Georgia's craft beverage scene has quietly transformed from a handful of local spots into a collection of world-class destinations that'll make you rethink your weekend plans. Whether you're drawn to award-winning whiskeys in Atlanta warehouses, sipping beer in actual train cars, or discovering America's only single-estate rum distillery on the coast, these aren't your average brewery tours.
Atlanta's urban pioneers lead the charge
The capital city's industrial neighborhoods hide some serious liquid gold, and I'm not talking about Coca-Cola this time.
ASW Distillery puts Georgia whiskey on the map
Tucked into a Buckhead industrial park at 199 Armour Drive, ASW Distillery looks pretty unremarkable from the outside. Step through those doors though, and you'll understand why they've been crushing the competition at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition since 2018. We're talking 6 Double Gold medals and 11 Gold medals… basically the Meryl Streep of craft whiskey.
Their hand-hammered Vendome copper pot stills aren't just for show. The Duality Double Malt became Georgia's first Double Gold whiskey, which is kind of a big deal in whiskey circles. The Fiddler Bourbon brings those caramel and maple notes that'll make you understand why people write poetry about bourbon, while their Resurgens Rye proves that Appalachian-style craftsmanship is alive and well in Atlanta.
Tours run between $18-20 for the basics, or you can splurge up to $99 for the premium experiences. Pro tip: book those Friday Night Flights if you want guided tastings with rotating selections. And if you're really lucky, you might catch their experimental "Tire Fire" peated whiskey… yes, that's actually what they call it, and yes, it's as intense as it sounds.
SweetWater Brewing proves size doesn't kill soul
As the Southeast's largest independent craft brewery, SweetWater could easily rest on their 420 Extra Pale Ale laurels. But this isn't some corporate beer factory… it's more like your cool uncle's garage that somehow grew to industrial proportions while keeping all the good vibes intact.
Located at 195 Ottley Drive NE, the facility runs tours every 20 minutes during tour periods, which means you won't be standing around awkwardly waiting. They've been hosting the longest-running brewery comedy show in the country since 2011, because apparently making great beer wasn't enough. Their partnership with Big Green Egg produces some legitimately amazing smoked wings that pair perfectly with whatever's on tap.
The hours are pretty generous:
- Tuesday through Thursday: 11:30am to 9pm
- Friday and Saturday: 11:30am to 10pm
- Sunday: 11:30am to 8pm
Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas, there's regular live music, and their advanced water reclamation system proves you can party responsibly in more ways than one.
Monday Night Brewing doubles down on personality
Most breweries are happy with one location and one identity. Monday Night Brewing said "hold my beer" and created two completely different experiences that somehow both work brilliantly.
Their original West Midtown spot at 670 Trabert Ave NW is all about those hop-forward IPAs, served beneath their famous "necktie wall" that's become an Instagram favorite. But The Garage location on the Atlanta BeltLine? That's where things get weird in the best way possible. We're talking three barrel rooms, a coolship they nicknamed the "Crunk Ship" (because of course they did), and an on-site orchard for fruit additions.
The Garage takes their pizza game seriously too… wood-fired at 900°F using house-captured wild yeast in the dough. Their recent World Beer Cup medals for mixed culture and barrel-aged beers prove that sometimes the weird kids do win. Don't miss their Tiger That Killed My Father imperial stout series, which has a name that demands explanation but a taste that needs none.
North Georgia mountain escapes
Sometimes you need to get out of the city and into the mountains, preferably with a cold beer waiting at the end of your drive.
Talking Rock Brewery serves beer in a train car
About 60 miles north of Atlanta in the town of Talking Rock (population: very small), you'll find one of only two breweries in America operating inside converted railcars. The 1923 train car at 4500 GA-Highway 136 West isn't just a gimmick… it's a genuinely cool place to grab a beer with mountain views.
They keep 8 rotating taps flowing, usually anchored by their Mexican Lager and Kolsch. The covered outdoor pavilion stays comfortable year-round with heaters for winter, plus they've got vintage arcade games and giant Jenga for entertainment. Open Thursday through Sunday, it's the perfect stop to combine with Ellijay apple orchard visits in the fall.
13th Colony Distilleries masters Southern tradition
Two hours south of Atlanta in Americus, 13th Colony Distilleries holds the title of Georgia's oldest operating distillery. Since 2009, master distiller Graham Arthur… who's actually a trained chef… has been using South Georgia's natural advantages to create exceptional aged spirits.
What natural advantages? Try 72% humidity and dramatic temperature swings that make barrels expand and contract like they're doing yoga. Their water comes from the South's largest aquifer, naturally filtered through limestone. The result? Their Southern Bourbon has earned 3X Double Gold Awards, and bottles on the secondary market fetch over $1,000.
Tours run pretty regularly:
- Tuesday through Friday: 12pm to 5pm
- Saturday: 10am to 4pm
Spring for the "Barrel Thief" experience if you want to sample spirits directly from aging barrels. Arthur tastes every barrel personally, aging spirits "to taste, not just time," which explains why people drive from Atlanta just for a bottle.
Coastal character in Savannah and Brunswick
The coast brings its own vibe to Georgia's craft beverage scene, with historic buildings and ocean breezes adding atmosphere you can't replicate inland.
Richland Rum brings the Caribbean to Georgia
Richland Rum in historic downtown Brunswick isn't just making rum… they're growing it. As America's only single-estate rum distillery, they cultivate their own sugarcane in Southwest Georgia before distilling it in seven restored buildings using Portuguese copper pot stills.
This field-to-glass operation has earned serious recognition, including "America's Best Rum" titles from Forbes (2018) and Robb Report (2017), plus a 94/100 score from Tasting Panel Magazine. Their five rum expressions showcase what happens when you control every step of the process.
Tour options range from the $20 Expressions Tour to the $45 Distiller's Experience featuring rare selections. Time it right for sugarcane harvest season and you can book estate tours that include farm visits and gourmet meals. The Brunswick location offers easy access from Savannah while maintaining that authentic coastal atmosphere that makes rum taste even better.
Two Tides Brewing perfects the sour arts
Hidden in a 1910 manager's residence at 12 W 41st Street in Savannah's Starland District, Two Tides Brewing specializes in what they call "haze and funk"… fruited sours and mixed culture beers that'll convert even dedicated IPA drinkers.
Each room of the historic house offers a different vibe. Library nooks for intimate conversations, game rooms for competitive types, and outdoor seating you access by climbing through windows (seriously). Their Rhubarb Crumble Sour with Georgia peach and blueberry tastes like summer in a glass, while their modern IPAs keep the hop heads happy.
The location next to Starland Yard food truck park means you've got rotating food options, and the hours work for both after-work drinks and late-night sessions:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 5pm to 10pm
- Thursday and Friday: 5pm to midnight
- Saturday: noon to midnight
Service Brewing honors those who served
Veteran-owned Service Brewing at 574 Indian Street in Savannah occupies a massive 28,000-square-foot converted warehouse where military-themed beers support a bigger mission. Fifteen percent of profits go to veteran support charities, which earned them a visit from First Lady Michelle Obama in 2016.
Their Ground Pounder Pale Ale and Compass Rose IPA anchor a lineup that includes collaborations with local businesses like Savannah Bee Company and PERC Coffee. The industrial space features military memorabilia throughout, but the atmosphere stays welcoming rather than intimidating. They even brew a special banana beer for Savannah's baseball team, because why not?
Hours accommodate both weekend warriors and weekday visitors:
- Wednesday and Thursday: 4pm to 9pm
- Friday and Saturday: noon to 10pm
- Sunday: 12:30pm to 5:30pm
Hidden gems worth the detour
Sometimes the best discoveries require leaving the beaten path, and these two spots prove the journey's worth it.
Pretoria Fields Collective grows it all
Down in Albany, Pretoria Fields Collective stands as the only brewery in the Southeast that grows their own ingredients. Fifth-generation Georgian Dr. Tripp Morgan transformed family farmland into a complete farm-to-glass operation, cultivating organic barley, wheat, rye, hops, and fruits.
The farm location at 5626 Walker Ducker Station Road offers the full agricultural experience, while their rehabilitated cotton warehouse taproom at 120 Pine Avenue anchors downtown Albany's revitalization. Food trucks rotate through, yoga sessions happen on nice days, and the whole operation feels more like a community gathering than just another brewery.
They're open Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm to 10pm, Friday until 11pm, Saturday from noon to 11pm, and Sunday from 1pm to 6pm. The chance to drink beer literally made from the fields you can see makes this worth the drive from Atlanta or Savannah.
Distillery of Modern Art merges creativity with craft
Chamblee's Distillery of Modern Art at 2197 Irvindale Way delivers exactly what the name promises. This 2,800-square-foot venue combines art gallery, distillery, and event space in a "cabinet of curiosities" aesthetic that feels like stepping into a Victorian scientist's laboratory… if that scientist really liked good cocktails.
Seven house-made spirits including Atlanta Vodka and Peach Amaro share space with rotating exhibitions from local artists, with 100% of art sales going directly to the artists. Monthly events range from comedy shows to candle-making workshops, because apparently just being a distillery wasn't interesting enough.
Tours run Thursday through Saturday at 5pm and 6pm for $25, with special Date Night tours at 7pm and 8pm ranging from $120-180 including engraved bottles. They even operate a morning coffee shop weekdays from 8am to 2pm, proving that creativity doesn't have operating hours.
Planning your Georgia beverage trail adventure
Ready to hit the road? Here's how to make the most of your liquid tour through the Peach State.
The best time to visit depends on where you're headed. North Georgia shines during fall foliage season from September through November, when you can combine brewery visits with apple picking and mountain views. Savannah's coastal locations are perfect in spring when the weather's mild and the tourists haven't descended in full force. Atlanta's urban destinations work year-round thanks to climate-controlled spaces and covered patios.
Most areas offer designated driver services, with several companies providing brewery and distillery tour packages. The smart money's on planning routes that combine these drink destinations with other attractions. Monday Night's Garage location sits right on the BeltLine for easy bar hopping, New Realm offers rooftop skyline views worth the price of admission alone, and Richland Rum puts you minutes from Georgia's Golden Isles beaches.
Essential tips for maximum enjoyment:
- Book tours in advance (especially weekends)
- Eat something substantial before starting
- Pace yourself… this is a marathon
- Buy bottles to take home
- Chat with the staff for insider tips
- Allow extra time for unexpected discoveries
- Download ride-sharing apps before you start
- Bring a cooler for purchases
Whether you're planning a weekend escape or mapping out a longer adventure, Georgia's craft beverage scene offers something beyond the usual brewery tour experience. These aren't just places to grab a drink… they're destinations where passionate people create exceptional products in settings that enhance rather than distract from the experience. From ASW's world-class whiskeys to Talking Rock's railcar charm, each stop tells a story worth hearing and tastes worth savoring.
So grab some friends, designate a driver, and discover why Georgia's liquid landmarks are attracting visitors from across the country. Just remember to pace yourself… there's a lot of good stuff to try, and nobody wants to be that person who peaked at the first stop.
