Awesome January beer and spirit events in ATL and Athens, Georgia!

From amazing dinners to annual celebrations, it's on!

I’m baaaaack!

Whaddup y’all! First of all, I want to thank you for helping me reach 2,000,000 visits last year! I will make sure to continue returning the love as much as possible. There are so many things happening that graciously require my involvement (Jezebel Magazine, FirstWeFeast.com, Urban Lux, Men’s Book, car reviews, television appearances, my Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ beer show, and running my AllWays Open Creative Agency to name a few), but this website is my heart with you in mind. Again, thank you!

Okay, to start off the new year after my on this I just returned from extensive travel including visits to Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando, so it’s time for Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ to kick off 2015 in full throttle regarding the beer scene particularly in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia.

From a listing of impressive upcoming feasts from Southbound, Meehan’s, and The Pig In The Pearl boasting my favorite pairing—beer and cuisine—to the 11th Annual Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting; Terrapin’s Annual Athens Wake-n-Bake Off; and even a dining event based on variations of Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky, Georgia continues to kick ass when it comes to helping us reach liquid bliss!

I included the descriptions I received straight from sources with Web links, and a little of my commentary here and there, so get ready to plan on helluva remaining January!

Look for more events coming soon. It’s good to be back!  This year is going to be, well, gangster!

Southbound does a beer dinner with Green Flash Brewing

Tuesday, January 13th at 7 p.m.

This classy affair is a definite! I am in there like swimwear! An impressive roster of culinary geniuses collaborate at Southbound in Chamblee (5394 Peachtree Rd, Chamblee, GA, 30341) to pair their fare with one of the most gangster breweries in the nation, Green Flash, for one night only! The menu looks awesome! See below with the scoop:

On Tuesday, January 13th at 7 pm, Southbound restaurant in Chamblee will host a collaborative beer dinner with award-winning, West Coast craft brewery Green Flash Brewing Co., featuring five courses created by Southbound's Executive Chef Ryan Smith and guest chefs Josh Hopkins of Empire State South, Jarrett Stieber of pop-up restaurant Eat Me Speak Me, Ryan Smith of Staplehouse, and Eric Ottensmeyer of Leon's Full Service. Green Flash was founded in California in 2002 and is based in San Diego.

The dinner will be celebrated in Southbound's rustic and elegant upstairs room for private events, which features an ornately carved wooden bar reclaimed from the historic Peabody Hotel in Memphis. $70 per person; reservations are available online here.

Here is the menu:

·         Amuse: scallop crudo, citrus salad, serrano (from Ryan Smith of Southbound)

·         Cold smoked trout crudo, pickled mustard greens, xo sauce (from Josh Hopkins of Empire State South)

·         Cauliflower with kalamata olive, satsuma orange, gochugaru, cured tofu (from Jarrett Stieber of Eat Me Speak Me)

·         Butter poached sturgeon (lightly cured and smoked), sweatbread, fennel, grapefruit, enoki (from Ryan Smith of Southbound)

·         White oak pastures guinea hen, celeriac, caramelized creme fraiche, toasted koji (from Ryan Smith of Staplehouse)

·         Raspberry jelly donuts & chocolate-coffee-toffee ice cream (from Eric Ottensmeyer of Leon's Full Service)

About Southbound

Opened in June 2014, Southbound is housed in a historic, former Masonic lodge in Chamblee, Georgia, just 15 minutes from midtown Atlanta. Ryan Smith, formerly of Watershed, serves as Executive Chef, and the market-driven menu pays homage to classic Southern cuisine while highlighting the freshest ingredients from nearby farms. Southbound is owned by Mike Plummer (born in Midwest, formerly in construction, worked in winemaking for Garretson Wines in CA) and Dennis Lange (Atlanta native, formerly of Local Three, Five Seasons Brewery, and Yakotori Den Chan). Southbound recently welcomed Maggie Meroney as Wine Director. Maggie is a French Wine Scholar with decades of experience teaching wine courses, guiding tastings, and managing wine cellars. Located at 5394 Peachtree Rd, Chamblee, GA, 30341, Southbound is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

The Mad Hatter-Themed Beer Dinner Meehan’s Sandy Springs

Thursday, January 15 at 7:30 p.m.

I’m definitely going to this one based on the Alice In Wonderland theme alone! Here’s the scoop:

Join Alice, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit and the rest of the characters for a Mad Hatter themed dinner at Meehan’s Sandy Springs. The five-course dinner, featuring New Holland Brewery, will be held on January 15 at 7:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy Chef Stephen Welch’s innovative menu featuring, Savory Sweet Potato Cookie, Mock Turtle Soup, Smoked & Fried Blue Foot Mushrooms, Braised Rabbit Ragu and Lemon Torte, Lemon Tart & Lemon Pudding. Tickets are $60 (excluding tax and gratuity) and can be reserved by calling 404.843.8058. More info is here: Meehans-Sandy Springs

The Pig & The Pearl Launches Third Thursday Beer Dinner Series with Orpheus

Thursday, January 15 featuring Orpheus Brewing

I have been wanting to hit up this Atlantic Station-based dining destination featuring the mastery of Celebrity Chef Todd Richards for the longest!

Here’s the scoop:

The Pig & The Pearl, Atlantic Station's smokehouse-meets-raw-bar, is brewing up a brand new beer dinner series for the new year. Hosted on the third Thursday of every month, each brew master dinner will feature selections from a local brewery paired with three courses of delicious creations from executive chef Todd Richards.

The series kicks off on Thursday, January 15 at 7 p.m. with Orpheus Brewing. The evening will begin with a reception featuring Orpheus Brewing's first release, Atalanta, and passed appetizers such as tuna and trout tartare and smoked oyster toast. The three-course dinner showcases Orpheus Brewing's second flagship beer, Lyric Ale, as well as sours Sykophantes and Wandering Blues. Pairings include The Pig & The Pearl's Szechuan pork belly, smoked short beef ribs and huckleberry pound cake. Cost is $50 per person, and reservations can be made by calling 404-541-0930. 

Founded in 2013, Orpheus Brewing offers beers unique to the Southeast and is dedicated to producing artful, craft beers within its lineup of saisons, sours, hops and barrels. The brewery is located in Midtown overlooking Piedmont Park and the Beltline.

The Pig & The Pearl has garnered rave reviews and attention since its July opening in Atlantic Station. Owners Todd Martin, Cindy Shera and chef Todd Richards of The Shed at Glenwood have created a buzz-worthy second restaurant featuring artfully prepared and chef-driven food that's approachable and fun. The menu is a one-stop shop for all things smoked with brisket, pork shoulder, duck and sausage alongside fresh raw and smoked seafood and shellfish.

For more information, visit thepigandthepearl.com or the restaurant’s Facebook page. The Pig & The Pearl is located at 1380 Atlantic Avenue NW, immediately adjacent to the valet stand and across from the Red 1 stairwell. Lunch and dinner are available seven days a week, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Terrapin’s Annual Athens Wake-n-Bake Off 

January 17, 2015 in the Foundry Ballroom at Graduate Athens

I am not only going, but I am judging this joint! That W-N-B Coffee Oatmeal Stout is one of the best not only in the state but in the world and it is celebrating its tenth year! Plus you get a W-n-B collector’s mug!

Here’s the scoop:

Terrapin Beer Co.'s highly-acclaimed Monster Beer W-n-B Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout, known as Wake-n-Bake to the beer's fans, celebrates its 10th birthday this month. As part of the festivities, Terrapin is hosting its annual Athens Wake-n-Bake Off on January 17, 2015 in the Foundry Ballroom at Graduate Athens. The event will feature a baking competition with proceeds benefiting Wholesome Wave Georgia.
The Athens Wake-n-Bake Off challenges cooks to create a baked dish, either sweet or savory, using any Terrapin beer as an ingredient. A panel of judges tastes each offering to decide the winner of the coveted Silver Spatula. Event attendees are also able to vote for their favorite to name the People's Choice winner.
While Terrapin has hosted previous annual Wake-n-Bake Off competitions in Athens, this year will prove to be the largest event yet. With two competitor categories (professional cook and home cook) and over 40 entrants total, guests are sure to get their fill and find a favorite treat while supporting a much-needed organization. Wholesome Wave Georgia works to provide access to fresh, locally grown foods to low-income Georgians by doubling the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit dollars at partner markets throughout the state.
In addition to the Wake-n-Bake Off, Terrapin is asking fans to commemorate Wake-n-Bake's 10th anniversary in photo form. Fans can enter the Wake-n-Bake Place-n-Take photo contest through January 15 by creating a "perfect 10" with a bottle of Wake-n-Bake. For examples and to enter, see www.terrapinbeer.com/contests.
Tickets to the Athens Wake-n-Bake Off are on sale now online for $15 at www.terrapinbeer.com/bakeoff. Tickets will also be available at the door the day of the event for $20. Tickets include admission, a souvenir Wake-n-Bake mug, the first pour of Terrapin beer, a raffle ticket for a chance to win Terrapin merchandise, and samples of the baked dishes entered in the competition. 

The 11^th Annual Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting

Saturday, January 24 from 3 to 6 at Sandy Springs-Prado

On Saturday, January 24 at 5 Seasons and Taco Mac Prado in Sandy Springs, I am participating in the judging of the 11^th Annual Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting. My thirsty self has to be there at 8 a.m. in the morning to see what the standouts are from more than 40 unique craft beers representing America and the United Kingdom—all served from traditional, English-style casks! When the event starts at 3 pm and ends at 6, you and the Georgia beer community will be sippin’ a diverse range of brew styles from puckering IPAs to gangster bourbon barrel-aged stouts! What’s even cooler is that attendees are drinking for a cause: It's a benefit for the Atlanta Humane Society.

Hey, anything Georgia beer authority Owen Ogletree of Brewtopia and Classic City Brew is a part of, I am supporting, so I hope to see ya there! It’s a blast, trust me! Get your ticket before they are sold out. Here’s more info: http://classiccitybrew.com/acat.html 

Johnnie Walker ‘Burns Night’ Dinner at Rí Rá Irish Pub, Atlanta

January 24^th, 2015 at 7 p.m.

Yep! I do spirits too. This one sounds awesome at arguably the best Irish pub in town! here is the menu.

Here’s the scoop:

Rí Rá Irish Pub—Atlanta, will be hosting a Johnnie Walker “Burns Supper” on the 24^th of January 2015 (www.rira.com/atlanta, 1080 Peachtree St., Suite 1, Atlanta, GA 30309, 404.477.1700). This special dinner event honors the Scots ‘Bard’ Robert Burns, regarded as the national poet of Scotland and celebrated worldwide every January. The tradition of the Burns Supper started in 1803 in Ayrshire, Scotland and has since found a receptive audience around the world wherever Scots & Celts have settled, including here in Atlanta, GA.

 Guests will enjoy a traditional four course menu and each course will be paired with a whisky from the Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky range. The ‘Supper’ will allow guests to feast on traditional Scottish fare including Cock-a-leekie soup, followed by a Winter Salad of Scallops & Black Pudding, Grilled Salmon Balmoral or Traditional Haggis with Neeps & Tatties, and a Raspberry Cranachan to round off the meal. A piper, a highland fling or two and even a toast or two will make this a night to remember. Tickets for this special evening are $40 or $35 pre-sale. Places are limited and tickets can be purchased from the pub.

Rí Rá Atlanta has a great lineup of live entertainment this month featuring Saturday night performances from Pistol Town, Satellite Boulevard, Jakob & The good People, The Scott Moody Band and The Garrison Blagg Band. Entertainment continues throughout the week with Free Roll Poker on Sundays, Rolling Jackpot Trivia on Tuesdays, ‘Live Band’ Karaoke on Thursdays and DJ DRTI on Fridays.

See y’all soon!

Ale