In these times of social distancing breweries are finding new ways to connect with customers, including virtual events that help promote new releases and let fans find out more about their favorite beers.
Athens’ Terrapin Beer Co. has produced some really fun Facebook Live sessions, featuring brewmaster Brian “Spike” Buckowski and special guests such as beer label artist Chris Pinkerton, and UGA and Falcons quarterback D.J. Shockley.
At Atlanta’s New Realm Brewing, brewmaster Mitch Steele has been broadcasting “NRBC TV” chats on Facebook Live, introducing new beers and taking questions from viewers, while sipping and offering detailed tasting notes.
On Monday at 6 p.m., Atlanta’s SweetWater will celebrate 420 Extra Pale Ale (the beer that put the brewery on the map), when Taco Mac hosts a virtual talk and hangout with head brewer Nick Nock and Atlanta beer writer Ale Sharpton.
Virtual attendees can view and chat while Nock answers questions and shares more about SweetWater and how 420 came to be.
Space limited to 300. And you must RSVP online for tickets at eventbrite.com.
If you want to get setup with some food and drink, Taco Mac is offering pick-up or delivery with options for ordering online or calling your local store. Beer and wine are available to-go at all locations — excluding Peachtree City, Cumming and McDonough.
I've written about SweetWater 420 many times. But here's a flashback Beer Pick from April 2017.
Beer Pick
SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale
SweetWater Brewing Co., Atlanta
Available on in bottles and cans
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A 2002 Silver Medal award winner at Great American Beer Festival, and a perennial best-seller, SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale gets no respect from beer geeks. But to my mind, it’s among the best and freshest local session beers going. And it has the added advantage of being both food friendly and suitable for serving to light lager drinkers.
Brewed with an interesting old world/new world combo of Munich malt and Centennial and Cascade hops, 420 is a quaffable pale gold ale that comes off as crisp, clean and hop-forward, with plenty of pine and citrus notes. But the malt is in there, too, offering a touch of caramel before a quenching dry finish.
Pair with
SweetWater 420 is a perfect companion for backyard cookouts, with an underlying malt presence to match the caramelization in grilled meats, along with a quaffable, crispy hop presence that won’t overwhelm salads or side dishes or drive IPA haters crazy.
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