Say, “Cheers!” to an Atlanta Craft Brewery Crawl

To say that Atlanta’s craft brewery scene is booming is an understatement. The metro area has more than 80 craft breweries, which means there is something for every type of beer drinker.

Prefer sours? There’s a brewery for that. Want to bring the kids and hang out? There are plenty of family-friendly taprooms. Most breweries even sell six-packs of their beer to go if you want a drinkable souvenir.

Let’s take a tour of the best breweries in Atlanta, from the city to the suburbs and everywhere in between.

As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.

SweetWater Brewing Company

An Atlanta institution, SweetWater has been wetting whistles since 1997. You’ll find it in Armour-Yards, an industrial development in the Buckhead neighborhood. After taking a tour, hang out in the spacious taproom with 24 beers on tap and food made in-house available for purchase.

SweetWater Blue has a light blueberry flavor and is available year-round, but certain seasonal brews, like the Festive Ale, are worth trying when you get the chance.

Second Self Beer Co.

Found in the Upper Westside neighborhood, Second Self’s taproom is pretty low-frills but worth visiting for their uniquely flavored beers. The Thai Wheat brew alone (piquant with ginger and lemongrass) is worth seeking out.

There’s plenty of space to relax, there are board games to play, and chefs and food trucks make regular appearances to keep you from drinking on an empty stomach.

Bold Monk Brewing Co.

Bold Monk Brewing is so much more than a brewery. Yes, there are beers on tap brewed in house, but there is also a full sit-down restaurant featuring a sunlit dining room and a cozy coffee shop upstairs. The restaurant features modern pub grub; try the bitterballen filled with smoked brisket or a liege waffle topped with berries and creme fraiche.

The vibe upstairs is reminiscent of a library (one where it’s OK to talk) with barrel-vaulted ceilings and windows that overlook the brewery. Grab a cup of coffee brewed with Methodical beans and browse the books available for purchase.

Monday Night Garage

The original Monday Night Brewing taproom in West Midtown is alive and well, but its cooler, younger sister, Monday Night Garage, is stealing all the attention. Located in the West End neighborhood off of the BeltLine’s Westside trail, the brewery is accessible just as easily by foot as by car.

This is where Monday Night brews their barrel-aged and sour beers, incorporating what they grow in their on-site orchard and garden when possible. Standout brews here include the Dr. Robot, a blackberry lemon sour, and the Blind Pirate, a blood orange IPA.

The space is massive, so bring all of your friends if you want. There’s also a nice seating area outside.

Glover Park Brewery

To get to Glover Park, you gotta head to the burbs … specifically, Marietta. Located just off of Marietta Square in a historic building, the brewery is an all-around great spot to chill with a brewski (or two) for the afternoon.

It’s kid-friendly and has plenty of TVs to watch (which is especially great during college football season). There’s also plenty of outdoor seating.

Orpheus Brewing

Sour lovers, this is the spot for you. You’ll find Orpheus on the edge of Piedmont Park (excellent for people who need a post-park refreshment). Try to go on a sunny day so you can sit on the outdoor deck and look over the park while sipping one of their brews, like the Atalanta, a tart plum saison.

Urban Tree Cidery

Yes, it’s a cidery, but the ciders are excellent, as is the vibe, so Urban Tree has to be included. The West Midtown taproom features nine year-round ciders with the standout among them being the Classic (refreshing and bright).

All of their ciders are gluten free, and they serve local beers and spirits for those who want something other than cider.