2009 “Beer” in Review

By Kraig Torres at January 20, 2010 | 9:19 pm | Print

I know, I know—everyone has a year-end article about something. Why should beer be an exception … especially in light of the wonderful year that 2009 represented for metro Atlanta?

From new breweries to exceptional new beers to great new destinations—last year was very kind to the beer-ophile in all of us.

The final year of the aughts brought us the most new breweries we have seen since the alcohol limit was raised five years ago. New Belgium Brewing out of Ft Collins, CO was perhaps the highest profile new addition. They brought in their flagship beer: Fat Tire Amber Ale, along with portfolio mainstays Mothership Wit and 1554 Black Ale, during their summer roll-out. More importantly, November brought us two of their Lips of Faith series—La Folie and Bier de Mars. La Folie is a sour Flemish-style brown ale. It’s tart Kriek-like bite rarely pleases on the first sip. By the third, however, you are hooked and will have a hard time going back to Fat Tire. Look for more from New Belgium in the months to come including an IPA—Ranger—to join the lineup in February.

Despite Fat Tire mania, New Belgium was not the most exciting new arrival for most craft been fanatics that honor belonged to Michigan’s Bell’s Brewing. One of America’s most prolific breweries, Bell’s launched big with Oberon, their very popular summer wheat along with their Pale Ale, Amber, Porter, Cheery Stout, Third Coast Lager, Third Coast Old Ale and Kalamazoo Stout.

They have since brought in the much-sought Two Hearted IPA, Expedition Stout, Java Stout, Double Cream Stout, and Sparkling Ale—a Belgian tripel. All we are missing is the kitchen sink! The Two-Hearted is a standout among IPA’s—very citrusy but well-balanced. It deserves its reputation as one of the world’s best IPA’s—check out its Ratebeer 100 score … impressive. Next up: the long-awaited HopSlam—coming this month.

A third new arrival deserves some attention: the conveniently-named The Bruery, out of Orange County, CA. Their flagship beer, the Saison Rue, is a crisp rye-infused take on the classic Belgian farmhouse style. I was more excited, however, about their season lineup, including the now-sold-out Two Turtle Doves and Autumn Maple. Their others beers include Orchard White, a Belgian Wit with oatmeal; Rugbrod, a dark rye ale; and Hottenroth, a Berlinerweisse. Their lowest Ratebeer rating is the Orchard White at 88 … it goes up from there.

We had scores of lesser-known breweries debut in Georgia in 2009. Notably, we welcomed Smuttynose (check out the Old Brown Dog), Moylan’s (Hopsickle gets all the attention but the Russian Imperial Stout is my personal favorite), Beer Here (their Morke—a pumpernickel porter—is phenomenal!), Butternuts (craft beer in a can), St Somewhere (defining the American saison with their Athene), Holy Mackerel (their Mack in Black qualifies as the best of pomegranate since Greek mythology), High and Mighty Brewing (Home for the Holidays is an oak-aged winter spiced), the now-defunct Pennichuck Brewery (right after strong press for FeuerWehrmann, their schwartzbier—still on shelves), and many, many, more.

As far as new beers from our favorite brewers, 2009 brought us some standouts. My favorite new beer was a collaboration between Terrapin and Left Hand—the now-legendary Depth Charge, an espresso stout. It was amazingly balanced for a beer with copious amounts of Jittery Joe’s coffee. It sold out very quickly, but many bottles populate beer cellars all over Atlanta. Find a friend with one and force him or her to pop one open. Beer should not taste this good. Spike did not rest on this beer alone, as he brought five additional Side Project beers to market including Dos Cocoas, Ninety Shelling, Maggie’s Farmhouse, Pumpkinfest, and The Dark Side. In total, that makes six one-time beers, four Monster Tour limited release beers, a new IPA (Hopsecutioner), and the rest of their regular lineup. Rumor has it that he is sleeping the entire month of January to rest up for 2010.

As the page turns on the calendar, it brings a whole new slate of great new brewery arrivals for 2010 including Founders, Cigar City, 21st Amendment, and Hoppin Frog in the first quarter of the year.

Cheers!

Kraig Torres is the Chief Hophead at Hop City Craft Beer and Wine, Atlanta’s only craft beer specialist. Hop City carries over 1,500 different beers, 1,000 wines and home brewing supplies. Hop City is located at 1000 Marietta St in the Brickworks complex – at the corner of Marietta St and Howell Mill Rd, next to 5 Seasons Brewery. 404-350-9998 www.HopCityBeer.com

Beer 21st Amendment, Bell's Brewery, Butternuts, Cigar City, Fat Tire, Founders, Holy Mackerel, Hoppin Frog, Jittery Joe's Coffe, Kraig Torres, New Belgium, Oberon, Pennichuck Brewery, Smuttynose, St. Somewhere, Terrapin, The Bruery, Two Heated Ale