Atlanta Brewing Company - Red Brick Ale

ABC's flagship beer earned a Gold Medal at the 1998 World Beer Cup—right on! Keep in mind, brown ales, as a beer style, boast a wide range in color, aroma and flavor. In ABC's version, expect a roasted chestnut aroma and some lightly charred sugar. Overall, the nose is malty, and, while tame, there's quite a lot going on. Look for notes of molasses as it warms, and even a note akin to a lukewarm café latte. The flavor profile presents notes of toasted pumpernickel, figs, overly ripened oranges dipped in vodka, and a touch of milk chocolate. We found it had far more citrusy hops than implied by the nose. Finishes moderately bitter with nutty, sweet, citrus notes and a slightly acidic edge at the extreme end. Try this one with an almond and parmesan cheese-covered salad, topped with balsamic vinegar and dark-bread croutons.

We've been fans of this brewery for a while, but this is the first time we've featured them. The Atlanta Brewing Company (ABC) is the oldest operational craft brewery in the state of Georgia. Like numerous areas of the south, restrictive prohibition-era "hangover" laws have meant slow momentum for the craft brew scene. The fact that this is the oldest of the state's craft breweries, and was founded in 1993, kind of gives you an idea of not only what type of pace the beer scene has been developing at, but, really, how far ahead of the curve ABC was when they decided to set up shop. In late 2005, new ownership and management joined longtime ABC brewmaster Dave McClure. Robert Budd, President, and Dave Weil, Director of Operations, have been hard at work with Dave in building their brands and getting more people turned on to good beer than you can shake a Georgia peach at (yes, we do reserve the right to create our own ridiculous expressions over here in the newsletter department) . Their Red Brick Ale was the first beer they brewed and it remains their flagship brand. This month we're featuring this beer and their Peachtree Pale Ale, but the brewery also serves up a traditional, German-style Hefeweizen in the summertime, a hearty double-chocolate Oatmeal Porter in the winter, and an American-style Blonde Ale (aka Golden Ale) all year round. Then there are their limited release beers like their Red Brick Barrel Select, a beer that recently took home the Gold Medal from the World Beer Cup in the Wood and Barrel Aged Beer category. This is their Red Brick Ale aged in Jim Beam Bourbon barrels for 10 months. Now that's some southern comfort if we've ever heard it. 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. Turns out ABC also has a great guided tour and beer tasting every Wednesday and Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. Four to six beers are offered on tap, and a brand-spankin' new tasting room with all the creature comforts one needs for such an affair is currently in the works. Pay 'em a visit and say "Hi" for us. For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (404) 355-5558 or check out their web site at www.atlantabrewing.com.