and enjoy the best Craft Beer that this Beer Purgatory has to offer!

Finding Craft Beer During 2015 Masters Week

@The_Masters is here, and you can find good #CraftBeer while you're in AGS.

I give this town a bit of a ribbing by calling it "Beer Purgatory". Truth is, there is plenty of beer here. But not so much when it comes to craft beer and its culture, as can be found in other major cities. This is Georgia's second largest city, yet we have no breweries or brewpubs. We have recently added several growler fill locations, and we do have a few good bottle shops to speak of, but taps can certainly be hit or miss. Craft beer is starting to take over tap handles, but in most places Big Beer is more easily found than Craft beer. So, if you are coming to Augusta to enjoy the 2015 Masters, and you want to enjoy good Craft Beer, where should you go? Read on... 

TAPS/RESTAURANTS

Washington Ave between the country club and I-20.  To the best of my knowledge, most of what you are going to find here will be the "best" of Big Beer.  Locations like Somewhere in Augusta, Hooters, and Carrabas are going to have exactly what you expect.  Though SIA does do bottles as well, and has some OK selection especially from GA biggies Sweetwater and Terrapin.  Probably the same for TGI Fridays, Olive Garden, and Outback.  Bonefish occasionally will have an interesting tap, the same with Wild Wing Cafe, and I haven't a clue about either Tbonz Steak House or Rhineharts Oyster Bar.  Let's just put it this way....I have never heard the craft beer enthusiasts recommend any of these for good Craft Beer.

Just to the south of the country club is Surrey Center (Corner of Highland Avenue/Berkmans Road at Wheeler Road), with a few popular restaurants.  Calvert's Steakhouse, Surrey Tavern, French Market Grille, and Oliviana's Grille offer a variety of food.  What they don't offer however is a wide variety of beer.  Again, pretty standard offerings, though the Tavern has a larger selection of bottles (with Sweetwater/Terrapin).  But for Craft Beer, the lone standout is new arrival Finch & Fifth. 
 

While the selection is small (only 3 taps and 10+ bottles) it is all craft.  To add to the party they also have both a charcuterie and cheese menu.  Good Craft Beer, smoked meats, and cheese pairings.  Finch & Fifth is definitely a place to go!

If you go to Downtown Augusta, which I recommend, there are many places to find alcohol.  Some more respectable than others.  However on the Craft Beer front, there are a handful that rise to the top.  First up is The Bee's Knees, a venerable Tapas eatery (don't miss the Smoked Gouda Nachos!) that always has a fresh assortment of good Craft Beer on 6 taps and numerous bottle selections.  Check them out and you won't be disappointed. Also, if you return for the 2016 Masters, you will be able to enjoy their new 70-tap growler bar, The Hive, right next door.

Craft & Vine

Coming in right behind them are a trio of restaurants founded by the same ownership.  Frog Hollow Tavern, Farmhaus Burger, and the new Craft & Vine. With both Frog Hollow and Craft & Vine, you are going to find upscale (locally sourced) dining and cocktail experiences.  I am not sure of the current selection at the former, but C&V does offer a pretty good Craft Beer selection with 6 taps and 10+ bottles.  No Big Beer here.  Next door at Farmhaus Burger (again locally sourced) you will also find a good selection of Craft Beer with 6 taps and numerous cans.  Not only do these three use locally sourced produce, but they also feature some of the smaller craft breweries in Georgia.

Other notables downtown are Stillwater Taproom, the Whiskey Bar, and Metro Pub & Coffeehouse.  My bud John Pylant, new writer at porchdrinking.com, says that Stillwater earns high marks for its good tap and bottle selection.

Last but not least are the two big local pizza restaurants, Mellow Mushroom (15 major label taps) and Pizza Joint (30 mostly major label taps, along with Georgia's Eagle Creek and Southbound).  Both also have locations up in Evans, so more on them later.

Near the I-20/520 Interchange is Robert C. Daniel Parkway which is home to numerous restaurants and stores.  If you are in the area, your best bet for Craft Beer can be found at either the Carolina Ale House, or Buffalo Wild Wings.  The Ale House as ~40 taps with usually a good Craft representation.  The same can be said for BWW and their 30 or so taps.  Both places of course have plenty of TVs and pub food.  Also of note, is the Limelight Cafe, with a good number of Craft taps on hand, but be prepared for a smokey environs.

Further up Washington Ave in the town of Evans, where a lot of Masters patrons will rent houses for the week.  While there are many places to eat, there are not too many places that one will find a good Craft variety.  Probably the best is the second location of the Pizza Joint.  Over 30 taps taps with a good rotation, to include the newest "local" brew, the excellent Eagle Creek Pale Ale and Blonde out of Statesboro, GA.  Further up the road you will find better pizza (IMHO) at the second Mellow Mushroom.  MM-Evans has roughly a dozen taps, and a good selection of bottles. 

Like a good number of folks, you might be staying up in Aiken, SC.  While I don't get up there very often, it is the home of the regions one and only brewpub.  The Aiken Brewing Company features a line-up of 5 beers brewed on premises, and full menu.  The tap offerings are constantly rotating from their stable of 19 brews.  If you are up in horse country, visit downtown Aiken and check them out.

About an hour north of Augusta on I-20, you will find the capital of SC, Columbia.  Being a capital city, they have numerous locations for Craft Beer consumption.  In the downtown area, you can find Flying Saucer, World of Beer, Liberty Taproom, Hunter Gatherer, Thirsty Fellow, as well as another Mellow Mushroom.  

Columbia also has a trio of young craft beer breweries, with Conquest, River Rat, and Swamp Cabbage. On Fri-Sun, you can visit all three easily using the Columbia Brew Bus.  An embarrassment of riches...

 

Keg Cowboy

Finally, just south of Columbia is Lexington, SC.  Just off of I-20, you will find two gems in this small hamlet.  First is Keg Cowboy, which is half pub, half growler station with constantly rotating taps with high quality Craft.  Also in town is the Old Mill Brewpub, with up to 20 more taps and many more bottles.  Sounds like a good place for lunch!

BOTTLE SHOPS

After looking at where one can find good Craft Beer out on the town in AGS, let's take a look at where you can good to fill your fridge with the same.

As with restaurants and pubs around here, there are plenty of places to buy beer.  But there only a handful which can scratch the Craft Beer itch. 

Toast Wine & Beverage

There are a trio in my mind that offer the best selection in the Augusta area. First is Toast Wine & Beverage (417 Fury's Ferry) in Martinez.  Located close to where a lot of folks will be staying, this outlet strives to bring in new and different craft, and is extremely responsive to customer input and requests. They probably offer the most diverse and freshest selection that you can find in the CSRA.

Close behind are the related stores, Beverage Outlet (247 Bobby Jones Expy, Martinez) and North Augusta Wine & Beverage (1135 Knox Ave, North Augusta, SC).  Beverage Outlet is also pretty conveniently located on a major thoroughfare, and sports a large beer selection with probably the overall largest Craft selection in town. 

Just across the river, it's SC cousin NA Wine & Beverage also offers a nicely diverse craft line-up.  An added benefit to it being located in another state, is that this outlet can often get some brews that are not distributed inside Georgia.  If you are staying in Aiken, or near downtown, they will be an easy trip.

A few  other locations offer smaller, but usually worthy Craft offerings.  One is in Surrey Center, right near Augusta National, is White Horse Wine & Spirits (497 Highland Ave).  Size wise they are tiny, but they still manage to offer some pretty good Craft names.  A second way up on the north end of Washington Rd, but near really nice neighborhoods where patrons rent houses for the week.  Woody's Wine & Spirits (5121 Washington Rd, Riverwood Town Center) strives to keep it's smaller collection populated with good Craft, especially smaller regional offerings like Monday Night Brewing, Red Brick, Cigar City.   Closer in, in central Evans you can find Vineyard Wine Market (4414 Evans to Locks Rd).  

Another is located literally just across the 13th St Bridge from Downtown Augusta.  Wine World (133 Georgia Ave, North Augusta, SC) is an eclectic little wine & cheese shop that has a large offering of beer in bottles.  Wine World I am told used to really excel at Craft Beer offerings, but unfortunately personnel changes have not allowed them to maintain that level.  Still a pretty good selection, but not what it used to be.

Lastly, in Downtown Augusta, you can find Afficianados (307 8th St).  This outlet is primarily a Tobacco shop, but they have a pretty good variety of Craft Beer.  They are a little pricey, and they don't sell singles (like all the others listed above).  However, they do have 7 growler taps.

Somewhat surprisingly, you can also find some Craft selection at some local supermarkets.  Publix has some larger Craft beers, and can be convenient.  Augusta's lone Earthfare also has a better than average Craft selection.  Both now offer singles coolers, so that you can mix and match.   Lastly, but definitely not least, Augusta's newly opened Whole Foods Market (Washington & I-20) offers a vast selection of beers, as well as 5 growler taps.   

If for some reason you are up nearer to Columbia, SC (or down in Atlanta), you can find Green's Beverages.  I particular, Green's Piney Grove is an impressive warehouse with a huge selection of Craft .  Alas it is an hour away.  Green's Assembly St (Columbia) and Green's Atlanta, while still with good selections in their own right, don't approach the vastness of Piney Grove.  If you are up that way, stop in and stock up!  

GROWLER STORES 

One of the most significant additions to the craft beer culture in Augusta over the last year, has been the emergence of growlers.  There have been places here and there that offered them in the past, but nothing like the options we have now. 

In addition to the aforementioned Whole Foods and Afficianados, last April saw the opening of Gravity Growlers (341 Furys Ferry Rd, Martinez).  Gravity was opened by two brothers with local restaraunt experience and a nose for beer, and offers 25 taps of crafty goodness in addition to numerous large bottles and glassware.

The most recent addition to the market is this weeks arrival of Tip TopTaps (4317 Washington Rd, Evans).  This growler station located in an former gas station, has 20 taps.

Both of these locations fill 32 & 64oz growlers.  If you didn't bring one, you can get either size for a $5 deposit . 

So there you have it. A brief rundown (though longer than last year!) of places you can find to help scratch your craft beer itch, when you are in Augusta to enjoy the Masters.  Enjoy your day watching some golf, and then sit back and tip back some suds.

Drink up! 

AGS gains another Growler Store - Pt 3

My first purchase

After adventuring over to Lowes this morning, I stopped across the street for my first stop at Tip Top Taps, and picked up a growler of Smuttynose Finestkind IPA.

TTT just opened for business yesterday, and is offering 20 taps of craft beer goodness.   Buy a 32oz or 1gal growler for a one time cost of $5 (sizes can be interchanged for no charge), and fill it from your choice of constantly rotating taps for the cost of the beer.  Then drink & repeat.  Owner Marty Koger, who previously owned the gas/mini-mart at the same location, said that he was looking to reinvent his store and help fill a need for which the Augusta area has limited options.  The location also offers an e-cigarette/vapor counter, for those looking for nicotine, rather than hops.

Tap list and availability at tiptoptaps.com

A year ago, Augusta couldn't spell Growler, let alone fill one conveniently.  Now with 4 local growler stations, and a 5th one coming, AGS has plenty of options for great take-home craft beer on tap.

Augusta, lets make sure that they all prosper!  Drink up!

AGS gains another Growler Store - Pt 2

Tip Top Taps is now open for business with 20 taps of #craftbeer.

We are excited to announce that Tip Top Taps is now open for business!

Come in to say hello, try a few beers, and buy some to take home with you!

Check out our beer selections to see what’s currently on tap. You’re welcome to try before you buy, and we’re confident that you’ll find something you love on our diverse menu.

We offer 32-ounce and 64-ounce growlers, filled with your choice of delicious craft beer from one of our 20 taps. Growlers are a convenient way to enjoy draught beer at home and without paying bar premiums.

If the draught options don’t strike your fancy, we also stock bombers (large 22-ounce bottles) of a variety of other craft beers.

We are open from noon to 8 pm, 7 days a week. We are located at the corner of Washington Road and Belair Road in Evans, Georgia — just down the street from Evans Towne Center Park.

@BeesKneesTapas To Open 70 Tap Growler Pub

@JennaNMartin says Downtown AGS will soon get a lot more craft beer, courtesy of The Hive Growler Bar.

Bee's Knees restaurant owners prepare to open growler pub
By Jenna Martin

The couple that brought The Bee’s Knees downtown to Tenth Street will soon add a “Hive.”

Eric and Kristi Kinlaw are in the midst of gutting a storefront next to the Bee’s Knees tapas bar for their second full-service eatery, The Hive Growler Bar, a hybrid retail growler shop, restaurant and bar.

“Here, we’re kind of limited on space,” Eric Kinlaw said of Bee’s Knees, which has room to offer only six beers on draft. “We really wanted to expand our on-tap offerings, so we’re going to have over 70 taps and we’re going to sell growlers to go.”

Kinlaw said the pub-style restaurant will emphasize beer selections from Georgia and other regional breweries, and offer monthly beer events.

[...]

They’ve been working on their new concept for about a year and a half and decided now to lease the adjacent space...Kristi Kinlaw said.

“We’ve been down here for a long time and seen the ebbs and flows of downtown,” she said. “A lot of great restaurants have opened up over the past few years, and we just want to keep the momentum doing down here.”

This will be interesting, given that both the Bee's Knees and old Rooster's Beak restaurant next door (where The Hive will be) only have/had several taps at most.  I am wondering where The Hive will be able to find room to store kegs to feed *70* taps, without giving up kitchen space and/or dining space.

No matter what though, I know this will have a lot of people lining up for opening night!  I can't wait...

AHA Homebrew Rally in ATL - Jul 12

This @HomebrewAssoc event will be hosted by @MondayNight.  

Monday Night Brewing Company of Atlanta, GA is inviting all local homebrewers to an American Homebrewers Association (AHA) Rally on Sunday, July 12!

Join us at Monday Night Brewing Company!

- Enjoy Monday Night beer samples
- Learn about hops during an educational presentation from Monday Night brewers
- Take home a Rally-exclusive gift from the AHA
- Meet Monday Night brewers and staff
- Take a VIP brewery tour
- Mingle with local homebrewers
- Win great prizes from the AHA and Monday Night

AHA Rallies are free to current AHA members. Non-members can join now, or sign up onsite at a discounted member rate. Save time and fill out a membership form in advance to bring with you to the Rally. Don’t forget to RSVP to help us properly prepare for the event.

See you there!!

Craft Beer Politics in Perspective

@BeerSommelier points us to a warning from the Lone Star State. 
 
While #GABeer seems beset by politics influenced by a strong lobby with deep pockets, at least we are moving forward.  However once (someday) we as beer lovers achieve what we want with modern beer distribution and sales laws, we must not consider the war won.  Why not?  Just look at some states that have things a lot better than we do, and you will find states where progress is in the process of being rolled back  Take Texas for instance, a place know for its economic freedoms and strength, but not free of crony capitalism and the influence of those deep lobbying pockets....

Texas Brewers Are Ready to Fight a Bill That Would Kill the Craft-Beer Boom

Texas Rep. Senfronia Thompson filed legislation this week that proposed new limitations on craft breweries that operate in Texas. Specifically, her bill seeks to limit the amount of beer small breweries can self-distribute to 5,000 barrels a year. The current limit is 40,000 barrels.

Texas Brewers were quick to cry skunky suds. Thompson has long received large donations from organizations that lobby on behalf of Texas beer distributors, casting a dubious shadow on her bill, which would force small breweries to participate in the same distribution systems that cater to large, commercial operations. The move is decidedly anti-business, and Texas loves business goddammit.

[...]

The 5,000 number is also insultingly low. So low, in fact, it threatens to impact even the smallest brewers. "I brewed 3,500 barrels last year and will cross 5,000 this year," says Michael Peticolas, owner and operator of Peticolas Brewery and a lawyer who's active on legislation that effects local breweries. To continue to grow, he'd have to find a distributor, giving up his distribution rights in the process. Revolver Brewing, a larger brewery that also self-distributes, would be hit even harder.

Fortunately, the article concludes that the bill has little chance of passage.  But the effort demonstrates that the war is never won, and craft beer lovers must always be on guard.

Augusta gains another Growler store!

In the near future Columbia County will add another growler fill location - Tip Top Taps.

Coming soon to the Augusta and Columbia County area, Tip Top Taps will be located at the corner of Washington and Belair Roads, convenient to Evans Towne Center Park and Lady Antebellum Amphitheater.

We strive to offer a wide selection of craft beers representing the myriad styles available. From pale ales to porters, you’re sure to find something you’ll love.

If you have a special request, please contact us.

Whether you’re a beer novice or an old pro, we hope you’ll feel right at home at Tip Top Taps.

The exact location will be: 
Tip Top Taps
4317 Washington Rd
Evans, GA 30809

YUCHiKiOKEE Arts Festival - Mar 21/22

Hey AGS, on Sat/Sun @CCCEvents_etcp will host an arts festival with a beer twist!  The Augusta Homebrewers Association will be out to give brewing demos and advice, and will be joined by Augusta's only Homebrew shop, Poplar Creek Brewing.

YUCHiKiOKEE Arts Festival

Feeling like a craft beer, great music, and the opportunity to purchase some local artwork?

Check out the varieties of craft beer at the YUCHiKiOKEE Arts Festival from The Vineyard! Also, don't miss the Craft Beer Demos from The Augusta Homebrewers Association and Popular Creek Brewing!

Founder’s All-day IPA: Grand Rapids, MI
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale: Kalamazoo, MI
21st Amendment Brew Free of Die: San Francisco, CA
21st Amendment Back in Black: San Francisco, CA
Anderson Valley Boont Amber: Boonville, CA
Costal Empire Savannah River Brown: Savannah, GA
Costal Empire Savannah River Blonde: Savannah, GA
Highland Gaelic Ale: Asheville, NC
Oskar Blues Mama’s Lil’ Yella Pils: Brevard, NC
Oskar Blues Dale Pale Ale: Brevard, NC
March 21 & 22 | 

More Info @ www.evanstownecenterpark.com

See you there!

Signs You're A Little Too Into Craft Beer

This is for the guys on @CBCast, from @PorchDrinkingCO.

- You have a closet/attic/cellar full of beer that will likely not be drunk for another few years.

- You consider people you’ve never met, but traded beer with, as your close friends. 

- You’ve started using words like mouthfeel, malty, weight, gravity, balance, hopped, finish, and most notably head, in everyday conversations but in a nontraditional and unintentionally sexual way.

So true....