Touring Districts
If you study the ATL Craft Beer Map, you will notice that our in-town breweries (those inside of I-285) are clustered in specific areas of the city. In the map legend, those clusters are denoted as "beer touring districts." Each district consists of 7-10 breweries or brew pubs that are connected with a blue line on the map (once you apply the layers). You can use this information to plan your visits to the various breweries and brew pubs. You will find a description of each district below...
Southside Touring District
The breweries in this district are all located south of I-20. The Southside District encompasses the neighborhoods of West End, Summerhill, Grant Park and East Atlanta Village. Every neighborhood has its own vibe, which is one of the best things about Atlanta. The blue "tour" line (on the map) for this district runs from west to east. The total driving distance is about 7 miles. The breweries in this district appear in the following order:
In the historic neighborhood of West End, you will find three of Atlanta's largest and most popular breweries: Best End Brewing, Wild Heaven West End and Monday Night Garage. All are within walking distance of each other and located at Lee + White, a sprawling food & entertainment complex that is located on the Atlanta Beltline Westside Trail.
In Summerhill, you will find an excellent brewery called, Halfway Crooks Beer (love that name). Summerhill is an historic neighborhood that hosted the opening and closing ceremonies (and all the track and field events) for the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996.* Before you leave Summerhill, be sure to explore the shops and restaurants along Georgia Avenue.
Historic Grant Park is home to the Atlanta Zoo and another food & entertainment destination called, The Beacon Atlanta. That's where you'll find Eventide Brewing and Elsewhere Brewing. Eventide is a small brewery with a relaxed vibe. Elsewhere Brewing is a larger facility with a full-service restaurant that has indoor and outdoor seating. The two breweries are about 200 yards apart. In addition to the two breweries, you will find a nice mix of artisan shops, galleries and restaurants at The Beacon. You'll want to spend some time exploring the area.
East Atlanta Village is one of the most "eclectic" neighborhoods in Atlanta. It's edgy, it's fun, and it's home to some excellent bars, restaurants and late-night clubs. It is also where you will find Sabbath Brewing and Hippin' Hops Brewery. These two small batch breweries are right across the street from each other. When you visit these breweries, be sure to explore East Atlanta Village.
(*) After the Olympics, the stadium where those events took place was repurposed and renamed Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves from 1997-2016. The facility now serves as a football stadium for the Georgia State University Panthers. Other must-see landmarks in Summerhill include the Hank Aaron 715 Wall and the Olympic Cauldron Tower.
For touring purposes, the first version of the ATL Craft Beer Map focuses on in-town breweries (those inside I-285). A second version of the map will be available soon that focuses on breweries that are outside I-285. That said, this version of the map does show the LOCATION of breweries that are inside and outside I-285. You can also access details, including photos and website links, for all the breweries from the map's legend.
Central Touring District
The breweries in this district are all located north of I-20 and east of I-75. The Central District encompasses the neighborhoods of Reynoldstown, Inman Park, Midtown, Poncey-Highland and Piedmont Heights. The blue "tour line" (on the map) for this district runs from south to north. The total driving distance is about 9 miles. The breweries in this district appear in the following order:
Eastside Touring District
The breweries in this district are conveniently located along or close to the eastern leg of the city's rail system, (aka, the MARTA "Blue Line.") The Eastside District encompasses the neighborhoods of Inman Park, Candler Park, Oakhurst, Decatur and Avondale Estates. The blue "tour line" (on the map) for this district runs from west to east. The total driving distance is about 7 miles. The breweries in this district appear in the following order:
Upper Westside Touring District
The breweries in this district are located north of the City and west of I-75. The Upper Westside District encompasses the neighborhoods of Berkeley Park, Underwood Hills and Bolton. The blue "tour line" (on the map) for this district runs from southeast to northeast. The total driving distance is about 6 miles. The breweries in this district appear on the map legend in the following order:
When going on self-guided brewery tours, the best way to get around is to use a ride-sharing service like Lyft or Uber. Many of Atlanta's in-town breweries are within walking distance of a MARTA rail station, so that's another option. Rail station locations can be found in the map's legend under "MARTA Transit Stations." Please visit the Barrel Room to access a list of companies that offer local brewery tours. Thank you.