Friday, August 29, 2014

Cypress Street hosts the 7th Annual End of Summer Pig Roast!

Get ready to kick it the last days of summer with Cypress Street, SweetWater brew, grub, and good times!

Whaddup!

Even though I am heading to Charlotte, NC, to explore what I hear is a great city, I couldn’t leave Atlanta without  letting you know what’s going on this weekend in my hometown. For starters, one of my favorite spots, Cypress Street, is throwing down with their 7th Annual End of Summer Pig Roast on Saturday, August 30, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. And for you collectors, there's a special limited edition SweetWater/Cypress Street pint glass for ya!
Below is the official info, but just know that whenever Cypress does something, it’s a good effin’ time! Even if you don't eat swine, their menu is pretty much flawless. I am a big fan of the Chicken Quinoa Wrap, wings, and cheesesteak to name a few. Plus, they just brought my homey Executive Chef Matt Deckard on board, and fresh grilled salmon is now on the menu on Fridays and Saturdays! It doesn't hurt that Cypress has one of the best patios in the city, plus their addition of two more washrooms makes constant imbibing that much more convenient. Ha!
Last, just know that while you kick it hard in the A, I will have an extra dope and informative food and drink guide to the city of Charlotte for ya when I get done Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ this weekend. Fair trade? 

Be safe and enjoy this weekend! Look for my Tweets throughout the weekend at @alesharpton and Instagram @realalesharpton regarding other things going on in ATL along with what I have popping off in Charlotte. 

Cheers!

Ale
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CYPRESS STREET PINT & PLATE’S 7TH ANNUAL END OF SUMMER PIG ROAST RETURNS TO MIDTOWN 

A Yearly Pig Pickin' Tradition with Live Music, Cold Beer, a 100 lb. Whole Hog and More  
 Saturday, August 30, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cypress Street Pint and Plate will host its annual end of summer pig roast on Saturday, August 30, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Now in its seventh year, join the Cypress team on their expansive patio for a day filled with fantastic fare, ice-cold SweetWater brews and live music. Of course, a pig roast is nothing without its star attraction - a 100lb. succulent, whole hog, that Cypress will once again smoke overnight for everyone's feasting pleasure.  Hungry attendees have the option of  purchasing individual plates of pork and the fixings or anything off of the regular Cypress menu.  $55 VIP pre-sale tickets will be available for purchase through midnight Monday, August 25th, granting partygoers a limited edition SweetWater/Cypress Street pint glass; one limited edition official Pig Roast artwork from Chris Neunschwander; six tickets that can be used for brews and barbecue; and access to VIP special SweetWater beer.  VIP tickets will not be sold at the door. For more information on the event or to purchase VIP pre-sale tickets for the seventh annual event, visit www.cypressbar.com

WHAT:             Cypress Street Pint and Plate’s Seventh Annual Pig Roast

WHEN:            Saturday, August 30, 2014
                        11a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE:          Cypress Street Pint & Plate
                         817 West Peachtree, Suite E-125
 Atlanta, Georgia

COST:   $55 VIP pre-sale tickets will be available for purchase through midnight Monday, August 25th, granting partygoers a limited edition SweetWater/Cypress Street pint glass; one limited edition official Pig Roast artwork from Chris Neunschwander; six tickets that can be used for brews and barbecue; and access to VIP special SweetWater beer.  VIP tickets will not be available for purchase the day of event.                              
 The event is FREE to attend and the regular menu is available. 
CONTACT:      For more information, visit Cypress Street online at www.cypressbar.com and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CypressStreet. Stay connected on Twitter and Instagram at @cypressstreet.   
About Cypress Street Pint and Plate and Beer Geek Tuesdays: 
Cypress Street Pint and Plate is located on the corner of 6th street and Cypress Street at 817 West Peachtree, Suite E-125, Atlanta, Georgia. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 2:30 a.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until midnight.  Every Tuesday, Cypress Street’s resident Beer Geek, Rob Merrick, hosts Beer Geek Tuesday - a casual exploration of all things beer including food and beer pairings to rare casks and tap takeovers.  For more information, please visit www.cypressbar.com or call 404.815.9243. Follow Cypress Street on Twitter at @CypressStreet and Facebook at Facebook.com/CypressStreet.



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Thursday, August 28, 2014

There's an awesome Back-To-School Beer Dinner tonight at 5 Seasons - Prado!

It's beer dinner time once again!

If I were you, I would call and see if there are still a few seats left for this event tonight featuring 5 Seasons Brewing's renowned upscale gastropub fare by Executive Chef David Larkworthy and the brewing excellence of the legendary Kevin McNerney at the Prado in Sandy Springs! I am heading there in a few hours to get my eat and sip on! Will ya join me? It starts at 7 p.m. Here is the awesome menu:
Call 5 Seasons for last-minute reservations at 404.255.5911 It is located at 5600 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, GA in that shopping center right off of the 285/Roswell Road exit.

See you there I hope!

Cheers!
Ale


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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Let’s answer a beer bar employee’s call for help.


 

A super cool homey, server and bartender at Augustine’s Pub named Kia Presley-Meade needs assistance after dealing with a life-threatening injury

Cheers Everyone.

If you frequent a beer bar or any cool eatery for that matter, there are always going to be one or two standout employees who you’ll eventually befriend. Well after going to Augustine’s in Atlanta's Grant Park district—one of my favorite beer bars close to where I live—I noticed that my homey Kia Presley-Meade was not around for a while so I assumed she was on vacation. Well she was indeed on one for a while that unfortunately went a lot longer than she wanted due to a tragic ending.

See, I got this email from Kia stating that she joined up with the website GoFundMe.com to try and get financial assistance for the ridiculous hospital bills she incurred due to a dreadful fall she took while vacationing in St. Thomas. I was truly horrified by its recount of what had happened to someone I considered a friend. The pictures following the incident made the nightmare of a story a reality. Here is what Kia’s page on GoFundMe.com describes:

Dear Friends,

On July 19th, while on vacation in St. Thomas, I experienced a traumatic accident. Getting out of a friend's car I took a step backwards and fell 7.5 ft onto a pile of boulders. I was put on an emergency flight to Miami where I spent ten days in Jackson Memorial Hospital. I suffered two fractures to my skull, fractures to both orbital bones, and brakes to both wrists.

Now that I am home in Atlanta, I am still faced with monumental obstacles. There is a subdural hematoma, a brain bleed, in my right frontal lobe and I have short term memory loss. My continuing care, which includes appointments with specialized neurologists and a neural psychologist and both physical and occupational therapy, will be costly to say the least. As many of you know I am a server and bartender and have been working in the restaurant industry for many years. My injuries make working impossible. Anything you can give to assist in my recovery while I am unable to work would be sincerely and greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. With your help I will be on the path to full health.


Crazy, right? Well after finding out she was back in town, I asked her what I could do to help. She really liked my idea of posting her unfortunate accident on my site. Well here it is. I completed our meeting at Augustine’s by taking a picture complete with Kia’s two broken arms and well-hidden scars. Afterwards, I saw an update from Kia’s page. Check it:

Much to my delight, yesterday’s doctor appointment went well. Things are healing well and all of my symptoms are where they're supposed to be. I'm making good progress during my first month of recovery. And I got my first major itch inside my cast-WOW! Hope the next three weeks go quickly! Thank you to everyone for their support, prayers, and kindness.
Kia

The one positive outcome out of this story is that although Kia has both arms broken which inhibits her from serving and bartending, Augustine’s created a new gig to keep her an active employee by handling paperwork. That’s pretty awesome of them to do that.
Ultimately, GoFundMe.com is a brilliant way to help those in need. This is a perfect case. If you can support her, that would be super cool. Again, here is her link.

Peace,

Ale
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Friday, August 22, 2014

The 11th Annual German Bierfest is in Downtown Atlanta Saturday!



Get your sip on with more than 35 Authentic German Beers, plus grub and music for the full experience!

Whaddup!!!

Atlanta has become one of the top U.S. cities when it comes to beer festivals and this weekend Downtown’s Woodruff Park maintains this thirst-quenching reputation. I am definitely hitting up the 11th Annual German Bierfest to refresh my overseas knowledge regarding 35 authentic German beers being poured from 2 to 7 pm this Saturday.
Besides sippin’ on everything from dunkels to hefeweizens, I will be keeping the belly happy with käsepätzle (a German interpretation of mac and cheese), pretzeln (aka pretzels), sauerkraut, schnitzel and other grub straight from G Land. 
I truly had a ball when I went to Germany on a beer trip a few years ago so I am definitely looking forward to bringing back my memory in full force at this Fest. And did I mention the festive sounds of oompah music and the skyscrapers surrounding the event to further enhance your drinking experience in one of the world’s greatest cities? There’s also a VIPizzle section for the serious imbibers who do it big.
See you there in a lederhosen I hope!
Below is the official press release and information. Get tickets here!

Cheers!
Ale
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11th ANNUAL GERMAN BIERFEST COMES TO ATLANTA’S WOODRUFF PARK ON AUGUST 23RD
Sample More Than 35 Authentic German Beers and Enjoy German Food and Music

WHAT:                 German Bierfest
WHEN:                 Saturday, August 23, 2014 from 2pm-7pm
WHERE:               Woodruff Park - Peachtree St NE at Edgewood Avenue - Atlanta, GA
TICKETS:              GA: $40 advance / $45 after August 15th; VIP packages available
WEBSITE:            www.germanbierfest.com
SOCIAL MEDIA: www.facebook.com/GermanBierfestAtlanta                                        Twitter and Instagram: @germanbierfest
PHONE/INFO:    678-701-6114
E-MAIL INFO:     info@premiereventslive.com

Atlanta, GA- The 11th Annual Atlanta German Bierfest is back for an incredible day filled with authentic German beers, music and food on Saturday, August 23rd in Woodruff Park in Downtown Atlanta. Festival fans will receive a commemorative sample glass to use to enjoy unlimited samples of more than 35 authentic German Beers.  Atlanta area German restaurants and food vendors will serve up authentic cuisine such as bratwurst, käsepätzle, pretzeln, sauerkraut, schnitzel, and more!  The German Bierfest also features live music and plenty of hands on sports activities fun for the whole family.  Gates open at 2pm and the event ends at 7 pm.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Monday, June 23th via www.freshtixc.com or call 678-701-6114. General admission tickets are $40 and include admission into the event, a commemorative German Bierfest sampling glass and all the beer you can safely consume. A limited number of tickets will be available on June 23rdth at the discounted price of $30 for loyal festival fans that purchase early.  Ticket price increases to $45 after August 15th. Designated drivers tickets are available for $10.

A limited number of private VIP areas are available for groups of 10.  These private tented areas offer seating, access to VIP restrooms, and your choice of a German Bier keg for your group.  VIP ticket packages are $1000.  For more details on VIP ticket packages email: info@premiereventslive.com

Produced by Premier Events in conjunction with the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc., the German Bierfest is a rain or shine event. Patrons enjoying beer samples must have valid photo ID and must be over the age of 21.  No one under 21 is allowed to drink.

#   #   #

About German Bierfest:  Founded in 2003 by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc., and with only 130 attendees the first year, this festival is the only event in Atlanta that celebrates authentic German culture with food, entertainment and a beer sampling event featuring select German made beers.  Over the years the German Bierfest has grown into an annual event of more than 3,000 offering German beer tastings, German food, live music, games and sporting activities and VIP areas for special private parties.  


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Thursday, August 21, 2014

The Chapter Room is pouring Lonerider’s Exclusive Barrel Aged Porter tonight!

My dude and Lonerider Outlaw Zack aka Z-Diddy showing off their gangster tap handle.
Come to the ultimate man cave for the debut of the Lonerider Jack Daniel's Whiskey barrel-aged 
DeadEye Jack Porter!

What’s up!!!

Come to the Georgia Chapter Room tonight (formerly known as The Fred) starting at 6 p.m. at the base of the T. Mac—Prado location in Sandy Springs to taste their brewing collaboration with Lonerider Brewing out of Raleigh, North Carolina. The absolutely delicious Jack Daniel's Whiskey barrel-aged DeadEye Jack Porter will be poured alongside the Eve, Red Spur, and Shotgun Betty brews by Lonerider. I luckily got a lil' taste when I was at the brewery filming the video which is here:
 Ale Sharpton Cruises For A Brewsin' with Lonerider and T-MAC
The Chapter Room is always an awesome sipping destination due to its intimate and posh environment, great grub, lovely staff, and of course, gangster brew.

See you there!

Ale
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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Cypress Street Pint and Plate’s Third Annual Beer Geek Carnival is Tonight!

It’s Carnival time in Midtown once again from 7 to 11 pm! See my video covering the first one below!

So I just got back from New York and as usual, Atlanta has a ton of things going on to welcome me back. The first major event I am hitting up is tonight, Tuesday, from 7 to 11 at one of my favorite brew spots not only in Atlanta, but nationally, Cypress Street Pint and Plate! My homies Billy, Rob, Ryan, Fran, new team member Executive Chef Matt Deckard (formerly T.MAC and the extra gangster Deckard’s), and the rest of the crew are celebrating the Third Annual Cypress Street Beer Carnival! I filmed it on my Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ Web series and it turned out to be one of the best episodes I ever did. (Shout out to Mike Moore and the AllWays Open Creative Fam!) You can check it out here
 Billy and Ale at the first Beer Geek Carnival

This year is going to be a blast as well, featuring The Imperial OPACircus, cellared brews by Clown Shoes, a dunk tank, and Cypress’ consistently delicious grub themed after carnival eats including funnel cakes, corn dogs, corn dogs, and even fried Oreos and Snickers to name a few. I better see y’all there!
Below is the official press release for all the details. Man it’s good to be home!
Cheers!
Ale
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Cypress Street Pint and Plate Presents the Third Annual Beer Geek Carnival


                Featuring Craft Beer, Classic Carnival Fare, a Dunk Tank and Circus Performers Including Jugglers, Fire Eaters,  Stilt Walkers and an Aerialist 

Tuesday, August 19, 2014 from 7 to 11 p.m.

On Tuesday, August 19 from 7 to 11 p.m. Cypress Street Pint and Plate is once again bringing the "Cypress Street Beer Geek Carnival" to Midtown Atlanta.  
As part of Cypress Street's ongoing weekly Beer Geek series that explores and celebrates all things beer, the third annual Beer Geek Carnival will take over Cypress Street's expansive patio and feature the talented performers from The Imperial OPA Circus. Stilt walkers, jugglers, fire-eaters, and aerialists promise to dazzle as beer lovers are invited to enjoy a variety of cellared Clown Shoes brews and offerings from the expansive craft beer menu. Carnival goers can even take a stab at dunking Cypress Street's co-owner Billy Streck and Rob “BrewRu” Merrick in the massive dunk tank. Of course, it wouldn't be a carnival without delicious classics such as corn dogs and mini funnel cakes along with temptations like fried Oreos and Snickers.
For more information, please visit the Cypress Street Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CypressStreet.

About Cypress Street Pint and Plate and Beer Geek Tuesdays: 
Cypress Street Pint and Plate is located on the corner of 6th street and Cypress Street at 817 West Peachtree, Suite E-125, Atlanta, Georgia. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 2:30 a.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until midnight.  Every Tuesday, Cypress Street’s resident Beer Geek, Rob Merrick, hosts Beer Geek Tuesday - a casual exploration of all things beer including food and beer pairings to rare casks and tap takeovers.  For more information, please visit www.cypressbar.com or call 404.815.9243. Follow Cypress Street on Twitter and Instagram at @CypressStreet and Facebook at Facebook.com/CypressStreet.


WHAT:                                 Third Annual Cypress Street Beer Geek Carnival

WHEN:                                 Tuesday, August 19, 2014, 7 to 11 p.m.

WHERE:                              Cypress Street Pint and Plate
                                                817 West Peachtree Street, Ste. E125
                                                Atlanta, GA 30308

COST:                                   Free with cost of food and drink.
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Saturday, August 16, 2014

Check Out Eric Nine’s Art and Pabst Tonight at Star Community Bar!

AllWays Open Creative, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Star Community Bar present: 
The Green Room Exhibit
9 p.m. – until… 
August 16th, 2014 at Star Community Bar 
(437 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307)

Whaddup!

Although I am in New York to speak at a memorial service for late, great godfather, and NFL player Wilbur Young (RIP) this weekend, I still stay dedicated to the home team, and wanted to make sure all my Atlanta people were going to an awesome art exhibit posted by the extremely talented Eric Nine!
Little Five Points’ beloved Star Community Bar is hosting a display of what my brother and business partner of our AllWays Open Creative agency masterfully did to their “Green Room” tonightAugust 16th, at 9 p.m. And guess what? It is supported by beer! Yep, Pabst Blue Ribbon is sponsoring E-Nine as he spent a good part of his late July and August blessing the walls of the chill haven some of the coolest bands use from around the nation and abroad. Below is the press release I hooked up (A-Hem!) with all of the info. And yo, the T-shirt Eric designed and will be giving away while supplies last is sick! Don’t believe me? That's the design at the top.
As always, thank you for supporting AllWays Open. I can’t wait to unveil what we have coming up next. (Hint: Latin ConTEMPOrary II at Loews Hotel Atlanta on September 19! This was last year’s video. Yep!)

Cheers!
Ale
------------------------------------
AllWays Open Creative, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Star Community Bar present:
The Green Room Exhibit
Star Community Bar
437 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
9 p.m. – until…
August 16th, 2014

On August 16th, 2014, at 9 p.m., the AllWays Open Creative agency and America’s beloved brewer—Pabst Blue Ribbon—will be tapping into the brilliant mind of Atlanta, Georgia’s beloved artist Eric Nine as he unveils his jaw-dropping revamping of Star Community Bar’s legendary green room.
Serving as one of Atlanta’s premier venues to showcase the city’s rock bands and visiting music talent from around the world for now officially 20 years in Little Five Points, Star Community Bar’s “Green Room” is experiencing a complete transformation thanks to Mr. Nine’s gifted strokes of vibrant paint. The result is a surreal and brilliant mural for everyone to have free access for one night only.
On Saturday, August 16, Pabst, the Star Community Bar and AllWays Open will welcome everyone 21 years old and over to the Green room to exhibit what future musicians will be surrounded by while waiting to perform and relaxing after. Embracing themes ranging from fantastical landscapes to Star Wars-influenced characters, this is one work of art that will certainly embellish Star Community Bar’s interior décor for years to come.
Other highlights include body grooving DJs Ree de la Vega and Camille on the ones and twos; live performances by Atlanta’s own 4ize and Grip Plyaz; and of course, giveaways including a limited edition T-shirt and print designed by Eric Nine (while supplies last); and of course, ice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon brew to quench everyone’s thirst.
This is one event not to be missed!


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Thursday, August 14, 2014

The Three Taverns/Saltyard Beer Dinner is tonight!

The wait is over! Here are some answers to questions I received...

Tonight is the night and after doing a lot of features on the our upcoming Beer Dinner tonight at 7 pm, including interviews with Saltyard's Executive Chef Nick Leahy HERE and Three Taverns Founder and Brewmaster Brian Purcell HERE, the time has come. To answer a few more questions I received today, here ya go:

Is the $55 all-inclusive including tax and gratuity? 
Absolutely! It is a hell of a deal at the end of the day. Everyone will leave happy. 

I didn't make reservations. Can I just show up? 
Yep! While supplies last that is. It still would be nice to call ahead because there are only so many mussels we can cook, though

I don't eat pork. Can I have something else besides the sausages for the first course? 
We've got you covered. No problem. You will be eating something else that fits your dietary restrictions. 

What about parking? 
It's complementary valet! 

Besides that, just come on by and let loose. You know we will!

Cheers!
Ale




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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Beer Dinner Interview Part 2: Meet Three Taverns Brewing’s Brian Purcell

After interviewing Chef Nick Leahy about our upcoming beer dinner Thursday, it’s the brewmaster and founder of Three T’s turn. Learn what the new brews are on deck for the rest of the year too!

Hey Craft Beer Sippers!

When laying the groundwork to do a beer dinner with Executive Chef Nick Leahy at his wonderful restaurant, Saltyard, one of the objectives was to go local regarding the brewery we wanted to work with. While there are truly some fantastic brewers from around the city of Atlanta we could choose, Three Taverns was not only one of the newest to hit the streets, but also provided a traditional Belgian-style twist to what they are distributing throughout Georgia. To add, everything from their refreshing Single Intent to their strong, dessert-like Quasimodo quad have consistently reaped accolades and pair perfectly with various types of cuisine. Ultimately, Chef Nick agreed it was a match made in beer heaven, so I gave Three Taverns Owner and Brewmaster Brian Purcell a ring and he was down immediately.
After celebrating his brewery’s first birthday this past July, Brian happily made our beer dinner on Thursday, August 14th at 7 p.m. his top priority. (Did you make your reservations yet? If not, you better hurry and call the Saltyard at 404.382.8088! Walk-ins are welcome, but it wouldn't hurt to call ahead.)
In Part Two of my interview series (Part 1 was with Chef Nick here), I sit down with Brian aka Busy B and talk about how gangster this upcoming beer dinner is going to be through his eyes. Here we go!

Me: After looking at the menu, what pairings excite you from this upcoming dinner? 
Brian and his better half, Susie.
Really, the pairing that excites me most is Three Taverns beer and Chef Nick Leahy. Nick's cultured international experience and global perspective alongside his commitment to local sourcing is a perfect match to my open-minded American approach to traditional Belgian-style beers. Like Nick, my travels overseas and experience with old world beer and food culture has influenced my love for the time-tested monastic approach to brewing, and the Belgian love affair with beer and food cooked with beer.
It doesn't get more Belgian than the way Nick has used our beers as one of the ingredients to the amazing dishes prepared for this dinner. While the Fresno chile-spice character in the mussels paired with A Night In Brussels has me salivating, I'm probably most excited for the grand finale—the desert made and paired with my personal favorite Three Taverns beer, the indomitable Quasimodo, a savory Belgian-style 10 percent [ABV] quadrupel. 

Great answer on all fronts. I dig it. Let’s talk about the new beer you are bringing to the table during the first course.
The reception begins with Pils Mundial, our newest beer that we brewed to commemorate the World Cup [Copa Mundial]. It is a crisp Euro-style pilsner dry hopped with Falconer's Flight 7C's for a distinctly American citrus hop aroma and bite. While this is the only non-Belgian style beer in our portfolio, it is the beer of choice throughout Belgium and the rest of the world for sports. In fact, it was so well received and heavily lauded during the World Cup, we've decided to rename and relaunch it as our newest core beer at the end of the month.
We'll be introducing the new Pils Mundial name and packaging design for the first time at this dinner. Coming to market on draft and in six-packs the first week of September, we hope to inspire a new love and appreciation for the beer sensation first brewed in 1842 in the bohemian city of Pilsen which now represents 90 percent of the beer consumed in the world today.

I purposely waited to get my first sip on at the dinner. I can’t wait to see you got down with that! Speaking of new brews in your portfolio, what's next for Three Taverns including the second coming of Recluse?
We definitely have some new beers coming in the next few months, including the second season [of Theophan The Recluse. [Yes!]We just brewed this season's first batch of the Recluse, our dark and mysterious Belgian-style Russian Imperial Stout that will be ready for release in October. This year's version will have everything that was loved last year with even more depth of body and intensity of flavor.
Before the Recluse there is Le Peche Mode, our new saison fermented with natural Georgia peach juice from Lane Orchards conditioned in 750ml bottles; that releases the end of August. But I may be most excited about a very limited release: It’s a Bourbon Barrel Aged version of Quasimodo we're calling Heavy Bells slated for a September release. The first preview of this beer was a huge hit at our one-year anniversary, and it will be available at select bars on draft and in the big 750ml bottles as well.
Oh, and I can't forget this year's release of Feest Noel, our Christmas quad that was only available on draft during last year's winter holiday season. We are working on what may be our most beautiful label yet with this year's release in the big bottles and on draft in November and December.

You know I am an artwork fanatic so that’s what’s up! As for the upcoming brews, you have my readers drooling for real. Any closing words before the big event tomorrow?
[Laughing.] I'm just excited about hanging out with you and Nick, along with the crowd that comes for the dinner. I love people and nothing beats those moments when we gather around the table over good food and drink and a kind of magic happens. I'll drink to that. Cheers!

Cheers bro! 

As I always say, I loooooooove beer dinners. This one is going to be a good one! Like I said, if you can't make reservations here, walk-ins are cool, plus, if you have a thing with pork, we can take care of that too. Just come through and have a blast with us for the love of beer...and gourmet fare!


Tot ziens! [Look it up.]

Ale
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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Saltyard’s Chef Nick Leahy breaks down this Thursday’s beer dinner!

From creating the menu to pair with Three Taverns’ beer to what his favorite course will be, the extra cool Chef Nick Leahy tells all. 

Cheers Everyone!

I am so excited about my upcoming beer dinner with the renowned Saltyard and the award-winning, Belgian-inspired Three Taverns Brewing this Thursday at 7 p.m. (Click here for all the info, the ridiculously good menu, and making reservations.)
From the amazing dishes Saltyard Executive Chef and Partner Nick Leahy has on deck, to the official launch of Three Taverns' new brew—the Pils Mundial—I had to kick it with him a little bit and give you, my beloved readers, a teasing preview of what’s in store. 
Chef Nick, who was born in Bermuda but raised here in Atlanta, has an extensive list of work experience in the culinary industry working everywhere from London, England, to revered Atlanta destinations including Food StudioTwo Urban LicksSTATS, and Parish. Trust me, this dude knows how to throw down with the pots! 
While I sipped a Three Taverns Night in Brussels inside Saltyard’s swanky digs, here are some questions Nick fielded about strategically pairing his food with the beer, how the dinner materialized, and how much he respects Three Taverns’ product, before talking fantasy football (I left out the latter).

Me: What made you choose the food for each course?
Chef Nick: Three Taverns’ beers are really food-friendly beers. They're not mass produced or homogeneous at all. Each one has a lot of thought put into it by Brian [Purcell] (right), from different sugars to the addition of spices like cumin and grapefruit; that makes them really fun to pair with. I tried to put flavors that would complement and enhance the beer, and—whenever possible—I am putting some of that beer in each course. Actually, I think we're putting some of the beer in every course now that I think about it!

Now that is a true beer dinner pairing! Speaking of which, what are favorite pairings at this dinner and what was the most challenging?
I think my favorite might be the dessert. The Quasimodo Quad just has so much going on with it that it's a fun beer to pair with, plus we're making ice cream with it. [Whoa!] I think the most challenging were the first two beers. They're both great beers, but are the lightest two obviously; the challenge was pairing them with something that is interesting and enhances them without overpowering them.

Anything else you want folks to know?
Seriously, both you and Brian at Three Taverns are just great to work with. First off, you both are just extremely passionate about what you do, which makes any interaction great. Second, you both are easy going, down-to-earth people. Seriously, I can’t stand prima donnas. Lastly, any meeting with you guys is a great excuse to drink a Three Taverns beer, so you’re always great to see.

Damn dude, I’m fighting a tear. Ha! After having brunch here and kicking it with you, it was a no-brainer to do this beer dinner. I am glad you and Three Taverns were down. You are both kickass! Okay, enough ego stroking. Leave us with a shout out.
Sure! Just know that I've done a lot of beer dinners, but the pairings for this one are some of the most food friendly that I've had the chance to work with. Plus, supporting local businesses is what we're all about at Saltyard because that's what we are, so it's a great fit. Oh, and I am really excited about the launch of the “Pils Mundial" on Thursday.  Tell people not to miss out!

You know it! Hey everyone, Don’t Miss Out! Trust me, five delectable courses, five excellent craft beers, and a cool vibe to match? You can’t hate on that. Call ahead to make reservations (404.382.8088) and come treat yourself!

See you there!!!

Ale


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Monday, August 11, 2014

Check out SweetWater Brewing’s new bottles!

Photo courtesy of SweetWater.
ATL’s SweetWater shows off new glass packaging and artistically introduces their bottle conditioning technology!

Cheers Y'all!

Man, Atlanta, GA’s beloved SweetWater Brewing is constantly making hella moves, from going the can route to helping us get our craft brewin' on the fly way with their flagship 420 Pale Ale on Delta Airlines to name a few. Now it’s time for their brand new bottles designed by Owens-Illinois, Inc.—which boast a freaky wavy look to reflect SweetWater's love for H2Oalong with their new bottle conditioning technology to keep brew as gangsterly fresh and evenly carbonated as possible. (Yep, I made that word up.)
Along with the official press release stating how these new 420 bottles are coming out this week, check out SweetWater’s awesome and informative graphic below on how they keep a little yeast and sugar in each bottle to keep their beer naturally carbonated.

Happy Sippin’!
Ale
Sweetwater Brewing Company Steps Up in Both Science and Style
Brewery expands conditioning program to bottles and unveils a fresh new glass package

ATLANTA (August, 11 2014) – SweetWater Brewing Company is revamping their bottles inside and out. The Georgia-based brewery announced today that will debut a fresh look for its glass packaging, complemented by a brand-spankin’ new bottle conditioning process for the liquid inside. Folks can expect to wrap their hands around the new curvy bottles and wet their whistles with freshly conditioned bottled beer beginning the second week in August.
SweetWater began conditioning beers with the launch of cans in March of this year. Beginning with 420 Extra Pale Ale and India Pale Ale (IPA) in aluminum this spring, the brewery teased bottle conditioning on the horizon. Now, the process will expand to include bottle brews launching with 420, then moving on to IPA and additional brands in the coming months.
“With our new expansion up-to-speed, we are finally at a place where we can now shift our focus from sustaining to evolving,” said Freddy Bensch, founder and Big Kahuna at SweetWater Brewery. “Quality of product – and of life – have always been what we value most, so we we’re thrilled to be at a place where we could make an investment in the advancement of our packaging and beer, ultimately delivering the freshest possible experience for our customers.”
Conditioning is a natural method used to carbonate beer. Instead of mechanically forcing carbon dioxide into the brew, a carefully calculated amount of priming sugar and yeast is added to the beer immediately prior to packaging. With a small amount of yeast active in the beer, it consumes the residual sugars as well as any oxygen in the head space during a brief secondary fermentation stage, naturally ensuring fresher and more stable beer for longer periods. Once the beer is packaged and sealed, the gas cannot escape and is forced to dissolve into the beer, thus naturally carbonating it.
The brand-new bottle, made by Owens-Illinois, Inc. (O-I), features an original design complemented by fresh bottle neck labels. The SweetWater logo is embossed twice on the shoulder of the bottle. Additionally, the brewery’s motto – “Don’t Float the Mainstream”– is molded in the lower label panel, creating a visual boundary supporting the paper label. The package takes cues from a traditional Belgian bottle profile, but adds to it by incorporating a water wave pattern to the new bulbous neck, giving the bottle a signature look while also connecting the brand to the water that is so vital to the brewery.
“SweetWater challenged us with creating a proprietary bottle design that would help them stand out on the shelf while working with their existing fill and handling capabilities,” said Raul Paredes, director of new product development at O-I. “The design solution provides differentiation in a sea of sameness where standard long necks are the norm.”

For more information on SweetWater Brewery, visit www.sweetwaterbrew.com.


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Friday, August 8, 2014

Look how nuts ATL is going to be on Saturday!

The Inaugural Seafood and Beer Fest, Midway’s Sierra Nevada tap takeover, SweetWater at Canoe, Bone Lick’s 2nd Anniversary, Wild Heaven’s party… Cray, cray!

Whoa!

As I said in my last post about Orpheus here, Saturday in Atlanta is going to be nuts! There are parties, eating extravaganzas, charity events, birthdays, charity events, and tap takeovers based around the world's greatest beverage! Just look at all the events I have direct from the source below. Have fun and enjoy! Oh! And don't forget about my beer dinner next Thursday at the Saltyard in Midtown featuring Three Taverns Brewing; you can get tickets HERE! It's going to be awesome. 
Enjoy Saturday and next Thursday safely my people!
Ale


It’s the Inaugural Atlanta Seafood & Craft Beer Festival!
A summer event dedicated to showcasing the city’s most outstanding seafood fare and local brews, the inaugural Atlanta Seafood & Craft Beer Festival will debut at Piedmont Park on Saturday, August 9, from 12 p.m.–8 p.m. This exciting new festival highlights the best of Atlanta’s restaurants, food trucks and caterers that specialize in serving seafood, as well as the city’s most popular craft breweries. Presented by MARTA, the Festival offers event-goers the opportunity to enjoy a variety of Atlanta’s best and favorite seafood snacks and craft beers, local merchants and artisans, and live entertainment from a few of the city’s beloved local bands.
 General admission to the event is free and open to the public, but food must be purchased from individual vendors and patrons must buy a wristband to enter the festival’s Beer Garden. Tickets are available for purchase online here. The General Beer Wristband comes with one 16oz beer of your choice and allows you to purchase beer and other beverages available in the Beer Garden. For $35, the VIP Craft Beer tasting experience allows you to enjoy 10 of the local craft beers available in the Beer Garden.

Bone Lick BBQ Goes Hog Wild For Its Two-Year Anniversary Bash!
All-Day Bash Features DJs, a Dunk Tank, Food and Drink Competitions and more beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, 2014
West Midtown’s favorite bar-b-cade, Bone Lick BBQ, is excited to invite friends and fellow barbecue aficionados to celebrate its second year of success on Saturday, August 9, 2014. The all-day birthday bash kicks off at 12 p.m. and features DJs, a dunk tank, drinking and eating competitions, food and drink specials and much more.  Owner and pitmaster Mike LaSage’s full food and drink menus will also be available Mike LaSage.
Taking over the expansive sidewalk in front of the restaurant, partygoers will have an opportunity to dunk their favoriteBone Lick BBQ staffers and local personalities throughout the day to help raise need funds for their charities of choice.  Beer lovers can get their fill during a Monday Night Brewing chugging competition and those that dare can participate in the Fat Ass Muff Challenge - a.k.a. attempt to eat the ultimate 5-pound sandwich filled with pulled pork, house smoked sausage, smoked brisket, collard greens, crispy onions, jalapeno infused bacon, and homemade coleslaw.
Simultaneously, another round of Bone Lick’s infamous Sammy Remix Challenge will take place. This competition is for those courageous individuals who want to “reinvent the classic,” pulled pork sammy. The winner of this challenge gets the honor of having their sandwich named after them and placed on the menu for all of Atlanta to enjoy. As always, guests can enjoy free skee ball and take advantage of the barb-b-cade’s multitude of classic arcade games throughout the day and night.

Wild Heaven Serve Your Neighbor Saturday
This Saturday is our first monthly "Serve Your Neighbor Saturday" - just add $8 to your normal $12 tasting glass and our neighborhood friends from Sweet & Sinful Bakery will provide you with specially selected food pairings for each of our six beers! That's the best $20 you'll spend! Advance tickets here.
And Friday night, enjoy a FREE hot dog bar with your $12 tasting glass!

Times & Beers For This Weekend
·         Saturday: 2:00-5:00  21+only w/Free Hot Dog Bar
·         Saturday: 2:00-5:00  21+only w/Optional Sweet & Sinful Food Pairing
·         Sunday: 2:00-4:00 All ages welcome, free drinks for kids. 
Let There Be Light - American Pale Ale 4.7%
White Blackbird - Belgian-style Saison 6.2%
Invocation - Belgian-style Golden 8.5%
The New Ode To Mercy - Imperial Brown Ale 8.2%
Eschaton - Belgian-style Quadrupel 10.5%
Civilization - Barleywine 12%

Advance tickets are always available here. It’s $12 with Wild Heaven goblet tasting glass (or pint glass, your choice!), a tour and six complimentary beer tasting tokens. Nice dogs on leashes are always welcome. Also, check out our new t-shirts, available in our updated online store, where you can also buy Wild Heaven glassware and stickers.  Hope to see you this weekend!
135B Maple St, Decatur, GA 30030
PS: Have your event or party here! Here's some info about that.
PPS: If you're in Macon, we have a tap takeover at The Growler Spot on Saturday. Take home some fresh draft beer!

End of Summer BBQ at Canoe Atlanta
Saturday, Aug. 9 from 1 -4 p.m.
SweetWater’s annual end of summer event celebrating the wrap of our eco-friendly Save the Hooch campaign commences this Saturday. Event includes summer seasonal food (menu items prepared with SweetWater brews) by Canoe’s renowned culinary team, live music and SweetWater beers set to the backdrop of the banks of the Chattahoochee River. All proceeds go back to Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Tap Takeover at Midway Pub!
The Midway is hosting Sierra Nevada Beer Camp tomorrow at noon. We'll have all 12 collaboration brews on tap, split up into 3 flights of 4. Brunch will be served until 2, so if you ever wanted to pair one these brews with our Dirty Bird, now's your chance!
Outside, we'll continue the camp theme with some yard games.  We're setting up a 9-hole mini-golf course, corn hole, giant Jenga, and bocce too!

Cheers!!!
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ALE MAX Returns to Fuse Craft Beer & Sneaker Cultures!

Yup! It's that time again! Ale Max Day , the event put on by my boy Craig and I, will be in its second year, and it's going to be an...

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