Scofflaw Brewing is building a second location in their home city of Atlanta, Georgia.
Selig Enterprises, one of the largest real estate companies announced this morning that Scofflaw Brewing will join The Works, an 80-acre mixed-use development coming to Atlanta’s Upper Continue Reading →
Update 9/28, 9 AM: Finally confirming Scofflaw’s story in regards a rogue press release that was sent on their behalf stating they would give away free beer to President Trump supporters in Brewdog bars, Frank. the publicist has issued a Continue Reading →
Atlanta, Georgia based Scofflaw Brewing will be available at all 36 Brewdog locations in the United Kingdom starting in September.
Over the past year, Scofflaw’s canning was outsourced to Brewdog’s new Ohio production facility. Attendees to the Ohio taproom got a Continue Reading →
BrewDog co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie recently came to brought their cameras and to Atlanta’s Scofflaw Brewing for what would have become Episode 2 of “The BrewDog Show.” This collaboration was part of their new streaming venture after their Continue Reading →
Scofflaw Double Jeopardy IPA is part of a series of artwork upgrades for the brewery in 2018.
Atlanta’s Scofflaw Brewing had one hell of a year. Between brewery expansions, the “middle finger scandal”, ordering a new brewhouse, and partnering with Scottish Continue Reading →
The Scofflaw/Aslin collaboration is apart of the brewery’s taproom only canned releases. Available while supplies last when the brewery opens Friday. $14 per 4-pack.
Scofflaw Brewing to build second location in Atlanta
Scofflaw Brewing is building a second location in their home city of Atlanta, Georgia.
Selig Enterprises, one of the largest real estate companies announced this morning that Scofflaw Brewing will join The Works, an 80-acre mixed-use development coming to Atlanta’s Upper Westside.
Scofflaw’s home at The Works will span 9,000 square feet and serve as the brewery’s main R&D facility. Expect an open design with a large outdoor area featuring games and friend gathering places. The open plan will be designed to give brewery attendees a more intimate look at the brewing process.
“I have a great relationship with the Selig family and their business. There was no question that creating a Scofflaw R&D brewery and tasting room at The Works was the right strategic decision for our team.” -Scofflaw CEO Matt Shirah.
Scofflaw Brewing’s new location will be built alongside a 16,000 square foot food hall by Robert Montwaid known as Chattahoochee Food Works. The food hall will feature food vendors, entertainment and chef-driven events, a test kitchen and artisanal market shops.
The Works is an 80-acre adaptive mixed-use development Atlanta’s Upper Westside, located off Chattahoochee Ave. near Topgolf Midtown. According to Selig, The Works’ vision includes “distinctive retail and dining, imaginative experiences and inspired gathering areas in an interconnected environment preserving the character of Atlanta’s historic industrial Upper Westside. The multi-phased master plan comprises 350,000 square feet of retail and entertainment, 500,000 square feet of office space, 500 residences, 200 hotel rooms and 13 acres of green space.”
Phase One, 27 acres, is currently under construction and scheduled for opening in early 2020.
Update 9/28, 9 AM: Finally confirming Scofflaw’s story in regards a rogue press release that was sent on their behalf stating they would give away free beer to President Trump supporters in Brewdog bars, Frank. the publicist has issued a retraction. As Beer Street Journal mentioned yesterday, the failed promotion was invented solely by Frank. The company’s Facebook page mentions the following
Addtionally, UK journalists received late-day email retractions from the agency’s founder, Andrew Bloch. “You may have received an email with incorrect information regarding Scofflaw Brewery entering the UK market, encouraging Trump supporters to join them for a beer. PLEASE NOTE, THIS WAS INCORRECT INFORMATION AND IS NOT A MESSAGE FROM THE BRAND. Please accept my huge apologies for the confusion and do not run the piece.”
Upon seeing the original press release and social media backlash, Brewdog immediately canceled all events with Atlanta based Scofflaw Brewing and pulled all beer from their taps. Shirah and members of the brewery were in London promoting the launch. According to co-founder Matt Shirah, Brewdog never met with the brewery before taking the actions, starting their own “Hope, not Hate Promotion” on their own.
When asked about the fate of their partnerships and if Brewdog had contacted Scofflaw, Shirah stated “Nothing yet. Now we have to work to repair the damage that has been done to any of our relationships and reputations. I doubt we can recover in Europe, but the support from home has been overwhelming. I’m heading home now, as in I am in the air, so that I can spend time with our friends and brewery supporters”.
Theoriginal story appears below.
Atlanta based Scofflaw Brewing is spending the week in the United Kingdom, celebrating the launch of their hoppy lineup in the country thanks to partner BrewDog Brewing. The Scottish craft brewery has been contract brewing and packaging Scofflaw’s cans at their new Ohio facility for the last year while Scofflaw expands into a 50-barrel brewhouse.
The opportunity to expand the business partnership came up over the summer, with Brewdog offering to import Scofflaw’s lineup for the Brewdog guest taps in the UK.
The week was moving along smoothly until last night. Frank., a London based Public Relations Firm sent out a press release to their UK based list promoting Scofflaw and Brewdog joint events. Per the release – Scofflaw would give away free beer if the patrons would dress up as Trump supporters.
Outrage ensued, and social media excoriated Scofflaw for their stunt, prompting Brewdog to send out a tweet early this morning.
Beer Street Journal reached out to Matt Shirah for his side the story. Per Shirah, that press release was not authorized by him or his brewery.
According to Shirah, he made the decision to hire Frank. for the week to promote his joint events in the United Kingdom. The only press release Shirah, or Scofflaw authorized was the initial announcement of the brewery partnership and launch in the UK. Nothing else.
“I was unaware of any press release. The first one was the only one they were tasked to release, you saw the one. I gave them nothing else,” says Shirah.
When asked if Scofflaw Brewing or any brewery employee wrote, or authorized this press release, Shirah immediately responded “They did this without my consent or review. Just made it up. Fiction.”
“The PR firm, one agent, went out on their own. Maybe they don’t like Brewdog. Getting killed here. We can’t even leave the hotel room,” Shirah adds.
“Frank made it up and sent it. It was never a plan. never heard of it until it hit the press,” Shirah continues.
Shirah also mentions that Brewdog had no discussion with him or the brewing team. Brewdog saw the social media reaction and opted to pull the beer and end the partnership over Twitter, in public.
Beer Street Journal has repeatedly contacted Andrew Bloch, founder and managing partner of Frank. Our repeated requests for a statement have been denied. The firm has failed to respond to any request.
Scofflaw has been responding to angry fans on Instagram this morning. Another response to note:
Brewdog’s official statement includes a few discussions on America’s politics, as well as offering free beer to people who stand up for “Hope, not Hate”. It’s also important to note that their mention of “Frank PR” erroneously refers to a New York PR firm. The publicst is based in London, and simply called “Frank.”
FREE BEERS FOR PEOPLE WHO STAND FOR HOPE, NOT HATE
Today we were the victim of Fake News, with Scofflaw falsely promoting an offer for Trump supporters in our bars that we had no idea about.
We’d like to again categorically confirm we did not know of, endorse or approve this promotion and as a result we’ll be sending all the Scofflaw beer from our bars back to the US. We had planned to stock their beers in our bars, and hold collaborative tasting events, but nobody ever mentioned anything about Trump to us.
We will also offer that free beer they promised, but this time it will be Punk IPA (or any of our other headliners) to anyone who shows up to our bars in the name of love not hate. All you need to do is tell the bar staff at any UK BrewDog bar, BrewDog Brussels or BrewDog Berlin Mitte you’re a lover not a hater, and we’ll pour you a free pint.
From what we can tell, the rogue press release about the weird Trump offer was sent to media without us ever seeing it, let alone agreeing to it, from Scofflaw’s PR agency, Frank PR. It’s not just that it wasn’t approved that is the issue for us here – it’s the fact that the offer directly contradicts our own views and values at BrewDog.
We’ve been pretty clear about our views here in the past. When The Donald pulled out of the Paris Accord, we produced a protest beer called Make Earth Great Again, drawing attention to the ingredients under threat from climate change and donating profits to climate change action group 10:10.
This story is developing. Check back for more details as they become available …
Scofflaw Brewing hoisting up a shiny new sign on Monday, a major upgrade from the painted logo on the building
Per brewery co-founder Matt Shirah, he wanted to have an even larger sign above the brewery, similar to the Fox Theater, or the iconic downtown Biltmore Hotel sign. “Those are grandfathered in, and in the city of Atlanta your sign apparently can’t be higher than your roof now,” Shirah said.
The hefty new sign was created by local sign maker Henry, Inc. Above, Shirah and J.P. Watts, director of sales watches the first lighting.
“What do you think?”, asks J.P. “Fuck yeah,” Shirah says.
Scofflaw Brewing’s beer heads to the UK thanks to Brewdog
Atlanta, Georgia based Scofflaw Brewing will be available at all 36 Brewdog locations in the United Kingdom starting in September.
Over the past year, Scofflaw’s canning was outsourced to Brewdog’s new Ohio production facility. Attendees to the Ohio taproom got a taste of Scofflaw, the only place outside of Georgia the goat-themed brewery could be found. The partnership is evolving further, with Brewdog cold-chain shipping their Basement IPA and POG IPA, plus Vanilla Barrel-Aged Absentium abroad.
UK drinkers can expect Scofflaw on guest taps at Brewdog locations starting in late-September into October.
BrewDogco-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie recently came to brought their cameras and to Atlanta’s Scofflaw Brewing for what would have become Episode 2 of “The BrewDog Show.” This collaboration was part of their new streaming venture after their original “Brew Dogs” series was cancelled, with the duo launching their own BrewDog Network to continue their craft beer adventures on their own terms.
The Atlanta episode was particularly noteworthy as the Scottish brewers set out to create “the most illegal beer ever” with the team at Scofflaw Brewing.
“The Most Illegal Beer Ever”
For the Atlanta episode, the teams set up a mobile brewing platform described as a “rolling casino” (a nod to Atlanta’s bootlegging history) in a truck and drove it around the city. The beer? A quadruple bourbon and vanilla peach-infused IPA that finished at 13.9% ABV. The bourbon soaked peaches were delivered via t-shirt cannon, and the truck was crushed in a junkyard after the brewing was done. There even was a “police interaction.” Brewdog and Scofflaw goes hard.
Below are some brewery scenes filmed later for a crowd at Scofflaw announcing the collaboration.
Scofflaw Double Jeopardy IPA is getting an artistic upgrade in 2018
Scofflaw Double Jeopardy IPA is part of a series of artwork upgrades for the brewery in 2018.
Atlanta’s Scofflaw Brewing had one hell of a year. Between brewery expansions, the “middle finger scandal”, ordering a new brewhouse, and partnering with Scottish brewer Brewdog, it’s a wonder anyone on the team has time to sleep. Somewhere in the mix, someone there had time to work on upgrading their canned artwork.
The brewery’s Basement IPA is still #1 in demand. According to Jonathan Ingram at Scofflaw, Hooligan and Double Jeopardy are tied for second. Those that are hop-addicted are a home in the Simcoe heavy Double Jeopardy. Artist Josh Jameson is the talent behind beautiful updates.
Double Jeopardy has a malty bite up front from caramel and pale malts followed by a resinous hoppy middle, then finishes with a lingering, bittersweet boozy tingle. This big and bold unfiltered IPA taunts you: Can you walk away without having another?
Scofflaw Double Jeopardy IPA is available year-round in 12-ounce cans and draft.
