When planning a party or tailgate to watch the big football game, there are a few essential items you MUST have on hand - finger foods, a good TV, and of course, beer. There are few things that go better with football than beer. Most people (including myself) usually resort to buying a big 30 pack of light beer from the nearest gas station or liquor store for such events. As I’ve gotten older, and some would say wiser, falling back on light beer for a football game has started to bore me. I … [Read more...]
O’Dempsey’s Inukshuk IPA
For the past few years, I have had the worst of luck at making my way to an O'Dempsey's tasting. The last time I missed them was at the Great Atlanta Beer Festival, which I had unfortunately had to skip out on due to last minute travelling plans. Finally, I found a 6 pack of Inukshuk IPA at my local Whole Foods. At the time, I had been tempted by another one of my local favorites. However, like any wise man in this situation, I decided to pick up both! After I made my way home and turned on … [Read more...]
North Georgia Vineyard Makes a Big Impression
Last night, I had the opportunity to watch two of my friends from college exchange vows at a vineyard tucked away in the North Georgia Mountains. Just a little over an hour north of Atlanta, Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery was a beautiful location for such a momentous event. I was excited to see one of my old roommates tie the knot, but I would be lying if that wasn't the only thing at the vineyard that caught my attention; their red wine, Instinct. As most of you know, we are big on local … [Read more...]
Moondog Growlers – 2 Flights and 1 Jug Later
This past weekend, I had the pleasure to sort of stumble upon Moondog Growlers in Dunwoody. The growler shop isn't in the most obvious storefront in the area. As someone who grew up there, I think of it as more of a cut through from Chamblee-Dunwoody road to Mount Vernon Highway. Their location, however, doesn't seem to be keeping the craft beer crazed suburbanites from getting their fix. My friend Landon and I, lucky for us, must have made it in during a lull, so we had a few minutes for the … [Read more...]
Southern Ground: 10 Independent Coffee Shops We Love
I Love Coffee I first started drinking coffee regularly during the summers I worked at Camp Rockmont, but this infatuation did not start in earnest until I graduated college. Coffee has become a welcome daily ritual, something warm, and a drink to gather around. I’ve begun to even have particular roasts and regions I’m fond of, developing a bit of snobbery around my coffee. Hey, if you’re gonna drink it, enjoy it. Since I travel a good bit, I also enjoy the coffee shop, especially local … [Read more...]
Red Brick Hoplanta – A Perfect Summer IPA
On a hot summer day, I typically prefer a lighter bodied beer, with a touch of citrus. Something like a Wheat Beer or a Pale Ale would usually make its way into my tailgate cooler. That is... until I picked up a six pack of Red Brick Brewing Company's Hoplanta. The Hoplanta is a solid IPA coming from one of the oldest brewing companies in Atlanta, and it instantly resonated as a "summer beer" after I took that first sip. I'm a big fan of IPAs, and an even bigger fan of tailgating. Needless … [Read more...]
Summer 2012 Beer Festivals in Atlanta
Spring is flying by pretty quickly, and our friends at local breweries around the South are already getting us worked up about summer beer festivals in Atlanta. As you have most likely caught on, we at The Trot Line love our food and drink. Over the past few years, we have been able to witness a surge of craft breweries popping up all over the South. Not only have we seen breweries sprout out of the ground, Atlanta, among a few other cities in the South, has become a hub of awesome beer … [Read more...]
Southern Brews: Lazy Magnolia’s Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale
Lately, craft beer has been enjoying a renaissance of sorts, and southern breweries have been leading the charge. One brewery sets the bar in terms of creativity - Lazy Magnolia of Kiln, MS. Lazy Magnolia is Mississippi’s first and only brewery. It has an impressive lineup, but its crown jewel, and my personal favorite, is its Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale. I fell in love with this unique beer while in school at Ole Miss and have been patiently awaiting its arrival here in Georgia since … [Read more...]
Red Hare Rabbit’s Reserve #2: Imperial Red IPA
It's always exciting to see craft breweries jumping in head first and experimenting with new beers. One of Atlanta's newest breweries, Red Hare Brewing Co, has already made a name for themselves with a solid fleet of flagship brews and their cask experiments (which you can usually find on weekend brewery tours.) These guys aren't afraid to share with you what they're playing around with. That said, Red Hare's second reserve release, the Rabbit's Reserve #2 Imperial Red IPA, has been making … [Read more...]
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival Atlanta – A Fuzzy Recap
It’s taken a full week, but I’ve finally drifted back to reality after experiencing what can only be described as heaven on earth, the Holy Grail of all Southern goodness – the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival (BBB). The festival made its way to Atlanta for the first time ever and, with breath that still smells of bourbon, I must admit it lived up to the hype. Purchasing VIP tickets through Groupon to experience the best the tents offered, we were granted access to BBB at 12 noon for what … [Read more...]