Your Essential Guide to Atlanta's Best Craft-Beer Bars

Beer drinkers spoiled by craft-brew wonderlands like Portland and Chicago might not be paying attention to the South these days, but they should be. Of the many scenes bubbling up below the Mason-Dixon, Atlanta's is perhaps the most exciting—and certainly the easiest to take advantage of during a layover in the Delta Airlines hub. The current craft revolution can be traced back to 2004 and the monumental passing of HB 645, when the city finally shook off its Bible Belt influences and the restricting laws that had hamstringed the growth of the scene previously. Since then, the alcohol by volume limits have more than doubled from 6 percent to 14 percent, growlers have been legalized, and retailers can sell alcohol on Sunday. Now, well-established breweries like SweetWater (the second largest in the Southeast) and Red Brick Brewing are sharing tap space with newcomers like Monday Night Brewing and Burnt Hickory, and the judicial leniency has spawned a surge in ambitious taverns and specialty beer retailers all over the city. To get some insider tips on pint-swigging in the ATL, we asked local beer expert Ale Sharpton—whose eponymous site was nominated by Saveur as 2012's Drink Blog of the Year—to give us a rundown of Atlanta's top five beer bars. Next time you're in Georgia's capital, these are the spots you can't afford to miss. Written by Ale Sharpton (@AleSharpton)

Address and phone: 292 Moreland Ave (404-221-2600) Website: wreckingbarbrewpub.com Ale says: Looking to pursue their dream of opening their own brewpub, Iowa State University grad students Bob and Kristine Sandage migrated to Atlanta and eventually became local beer scene darlings by revitalizing one of the city’s most storied properties, the Victor H. Kriegshaber House. This grandiose, white Victorian-style mansion—built around 1900—is the last of its kind on the bustling Moreland Avenue, and it serves as a visual reminder of the New South’s heyday in the early 1900s. Located as a central point to three communities—Inman Park, Little Five Points, and Candler Park—the home was little more than a canvas for graffiti and a prime candidate for demolition until the Sandages saved the day in 2010. Through blood, sweat, and beers, they remodeled what is now christened The Marianna, and made it the crown to a stellar brewery and restaurant in the basement. In just over two years, the Wrecking Bar has garnered numerous awards—including being voted Atlanta’s best brewpub in 2011 and 2012 by Creative Loafing—and it’s headquarters for hundreds of beer enthusiasts who flock to the Marianna’s cellar every night of the week. Everything about the Wrecking Bar speaks to its independent spirit—from the charming bartenders to the excellent gastropub fare (house favorites include the Kale Ale Fondue with local Bernhard’s Bakery Bavarian pretzels, Koln Malt Encrusted NC Trout, and wild-mushroom flatbread). And, of course, the house beer is always on point. Fantastic ales and lagers are brewed on a seven-barrel system one level below the Wrecking Bar’s dining area by Bob, who boasts 20 years of experience as a brewmaster. And although he loves hoppy ales, he serves a wide range of rotating cold ones to satisfy all palates, from the refreshing Kölquittsch Kölsch to a potent, silky-smooth Siberius Maximus Imperial Stout. In addition to the usual suspects, there are experimental one-offs brewed on a separate two-barrel system to keep loyalists coming back weekly for new tastes. (Note that all beers except for the high-gravity suds are served in two sizes to help you explore the beer menu, which encompasses 12 taps and cask versions.) To further distance itself from competition, Wrecking Bar refuses to serve anything not brewed on site, guaranteeing all patrons a truly unique experience. No televisions. No outside distributors fighting for taps. Just a great place to socialize, indulge, and toast to the ATL beer revolution.

Address and phone: 1170 Howell Mill Rd (404-968-2033) Website: ormsbysatlanta.com Ale says: Westside Atlanta has quickly become one of the city’s most vibrant areas within the last few years due to its aggressive revitalization; what was once a railroad passage littered with decrepit meatpacking warehouses has been transformed into the chic mixed-use Westside Provisions District boasting diverse restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and the coolest beer tavern in the neighborhood, Ormsby’s. The absence of signage and a secluded entrance below the district's main walkway suggest this gastropub relishes the secrecy of yesteryear’s speakeasies. Yes, Ormsby’s is literally on the down-low, but once you enter through its thick, medieval-style wooden door, it’s a lively two-tiered adult playhouse. The first level presents a rustic dining area with plush leather lounge chairs, a row of tall booths, and a long, L-shaped bar serving 20 rotating taps ranging from the local Wild Heaven Ode To Mercy Imperial Brown Ale to Belgium's Maredsous Brune 8. An extensive, 40-deep bottle list rounds out the brew offerings, while top-notch grub challenges the preconception that bar food is unoriginal and solely for alcohol absorption—red curry-coconut mussels, stuffed veal meatballs, and twelve housemade sauces for the colossal SweetWater-battered onion rings. Ormsby's subterranean level definitely has a “man cave” vibe to it. Everyone from Georgia Tech students to corporate execs flock here to kick back playing shuffleboard, darts, billiards, bocce on two full-length customized courts, and numerous board games like Jenga. Ideal for first dates, mingling, and hanging with your homies, Ormsby's will have you throwing a manual “Westide!” in the air as you hoist your brew.

Address and phone: 125 E Court Square, Decatur, GA (404-687-0990) Website: brickstorepub.com Ale says: There's no mystery to it: The Brick Store is the Michael Jordan of Atlanta’s beer-slingers. No matter what slick newcomers hit the scene, this Decatur Square-based beast will always be regarded by many beer enthusiasts nationwide as the best to ever do it in the ATL. Open in 1997, the Brick Store is reminiscent of a two-tiered saloon from the Old West—rustic, jovial, all-wood-everything, with an unmistakable creak in the floorboards. The beer menu is of Biblical proportions, and a staff of knowledgeable, tatted hipsters happily serves the world's best ales and lagers to the sounds of everything from Led Zepplin to Public Enemy. The first floor's 17 taps boast hard-to-find stouts, IPAs, and lagers from microbreweries throughout the nation—plus nearly 200 other bottled varieties from the U.S., Germany, and England. For an idea of the selection, this week’s tap menu features the delicious Allagash Fluxus 2012 ($6/.25L), the extravagantly hoppy Green Flash Palate Wrecker ($6/16 oz), and England’s Wells Bombardier E.S.B. (20oz/ $5.25), all at incredibly reasonable prices. But what elevates the Brick Store to world-class status (Beer Advocate awarded it #2 in the world) is the storied Belgian bar dealing exclusively in beers like St. Bernardus Abt. 12, Gouden Cuvee Van De Keizer, and other prized liquids crafted by the country’s monks and world-famous brewers, most of which are served in the individual breweries' signature glassware. The recently installed vintage room across the hall stores all of the owners’ prized vintage bottles, which you can dig into if you’re willing to pony up. Note: The Brick Store’s owners also have a more food-driven establishment called Leon’s Full Service right around the corner, where exotic dishes like pig smörgås and pan-roasted redfish are paired with a daily rotating draft list of top-shelf microbreweries, plus cocktails from award-winning bartender Miles Macquarrie.

Address and phone: 1156 Euclid Ave (404-223-0393) Website: theporterbeerbar.com Ale says: Native "ATLiens" Molly Gunn and husband Nick Rutherford boldly kicked in the door of the city’s beer scene with one thing in mind: to be the best beer bar in the city. Truthfully, this argument has legs. There’s no question this establishment can go toe-to-toe with the Brick Store in beer variety, knowledge, and dedication to making Atlanta the Southeast’s beer king. Both of these spots, along with the Wrecking Bar, also share the same philosophy regarding amenities: There are no televisions or glaring neon signs. Instead, within its exposed brick walls and no-fuss décor, you’ll find guests gawking at the 800-plus bottle list of exotic vintage ales and lagers, along with the eclectic 40-tap draft menu. Each selection comes with enlightening descriptions, making Porter Beer Bar a good bet for both gurus and newbies unsure of what to order. Regarding the eats, Nick's culinary chops wow gourmands—staples include the all-Angus half-pound cheeseburger and wild shrimp ‘n’ grits, while a revered weekend brunch features Cinnamon French Toast topped with pan-roasted apples and toasted almonds. The location in the heart of the bohemian Little Five Points adds to the allure, since you can always find the streets crawling with the cool, the funky, and the downright weird. Tell Molly, Nick, or your server that Ale Sharpton sent you since I’m no stranger to this awesome Atlanta gem. After one visit, you won’t be either. Trust!

Address and phone: 817 West Peachtree St NE, Ste E125 (404-815-9243) Website: cypressbar.com Ale says: The name says it all: Set on the corner of Cypress Street and 6th Street in Midtown, Atlanta's affluent business and condo district, this happening tavern shines equally with the pint and the plate. Drafts of top-notch ales and lagers get love here, including the Dogfish Head Immort Ale, Boulevard Harvest Dance aged in both French and American oak, and one of the best beer deals in the city: a pint of local SweetWater IPA for $3, available year-round. There's even a weekly event for beer geeks called, well, Beer Geek Tuesdays, where microbreweries like Shmaltz and Terrapin takeover the taps and rare cask ales are poured during their kooky themed nights, such as the Dale’s of Hazzard Beer, featuring “Redneck Olympic Games” coupled with plentiful Oskar Blues Dales Pale Ale in cans. Hungry? Cypress’ slammin' cheesesteak was created by a native Philadelphian to taste like home; the gangster chicken potpie deserves its own menu page; and the notorious Sublime Burger—a bacon-laced double cheeseburger wedged between two glazed donuts from the local Sublime Doughnuts—is an essential Atlanta experience. While the neighborhood vibe indoors is cozy and festive, the place can often get packed. Take in the evening air on one of the best patios in the city, which pampers patrons with high-top tables, a large HD television showing the game, live blues, and a roaring fire pit. Co-Owner Billy Streck and Beverage Director Rob “The Brew Ru” Merrick are some of the most approachable guys in the industry, so be sure to give them a shout when you stop by.