Atlanta Brewing Company - Hartsfield

This Gold medal winner from the New York International Beer Competition is a relatively new IPA from Atlanta Brewing Company featuring Citra and Mosaic hops, as well as an unknown rotating third hop. Pouring a clear bright golden color and topped with a cap of pale foam that laces as it recedes, this brew offers up quite a complex aroma featuring a little bit of everything. Zesty grapefruit-like citrus notes merge with tropical impressions, stone fruits, melon, light pine, and spice. On the palate, we picked up prominent citrus zest backed up by fleshier fruity notes including stone fruit, shades of cantaloupe-like melon, and light tropical tones along with a spicy, grassy, and lightly resinous character. Hop bitterness is moderately firm, supported nicely by pale malts and a touch of mild toast that wells up towards the finish. For pairing options, we're thinking southeast Asian dishes with lemongrass and ginger, or grilled shrimp skewers basted with citrus juice and red pepper flakes. Cheers!

The Atlanta Brewing Company (ABC) is the oldest operational craft brewery in the state of Georgia, having been founded by former Guinness executive Greg Kelly in 1993 in an old brick warehouse that he transformed into a brewery. English brewing equipment was brought in, including a grain mill – still used by the brewery – which was found lying abandoned in an English meadow.

In 2006, the Atlanta Brewing Company was named one of "10 great places to see what's brewing in beer" by USA Today. We agree—especially amidst the awakening of craft-brewed beer's collective consciousness that's currently happening in the South. In 2013, Garett Lockhart and Steve Anderson took over brewing operations as brewmaster and head brewer, respectively, and the duo began brewing a new array of award-winning beers. In 2015, Garett was promoted to brewery president as the brewery began the transition to packaging in cans – a smart move as cans have quickly overtaken bottles to become the preferred method of packaging craft beers. Today, ABC offers four core, year-round beers along with a wide variety of seasonals and limited-production beers. For our friends living in the ATL, as well as visitors to the city, a stop at ABC's brewery Taproom is recommended, as they offer a wide selection of beers on tap as well as available to-go. For more information, call them up at 404-355-5558, or visit atlantabrewing.com.