*Note: OTP = Outside the Perimeter... I'll get to that later. You could say that I have developed a deep appreciation for craft beers. As a former resident of downtown Decatur, it didn't take long for me to start craving great beer when I began to migrate from Decatur to Woodstock. A photo posted by The Trot Line (@thetrotline) on Sep 20, 2014 at 12:10pm PDT Fortunately, a local brewery has popped up in each neighborhood that I lived in as I moved further away from the … [Read more...]
Start Your Tampa Brewery Tour at Coppertail Brewing Co
My wife and I embarked on our first spring break in years, and we headed to Florida. Before we hit the beautiful Anna Maria Island, we made a two day pit stop in Tampa to visit her college friend. Carrie (her friend), is married to a bit of a beer enthusiast, and Eric was kind enough to take me to a couple of breweries not far from Seminole Heights. First of all, it needs to be said that the Tampa beer scene is impressive. Well done! Coppertail Brewing Co was the first brewery that we … [Read more...]
Spring Beer Festivals You Can’t Miss
After multiple winter storms, gloomy days, and a lack of outdoor eating, everyone in Atlanta has got the itch to jump head first into Spring. I don't know about you, but I'll take my lungs full of pollen any day over the winter blues. Let's toast to the 2014 Spring season with beer festivals galore. Here are the ones you won't want to miss. 2014 Spring Beer Festivals in Atlanta Georgia Craft Beer Festival - March 22 - The number of high quality craft beer breweries and brew pubs have … [Read more...]
Get Roasted in Milledgeville – Beans, Beer, and Baked Goods
My first job while in college was as a barista at Blackbird Coffee in Milledgeville, Georgia. Not only was it a coffee shop, but it was also a small batch roaster. Once or twice a week, I'd walk into work to the smell of a freshly roasted batch of beans. The job gave me an appreciation for the craft of everything coffee. Up until Friday, it had been 4 years since I had walked through the coffee shop. Blackbird Coffee, set in historic downtown Milledgeville, was never lacking any character. … [Read more...]
Well Done S. Carolina – IPA by Westbrook Brewing Co
I visited Ale Yeah! Roswell* on this rainy Sunday with the intent of grabbing a 4-pack of a Colorado brewing company that I've become quite fond of over the years. They have a canned beer section in the shop which I enjoy checking out to see who is going to make it to the lake and beach with me this summer. I saw a few of my favorites like Deviant Dale's and Red Hare's Gangway IPA. Finally though, I found a six pack of Westbrook Brewing Co's IPA. I've been looking for Westbrook Brewing Co for … [Read more...]
Party in a Box: Available at Costco
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...]