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Author Archives: Russ Webb

Baby Got Beer   →  Articles by: Russ Webb
Categories Brew Reviews Brewery Reviews Reviews The Vibe

It takes a Steady Hand to make a good beer…

“There’s a new brewery opening, you wanna go?”

For me, that is like a kid hearing “Hey, they are giving out free candy, you want some?”

I am always up for visiting a new brewery as I can’t wait to experience the vibe. Steady Hand has been gypsy brewing for a couple of years, so hearing they were going to get their own space was pretty exciting. The fact they chose one of the fastest growing areas of Atlanta shows that they truly want to make an impact on the ATL brewery scene, and the opening day crowd definitely showed them the love.

The new brewery is located off Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard on Atlanta’s up and coming westside, just across the street from Top Golf (beer and ball striking…sounds good to me!). The space that Kevin & Brian Sullivan found works perfectly, with large open spaces and a bar that rivals almost any taproom. There is also plenty of outdoor space and I can see this place being perfect for corporate rentals or social events. During the opening they had a fun tribute band playing (Skyballs) and the crowd was soaking up the atmosphere. Speaking of the crowd, they managed to keep a diverse group of attendees happy with activities both inside and out. There were families there with young children, twenty somethings looking for a fun afternoon and ‘older’ folks (hey, I almost qualify) just taking it all in.

Wait…I got so engrossed in the vibe I haven’t talked about the beer! They had eleven brews on the board, with truly something for everyone. From the 5.3% Some Recklessness Pale Ale to the 9% Nitro Irish Coffee Stout, they truly covered the range of flavor profiles with a couple of fun surprises along the way. Talking to several of the attendees the Sweet Potato Farmhouse Ale was a definite winner and the Tangerine variant of their Flower Business DIPA might have been the show stopper. I personally thought the Future Mind Porter was the champion for my taste buds, but as always…results may vary with yours. 😊

 

Beer Thoughts:

Some Recklessness Pale Ale – Easy drinker. Great porch peer and would pair nicely with the cornhole offered at Steady Hand.

Searching for Gold Farmhouse Ale – Smooth. Great beer for spring for sure.

Sweet Potato Farmhouse Ale – Okay, this was surprising. Didn’t expect to like it as much as I did, and my wife loved it. Winner Winner.

Flower Business DIPA – Great DIPA with a very sly 9% that sneaks up on you

Tangerine Flower Business – Yum. Yum. Yum. If this wasn’t 9%, I could drink a case of it.

Paradise Waits IPA – Not my favorite of theirs, but the hopheads seemed to love it.

Future Mind Porter – I gave this one the gold medal for the day. Rich, roasty and everything a porter should be. ON my next visit I will be looking for it!

I had a few minutes to chat with Steady Hand co-founder Kevin Sullivan about what they have created, and you could tell he was very proud of both the beer and the setting. He said they wanted to create a place that everyone could enjoy themselves and keep making good beer. They are operating a 30-barrel system with plenty of room for expansion, and he hope that they can just “keep this going and continue to expand”.

With what I saw and tasted, it’s apparent that Steady Hand has landed with quite the impact on the Georgia craft brewing scene and I’m looking forward to my next visit and I’ll be dragging Mike along too.

(photo creds go to my wife Tracey!)

Russ Webb by Russ Webb
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Categories Tuesday Brewsday

Tuesday Brewsday, Week 9 (Go Dawgs)

by Russ Webb

 Gooooo Dawgs! Wait, I probably shouldn’t show bias on the post.

(Take two) This week’s Tuesday Brewsday post featured the biggest SEC matchup of the weekend – The University of Georgia Bulldogs versus the University of Florida Gators. This annual matchup takes place as what is billed as “the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party” in the somewhat neutral site of Jacksonville, Florida. This year’s game had both teams in the top 10 and entering with 6-1 records, and was a nail-biter at the half with UGA up 13-7. Florida briefly took the lead in the third quarter, but UGA then took control and cruised to a 36-17 victory. So, we head off to Athens, Georgia to explore the brewery scene!

Athens has been long known as a music town, with acts such as the B-52s and REM getting their start in this college town about  75 miles northwest of Atlanta. The music scene is still very much alive, but the brewery bug has bitten Athens in a big way and today we are going to feature FOUR breweries located there.

Terrapin – The first brewery to emerge from Athens and probably the most widely known is Terrapin. Their first beer appeared in April 2002 in Athens and not long after they won their first medal at the GABF. Their Hopsecutioner IPA has been a favorite of many for a long time and their Atlanta Braves version of it (Chopsecutioner) debuted at the new Terrapin Tap House at SunTrust Park. Their beer selection is varied from their solid Recreation Ale to the hard to find (but much loved) Liquid Bliss, a peanut butter porter. Terrapin now is part of the Miller-Coors family and has increased distribution to much of the Eastern half of the USA.

Creature Comforts – When the craft beer buzz in Georgia started to reach fever pitch, a lot of that hype was created by the good people of CC. Founded by folks with a passion for homebrewing and craft beer, Creature Comforts is more than just a brewery…they have created a brand. Their original location was opened in an old 1940’s era tire store and the transformation to a brewery and tap room is nothing short of incredible. People love the vibe of the place, but the beer is what has kept their popularity on the rise. Everyone likes to talk about Tropicalia, their traditional IPA, but their other year-round beers include Bibo (pilsner), Reclaimed Rye (rye amber) and Athena (berliner weisse). While all of these beers are phenomenal, where CC has made its mark is on their limited releases…and there are many. People line up for hours to get their hands on limited numbers of fourpacks, and then proudly post online about their acquisition. If you are in Athens, visiting them is an absolute must.

The Southern Brewing Company – Opening in 2015, SBC launched during the craft beer revolution in Georgia and has brewed more than 50 unique beers over that time. Truly one of the most welcoming breweries you could ever visit, a trip to SBC feels like you are visiting friends who happen to brew beer. What makes SBC unique is their passion for crafting wild beers from yeast that they cultivate themselves. Wild Azalea, their saison, is a delicious year-round offering and Midnight Train, their porter, is rich and delicious. Their Southern Woodpile program is amazing and the resulting beers are unlike anything else I’ve ever had. Look for a review here soon of one of them.

Akademia Brewing – The newest player in the Athens beer scene is Akademia, whose motto of AVT BIBAS AVT ABEAS! literally translates as “Either Drink or Go Away”. They are a full-service brewpub launched in 2017 to rave reviews, and their beer is sold in more than just their location. From a traditional German Kolsch to a Pumpkin Sour Stout, Akademia’s brews have something for everyone’s palate. If you go, make sure to try the Same Thing We Always Do, a nitro English mild that is made with vanilla beans and hazelnuts and simply delicious.

I think we have given you a lot of reasons to visit Athens, Georgia now…and who knows, you may just bump into me at one of these places.

For week 10, we take our second trip to the Southern Conference. This week, two teams that are very evenly matched will lock horns at Five Star Stadium in Macon, GA. The ETSU Buccaneers, fresh off their wild OT win over Western Carolina, travel to central Georgia (home to some great breweries) to take on the 4-4 Bears. We’ll see you next Tuesday!

Russ Webb by Russ Webb
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Categories Tuesday Brewsday

Tuesday Brewsday, Week 7

Louisiana State University – Tin Roof Brewing Company, Baton Rouge, LA
by Russ Webb

Okay, I’m not gonna lie…this one is painful to write. As a Georgia fan, it hurts to feature a brewery after my beloved Bulldogs took a beating from LSU, but Mike needs a week off for sure…so here we go!

… rusted

This game wasn’t even close as the LSU Tigers manhandled UGA from the initial kickoff controlling both lines of scrimmage. Since the gentlemen in red & black couldn’t muster a comeback, off we head to the banks of the Mississippi River to highlight a brewery in the Louisiana state capital for this week’s  #TuesdayBrewsday.

I consulted a buddy of mine (and rabid Tiger fan) about which brewery to feature and he answered “Tin Roof” before I could even finish the question. He said it’s the only brewery in town with a “Louisiana feel” (insert your own punchline here), and their beer was consistently good across the seasons.

The Gold Medal winner!

Tin Roof is Baton Rouge’s largest craft brewery and has been brewing for consumer consumption since 2010. Founded by a lawyer and a banker (again, insert joke here), Tin Roof has created quite a following and their Gold Medal from GABF shows that they must know what they are doing. (Side note, this is the only beer in Louisiana history to win a Gold at GABF.) They proudly state that the tap room is “not just for drinking our beer” and they host regular events ranging from yoga to trivia. Their space is also a popular rental for events as it has a great outdoor patio, a private meeting room or you can rent the entire place.

The beer? It’s a pretty great selection from that aforementioned Gold Medal winner, Voodoo – an American Pale Ale, to Manchado, a Mexican Coffee Stout with cinnamon, orange peel, chocolate and kilned coffee malt. (I need that beer in my life)

Some of the other brews they currently are featuring:

  • ÜBER FROOT – A blackberry Berliner Weisse
  • JUKE JOINT IPA – Medium hoppy American IPA
  • EVEN MORE FOMO – Wheatwine/IPA – At 11%, this one drinks like an Imperial IPA
  • BRANDY BARREL-AGED OLD ALE – A 10% Old Ale with notes of caramel & vanilla

They have more on offer and their selection seems to rotate with the seasons and single batch special brews, so it sounds like multiple trips are in order.

Beer yoga is a thing

For next week, we have decided to hit the road towards the middle of the only state shaped like an oven mitt for the match that will settle who takes home the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The Spartans of Michigan State will take on the Wolverines of Michigan and the winner gets that trophy…AND gets to be featured on Tuesday Brewsday! 

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Categories Beer Travel (Beercations)

BBC18 – Day Two

After our epic day 1 of the Beer Bloggers Conference, day 2 started off with a sunrise walk along the beach in Lewes, Delaware (pronounced “Lewis”, not lose…and they will tell you). This quaint little seaside town is very important to the Dogfish Head family and you can see why. We stayed in the Dogfish Inn (yes, they own it) and the experience was amazing…but we’ll save that for a future post.

We boarded the bus and headed south to Rehoboth Beach and the Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats complex, and it is definitely something to see. The good folks at DH really rolled out the red carpet for the BBC and reserved an upstairs dining area for us. They served us an amazing lunch (I had a four cheese grilled cheese with bacon…yes, it was as good as it sounds) and Bryan Selders, their Brewmaster, led us through a flight of four beers that are exclusive to the Rehoboth Beach brewpub. All were on the lighter side and refreshing summer beers, and Bryan’s descriptions of his inspiration for each of them helped set the stage for the experience. After lunch, we toured the brewing and distillery area, shopped for more DH swag (I got some stuff…Mike went crazy) and boarded the bus back to Virginia and the start of the conference.

After getting to experience DC area traffic, and it seriously may be worse than Atlanta, we had a quick half hour to check in and jump back on the bus for the opening party kickoff at Farm Brew Live.

The party was sponsored by Visit Prince William County, 2 Silos Brewing and the Farm Brew Live venue. So I’ve been writing a series of posts about the Brewery Vibe and I turned to Mike and said: “We found it…the ULTIMATE vibe”. Bloggers from all over the country were all saying how we wish we had a venue like this. The campus is 8 acres and has a craft brewery (2 Silos), local food and food trucks and stages for live, local bands. It’s everything that craft beer lovers and foodies love all in one place situated in the beautiful Virginia countryside.

Three other breweries joined the party and served up some of their best as well. Prince William County truly was showcasing their area as they also had a local winery and two distilleries handing out tastes. So many reasons to visit this area as I honestly just thought of before as the home of Dulles airport.

We returned to the hotel and joined an impromptu bottle share with other bloggers who were sharing their favorite beers that they had muled across the country. Fun night getting to talk beer and everything else with others from all different backgrounds.

The sessions start today, so day three should be all about learning…oh, and tasting beers from about 2 dozen different breweries. Best. Conference. Ever.

CLICK the picture below to see more photos from the day …

BBC18 Day Two

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Categories The Vibe

Brewery Vibe, Part III … the Swag

Okay … Russ digs into my very soul with this one. Gear! Shirts, hats, stickers, glasses. GEAR!! Why do we keep buying all the stuff?

I have a confession to make. I have an obscene amount of glasses from breweries and brewpubs. No, really…it’s ridiculous. My wife threatened for years to throw away any new ones I brought home, but now she is an enabler and actually has started a collection of her own. I was looking through the glasses, t-shirts, hats, stickers, bottle openers, coasters, etc… that I have, and I started wondering “why do we collect this stuff?”

The answer is easy…it’s to remember the vibe! Every glass brings back the memory of a brewery visited, the people that I enjoyed imbibing with, and the brews I got to try. Every t-shirt inevitably leads to questions from a stranger about that brewery or craft beer in general, and voila…new friends! I use coasters I pick up from every restaurant when we have friends over as they are way more interesting than regular ones and are great conversation starters. My beer fridge covered in stickers makes me smile every time I pull into the garage; adding a new one after returning from a trip is a ritual that has become one of my favorite things to do.

A small (and ever-growing) sample

The swag is not just swag. They are mementos of time spent laughing with old and new friends over the love of craft beer. They are reminders that no matter how hectic life gets or how bad the workweek is, there’s a place that has a barstool waiting for you with people that want to make sure you relax and are thankful you appreciate the time and effort they take to brew beer for their fans.

I’m pretty excited about the Beer Blogger’s Conference coming up and all there is to learn, see and taste, but I am completely stoked about the visit to Dogfish Head and the chance to see what they do and take home some swag!!

(and if anyone has any swag they want to send my way…that would be awesome!)

We have a lot of glasses …

Seriously … this isn’t even all of them

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Categories The Vibe

Brewery Vibe, Part II … Albuquerque

Second installment from Russ. If you missed the first, here ya go.

Frito Pie … a must in ABQ

If I asked you name a beer destination, you would probably throw out Denver, San Diego, Portland, Boston, Chicago or any of the other major cities that get press. Unless you have experienced the beer scene in New Mexico, it is unlikely you would put Albuquerque on that list…but you would be wrong. Named as a top 10 beer destination since 2015 by Travelocity, Albuquerque is not only a leader in breweries per capita, but also in the number of unique brewery experiences that make for an awesome “Beercation.” I’ve been fortunate enough to go a few times over the past three years and in this post, I’m going to highlight some of the standout brewery experiences, but since there are more than FIFTY in the ABQ area we can’t list them all. (seriously…50…that’s like one for every neighborhood).

Ponderosa

My first brewery visited in Albuquerque and I immediately noticed two things:
1. From wheat to bock to brown ale to stout…they covered just about every style.
2. The food on offer was super cheap, but GOOD! Unlike a lot of brewpubs, they actually had really good fare at an amazing price.

My first impression of Nexus was “is this place a brewery or a restaurant?” The answer is YES. The ‘soul food’ was good and the beer selection ranged from a cream ale to a rich porter. Unique vibe and a solid visit.

Tractor Brewing

Any brewery with the slogan “Get Plowed” is bound to be a fan favorite. I have been to two of Tractor’s four locations and the first thing I thought when I walked in was ‘this place is fun’. With a funky décor and more than 15 beers on tap, Tractor aims to please with their vibe and their style. One thing that sets Tractor apart is they believe in community and their give back program is incredible. Participating in monthly Tuesday coin giving nights where YOU get to choose which of the four nonprofit community partners receives a dollar for each beer you buy.
My fave Tractor offering is Milk Mustachio Stout, but with rotating taps that is bound to change!

Canteen Brewhouse

With so many breweries in Albuquerque you would think that the oldest ones would fade away, but that’s definitely not the case with ABQ’s oldest brewery Canteen. I was impressed by the number of people who appeared to be regulars there, and the Pecos Trail Brown Ale is such a solid choice that it’s no wonder it has won so many awards at GABF. Canteen is a must visit for anyone who wants to see where the beer scene started.

Bosque Brewing

By the time I made it Bosque, I figured I had tried the best of New Mexico beer and this was just going to be another visit to grab a quick flight and then move on…but all that changed quickly. The year-round offerings from Bosque are all very solid, but Scotia Scotch Ale is a game changer. With an ABV of 8.4%, this boozy Scotch Ale has amazing caramel notes and the maltiness is incredible. Truly my favorite New Mexico beer and I long for the day they sell it in Georgia. 

Oh, and the vibe in Bosque…outstanding. We had some awesome starters to share and they paired perfectly with a flight of their favorites. I did NOT want to leave when it was time to go!

Duel Brewing

Dark Ryder … Belgian Strong Dark

My favorite style of beer is Belgian, so when my local pal and beer tour guide Kelle told me there was a Belgian Style brewery we had to go! 

Duel aims to be different from all of the other local breweries and they definitely succeed. With a constant calendar of events and a pretty eclectic food menu, Duel’s vibe is different from the moment you walk in the door. I tried a flight and can truly say that I tasted no other beers like these when I was in Albuquerque. I had a Belgian style amber that was pretty good, but then I had their Belgian strong ale, Dark Ryder, and it was fantastic. 11%ABV and full of flavor. That one is a winner and goes well with their funky vibe.
Again, this is just a sampling of the myriad of breweries in the Albuquerque area and the list continues to grow. If you are looking for a destination for an awesome Beercation, I would recommend you add New Mexico to your list as this affordable destination offers a lot to see…and imbibe. 
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Categories The Vibe

The Brewery Vibe, Part I

The Brewery Vibe – Russ Webb

Innis & Gunn – Edinburgh

I am a traveler. No, seriously, I travel all of the time for both business and pleasure. Most people who travel a ton have a very particular routine. You get to the airport either ridiculously early or you run through the terminal to catch your plane like someone is trying to catch you (I’m of the latter club). Once you arrive at your destination you grab a cab or Uber, head to your hotel and figure out your next step. My planning starts a little before that when I know I’m visiting a new city I check to see what breweries are nearby, what their hours are and when I can squeeze that into my timetable.

So why do we visit breweries? We don’t go to the dairy where the milk is extracted. You can visit the Hershey plant in Pennsylvania, but not many do. Even bourbon/scotch drinkers rarely seek out every distillery around them. The answer is easy…it’s the vibe.

Sometimes they feel like the latest in hipster bars, and other times they feel like you are visiting a working factory, but almost every time you feel like you have been welcomed into the inner sanctum of beer magic and allowed to taste the secret potion at the source.

Service Brewing – Savannah

One of my favorite things about visiting breweries while on the road is getting to meet the locals that go there and chat with them about what keeps them coming back. Most times I hear folks tell me that there’s “no place else like it” and it’s “the very best beer around”. Craft breweries have done an amazing job of creating disciples from every day, ordinary beer lover like you and me. We are quick to tell outsiders about our favorite local brews, and even volunteer to go with them because, you know, who doesn’t need a guide? I will often just start chatting with the people working in the tap room and it’s not unusual for them to recommend other local breweries and I have even had them call ahead for me once to get me into one that wasn’t open on that day! The brewery vibe is special, just like the people that started the craft beer revolution and continue to foster its growth.

In a series of future posts we will be featuring these breweries so you can get an idea of what we are talking about and hopefully get out to visit one or two yourself.

Pirate Republic – Nassau, Bahamas
Canteen Brewhouse – Albuquerque

Brickway – Omaha, NE

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Categories Beer Travel (Beercations) Brew Reviews

If it’s not Scottish, it’s crap!

Welcome back, former-guest-contributor-but-now-official-BGB-team-member Russ Webb for another post on his beer-ventures. You remember Russ from giving us insight into Tasting Beer’s Holy Grail, Wesvleteren XII, not long ago. 

Scotland. The home of golf and whisky (please note, no ‘e’ in whisky…it’s a thing with them)

Flight: Innis & Gunn style

I’m lucky to have lived in Scotland in the past, and because my wife is from there we go home to visit regularly. When I tell people we are going, or have just returned, the questions I get inevitably revolve around golf, scotch and castles. Rarely does someone ask about the beer scene there and that’s a shame because it’s exceptional and getting better. As recently as 15 years ago there were just a handful of Scottish brewers, but now there are more than 100 and that number is growing all of the time. Here’s a ‘taste’ of my recent travels:

Innis & Gunn – Yum is the first word that comes to mind. People in the states know Innis & Gunn’s oak and rum aged ales, but their Beer Kitchens in Scotland have so much more to offer. From full flavored red ales to complex barrel aged stouts, Innis & Gunn is evolving rapidly into one of the best brewers in the world.

6 degrees of separation … from me

6° North – This little brewery in northern Scotland likes the Belgian styles, and they do it well. Their  name comes from the fact they are 6° north of Belgium, but their styles are right there. I enjoyed each of their selections, but the Tripel was especially good. If you’re headed across the pond, be sure they are on your agenda.


BREWDOG

BREWDOG –  Lots of people have tried BREWDOG because of their unique business model. Not only are they crowd sourced, but their popularity spread like wildfire and their beers match the hype. Most of their offerings lean to the hoppy side of the beer spectrum, but their stouts are stellar, including the 16.5% Tokyo Intergalactic Stout which is one of my top 5 beers ever. Brewdog is now brewing in the US, but their Scottish base is something they at proud of and I think they will continue to expand their offerings.

Belhaven

Belhaven – Belhaven has been brewing forever…no seriously, since 1719, but they have been branching out from their traditional styles recently and their beer lineup is fantastic. From special craft brews to occasion beers, Belhaven is taking nearly 300 years of brewing experience and making it better every day. 

Are there more? Oh yes, plenty. If you get a chance to visit the magical country of Scotland (their national animal is a unicorn), be sure to check out the outstanding beer scene…I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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Categories Brew Reviews Reviews

Tasting Beer’s Holy Grail

I’m cheating on you today.  I’m in Italy drinking … red wine! Perish the thought. I thought this a great opportunity to welcome in a guest blogger … someone who knows and loves beer as much as, if not more than, me. Please put your hands together and welcome him to the stage … @RussWebbGA!

Recently my pal BabyGotBeer did a blog about his Beer Bucket List, and I think all serious beer lovers have a list of brews that we aspire to get a chance to sample. My list is pretty long and ranges from once brewed Sam Adams Millennium to Heady Topper from The Alchemist. BGB’s perfect six pack contained some pretty amazing selections, and as fate would have it I recently had the opportunity to have the first one on his list, Westvleteren XII.

Considered by many to be the very best beer in the world, and holding a perfect score from Beer Advocate, the monks at the Abbey of St. Sixtus have been brewing Westvleteren since 1838 and making the elusive W 12 since 1940. The current production is 60,000 cases per year…the same that it has been since 1946. The beer is only sold at the Abbey and only to those with an appointment. Thankfully I have a friend who is a fellow beer enthusiast who made just such an appointment on his trip to Belgium, and brought home a few to savor and share with beer geeks like me.

The first thing you notice is the bottle, which has no label and has information imprinted on it and made into the bottle. After reading more about this beer I was waiting for a special occasion to try it, and finally decided that any day that I drank it would indeed be a special occasion!

Pouring the beer into a chalice, it was a beautiful reddish brown with a slight head. It smells of toffee and fruit, but the taste is pure malt with slight hints of sweetness. At 10.2% I never expected it to be as smooth as it was, but this is a VERY drinkable beer and it took great restraint to take time and enjoy every drop. My friend who gave me this jewel has told me that it ages beautifully and the taste will change the longer the beer is allowed to develop.

Is this the world’s best beer? I am a huge fan of Chimay (Blue, if you’re shopping for me) and it has
been my favorite beer for a long time. I will tell you that the W 12 is a perfect beer…that’s right…perfect. The only downside to it is that is pretty much unattainable to most of us, so I consider myself very lucky to have been able to have one and get to enjoy it. If I am ever in the vicinity of Vleteren, Belgium (or maybe even an adjoining country)…I think a visit to the Westvleteren Brewery to meet the brilliant monks of St. Sixtus will be in the cards. Yes, it IS that good.

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