Wrecking Bar Strong Beer Fest recap and winners

This weekend a few hundred passionate craft beer fans descended on Wrecking Bar Brewpub for the annual Strong Beer Fest.  With so many festivals in the Atlanta area throughout the year it can be hard to choose which ones to attend. If you decided not to this one you made the wrong decision – but now you know for next year.

Strong Beer Fest features beers with 8% or higher ABV.  Most of the breweries featured are from Georgia, with a couple of friends from out-of-state breweries joining in the fun, this year both Cigar City Brewing and Jester King contributed to the event both beers for sampling and items for the silent auction.  Attendees can sample as much as they want from the selection of strong beers stationed throughout the brewpub.  Wrecking Bar caps attendance on this event so there’s a nice crowd but it never feels crowded.  There’s also food “portable” food like pretzels and brats available at the event or you can sit down at dine at the brewpub, and you should.  You’ll definitely want a good meal with so many big beers.

It’s nice to see so many amazing beers from Georgia, even a few short years ago a fest like this featuring Georgia beer wouldn’t have been possible.  Some of the highlights for me were Three Taverns Helm’s Deep, Orpheus Abandon All Hope, Wrecking Bar Mexican Siberius Maximus, Gate City’s Double Tropical Stout, and Max Lager’s Excommunication.  However, I can honestly say there was not a bad beer in the bunch.

Silent Auction raises thousands for Georgia Craft Brewers Guild

Each year the silent auction raises thousands of dollars for the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild, and this year was the best yet.  The funds help the Guild continue the fight for better beer laws in Georgia, where we have some of the most restrictive laws in the country. .  Breweries contribute rare beers, brewery swag, brewery experiences and more for the auction.  It’s a great way to get your hands on a rare beer you may not otherwise be able to find or get behind the scenes at one of your favorite breweries.

Atlanta Strong Beer Fest winners

Festival day starts off with a group of seasoned beer judges sampling all of the beers (what a dirty job) and choosing the top three for recognition at the event.  There’s also a People’s Choice competition where everyone attending the event can cast a vote for their favorite.   The winners this year were:

Judges’ Choice

1. Wrecking Bar Hop Noggin IIPA
2. SweetWater Coffee Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout
3. Creature Comforts Existence Imperial Stout

People’s Choice

1. Three Taverns Helm’s Deep Bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout
2. Max Lager’s Excommunication (This beer also won a Bronze medal at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival)

There was no 3rd Place People’s Choice winner announced but unofficially it was a tie between Orpheus Abandon All Hope and Burnt Hickory Maps and Legends, which were both amazing beers.

This is one fest we sure don’t want to miss.  The camaraderie, fantastic beer, awesome venue, and excellent food put this at the top of our list for Atlanta beer fests.  Mark your calendars now for 2017, don’t say we didn’t tell you.

https://beerguysradio.com/2016/12/05/wrecking-bar-strong-beer-fest-winners/https://beerguysradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Three-Taverns-with-Strong-Beer-Fest-Trophy.jpghttps://beerguysradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Three-Taverns-with-Strong-Beer-Fest-Trophy-150x150.jpg2016-12-05T09:45:54-05:00Tim DennisBeer FestBrewpubsEventsGeorgia Beer EventsAtlanta Strong Beer Fest,wrecking barThis weekend a few hundred passionate craft beer fans descended on Wrecking Bar Brewpub for the annual Strong Beer Fest.  With so many festivals in the Atlanta area throughout the year it can be hard to choose which ones to attend. If you decided not to this one you made...Tim DennisTim Dennistgdennis@gmail.comAdministratorCo-Host of the Beer Guys Radio Show. Georgia beer advocate, all around craft beer fan, homebrewer, and troublemaker.Beer Guys Radio Craft Beer Podcast