Check out my CraftBeer.com article on Brick Store Pub’s 20 years!

I loved writing about this legendary beer bar based in Atlanta for one of the dopest sites in the beer world.

One of my pics. The front of the world renown Brick Store Pub.

Whaddup!

I just got back from Denver, but while I was there, I was excited to see that the Web’s authority of craft beer justly called CraftBeer.com posted my article featuring the 20 years of one of the world’s most revered beer bars, Decatur, GA’s own Brick Store Pub.

The pic I took of Dave Blanchard, the co-owner of BSP.

I have a little history with CraftBeer.com; I know many of them (especially their brilliant editor Jess), and they did a dope article on me not too long ago that had a brother floored! Well, since I never wrote for them, Jess loved the idea I pitched to them: a feature highlighting the 20^th year of Brick Store being in business. She happily said, "go for it!" With that, I put the pressure on myself to kill it and go extra hard. Don’t get me wrong, I give every article I pen full dedication, but personally knowing the Brick Store Pub staff for years and with the BSP being one of my favorite spots to chill, this had to be next-level work in a lot of ways. Trust me, it’s often more difficult to write about something you know a lot about because you want the world to know as much as possible, hence editing becomes the most laborious. 

This article was undoubtedly one of the most challenging I have ever written, but also one of the best in my opinion. Plus, I had the liberty of shooting whatever I wanted as well, so I went all in while learning about everyone involved during the process. Shout outs to Dave, Todd, Ryan, Mike, Tom, Erin, Dan and everyone else who helped with this article.

I hope you enjoy this piece, because I meant every word.

Here’s to two decades of being gangster, Brick Store. I am on my way to the pub celebrate it!

And to my readers of this blog, I love y’all! Your support keeps me going and loving what I do.

Ale

Bell’s Two-Hearted dethrones Pliny The Elder after eight years!

Zymurgy Magazine Announces 2017 “Best Beers In America” and Bell’s kicks major ass!

Whaddup!

My American Homebrewers Association homies just announced the results from their Zymurgy Magazine 15th annual Best Beers in America survey. 

For eight straight years, Russian River Brewing Company’s world-renowned Pliny the Elder double IPA had been running things at the number one spot, but Bell’s Two Hearted Ale IPA breaks the streak and becomes 2017’s most gangster beer in America according to Zymurgy’s thousands of homebrewing posse members. Whoa!

Photo by Bell's Brewery.

In AHA’s official press release, director Gary Glass says, “As homebrewers, Zymurgy readers have more refined palates than most for tasting beer. The Best Beers in America survey reveals which beers are leaving the biggest impression on the minds—and mouths—of these discerning beer drinkers.”

Survey participants voted online for their 20 favorite commercial beers “available for purchase” in the United States in an online voting system.

Bell’s CEO Laura Bell, the daughter of the brewery’s founder Larry Bell, says in the same release, “This is an incredible honor for us. We got our start as homebrewers—that’s how my dad got going—so we really identify with the homebrewing community. We take a lot of that spirit into what we do today.”

Representin’ Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bell’s also won the top-ranked US brewery and came in second to Stone Brewing for the best beer portfolio as well. Even Ice Cube didn’t have as good a day as this! The top ten rankings of the three categories are below and are posted in full here. Congrats to everyone who got recognized in the survey!

Top-Ranked Beers (T indicates Tie):

1. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale

2. Russian River Pliny the Elder

3. Founders Breakfast Stout

4. Three Floyds Zombie Dust

5. Bell’s Hopslam

T6. Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

T6. The Alchemist Heady Topper

T8. Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA

T8. Sierra Nevada Celebration

10. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

Top-Ranked Breweries:

1. Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Comstock, Mich.

2. Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.

3. Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, Calif.

4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif. and Mills River, N.C.

5. Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif., Richmond, Va., and Berlin, Germany

6. Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, Calif.

7. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.

8. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.

9. Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, Calif. and Chicago, Ill.

10. Ballast Point Brewing, San Diego, Calif.

Top-Ranked Beer Portfolios (T indicates Tie):

1. Stone Brewing (31 beers)

2. Bell’s Brewery, Inc. (27 beers)

3. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (25 beers)

4. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (24 beers)

T5. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (22 beers)

T5. Lagunitas Brewing Company (22 beers)

T7. Boulevard Brewing Co. (21 beers)

T7. Founders Brewing Co. (21 beers)

9. Avery Brewing Co. (19 beers)

T10. New Glarus Brewing Co. (18 beers)

T10. Odell Brewing Co. (18 beers)

Cheers!

Ale

Check out this fun podcast with Vortex, Wild Heaven and more!

Whaddup!
I had the honor of being invited as the special guest for a podcast (click HERE to check it out) hosted by one of the most prominent landmarks in Georgia, The Vortex. Known for their gangster burgers, signature skull facade in the front of its Little Five Points location, being owned by the three Benoit siblings out of L.A., a Laughing Skull amber ale brewed by Red Brick, and their attitude of basically not giving a sh*t about rules, they also have a really fun radio show based on beer. 

Photo by "Baby Vortex" Colin Murphy.

I gladly joined them, brought a gift my homey Walker Anderson brought me from his Oregon trip—the Breakside Lunch Break Session IPA —and sipped brews alongside co-hosts Michael Benoit, Sarah Young from Wild Heaven Craft Beer, suds enthusiast Hannah White, and social media manager "Vortex Baby" Colin Murphy. It was a blast as we discussed everything from new beers to drink for the summer including the fantastic WH Goodvice, to crab cakes, Wicked Weed's recent buyout, blunts paired with stouts, seafood and a road trip to Asheville. Enjoy this one!
Peace!
Ale

Cheers to my late brew brother Dan Rosen.

The co-founder of Mazurt Brewing has left us in the physical.

I usually post a lot of positive, fun material, but I also have to recognize those who deserve it. I found out that I lost a great friend and one of the most talented brewers I have ever met, Dan Rosen.

MAZURT Brewing Co-Founders Hamp Covington and Dan Rosen (right)
holding up their medals at the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting.

Dan, 58, and I have known each other for a long time and we always commended each other on the hard work and dedication to empowering the beer scene of especially Atlanta. He, alongside his MAZURT Brewing partner Hamp Covington, have often won awards and received countless accolades on the series of imperial stouts they have been producing for numerous beer events throughout the city including Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting, the Strong Beer Fest, and even Hunahpu Day with Cigar City in Tampa Bay, FL.

Dan is second from the left.

Dan always was in good spirits and made sure those around him were as well. He even made me a special leather flat brim baseball hat in recognition of my love for dope hats. When I found out he was a victim of a heartless crime—a hit and run on June 6th—it was too sudden a goodbye to such a great man.

Toast one for Dan. He will be sorely missed.

I trust the Mazurt Brewing passion will live on.

Do me a favor and give a good friend dap and a hug today.

Ale

Here are two videos with Orpheus Founder and Brewmaster Jason Pellett!

We are discussing two of their numerous gangster brews being poured at Orpheus’ third anniversary.

Yep, it’s your homey Ale back on the screen and this time I'm kicking it with Orpheus Brewing’s head honcho Jason Pellett discussing two of the many brews being poured during their three-day celebration Memorial Weekend to close year three of brewing brilliance. 

This first video (with the screenshot above) features a wild ale with maybe the longest name in beer history—Like a White Curtain Blowing inthe Draft From a Half-Opened Window Beside a Chair on Which Nobody Sits. Crazy, right? Here is the label:

This second joint here has me and Brother J sipping the bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, 12th Labor. This one is also bananas. (That is good thing.)

Here is the artwork designed by David Hale:

I hope you have a chance to swing by and try these brews, plus a gang of other joints responsible for Orpheus existing, succeeding, and happily keeping Georgia refreshed for the trifecta and beyond.

Shout out to Noelle with Elle PR, Laura and Forage Films for shooting this joint. 

Ultimately, keep supporting craft beer!

Cheers!

Ale