Brewpub serves up craft beer and Latin fare in Duluth

This isn’t the first beer rodeo for the team behind Good Word Brewing and Public House. Dave Blanchard, Mike Gallagher, and Tom Moore opened Brick Store Pub in 1997. Their beer bar on the square in Decatur helped to grow and define Georgia’s craft beer scene and today they are among the most highly regarded craft beer destinations in the world. Blanchard, Gallagher, and Moore partnered with Brick Store’s long-time General Manager Todd DiMatteo and Beer Program Manager Ryan Skinner to open Good Word Brewing in Duluth’s new Parson’s Alley Development.

Good Word recently hosted a soft opening as they worked diligently to put finishes touches on their space. Visitors probably wouldn’t have noticed any of the minor items, but Skinner commented that he saw every little thing he wanted to do to make sure the space was perfect ahead of the official grand opening.

House beers weren’t on tap just yet, but Head Brewer Kyle Jeppesen gave us a peek at the brewhouse and a sample of their IPA. Jeppesen relocated from Canada to join Good Word, with his first visit to the Atlanta area being his interview for the position. The beer was tasty, sort of a NE/West Coast hybrid with tropical aroma and flavors and 45 IBUs bringing in some smooth bitterness. In addition to the IPA, Good Word will offer a Pale Ale, Porter, American Sour, English Mild, and a few others when they launch. The guest taps offered some great Georgia beers from Scofflaw, Wrecking Bar, Max Lager’s, Creature Comforts, and Three Taverns.

Executive Chef Maximillian Nazabal’s menu offers up pub fare with a Latin spin. The “Pork Candy” features chunks of pork belly with guajillo, queso fresco, and pepita lime butter. Flash fried shishito peppers are mixed with adobo and lime and sprinkled with queso fresco, Evelyn’s Empanada is stuffed with braised pork and topped with chilies and crema and a tart pickled red onion which really balances all the flavors. Good Word’s mushroom tacos were delicious and a great choice even for the carnivorous minded, pork tacos were tasty but the addition of pickled cauliflower seemed out-of-place. The deceptively hot curry chicken tacos tried to kill me. First bites are great with a nice spice but after a few minutes it’s full five alarm action in your mouth. If you love heat then by all means order these, if not then consider yourself warned. The guacamole was mildly seasoned but very fresh and helped to calm the storm from the curry chicken tacos. You might think a burger on menu of mostly Latin dishes would be an afterthought but the burger at Good Word impressed us, we considered ordering a second one to share. Perfectly cooked and juicy beef patties topped with melty cheese reminiscent of Rotel dip.

Good Word Brewing will open to the public on Tuesday, November 28th at 5:00 PM.

Good Word Brewing & Public House

3085 Main Street – Suite 520

Duluth, GA 30096

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