SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater plans second brewery out west

So frequently these days, a west coast brewery makes plans, or has already built, a second brewery on the east coast. (We’re looking at you New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, Stone, Oskar Blues.)

Soon, the reverse will be true.

Atlanta, Georgia’s SweetWater Brewery Continue Reading →

SweetWater Adds NYC, Connecticut

SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, GA) is tacking on New York City and Connecticut.

Recently, the brewery has added:

Northern New Jersey with Peerless Beverage Company (September)
Philadelphia area with Muller Inc (November)
NYC Manhattan Beer Distributors (September)
Central PA Wilsbach Distributors (November)
Western Connecticut Star Distributors and A. Gallo & Co. (November)

“Our team couldn’t be more Continue Reading →

SweetWater Adds Philly & Northern New Jersey This Fall

SweetWater Brewery (Atlanta, GA) is adding Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the state of New Jersey this fall.

Muller Inc. will handle distibution in Philadelphia, and Peerless Beverage Company will distribute SweetWater’s lineup to severn counties in northern New Jersey in mid-September.

“We are Continue Reading →

Posted in Headlines, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater 420 Fest 2016 headliners include Ludacris, Cypress Hill, Kid Rock & more

SweetWater 420 Fest 2016 will feature Ludacris, Cypress Hill, Kid Rock, Bastille, and more. 

SweetWater 420 Fest 2016 looks to be one of the most crazy lineups yet. Last year, Snoop Dog, 311, and Primus were among the 3-day Atlanta based festival’s lineup.

Last week, the brewery previewed to the 2016 lineup to media – which will include Ludacris, Cypress Hill, Ben Harper, Bastille, Kid Rock, and the Disco Biscuits. You should note – that that’s just the beginning of musical act announcements.

SweetWater 420 Fest started years ago in Candler Park, but it is now held in Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta.

If you aren’t familiar with it, Georgia’s largest craft brewery books the downtown park, which brings in a heavy-hitting lineup of musical talent, plus a steady supply of beer. There are all the hops and music you can handle, with no light beer to be found (until the brewery makes one).

Tickets start at $75 dollars for early bird, and increase with VIP experiences etc. On sale now.

SweetWater 420 Fest 2016 is April 22 – 24, 2016

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Headlines, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater plans second brewery out west

So frequently these days, a west coast brewery makes plans, or has already built, a second brewery on the east coast. (We’re looking at you New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, Stone, Oskar Blues.)

Soon, the reverse will be true.

Atlanta, Georgia’s SweetWater Brewery has taken the first steps to build out west. Recently, the brewery purchased Pyramid’s old brewing system, with plans on building location #2 west of the Mississippi.

“Our focus on making a quality liquid and building a strong brand has created an incredible inertia. And while we’re continuing to develop the East Coast, it’s time for us to simultaneously start looking to the West,” says SweetWater founder and Big Kahuna, Freddy Bensch. The company is exploring location options in all western states. The discovery process for the potential third brewery in the central U.S. is just beginning.

The new equipment includes a 4-vessel system, that includes a 130 barre brewhouse, 31 fermentation tanks, and 3 silos. This will give the new brewery an annual potential capacity of 420,000 barrels a year.

Sweetwater is currently looking for locations in western states, and no timeline has been given for the build.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, SweetWater Brewing, Videos

SweetWater The Pit & The Pendulum Going Year Round

SweetWaterThe Pit & The Pendulum recently joined the brewery’s (new for 2015) Big Bottle Series. The American wild ale is brewed with peaches, and finished with Brettanomyces. If you missed your shot at a bottle of this one, good news. SweetWater will be making this beer available nearly year-round.

Making SweetWater The Pit & The Pendulum is one of the more complicated beers to produce in the brewery’s lineup, so you’ll see it a production permits.

SweetWater The Pit & The Pendulum starts as a Belgian-style, fermented with Ardennes yeast (same yeast as Spinnerbait), and peach puree from Titan Farms in South Carolina, then finished with Brettanomyces yeast.

Beer Street Journal followed the SweetWater Pit & The Pendulum from Titan Farms, to brew day, to bottle. Right now the beer has a very fresh peach flavor, with a hint of Brettanomyces on the finish. Over time, the Brett will really start to pop, giving the beer an added dimension. Drink fresh and six months down the road.

SweetWater The Pit & The Pendulum is now available in 750ml bottles.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Peaches)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Corked & Caged.
Release: Late July, 2015

8.3% ABV

Below, a Beer Street Journal look at the first corked & caged release…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, October 4th [UPDATES]

In regards to the Stout release party on October 4th:

After SB 63 went into effect, SweetWater introduced a few tour options. Tour & Tasting, and Tour, Tasting, and Souvenir beer. (So did every Georgia brewery.)

Until the legalities are sorted out, SweetWater is going back to the pre-July 1st days, and the party will have one price for entry – $10. That includes a tour, free samples, tasting the Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout, S’mores bar, the Falcons game on TV, and the first 100 guests will get a stylin 16 oz Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout snifter.

Bottles will be available at retailers the next day, 10/5.

In the meantime, check out Beer Street Journal’s coverage of the DOR memo and issues surrounding the DOR activities.

About the beer… 

SweetWater Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout bottles will be released Sunday, October 4th.

Aged 6 months in Jack Daniels, Old Forester, and Heaven Hills barrels, this sumptuous imperial has notes of chocolatey-bourbon goodness as a part of SweetWater’s big bottle Cork and Cage series.

SweetWater brewed up an original imperial stout recipe specifically developed for the bourbon barrels. After fermentation, the beer was transferred to the bourbon barrels and for 6 months. When the aging process was complete, the imperial stout was blended back together, and voila! SweetWater Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout was born.

SweetWater Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout will be available in 750 milliliter bottles.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Corked & Caged.
Release: October 4, 2015

11.3% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Distribution Expansion, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater Adds NYC, Connecticut

SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, GA) is tacking on New York City and Connecticut.

Recently, the brewery has added:

“Our team couldn’t be more stoked to introduce SweetWater to more folks in the northeast,” says Jeff Chassner, Director of New Market Business Development for SweetWater Brewing Co.  “We spent significant time identifying and getting to know the best fit for partners in each market, and are confident that these distributors are going to help us make a big, SweetWater-style splash in each city.”

 

Those looking for events in the new markets, check SweetWater’s Facebook Page (opens in new window). SweetWater ranks in the top 20 in sales volume amongst U.S. craft brewers.

New on shelves by SweetWater is Hash Brown, a new brown ale that uses a special “hop hash” blend.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater Brewery’s new 400-barrel brewhouse install

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Distribution Expansion, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater Adds Philly & Northern New Jersey This Fall

SweetWater Brewery (Atlanta, GA) is adding Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the state of New Jersey this fall.

Muller Inc. will handle distibution in Philadelphia, and Peerless Beverage Company will distribute SweetWater’s lineup to severn counties in northern New Jersey in mid-September.

“We are ecstatic to bring such great brews to the thirsty consumers of Philadelphia and its surrounding counties,” says John Houck, Muller Inc. Vice President of Sales. “SweetWater’s commitment to quality is unmatched and their beers are excellent.  We could not be more proud of this partnership with SweetWater Brewing and to bring their amazing beers to market.”

Those wanting to keep up with the launch in Philly, follow the Pennsylvania Facebook page, New Jersey folks, stay tuned to the brewery’s main Facebook page.

by Reid Ramsay