Episode 12: Sips of the South: A Deep Dive into Atlanta's Local Breweries and Distilleries

Welcome to Atlanta Local Unplugged, the podcast that explores Atlanta's vibrant local scene for food, music, entertainment, culture, unplugged events, and the many hidden gems in Atlanta. Your host is Riley Bennett. Let's dive in.

Hey, ATL, I'm Riley Bennett, and this is episode 12, Sips of the South.

Today, I'm your guide to Atlanta's breweries and distilleries, where to hop, what to sip, and how to pair it all with art, music, and pop-up eats.

Whether you're planning date night or wrangling friends, consider this your blueprint for a flavorful, stress-free Atlanta adventure. Let's map clusters for easy hops. Beltline Eastside, New Realm, Bigger Staff.

West End's Lea Plus White, Monday Night Garage, Wild Heaven, ASW Whiskey Exchange, West Midtown, Firemaker, and nearby Atlanta Brewing's Revival, Grant Park, Summer Hill, Halfway Crooks, Elsewhere, Decatur Chambly, Three Taverns, Inner Voice,

Distillery of Modern Art, Walk Within Clusters, Rideshare Between, Atlanta's Pore Sheet, Crisp Lager Revival, Decocted Pills and Hells, Fruit Sours Leaning Tropical, Big Barrel-Age Stouts in Winter, Hop Forward IPAs with Bright Citrus. On Tap Lists,

Scan ABV in Serving Format. Ask What's Freshest and If Slow Pores Are On. Cocktail Side, Chase Southern Queues, Pecan Sorghum Peach Shrub Smoked Bitters, and House Infusions Showcasing Local Grain or Botanicals. Hidden Gem, Inner Voice Indicator.

Small, Design Forward Tap Room, Dialed-In Loggers, and Soft, Expressive IPAs. It's special for tight quality control and playful collab drops. Go early evening Thursday for fresh cans and space to chat the brewer.

Follow their Instagram stories for can count updates, pre-order when offered, and bring a small cooler. Limited releases disappear before Saturday.

First-timer picks, Monday Night Garage, Mixed Culture Sours, Barrel Blends, sprawling art-filled space. New Realm, Beltline Patio Views, Strong IPA Program, Rotating Pilot Loggers.

Sweetwater, the OG Hop House, Tour, then grab a fresh IPA or seasonal hazy. Halfway Crooks, precise German-inspired loggers, slow pours, minimalist vibe. Firemaker, metal-winning seasonals, and creative fruited styles.

Add bigger staff for coffee to beer days. Distillery Stops, ASW, whiskey exchange at Leigh Plus White for Fiddler-Burbon flights, or the Armour Drive Malt House for American Single Malts. Try a Boulevardier Riff with resurgence rye.

Distillery of Modern Art and Chambly pairs a gallery with a gin program. Order a tonic with house tinctures. Independent Distilling Indicator focuses on southern rum and bourbon.

Sip a classic daiquiri, then a neat pour. Pop-ups power pairings. Follow brewery Instagrams and check stories day of, menus move.

Quick cheats, hot chicken with crisp pills or cold IPA. Tacos with limey ghosts or light lager. Smoky barbecue with malty amber or bourbon highball.

Vegan grain bowls with saison or citrusy gin fizz. Pastry stout night, split small pours and counter with salty fries. Neighborhood bite, summer hill.

Start at halfway crooks, slow pour pills, then a pale. Walk Georgia Avenue, tacos at De Boca and Boca, or wings at How Crispy Sweet Stop at Hero Donuts. Swing by Elsewhere Brewing for a saison or trivia.

Cap with Big Softie Soft Serve. Rideshare from the neighborhood roundabout to avoid postgame traffic. Atlanta's craft visuals matter.

Monday Night Garage and Wild Heaven host mural walls and maker markets. Distillery of Modern Art curates rotating exhibitions tied to label aesthetics.

To meet artists, arrive at market opening, bring cash for small prints, and ask staff who designed current labels. Many are local illustrators. Follow taproom calendars for live screen print sessions.

You can snag limited posters that match a release beer or cocktail. For soundtracks, check New Realm's Stage Nights overlooking the Beltline, Monday Night Garage's DJ sets during releases, and Wrecking Bar's Intimate Singer-Songwriter Evenings.

West Midtown puts you near Terminal West, pre-game at Firemaker and stroll to the show. On the east side, sip at Three Taverns Imaginarium, then catch a set at Variety Playhouse or Isle Five.

Always scan event links for cover charges and capacity caps. Date night, start at Distillery of Modern Art, one gin cocktail and a gallery browse, then ride share to New Realm for rooftop views and a shared flight, budget $60, $80 for two.

Friends Outing, West End Loop, Monday Night Garage, Wild Heaven, ASW Whiskey Exchange, about two hours, $25.45 per person with a snack. Beat crowds by arriving before 6 p.m.

Fridays or noon Saturdays, reserve patios and hydrate, seasonal watch, release parties, Oktoberfest and Lagerfests, cocktail classes, charity runs, holiday markets, set calendar alerts.

Low no, NA lagers or sours on draft, spirit-free shrubs, and urban tree cidery for mixed groups.

Practicalities, check hours, arrive early, parking varies, Marta to West End or Inman Park, ride share to Cluster Edges, grab to-go cans and sealed bottles.

Weekend shortlist, one halfway crook's slow pour pills, Precision, two ASW Fiddler flight, bourbon geekery, three Firemaker Hazy fresh, four Dome G&T gallery vibes, Monday night garage sour, crowd pleaser.

We mapped hops, pours, pairings, art, and sound. Thanks for sipping ATL with me. Stay safe, y'all.

Catch you soon.

You've been listening to Atlanta Local Unplugged with host Riley Bennett. Until next time, plan fast, explore deep, and enjoy Atlanta.