It’s an exciting time to be an observer of the craft beer scene in Georgia. New brewery openings started accelerating in 2015 and with the on-site sales laws changing in 2017, brewery beer offerings have exploded. It makes it quite a challenge to visit the many tap rooms and sample all the great beers around the state. Not to fear, however, because local beer enthusiasts and hosts of Beer Guys Radio Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt are here to help us out.

Since 2016 Beer Guys Radio out of the Atlanta area has put out their Best of Georgia Beer. The category nominees and winners are voted on by listeners of the show and this years awards were even more competitive than last years. Creativity and quality continue to improve exponentially year over year and we are fortunate enough to watch as new breweries establish their reputations and niches. If you live in Georgia or will be visiting during the year and you haven’t tried any of these beers, this list would be a great place to start. Below is a summary of some of the category winners and congratulations to all.

For the full list of awards and nominees, click below: https://beerguysradio.com/2018/12/29/best-georgia-beer-results-2018/

Georgia’s Best Breweries:

1. Creature Comforts Brewing Co. – Athens, GA
2. Monday Night Brewing – Atlanta, GA
3. Variant Brewing – Alpharetta, GA

Georgia’s Best New Breweries:

1. Pontoon Brewing Co. – Sandy Springs, GA
2. Reformation Brewing – New Downtown Woodstock, GA location
3. New Realm Brewing Co. – Atlanta, GA

Best New IPA – SweetWater 420 Strain G13

Best New Double/Imperial IPA – Wild Leap Alpha Abstraction Vol. 3

Best new Wild/Sour Beer – Pontoon Brewing Snozzberries Tastes Like Snozzberries Berliner

Best New Stout – Three Taverns Morning Smack

Best New Lager – Gate City Carl Black IPL

Best New “Something Different” – Monday Night Last Will & Testament (Bourbon Barrel-aged Old Ale)

Best IPA – Creature Comforts Tropicalia

Best Double/Imperial IPA – Orpheus Transmigration of Souls

Best Wild/Sour Beer – Creature Comforts Athena

Best Stout – Wrecking Bar Mexican Siberius Maximus

Best Lager – Creature Comforts Classic City Lager

Best “Something Different” – Monday Night Drafty Kilt (Bourbon Barrel-aged Old Ale)