There are certain things you come to expect as a Decatur resident. Eclectic neighbors. Parking tickets. Mini vans coated in bumper stickers. And great pubs.
Increasingly those great pubs are becoming more than a place to meet your friends, watch the game and have a few beers. Decatur’s watering holes are playing host to a large number of craft beer events. Everything from cask tappings to pub crawls to beer dinners are finding a home at venues all over our fair city.
Why? Well part of that can be attributed to the growth of craft beer in general. While overall beer sales declined slightly in 2011, craft beer sales and consumption grew at a robust pace. And the Southeast U.S. accounts for a very respectable percentage of that growth. Stalwart brewery fixtures like Sweetwater and Terrapin have been joined by a host of new breweries in the Atlanta metro area.
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Another factor is, let’s face it, thirsty Decaturites. Not only do Decatur residents flock to several local beer festivals held annually, but they’ve helped make the iconic Brick Store Pub one of the top-ranked beer destinations not just in the region, but in the country.
The craft breweries have taken notice, and Decatur is reaping the rewards of that attention. This week, for instance, Heavy Seas Brewery, from Baltimore, is partnering with Taco Mac Decatur, The Square Pub and Brick Store Pub to host a Firkin Crawl. Taco Mac “beer guy” Fred Crudder and Square Pub co-owner Jason Wiles both traveled to the Heavy Seas Brewery in November to fill a firkin (an old English unit of volume, basically about a ¼ barrel) of Loose Cannon IPA for their respective establishments. Brick Store will tap a firkin of Heavy Seas Below Decks Barleywine, aged in bourbon barrels. The event starts Wednesday January 11, 6pm at Taco Mac Decatur. Heavy Seas staff will be on hand to talk about their beers.
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That’s just one example of a full calendar of craft beer events upcoming in Decatur. Check out atlantabeer.com, it’s a great resource for finding events and tastings in the Atlanta and Decatur areas. So get out there and enjoy some great beer Decatur – you’ve earned it.
(Editor's note: Blogger Ray Goodrich handles social media for The Square Pub in Decatur.)
