The Best of Georgia Beer 2019 – The Results
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Best of Georgia Beer 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards – The Winners
How the winners were selected
We ran two rounds to select our winners for the Best of Georgia Beer. In the first round, voters were asked to nominate their favorites for each category with each voter allowed one nominee per category. The top 10 (+/-) nominees from each category were then put to a final round vote. 2,258 Georgia beer drinkers cast their votes in the final round and the top 3 from each category were selected for our winners list.
Georgia beer stats
- 28 new craft breweries and brewpubs opened in Georgia in 2019
- 4 breweries closed in Georgia this year
- There are currently 111 locations producing craft beer in Georgia
- Adding cideries, meaderies, and in-state contract brewers there are currently 125+ locations producing craft beverages in Georgia
Best New Georgia Beer and Breweries
For beers and breweries released or opened between December 1, 2018 and December 1, 2019.
Best New Georgia IPA
3. Pontoon Brewing Wake Zone
2. Monday Night Brewing Lundi
1. Wild Leap Brew Co. ETA
Best New Georgia Imperial or Double IPA
2. Wild Leap Brew Co. Alpha Abstraction Vol. 7 / Pontoon Brewing Something Strange (TIE)
1. Wild Leap Alpha Brew Co. Abstraction Vol. 9
Best New Georgia Wild or Sour Beer
3. Orpheus Brewing Fragmentation of Silence
2. Three Taverns Brewery Sour Asylum: Slice
1. Wild Leap Brew Co. Vacanza Key Lime
Best New Georgia Stout
3. SweetWater Brewing Co. 420 Strain Chocolope Stout
2. Pontoon Brewing Brownie Batter Batch #1
1. Wild Leap Brew Co. Partners in Crema
Best New Georgia Lager
3. Georgia Beer Co. St. Helen’s Oktoberfest
2. Dry County Brewing Co. Plank Pils
1. Pontoon Brewing Sol Crusher
Best New Georgia “Something Different” Beer
For beers that didn’t fit into one of the other categories.
3. New Realm Brewing Co. Push Cart Series Blackberry Lemon Ginger Belgian Ale
2. Dry County Brewing Co. Bourbon Barrel Aged Quad
1. Monday Night Brewing Tie 8 On
Best New Georgia Brewery or Brewpub
3. Halfway Crooks Beer
2. Six Bridges Brewing
1. Schoolhouse Brewing
Overall Best of Georgia Beer
No release or opening date requirements, all Georgia beer and breweries were eligible.
Best Georgia IPA
3. Wild Leap Brew Co. Chance
2. Cherry Street Brewing Steppin’ Razor
1. Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Tropicalia
Best Georgia Imperial or Double IPA
3. Monday Night Brewing Space Lettuce
2. Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Duende
1. Wild Leap Brew Co. Alpha Abstraction Vol. 9
Best Georgia Wild or Sour Beer
3. Dry County Brewing Co. Neon Neon
2. Wild Leap Brew Co. Vacanza Key Lime
1. Pontoon Brewing Snozzberries Taste Like Snozzberries
Best Georgia Stout
3. Good Word Brewing Moose Traxxx!
2. Burnt Hickory Brewery Big Shanty
1. Wild Leap Brew Co. Partners in Crema
Best Georgia Lager
3. Dry County Brewing Co. Lechuza
2. Pontoon Brewing Hazy River IPL
1. Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Classic City Lager
Best Georgia “Something Different” Beer
For beers that didn’t fit into one of the other categories.
3. Pontoon Brewing BA Helios (Syrah Barrel Aged)
2. Burnt Hickory Brewery Charred Walls of the Damned
1. Dry County Brewing Co. Kennesaw Bourbon Barrel Ale (KBA)
Best Georgia Brewery or Brewpub
3. Monday Night Brewing
2. Wild Leap Brew Co.
1. Variant Brewing Co.
Best Georgia Homebrewer
3. Jon Shari – Little Cottage
2. Jay Brantley
1. Michael Syrop and Ron Mitchell – Rainy Day Brewing
Best Georgia Beer Festival
3. Wrecking Bar Strong Beer Fest
2. Suwanee Beer Fest
1. Roswell Beer Fest
Best Georgia Beer Bar
3. Taco Mac
2. Brick Store Pub
1. The Porter Beer Bar
Best Georgia Bottle Shop
3. Ale Yeah!
2. Hop City Craft Beer & Wine
1. Sprayberry Bottle Shop
Just curious, which were the 4 that closed in 2019? (Just trying to keep current.)
Hey Joseph, they were 5 Seasons Westside, 5 Seasons Prado, Gordon Biersch, and Blue Ridge Brewery.