- Alise Talley
Georgia Breweries: Top 10 in the State
Updated: Feb 18, 2022

When it comes to breweries in the US, Georgia is notoriously behind in the industry.
But that hasn’t stopped entrepreneurs from working to unleash the state’s untapped potential (see what I did there).
Despite the challenges, Georgia breweries have been making a name for themselves for years to produce the best and most innovative beers.
10. Monday Night Brewing
Back in 2006, a group of friends got together every Monday night to brew homemade beer as a hobby. Since then, Monday Night Brewing has opened two Atlanta-based facilities, one in Midtown and one in South West Atlanta. Now, their beers are featured in many of the city's most popular bars.
Some of their notable brews include the Drafty Kilt and the Blind Pirate Double IPA.
9. Second Self Beer Company
Another Atlanta native, the Second Self Beer Company has been creating quality brews since 2014. Their signature Red Hop Rye and Thai Wheat are year-round favorites.
For true beer lovers, their facilities are open for parties and events, as well as tours.
8. Three Taverns Brewery
Named after an ancient Roman rest stop, Three Taverns works to build a sense of community and thanksgiving. This loving mission has led to iconic drinks, like White Hops, a Belgian-inspired white IPA, and a Night in Brussels. It’s clear that they have an admiration for traditional Belgian brewing.
In fact, the whole idea grew after the founder took a trip to Belgium. The experience sparked an interest in the world of beer making, which led to the purchase of an at-home brewing kit. 7 years after its founding, Three Taverns still works to bring Belgian influence to every drink.
7. Jekyll Brewing
In Alpharetta, Jekyll Brewing takes a different approach by embracing it’s Georgian roots. With classics, like ‘Merican Amber and Southern Session, Jekyll is an all-American establishment.
And what an establishment it is! It’s facilities are home to 26 taps and a 100-barrel brewing system, all working to bring you the best the industry has to offer.
6. Orpheus Brewing
Have you ever heard of the Greek myth of Orpheus? He was a hero who traveled to the dark underworld to reclaim his wife, and through this, learned to never look back. This is the motto the Orpheus Brewing company lives by.
Specializing in sour beers, Orpheus pushes boundaries of what’s expected. If you’re ever spending time in Atlanta, you can tour their underground facilities. And it’s close to Piedmont Park and the Botanical Gardens, so you don’t have to go far to have a day jam-packed with fun activities.
5. Creature Comforts Brewing Co.
Anyone who drinks their beers can tell Creature Comforts likes to think outside the box and keep an open mind. Based in Athens, this brewery features the American IPA and Reclaimed Rye.
Not only do they make fantastic brews, but Creature Comforts works to give back to the Athens community through outreach programs.
4. Atlanta Brewing Co. (Red Brick Brewing Co.)
Formerly known as the Red Brick, the Atlanta Brewing Co. took its old name from the abandoned, red brick mill they imported from England and renovated. And it’s still being used today. But this establishment’s real legacy is being the oldest brewing company in Georgia.
Now 25 years old, Atlanta Brewing is a staple in the Georgia brewing industry and paved the way for the businesses that are based here today.
3. Terrapin Beer Company
Another Athens favorite is the Terrapin Beer Company. Founded in 2002, their first release, the Rye Pale Ale, was an instant award winner and has been a classic ever since. This Georgia OG’s other specialty is the Hi-5.
2. Wild Heaven Craft Beers
In Decatur, Wild Heaven has far reaches, distributing throughout the southeast in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida. Their signature drinks include the Ode To Mercy and their humorous, Emergency Drinking Beer.
Wild Heaven continues to carry on traditional European methods for brewing while adding an American flare.
1. Sweetwater Brewing Company
Of course, you can’t talk about Georgia brewing without thinking about Sweetwater. This industry giant is one of Atlanta’s most well-known breweries. Founded in 1997, Sweetwater is an experienced brewery with deep roots in the beer game.
One of their most popular drinks is the 420 Extra Pale Ale, a west coast inspired brew.
How Local Brands Can Benefit from Digital Marketing
If you have a small business in Georgia, digital marketing can help your company grow its customer base and boost sales. Investing in a digital marketing strategy can be the best thing for your business.
SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is a series of methods used to increase your rankings in search engine result pages (SERPs). When someone Googles a topic related to your industry, don’t you want your website to be one of the first results they see? You can up your rankings through simple changes on your site.
First, keep it updated. The Google algorithm favors new and up-to-date content. If you don’t update it regularly, it’s going to mark your website down as old news, and it will decrease your chances of being seen.
But making regular content doesn’t have to be a chore. Add a blog feature and write posts regularly on exciting things going on in your industry. Or, you can teach your customers something new about your product.
It can even be as simple as posting customer reviews.
Another SEO method is using internal and external links. Internal links are links to pages on your own website, which allow search engines to see how your site is structured. The more links there are, the more it will read your site as credible.
External links are links to other web pages. By linking related web pages, you’re telling search engines that you want to be associated with that content.
These few changes will get you on your way to building up your SEO. For more SEO tips, check out the following articles:
SEO: What Is It And How To Use It To Improve Your Rankings
5 Essential Ways to Improve Your SEO
5 SEO Tips to get your website noticed
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
If you’re looking to grow your business quickly, social media marketing can help you. Through social media, you can reach audiences you would never reach traditionally. Instead of just selling your product locally, customers on the other side of the world can access it.
For the day-to-day, it’s great for keeping customers updated on the latest sales and promos.
Before you begin your media campaign, it’s best to establish your goals, so you can make the most of your resources. This can be increasing sales, web traffic, community engagement, etc.
Next, you should plan your content. Your brand should be consistent across all platforms and show strong visual themes (ex: a color scheme). When you post, do it regularly and often.
Keeping a schedule will make sure you stay organized and purposeful in the content you post.
Marketing doesn’t have to be hard to be effective. It just requires some attention and planning. When you prioritize digital marketing, your efforts will be rewarded with business growth in just a short while.