Georgia Brewery Growth

Once again, Georgia saw tremendous growth in craft breweries in 2019. Many of the breweries planned after the passage of SB85 opened, capitalizing on the ability to focus on own-premise sales or to offer food service. We continued to fill in the gaps on the map with breweries opening in areas like Cartersvile, Ellijay, Hiawassee, Monroe, and Valdosta. We also saw established brewers opening 2nd locations such as Cherry Street, Jekyll, Macon Beer Co., and Wild Heaven.

As of Dec. 31, 2019 there were 74 production breweries and 37 brewpubs operating in Georgia, plus 6 cideries and 7 meaderies (Does not include contract/gypsy breweries.)

Map of Georgia breweries, brewpubs, cideries, and meaderies

Map of Georgia breweries, brewpubs, cideries, and meaderies 2019 | 20 new breweries and 8 new brewpubs opened in Georgia. Georgia also saw 4 brewery/brewpub closures in 2019.

2018 | 11 new breweries and 6 new brewpubs opened in Georgia.

2017 | 13 new breweries and 10 new brewpubs opened in Georgia.

2016 | 7 new breweries and 3 new brewpubs opened in Georgia.

About the numbers: We count any physical location when tabulating our totals. This means that a brewery with two locations (like Monday Night Midtown and Garage) will count as two. However, we do not count gypsy or contract breweries, so a brewery may offer beer here but not be included in the count.

New Georgia Breweries Planned for 2020

This list is ever-changing. Breweries will be added and moved around here as needed and we’ll update with relevant info throughout the year.

1984 Brewing | Ball Ground, GA

I can’t find much info on this one, just saw a job post online for a Head Brewer which states they are looking to open Summer 2020.

Target Opening: Summer 2020

6S Brewing | Duluth, GA

Under construction as of July 2020.

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: Facebook

Awkward Brewing | Fayetteville, GA

As of April 2020 the owners of Awkward brewing were in discussions with the city for design approval.

Target Opening: Summer 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook

Back Paddle Brewing | Lincolnton, GA

As of mid-September 2020 Back Paddle is preparing to open and hopes to announce a date soon.

Target opening: TBD

More info: Facebook

Biggerstaff Brewing Co. | O4W Atlanta, GA

Per the AJC, Clay and Sarah Davies will open Biggerstaff Brewing at 521 Edgewood Ave. in early 2020. The beer lineup will focus on IPAs with sours, coffee beers, and offerings such as a smoked Pale Ale. The brewery will also open in the mornings to serve coffee and espresso with locally-made pastries. Staplehouse chef Ryan Smith will head up the culinary program which will feature house-made charcuterie, small plates, sandwiches, salads and snacks, all designed to pair with the brewery’s beers.

Target Opening: Early 2020

More Info: AJC

Big Oak Brewing | Thomasville, GA

Big Oak Brewing is launching a Kickstarter campaign on March 10th to raise funds for their brewery. They plan to launch with a 15-barrel brewhouse and distribute primarily on draft with a tasting room at the brewery.

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: Facebook

Candler Rail Brewery | Atlanta, GA

A new brewpub is coming to 1660 DeKalb, former location of The Mercantile, serving up beer and tacos. Candler Rail Brewery will be the 4th Atlanta area brewery from Allen Porter who recently opened Porter Pizza & Brewery and Porter BBQ & Brewery.

Target Opening: Late October 2020

More Info: Facebook | Atlanta Business Chronicle

Cultivation Brewing Co. | Norcross, GA

Briefly known as Norx (Norcross Brewing), Cultivation plans to open at 650 Langford Drive in Norcross Summer 2020. The brewery plans to offer a variety of lagers and ales as well as hard seltzer, root beer, and craft sodas.

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: AJC / Website

Debellation Brewing Co. | Richmond Hill, GA

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: Website | Facebook

Elsewhere Brewing | Atlanta (Grant Park), GA

Target Opening: October 2020

More Info: Facebook | Eater Atlanta

Hippin’ Hops Brewery | Atlanta, GA (EAV)

Hippin Hops will be Atlanta’s first black-owned brick-and-mortar brewery. The owner of Sabbath Brewing shared a picture of them unloading tanks at their facility in late June. Per Atlanta Business Chronicle “Hippin’ Hops will serve craft beer and artisanal oysters, and it may be Georgia’s first Black-owned brick-and-mortar brewery.” Clarence Boston, one of the owners of Hippin’ Hops, tells us they are are very excited to bring their beer to EAV.

Target Opening: October 2020

More Info: Atlanta Business Chronicle (Paywall)

Horned Owl Brewing | Kennesaw, GA

Horned Owl’s owners shared in early March that they should begin construction within a couple of weeks. The planned Wise Owl brewery in Smyrna shares the same owners but they tell us that Wise Owl is “not looking good” at this time.

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant | Buckhead & Perimeter Center – Atlanta, GA

The Iron Hill group will expand into the Atlanta market with locations planned for Buckhead and Perimeter Center. here were rumors of a location at Mall of Georgia but Iron Hill tells us there are only the two locations at this time.

More Info: Website

Kettlerock Brewing | Peachtree Corners, GA

As of June 2020 the brewery posted on social media that they have their final construction documents and getting close to beginning construction.

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: Website / Facebook

Major Humphrey’s Brew Co. | Monroe, GA

The brewery posted on social media in late January 2020 that they were currently working on permitting and licensing.

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: Website | Facebook

Red Hare Brewing – Marietta Square | Marietta, GA

Red Hare Brewing announced they will be opening a taproom and retail location in the old Hemingway’s location on Marietta Square.

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: AJC

Rightside Brewing Co. | Lawrenceville, GA

Rightside is targeting to launch in October 2020 as Georgia’s first non-alcoholic craft brewery. Initial offerings will include an IPA and a Citrus Wheat. Rightside will be contract brewed at Big Kettle Brewing in Lawrenceville.

Target Opening: October 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook

Round Trip Brewing | Atlanta, GA (Upper Westside)

Round Trip began construction of their brewery in late February 2020 in the Underwood Hills neighborhood on Atlanta’s emerging Upper Westside brewery district. Once complete, the location will feature a two story facility with taproom, brewhouse, event space, package hall, and outdoor area. Opening date is TBD.

Target Opening: Late Summer 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Sabbath Brewing | East Atlanta Village, GA

Sabbath Brewing originally planned to open in late-2018. A constant string of challenges with zoning and permits has offered endless delays. Owner Jeff Oparnica says he hopes the issues will be resolved soon and is now targeting a Summer 2020 opening.

Target Opening: September 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook | Beer Guys Radio #210

Scofflaw Brewing at The Works | Atlanta, GA

The second location of Atlanta’s Scofflaw Brewing is planned as a large R&D brewery coming to The Works in the Upper Westside.

Target Opening: TBD

Senoia Beer Company | Senoia, GA

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Split Batch Brewing | Chamblee / Duluth, GA

Split Batch owners Ben Halter and Jay Young have selected a location for their brewery and are attempting to resolve some zoning issues while looking for an alternate location. They are targeting Chamblee or Duluth to call home. Both Halter and Young have been very active and successful on the homebrew competition circuit with a variety of sours, IPAs, and Barleywines. The brewery’s name is a nod to the way they brew now, and what they plan to bring to the brewery with taking a base beer and applying various treatments (yeasts, hops, adjuncts) to create several “split batches.”

Target Opening: TBD

More Info: Website | Facebook

Taffer’s Tavern | Atlanta, GA area (Five total locations planned)

The AJC reports that John Taffer (host of the show Bar Rescue) will open his first Georgia location at 33 South Main Street in Alpharetta, directly across from City Hall. Taffer plans a total of five locations in the state with an Alpharetta location planned after the Atlanta opening. For the brewing side Taffer’s will use a Smart Brew system, a sort of Keurig for beer utilizing pre-made wort.

Target Opening: July 2020 (Per What Now Atlanta)

Three Taverns Imaginarium | Atlanta, GA

Owner Brian Purcell tells us they are very close and working on some finishing touches. Plans are to start brewing their first batches of beer the first week of March and to host soft openings the week of March 23rd with a Grand Opening that weekend, pending final licensing approval.

Target opening: Early July 2020

More Info: Introducing: Three Taverns Imaginarium

Towerhouse Farm Brewery | Gay, GA

Per their FB page Towerhouse Farm Brewery will be located on 800 acres of farmland in Gay, GA. Their goals is to make a 100% farm-to-table beverage

Target opening: TBD

More Info: Website | Facebook | Instagram

In addition to the above list, there are several other brewery licenses active in Georgia with a status of “planning.” However, there’s no additional information available. If you have any info on a brewery not on our list please let us know.

Georgia Brewery Openings in 2020

NOTE: For the purpose of being “open” we are listing only breweries that have a physical location in Georgia. Some breweries may have beer available now through contract or gypsy brewing.

Athentic Brewing Co. | Athens, GA

Opened: June 27, 2020 (Curbside pickup, pre-orders only. More info here.)

More Info: Facebook

Barrier Island Brewing | Saint Simons, GA

Opened: January 2020

More Info: Facebook

Cochran Mill Brewing Co. | Fairburn, GA

Opened: April 2020 for curbside growler fills, May 2020 limited taproom

More Info: Facebook

The Dahlonega Brewery | Dahlonega, GA (Previously Etowah Brewery)

Opened: TBD

More info: Facebook

Fall Line Brewing Co. | Macon, GA

Opened: Early March 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook

Fire Maker Brewing Co. | Atlanta, GA

Opened: Soft open beginning March 6, 2020 with Grand Opening set for March 28, 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook

Fox City Brewing | Forsyth, GA

Opened: Grand opening July 4, 2020

More Info: Facebook

Freight & Rail Brewing Co. | Calhoun, GA

Opened: Soft opening February 29th

More Info: Website | Facebook

Hop Atomica | Savannah, GA

Opened: July 10, 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook

Ironshield Beer / Big Kettle Brewing | Lawrenceville, GA

Opened: Grand opening July 11, 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook | Gwinnett Daily Post

Monkey Wrench Brewing | Suwanee, GA

Opened: February 2020

More info: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Normaltown Brewing Co. | Athens, GA

Opened: February 2020

More Info: Facebook

Outrun Brewing | Stone Mountain Village, GA

Opened: July 3, 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook | Beer Guys Radio #210

Red Top Brewhouse | Acworth, GA

Target Opening: Previews in late July, officially opened August 1, 2020.

More Info: Website | Facebook

Silver Bluff Brewing | Brunswick, GA

Opened: Grand opening July 1, 2020

More Info: Facebook

Social Fox Brewing | Norcross, GA

Opened: May 1, 2020

More Info: Website | Facebook | Beer Guys Radio #210

Split Fin Brewing | Midway, GA

Opened: June 4, 2020

More Info: Facebook

Strange Duck Brewing Co. | Commerce, GA

Opened: April 2020 (To-go growler fills only as of June 14, 2020)

More Info: Website | Facebook

Viking Alchemist Meadery | Marietta and Smyrna, GA

Opened: May and June 2020

More Info: Press Release

Georgia Breweries Planned Beyond 2020

We’re streamlining this section a bit this year and will list the name, location, and links if we have them.

1818 Brewing Co. | Commerce, GA | Facebook

5/4 Meadery | Roswell, GA | AJC

A-T Ale Brewery | Atlanta Area, GA | Website / Facebook

Atlantucky Brewing (Nappy Roots’ brewery) | Hapeville, GA | Website / Instagram | Beer Guys Radio: 1, 2, 3

Brown Man Brewing | Atlanta Area, GA

The Copper Pot | Clarkesville, GA

GRITS Brewing | Chamblee, GA | Facebook / Blog / Instagram

Hedge Brewing Co. | Location TBD | Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

MAZURT Brewing | Atlanta, GA | Website / Facebook / Twitter

Mutation Brewing Co. | Atlanta Metro, GA | Website / Facebook

Our Culture Brewing | Atlanta, GA | Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

SchoolYard Brewing | Canton, GA

Shelter Beer Co OR Erwin & Church Brewing | Cartersville, GA

Suwanee Creek Brewing / Greenway Brewing (Tentative names) | Suwanee, GA

Wise Owl Brewing | Marietta, GA | Website / Facebook / Instagram / Marietta Daily Journal

Georgia Brewery Closings and Cancellations

Hop Soul Brewery | Brunswick, GA

The owners of Hop Soul Brewery announced on Facebook that they are closing effective July 7, 2020.

Jailhouse Brewing Co. | Hampton, Ga

After 10 years, Jailhouse announced via Facebook they are closing their brewery after one last party on Saturday, March 7, 2020.