Good beer in Augusta?

[Kalleh1]

I am here in Augusta, Georgia, for a conference, and tomorrow I have a whole afternoon free.

Are there any brewpubs or pubs with cask ale down here? I assume not, but I thought I'd ask.

[steveh]

Appears the "Mellow Mushroom" might be your only choice:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/9425/

Weren't you just in L.A?

S.

[Kalleh1]

Thanks, Steve! I am heading there this afternoon. BTW, it takes a midwestern to answer a Georgian post? Where are all the Georgians here? Don't you drink good beer? ;)

Steve, I flew from my daughter's graduation in LA to a conference in Augusta, GA. Yes, I am in Augusta while half our organization is in Taipai right now...I am exaggerating, but not that much. I think I got the short straw!

On the other hand, I bet there is no good beer in Taipai (must keep a positive mindset!).

[Kalleh1]

Great choice, Steve! I had a Sweetwater 420 (hadn't heard of it), which was excellent. Their pizza was homemade and most definitely the best I have ever had (and I am from Chicago!).

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kalleh1
Great choice, Steve!

Hah - it was the only choice at the BA search of brew-pubs and/or beer-bars! ;)

S.

Best pizza you've ever had?

[threecb]

The Mellow Mushroom is a good chain that's known for they're good beer selection. They're all over the Southeast.

The Sweetwater 420 is supposed to be a solid beer. At least you got to try a Georgia beer while there, Kalleh.

and steve, there is other pizza besides Chicago style :-)

[Payson]

Might be too late but grab a Terrapin Rye PA if you see it. Atlanta Brewing Co. makes some interesting beer as well.

[steveh]

Originally posted by threecb
and steve, there is other pizza besides Chicago style :-)

Is not! ;)

And there is more than one Chicago "style," it's not just the stuffed pizza of Uno's lore.

Hey Three - was it you and I discussing NYC style pizza a while back? Because I saw a Food Channel feature on pizza that highlighted Lombardi's (IIRC) - wood fired style - that looked awfully good, and not the thin, sloppy stuff I've seen representing NY style before.

S.

[threecb]

Yeah, that was me.

Do you know what FoodTV show that was on?

For the record, I love ALL Pizza. I tell my wife that with the variety it entails, I could eat only pizza for a long time and be happy!

[steveh]

Originally posted by threecb
Do you know what FoodTV show that was on?

No, but they were showcasing east, midwest, and west - basically NYC, Chi, and California.

S.

[threecb]

The one with the Firehouses from the regions "comp-eating" for bragging rights. I saw that one. The diversity in styles of Pizza is almost as great a testament to the food as the diversity in Beer!

[TOBP_Steve]

Sorry I missed this thread until now. Marietta Pizza Co has most of the Sweetwaters on tap, and the 420 and Blue are both quite good with pizza. Mellow Mushroom is OK, but I'm originally a Jersey guy, so I need my pizzeria to be a name with a vowel on the end. We now have Rosaria's, Montecalvo's, Giuseppi's and Muno's right near me. In my opinion, all are better than Mellow Mushroom, but that's because MM has this snobbish attitude about pizza. Pizza is not gourmet, it's peasant food. The simpler, the better.

I know several here will call me crazy for thinking that, but that's just my opinion.

Anyway, 420 was a very good choice. If you're in the area again, look for Terrapin Rye Pale Ale. More brewers should try brewing with Rye.

[threecb]

Originally posted by TOBP_Steve
I know several here will call me crazy for thinking that, but that's just my opinion.

You're Ca-razy!;)

Really, though, that's what I like about Pizza (and Beer!). It can be gourmet sometimes, and peasant food others.

I'm going to be in Savannah over Memorial Day weekend. Should I have difficulty locating any of these Georgia beers? I've been looking forward to try the Terrapin stuff. Definitely want to get my hands on a 420 IPA, too.

[TOBP_Steve]

Originally posted by threecb

I'm going to be in Savannah over Memorial Day weekend. Should I have difficulty locating any of these Georgia beers? I've been looking forward to try the Terrapin stuff. Definitely want to get my hands on a 420 IPA, too. [/B]

I don't think so. FYI, 420 is called an "extra pale ale," it has a green label. They also have an IPA in a yellow label. Both are good, 420 is just a personal preference. They also have a Sweet Georgia Brown ale which is OK, and Exodus Porter that are widely available, plus the Blue (which again is good with pizza).

I would try Sweetwater's website and contact their Savannah distributor and see who they sell to near your hotel:

http://www.sweetwaterbrew.com/beerfinder.asp#ga

Terrapin should also be available down there as well. Terrapin also has an "Extreme Cream" ale (which is kind of an oxymoron if you ask me) which is OK....stick wit the Rye Pale Ale.

And someone else pointed out Atlanta Brewing Co. They also have good beers, my favorite being Laughing Skull Bohemian Pilsner, because it is a pretty good Czech-style pils.

[chazwicke]

I was NOT impressed with the pizza I had at Duo. I think I like NY better.


Glad you found some decent beer there Kalleh. I was under the weather for a few days but would have recommended trying to find Sweetwater beers had I been online.

[Kalleh1]

I think the pizza question comes down to whether you like stuffed pizza or not. I like a good homemade, thin crusted pizza, and that is what this was. The crust was just excellent...and not soft and sloppy like that NY pizza. ;) If you like stuffed pizza, though, this wasn't the place. IMHO, Steve, it was far better than pizza at the Piece.

I only knew about the place, not the beer to try. Glad I tried the one I did. I liked it a lot. Too bad they don't have cask beer in Augusta, though.

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
pizza I had at Duo.

Topic Bounce to Beer and Food (http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7295)

[bhd147]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kalleh1
[B]Thanks, Steve! I am heading there this afternoon. BTW, it takes a midwestern to answer a Georgian post? Where are all the Georgians here? Don't you drink good beer? ;)



well kalleh1, its a matter of location, location, location. i grew up in the extreme south west of the state. when i was growing up, the strongest beer i knew of was 'bud in the red can'. then i found killian's (and was considered odd because i started drinking that and not bud lite) but going to college at Valdosta State University i was exposed to ALOT of different brews. then i moved to douglasville (metro ATL) and i found EVEN more! due to unfortunate circumstances (second divorce WHOOHOOO!!!) i was left in a bad way and moved back to SW GA.

now i dont mind living in SW GA, but i have to drive 45 min to Tallahassee FL to get to decent beer or a decent pub. so for the last year i said to hell with it and started brewing my own. that, and got back to drinking bourbon LOL.

but back to point. MOST of GA is rural. like most states the majority of the population lives in a few urban areas. sooo, if your not in these few metro areas you may not have access to good places to go. its a shame!!! LOL

[MeridianFC]

I'll be down in Aiken, SC tomorrow (hello Aiken Brewing Co.) and I'm sure I'll pop across the river, so I'll report if I find anything. I don't hold out great hope.

K.