Atlanta's Craft Beer Scene

The biggest challenge is knowing where to start!

The ATL Craft Beer Map shows the locations of 85+ breweries and brewpubs. It also shows the location of 40+ bars and restaurants that have excellent beer selections. To put that in context, the entire State of Georgia had ZERO breweries between 1972 — 1992. Atlanta got is first craft brewery in 1993, when Atlanta Brewing Company arrived on the scene. Four years later, Sweetwater Brewing Company (Georgia's largest brewery) opened its doors. In 2004, the State of Georgia lifted its ABV limit of 6% which primed the hopper for a more creative and robust beer scene. The first wave of breweries came in the late 2000's, coinciding with the explosion of the U.S. craft beer industry.

The tipping point came in 2017, when Georgia lawmakers allowed breweries to sell directly to consumers. Before that, they could only sell "tours," which came with a pint glass and a handful of beer tickets. The new law also allowed breweries to operate on-premise restaurants. Since 2017, Atlanta has experienced significant growth when it comes to new breweries. The biggest challenge for those who want to experience the ATL beer scene is knowing where to start! That's where the ATL Craft Beer Map comes in handy.