Saltyard and I Host a Beer Dinner Celebration with Creature Comforts!

Five Courses with Special and Limited-Release Creature Comforts Brews, a Live Auction, and Raffle next Friday, April 22,  from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

Cheers Y'all!

It’s about to be on next Friday! I am teaming up with one of the best breweries in the nation, Georgia’s own Creature Comforts, along with the great Chef Nick Leahy for a beer dinner on April 22 starting at 6:30. The official write up is below and the link is here. 

You know how I love beer dinners! From pairing food with the world’s best beverage to actually indulging, this is one of my favorite things to do; Chef Nick and I killed it when we did one last year at Saltyard. This time, I will be giving away some slick prizes at the end via a raffle. Proceeds help the The Farmer Fund, an initiative that helps Georgia farmers maintain production when dealing with natural disasters.

Come through!

Ale

My homey Chef Nick Leahy.

Five-Course Seasonal Tasting Menu Paired with Special and Limited-Release Creature Comforts Brews, Live Auction, and Raffle Benefiting The Farmer Fund on Friday, April 22, 2016 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

Athens, Georgia-based brewery, Creature Comforts, Executive Chef Nick Leahy of Saltyard, local non-profit The Farmer Fund, and Atlanta's favorite beer personality, Ale Sharpton, are joining forces to host “An Earth Day Beer Dinner Celebration” benefiting The Farmer Fund at Saltyard on Friday, April 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

The celebratory dinner will be the perfect chance to try two of Creature Comforts’ award-winning, year-round brews, Tropicália and Athena, and will provide guests the opportunity to sample the brewery’s more highly limited releases: Brettomatic, Emergence, and The King’s Ransom. Guests will enjoy a welcome cocktail hour from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. before being seated for dinner at 7:15 p.m. Chef Nick Leahy will present five courses, hors d'oeuvres, and dessert inspired by this Spring’s best local produce with featured Creature Comforts beer pairings.

The evening will come to a close with a live auction and raffle hosted by Ale Sharpton. Cost is $69 per person plus tax and gratuity, and includes dinner, paired beverages, and raffle entry. Guests must be 21+ to attend. Tickets for An Earth Day Beer Dinner Celebration are limited and may be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets. For more information, please visit http://ccbeerdinner.brownpapertickets.com or call Saltyard at 404-382-8088. 

An Earth Day Beer Dinner Celebration Menu:

Hors d'oeuvres

Bibo Pilsner

Passed house made Canadian bacon, Creature Comforts beer mustard on cheddar crackers 

Course 1

Emergence Limited Release Blonde Ale

Otter Bay oysters with Emergence & Meyer lemon granita

Course 2

Athena Berliner Weisse 

Charred local squash, herbed Atlanta Fresh Yogurt, Athena-chile-honey, boiled peanut gremolata

Course 3 

Tropicália American IPA 

Pan-seared scallops, field pea and sweet corn succotash, country ham & tomato butter 

Course 4 

The Kings Ransom Baltic Porter

Pastrami-cured smoked pork cheek, Vidalia onion champ, porter glazed baby carrots

Course 5 

Brettomatic Pale Ale 

Strawberry & rhubarb pie, Brettomatic pastry cream, toasted oat crumb

About Saltyard:

Saltyard delivers a uniquely social dining experience encouraging guests to connect over internationally influenced small plates, craft cocktails and a mostly domestic wine and beer selection. Locally sourced ingredients are featured throughout the restaurant's seasonal menu and the open kitchen and floorplan make it a favorite spot for groups or those looking for a great chef’s table experience. Guests can expect warm, ambient lighting, reclaimed woods mixed with industrial metals and soft banquettes perfect for intimate meals. Saltyard is located in The Brookwood building in South Buckhead and complimentary valet is available in the building’s garage. For more information please visit http://saltyardatlanta.com/ and connect on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/saltyardatlanta, on Twitter @Saltyard and on Instagram @Saltyard.

About Creature Comforts:

Creature Comforts is an Athens, Georgia based brewery offering finely balanced artisanal beers. Since opening its doors in April 2014, Creature Comforts has made an imprint in the craft beer community with its award-winning, year-round and special release beers. To learn more about Creature Comforts, contact Emily@ccbeerco.comor visit us online at www.creaturecomfortsbeer.com. 

About The Farmer Fund:

Founded in 2015, The Farmer Fund exists to support farmers in the face of natural disaster and help keep farmers farming.  We serve the farmers that feed Metro Atlanta through farmers markets, CSAs and restaurant sales. The Farmer Fund provides an economic "stop loss" for our agricultural producers after natural disasters which include but are not limited to tornado, flood, storms and damages resulting from them. We aim to help rebuild farms after natural disasters so that farmers can continue to serve our community. For more information, please visit  www.thefarmerfund.org. 

               

Saltyard and Creature Comforts team up once again on Monday!

It goes down from 5 to 8 on December 19^th!

Whaddup!

Next Monday, December 19, two of my Georgia favorites to work with regarding events and beer dinners—Creature Comforts and Saltyard—are teaming up once again to treat us to some delectable fare paired with sips from arguably the best brewery in the state. Featuring the latter’s Emergence, Reclaimed Rise, Koko Buni, Mutualism, Transmission and Tropicália, my homey Chef Nick Leahy will be pairing at least five dishes with the crafty ales. Even cooler, this event is for a cause by benefiting Amplify My Community, so come through between 5 and 8 pm to indulge and close this year on a lip-smackin’ note for a mere $35 per person! (Call  404.382.8088 to book them early.) The official description is below.

Cheers!

Ale

Craft beer lovers can rejoice – the folks at Saltyard and Creature Comforts are teaming up to bring Atlanta a Christmas miracle! :)

On Monday, December 19, Saltyard is hosting a philanthropic happy hour where Chef Nick Leahy will pair his delicious small plates with the Athens brewery's most popular and limited beers – including Emergence, Reclaimed Rise, Koko Buni, Mutualism, Transmission and Tropicália (keg secured last minute and not included on the flyer)!

Guests will enjoy an interactive experience in Saltyard's bar area from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. that is designed to highlight the notes in each Creature Comforts brew via a "tasting station" approach, where appropriately paired cuisine will be offered with its featured beer companion. A portion of proceeds will benefit Amplify My Community. The cost is $35 pp and tickets can be purchased on arrival. Space is limited, so we suggest guests arrive on time. 

To purchase tickets in advance, call Saltyard directly at (404) 382-8088. 

A sneak peek at a couple menu pairings for the evening:  

- Coffee and cinnamon doughnuts paired with Reclaimed Rise

- Georgia shrimp ceviche paired with Tropicalia 

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 Studio, Two Urban Licks, STATS, 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

The gangster preview of my beer dinner with Three Taverns and Saltyard!

On June 19th at 7, it's on at the Saltyard! 

What's up, Everyone!

As many of you know, I LOVE beer dinners. I have been to more than 50, and I never had a bad time at any of 'em. (Here are a few I have covered.) After doing my first beer dinner outdoors at Barnsley Resort's beer garden in Adairsville, Georgia, along with Greg Teague aka the Wine Snob a couple months ago (which sold out and went perfectly), I cherished the fun challenge of pairing a chef with my selection of craft brews to create a memorable dining experience for beer experts, novices, and gourmands. Now it's time for me to do one in my hometown and I can't wait!
After having brunch in Brookwood with Andrea Janise aka ATLFoodWriter at Atlanta's elegant, yet hip restaurant called Saltyard (see above), I was blown away by the presentation and culinary mastery of Executive Chef and Partner Nick Leahy (plus he's just a super chill dude). Since I am a seafood fanatic, I had this Soft-shell Crab Eggs Benedict dish...

Besides my love for hops, I paired it with the Terrapin Hopsecutioner to pleasantly cut through the fried coating and richness of this dish. It was a success. Afterwards, I brought up the idea of doing a beer dinner with Nick. He was with it immediately. Co-partner Kristy Jones-Favalli and media executive Noelle Jackson (Elle PR) also gave us the thumb's up and it was on! 
The first step was picking a brewery. I had to rep ATL for my first official beer dinner in the city, and chose Three Taverns based in Decatur. Undoubtedly, there were many to choose from and I will be working with a few of them as well in the future, but I just had Taverns' delicious Quasimodo Quadrupel the day before, the rest of their beers are pretty damn flawless, and Belgian-style brews are always fun to pair with fare, so hey. To add, Owner and Brewmaster Brian Purcell (below) and his staff are cooler than Fonzie snowmobiling in the X-Games, so there ya go. When I told Brian about the idea, his reply was anything I am doing, he is down with. That hit home.

That's my homey Brian Purcell aka B-Diddy.

After I got everyone's okay, I showed Nick the tasting notes of all of Three Taverns' beers, plus kindly requested that there had to be seafood somewhere on the menu; he happily came up with a course for each brew (five in total) and I was blown away! He asked me what I thought of his initial menu and I simply replied, "Hell yeah!" He did it in one take like Jay-Z.
It was then time to set the date and Saltyard designed the first flyer, so boom! Here it is:

I will be posting another update soon, but in the meantime, make sure you book a seat, maybe bring a father for a post-Father's Day gift, and come kick it with us. The price is crazily reasonable, too. Trust me, there will be other surprises in store during the evening, so come through!
Look for my upcoming photos of the Atlanta Food and Wine Fest, plus my Annual Ale Sharpton Father's Day Gift Guide too. I will have some interesting stuff a dad would actually dig in it. 

Much beer, grub and love!
Ale

Creature Comforts Beer Dinner Benefiting the Farmer Fund

Once again it's on!

It's beer dinner time!

One of my favorite events combining beer and fare is the Farmer Fund Dinner held annually by Athens’ GA’s own Creature Comforts and Saltyard Owner and Executive Chef Nick Leahy at the gorgeous location in Midtown ATL (1820 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30309) on April 19th. Not only will the experience be one helluva festive one, taste buds will be tantalized, and of course world-class brew will be poured in your complimentary collector’s glass, but it’s also for a great cause—supporting the Famer Fund! In their words, “The Farmer Fund exists to support farmers in the face of natural disaster and help keep farmers farming.”

As you can see, I have covered it a few times if you scroll down here. I truly dig it!
There is also a silent auction and the items aren’t a couple of coozies and t-shirts; some of the hardest beers to get in the South exclusively brewed and donated by the Comforts posse will be available to bid on. They also have a fun Farmer Fund calendar available where various farmers and restaurateurs strip down to aprons and other revealing outfits. Here is a look at this year’s addition with the intention of also raising funds for the cause.

The official description is below. Just know it sells out pretty damn quick, so book your seats asap! Oh, and they have your main man Ale (ummmm, that’s me!) as a special guest to make sure everything goes as dope as possible. It’s truly an honor to be there. 

This one is for the farmers, Atlanta. Don’t miss it. Make your reservations by calling 404.382.8088.

Cheers!

Ale

Thursday, April 19 - Creature Comforts Beer Dinner Benefiting the Farmer Fund

Join Saltyard for a special beer dinner with Creature Comforts on Thursday, April 19 at 6:30pm. With popular offerings such as Tropicalia IPA and Athena Paradiso, the dinner will feature special guest Ale Sharpton. A silent auction will take place on-site to benefit The Farmer Fund, and tickets are $75/each. Guests should call the restaurant directly at 404-382-8088 for reservations.

Oh! Nick Leahy and the Saltyard also have this popping on Thursday, the 26th...

It’s the James Beard Foundation's Celebrity Chef Tour Dinner

Find Saltyard Executive Chef Nick Leahy at April 26's James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour Dinner, hosted by 1KEPT in Charleston (68 Wentworth St). Nick will join other prominent chefs including Atlanta's Jarrett Stieber of Eat Me Speak Me and Philippe Haddad of Cape Dutch, at the "Road to Charleston" dinner – a multi-course meal highlighting the bounty and culinary heritage of Georgia and South Carolina. Tickets can be purchased online here for $200/each.

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 14^th 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

Get a seat at the Farmer Fund Dinner with Creature Comforts and Saltyard!

Once again it's on! Last year's sold out and it was awesome! 

Yo!
Eat for a great cause this Thursday in support of the Farmer Fund but hurry because the seats will sell out! 
After gawking at the GANGSTER Creature Comforts beer list paired with the culinary genius of Chef Nick Leahy, this is going to be an awesome dining and sipping experience. I have done numerous tasting events with "Slick Nick" like this one and he takes things very seriously when it comes to pleasing his audience. Of course, Saltyard is one of the best restaurants in the South and Creature out of Athens is celebrating their 3rd birthday this weekend, so you know they will be in a happy mood. Basically, it's a no-brainer situation, so come through!

Cheers!
Ale

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

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 2^nd 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.

For more info: http://www.chattahoochee.org/canoebbq.php

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!!!

Check out my Skype interview with Craft Conscious!

This was a fun one talking about the future of beer, Hebru, dope breweries, Cruisin' For A Brewsin', the future of the industry and you to name a few!

Whaddup!!!

Oh man, whatta crazy few days managing and producing that GANGSTER mural with the incredible Hebru Brantley on the Sound Table’s wall alongside my creative agency AllWays Open and Heineken. Stay tuned for some incredible footage on that, and follow my Instagram (@realalesharpton) and hashtag #AllWaysHebruHeineken. Feel free to shoot a picture in front of it and use the hashtag so I can show love! 

Anyway, after finally getting a breather from standing in the sun for five days straight and hosting the launch parties on Saturday to name a few duties that drained me, it was rewarding to see the fun-filled interview I did on Skype with the dope Web series by Craft Conscious and host Drew Dillman. Here is their setup:

“A look into the future with editor and contributor countrywide, Ale Sharpton’s passion lies within the craft beer industry. On top of his expert writing, Ale also plans events that promote breweries and celebrities.  A unique view today of the industry, where it’s been, and where it’s going! 

- See more at: http://craft-conscious.com/161-ale-sharpton/

We talked about so many topics including the future of beer, art, how down-to-earth everyone is in the industry, how I got to where I am, the dope beers out right now, craft breweries getting bought up, and you, the coolest folks ever! Oh yeah, I shouted out a gang of folks including…

Creature Comforts

Hebru Brantley

Ballast Point

The Brick Store

Willie The Kid

New Belgium

Joe Six Pack

Cantillon

AmaWaterways

Sierra Nevada

Lowenbrau

Food 101

SaltYard

Cornell

Chef Simone Byron

Polo Ralph Lauren

Atlanta Hawks

Mavericks Beer

And a ton more!

Subscribe to Craft Conscious and show them love! They do it big and it’s a necessary element to the craft beer movement. 

Please share this interview and let me know what you think via Twitter, Facebook, and, of course, the comment section below.

And to everyone who joined me and supported the mural this past week, you are the shizzzznit! Much love to y’all!

Ale

Check out my new video featuring Lonerider and T.Mac!

My homey and head brewer of Lonerider, Galen Smith, shows my sticker some love in-between shooting.

We feature the Jack Daniels barrel-aged DeadEye Jack Porter coming 8/21 right HERE!

Whaddup!

It’s Cruisin’ ForA Brewsin’ time with your one and only Ale Sharpton as I meet up with T.Mac Craft Beer Director Adam Anacker to once again hit the road to unveil another brewing collaboration. 

The last two were at Woodchuck Cider in Vermont for their Pear Cider collaboration and Monday Night Brewing for the T.Mac Daddy Porter. This time, it’s with Lonerider in Raleigh, North Carolina right here. Besides their refreshing mainstay sippers—Eve, Red Spur, and Shotgun Betty—the star of the show is the Jack Daniel's Whiskey barrel-aged DeadEye Jack Porter! It’s available at participating T. Mac locations the third Thursday of August. Trust me, it’s gooooooood!

Special thanks go out to Zack, Sumit and the rest of the Lonerider posse who were also featured in this video.

Look for more Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ episodes especially when we feature T.Mac’s gangster collaborations!

Ride on!!!

Oh, and on the credit side, this video is filmed by Mike Moore for AllWays OpenCreative, produced by Ale Sharpton, and Executive Produced by T.Mac and Lonerider Brewing. The music is by the extra talented composer and producer, Rashad “Suede” Byron for Earkraft Entertainment.

Look for my post for my beer dinner on Thursday, August 14th, with Three Taverns Brewing at the Saltyard coming up next! Here is a sneak peek of the menu. click on it below or here:

I appreciate you! Keep sippin' the good stuff!

Ale

CigarBQue Returns To Atlanta On April 21

Eat. Drink. Smoke Some Sticks. Not mad at that!

Whaddup?!

If you are into cigars, grilled grub and getting your sip on, the second installment of CigarBQue at Old Fourth Ward’s Venkman’s is your event! There will be four chefs, six drink specialists, and a complementary cigar from Diamond Crown, so I am definitely going to slide by. Below's the skinny straight from the source. Proceeds are going to a good cause too, called the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. 

Oh! And the beer dinner I am helping host at The Saltyard in Midtown follows on Friday, April 22, so save room! Next week is going to be rockin’!

Cheers!

Ale

CigarBQue Returns To Atlanta On April 21

The national festival highlighting top local food and beverage talent will take over Venkman’s for a Thursday evening of cigars, cocktails and grilled bites

CigarBQue will take place in Atlanta this spring for a second consecutive year after a successful inaugural event in 2015. The nationwide touring festival, presented by Diamond Crown cigars and founded in Chicago, will bring together a collection of Atlanta’s top food and beverage talent for an evening filled with fine cigars, great food and unique drinks at Venkman’s, the premiere dining and live music destination in the Old 4th Ward, on Thursday, April 21 from 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Taking advantage of the spring weather, CigarBQue will be held on the expansive, newly opened patio at Venkman’s. Approximately three hundred guests will be able to enjoy delicious grilled dishes from five of Atlanta’s top chefs while imbibing original cocktails from five of Atlanta’s best bartenders. Premium cigars from Diamond Crown are included in each guest’s ticket package to be enjoyed with the food, drinks and live music curated by Venkman’s. Please see below for a list of chef and beverage participants:

Food

Chef Nick Melvin, Venkman’s (host)

Chef Jordan Wakefield, Smoke Ring

Chef Conor O’Reilly, Seven Lamps

Chef Rusty Bowers, Pine Street Market

Sommelier Ian Mendelsohn, Vine & Tap

Beverage

Pieter Guilbault, Venkman’s (host)

Madison Burch, Seven Lamps

Mikey Kilbourne, One Eared Stag

Adr’ain Harrow, Unique Syrups

Garn McCown, Gypsy Kitchen

“CigarBQue was started by chefs and we love that it highlights local restaurants even though it’s a nationwide event,” says Chef Nick Melvin of Venkman’s. “It’s basically perfect: cigars, good food, stiff drinks and a little wine on a big patio on a spring night. Plus, our live music and location not far from the Beltline are factors that will make this year’s CigarBQue tough to beat.”

Tickets to the event cost $75 (excluding fees), and proceeds will be donated to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, which works with local organizations in the Dominican Republic to fight poverty and provide useful job training and skills development for the nation’s citizens. The organizers of CigarBQue would also like to recognize Chef Jordan Wakefield of Smoke Ring for his participation in both 2015 and 2016. His generosity and the excellence of his dish in 2015 have earned him and his wife, Erin Wakefield, a trip to Tampa, Florida to cook at the CigarBQue finale event at J.C. Newman’s headquarters, the parent company for Diamond Crown Cigars. The chef with the best dish this April, as chosen by the organizers of CigarBQue, will make the trip to Tampa next year. CigarBQue’s first 2016 event will take place in Atlanta, followed by stops in Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; Portland, OR; Philadelphia, PA; St. Louis, MO and Tampa, FL.

To purchase tickets to CigarBQue, visit www.cigarbque.com and select Atlanta from the “Cities” dropdown menu. Tickets are also available on Eventbrite here. Connect with CigarBQue on Facebook and Twitter. The festival will take place at Venkman’s, located at 740 Ralph McGill Blvd., Atlanta, Georgia 30312.

ABOUT CIGARBQUE

CigarBQue is an intimate evening of fine cigars and food prepared by some of the country’s best chefs. This outdoor grilling event features top notch food, wine, beer, creative cocktails and Diamond Crown Cigars.

It all began when Executive Chefs Rick Gresh and Cleetus Friedman decided to meld together their passions for fine foods, entertainment and premium cigars to host a unique charity event. The first CigarBQue Chicago in 2012 was such a success, every participating chef agreed to come back for the 2013 event in less than 24 hours and the event has only grown in popularity.

In 2015, after three years of a successful partnership in the Chicago area, the CigarBQue concept expanded nationwide so people across the country can enjoy this outstanding culinary experience in a relaxed atmosphere. To learn more about a specific CigarBQue event visit the website at www.cigarbque.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.