How Atlanta’s Breweries and Distilleries Will Operate Under Georgia’s New Booze Laws

At long last, Georgians can buy beer from their favorite local breweries and distilleries. In May, Governor Nathan Deal signed Senate Bill 85 into law, allowing for direct sales from booze purveyors in the state. That means the charade of patrons receiving free samples with the purchase of facility tours is a thing of the past. Now, breweries and distilleries can sell their products to go or of on-site consumption, like any old watering hole.

What does all this mean? Below, find new operating hours and procedures at alcoholic businesses around town.

Eater Atlanta has reached out to all metro-area breweries and distilleries. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Breweries

Abbey of the Holy Goats Brewery

Location: Roswell; 4000 Northfield Way, Suite 800.

Taproom hours: Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Details: Holy Goats is pouring $6 beers in varying sizes and $8 flights. The brewery celebrated Georgia’s new laws with its first bottle release beer: The Goat's Ascension, a 13.9-percent abv Belgian-style red that was strong-aged in port wine barrels.

Arches Brewing

Location: Hapeville; 3361 Dogwood Drive.

Taproom hours: Tuesday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Details: Arches will be serve 8- and 16-ounce pours for most of the year-round and seasonal styles for $4 and $6, respectively. Limited-release beers will vary in price based on style and will be offered in 6- and 12-ounce pours. Six packs will soon be available for $10, and seasonal selections will be hand-bottled and sold for $8, $10, and $12, depending on styles. Arches plans to add beer flights later this year.

Opening weekend events: The End of Prohibition party runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 1. Look for special-release beers, live music, and food from Choripan Sausage Co.

Eventide Brewing

Location: Grant Park; 1015 Grant Street SE.

Taproom hours: Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.; and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Details: Eventide’s beers start at $5, and flights will be available in the future. A Monday special offers core beers for $3 per glass.

Gate City Brewing Company

Location: Roswell; 43 Magnolia Street.

Taproom hours: Monday from 3 p.m. to midnight, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Details: Gate City is ditching tours and pouring beer by the glass in its taproom.

Opening weekend events: Buy Beer Not Tours runs from Friday, September 1, through Monday, September 4. There will be live music, food, and, of course, beers.

Monday Night Brewing

Location: Westside; 670 Trabert Avenue NW.

Taproom hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Monday Night plans to extend hours in 2018.

Details: Pricing will vary by beer, but patrons can expect $2.50 to $3 for 8-ounce pours of core and small-batch beers, $4.50 to $5.50 for 16-ounce pours of core and small-batch beers, $4 and up for 8-ounce pours of specialty beers, and $10 for a flight of four 4-ounce pours.

Orpheus Brewing

Location: Morningside; 1440 Dutch Valley Place NE.

Taproom hours: Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Labor Day, September 4, hours will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

Details: Beers are available in house by the glass and up to a case for to-go purchases. Orpheus has added 12 taps to its taproom to make more brews available. Expect to see many previously untapped barrel-aged beers available in the near future.

Red Hare Brewing Company

Location: Marietta; 1998 Delk Industrial Boulevard SE.

Taproom hours: Tuesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. Red Hare plans to extend hours in October.

Details: Flights of four 5-ounce pours are available for $8, and 8-ounce, 12-ounce, and 16-ounce draft pours range from $3 to $6, depending on size and beer. Craft sodas are $1 for an 8-ounce pour, or $2 for a full pint. Regular six-packs are available to go for $9 ($10 for limited releases). Twelve-packs of Long Day Lager, Gangway IPA, and Splitting Hares Variety Pack are available for $15, and six-packs of sodas are $5.

Reformation Brewery

Location: Woodstock; 500 Arnold Mill Road.

Taproom hours: Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Details: Beers are available in flights, half pints, tasters, and full-pint options. Six-packs, growler fills, and specialty beers are available to go.

Opening weekend events: From Friday, September 1, through Sunday, September 3, patrons will receive a free 4-ounce pour with their first beer purchase.

Second Self Beer Company

Location: Westside; 1317 Logan Circle NW.

Taproom hours: Monday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Details: Beers are available by the pint ($5 for a year-round brew, $6 for seasonal, and $7 for a taproom-only selection), half-pint ($3, $3.50, and $4), and tasting portion ($2, $2.50, and $3). Prices include tax.

Opening weekend events: On Friday, September 1, Second Self will kick off its first "Brewer Series," with 16 variations of its year-round A.T. aLe and eight new beers rolling out over the next month and a half.

SweetWater Brewing Company

Location: Buckhead; 195 Ottley Drive NE.

Taproom hours: Wednesday and Thursday from 4:20 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 4:20 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Woodlands, home of SweetWater’s barrel-aging operations, is now open Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Details: Glasses of beer start at $4. Prices vary based on size and selection.

Opening weekend events: On Saturday, September 2, Packway Handle Band will perform live tunes from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Sweet Auburn BBQ truck will be on site, and five new televisions will be airing sporting events.

Wild Heaven Craft Beer

Location: Decatur; 135 Maple Street, B.

Taproom hours: Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (1 p.m. to 11 p.m. beginning October 14).

Details: Wild Heaven is pouring pints, sample sizes, beer to go, and special brews that are available in the taproom only.

Opening weekend events: Wild Heaven’s L8 > NVR party runs September 1 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and will showcase live music, barbecue, and beer for sale by the glass.

Distilleries

ASW Distillery

Location: Buckhead; 199 Armour Drive NE, C.

Tasting room hours: Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Details: ASW offers flights of one, three, and five pours of whiskies along with seasonal cocktails. The initial cocktail list includes an old fashioned, bourbon mule, sazerac, and nitro coffee cocktail made with Jittery Joe's coffee (available the weekend of September 16).

Opening weekend events: Cocktails for a Cause, on Saturday, September 2, will see ASW donate 25 percent of proceeds from the day’s tasting hours to the Red Cross to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Kevin Gillespie's Terminus City BBQ will be on site serving whole-hog 'cue.

Independent Distilling Company

Location: Decatur; 731 East College Avenue.

Tasting room hours: Thursday and Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Details: Independent’s tasting room offers four cocktails — Decatur daiquiri, sazerac, Zoolander, and old fashioned — made with the distillery’s rums and whiskeys. Flights and specialty flights of spirits are also available.

Opening weekend events: Independent is hosting a Libation Liberation Party Friday, September 1, and Saturday, September 2, featuring cocktails, flights, and tours during regular operating hours.

Lazy Guy Distillery

Location: Kennesaw; 2950 Moon Station Road NW.

Taproom hours: Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.

Details: Lazy Guy’s tasting room, dubbed the Spirit Lab, is mixing cocktails for $6 and $9. Rotating monthly and seasonal cocktails are also available in this same price range.

• Governor Signs Booze Bill Into Law, Allowing Direct Sales at Breweries and Distilleries [EATL]

• All Booze News [EATL]