Headlines

Wiseacre Brewing acquires Bearded Iris

Wiseacre Brewing Acquires Bearded Iris Brewing, Uniting Two of Tennessee’s Top Craft Breweries

Memphis-based Wiseacre Brewing Company has acquired Nashville’s Bearded Iris Brewing in a deal announced this week, combining two of Tennessee’s largest craft breweries.

Wiseacre Brewing, through its Abel Brewing Continue Reading →

Braselton Brewing closes in Georgia

Braselton Brewing Company, a brewpub housed in a historic 1920 cotton gin in downtown Braselton, Georgia, has closed its doors, marking the end of a nearly 7 year run.

Opened in December 2018 by Todd Braselton, the brewery gained local popularity, Continue Reading →

SweetWater celebrates 28 years [PICS]

SweetWater celebrated their 28th Anniversary on February 22nd, with live music, food plenty of beer.

For 28 years, SweetWater has been brewing in Atlanta – and a lot has changed since the early days. Having been to almost every birthday party Continue Reading →

J Wakefield annouces location move [Updated]

J. Wakefield Brewing announced yesterday that the brewery would close their Wynwood taproom, and were seeking a new location. Today, they announced a location move is imminent with no production interuptions.

J. Wakefield Brewing is closing their taproom in Continue Reading →

Posted in Brewery Expansions, Headlines, Monday Night Brewing

Monday Night Brewing opens “The Grove” this weekend

Monday Night Brewing’s first location was an abandoned warehouse on Atlanta’s Westside, opened in September 2012. Since then, founders Jeff Heck, Joel Iverson, and Jonathan Baker, along with brewmaster Peter Kiley, have expanded across the Southeast to Birmingham, Nashville, Knoxville, and Charlotte. This month, the brewery returns to the Westside for its latest expansion.

Meet “The Grove”

Located at 670 Trabert Avenue, Monday Night’s “The Grove” connects directly to a brand-new segment of the Atlanta BeltLine Northwest Trail, linking Northside Drive to Howell Mill Road. This new “oasis” spans 17,000 square feet of communal space, including a 7,400-square-foot indoor taproom, adjacent to the original West Midtown location. The Grove is equal parts taproom, patio, and green space paradise, serving as a BeltLine getaway.

PICS: MONDAY NIGHT BREWING THROUGH THE YEARS

The indoor taproom will feature 30 taps, the largest tap lineup the brewery has built to date. Guests can pair their beers with house-made pizzas from twin Italian ovens (including gluten-free options) or start the day with a new morning program offering coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries.

The outdoor space includes an amphitheater-style area for live music, a 20-foot LED TV screen, and shade provided by 62 preserved trees and 30 newly planted native trees. Free parking is available across three lots.

“The Grove brings new life and a fresh start to the Monday Night Brewing space that started it all. Thirteen years ago, we moved into an abandoned warehouse on a dead-end street and created an inviting taproom amidst a beer production space. West Midtown has been our home ever since, so we want this to be an everyday experience—a space to connect with friends, meet new people, and enjoy fresh beer, great food, and good vibes.” – Co-Founder Joel Iverson

Monday Night’s original location will now focus on production expansion and private event space.

Look for Monday Night’s The Grove to open by the end of August.

Below are Beer Street Journal photos taken with Jonathan Baker at the buildout of the Westside location fall of 2012.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, New Releases, Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada reveals “Proper Pilsner Cans” for Premium PILS

Back in April, Sierra Nevada unveiled a project more than a year in the making—Premium PILS, available on draft in select markets nationwide. At the time, the brewery teased unique packaging for the pilsner in late summer. Today, the brewery has revealed the answer: Proper Pilsner cans.

The key to this packaging is the smaller can format—specifically, 8.4 ounces—to maintain temperature and flavor from beginning to end. According to Brian Grossman, head brewer at Sierra Nevada, crafting a traditional European-style pilsner was half the challenge. When the beer transitioned to packaging, the standard 12- or 16-ounce can wouldn’t suffice. “I’ve enjoyed beers all over the world, but there’s something special about a proper pilsner at a European pub—crisp, refreshing, and served in a smaller glass to keep it at the ideal temperature and flavor. That’s how PILS is meant to be enjoyed,” Grossman says.

We tried Premium PILS back in April at The Ramspeck in Decatur, Georgia, and it’s fantastic, truly setting a new standard for American craft breweries producing European-style beers. At 4.7% alcohol by volume and 25 IBUs, it’s crisp and pairs with nearly everything.

Proper Pilsner cans, filled with Premium PILS, debut in 8.4-ounce 12-packs in select markets in August 2025, with plans for full national distribution in early 2026.

Below are photos from the media launch party in April at The Ramspeck.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bearded Iris Brewing, Brewery Acquisitions, Headlines, Wiseacre Brewing

Wiseacre Brewing acquires Bearded Iris

Wiseacre Brewing Acquires Bearded Iris Brewing, Uniting Two of Tennessee’s Top Craft Breweries

Memphis-based Wiseacre Brewing Company has acquired Nashville’s Bearded Iris Brewing in a deal announced this week, combining two of Tennessee’s largest craft breweries.

Wiseacre Brewing, through its Abel Brewing LLC, has applied for permit changes for Bearded Iris’ locations at 101 Van Buren St. and Sylvan Supply at 4101 Charlotte Ave.

Bearded Iris was founded in 2014 by Paul Vaughn, Matt Miller, and Kavon Togrye in Nashville, Tennessee. Wiseacre Brewing was established a year earlier in Memphis by brothers Kellan and Davin Bartosch. The merger is seen as a strategic alliance across the Volunteer State, aimed at overcoming challenges facing the craft beer industry, including rising costs, pandemic fallout, increasing insurance expenses, and shifting consumer preferences.

IndieBrew and Scofflaw

In October 2021, Atlanta-based Scofflaw Brewing founded IndieBrew, a brewing collective. Bearded Iris joined IndieBrew in December of that year. The collective provided shared business services, from HR to brewing operations, to enhance the long-term sustainability of member breweries. Bearded Iris co-founder Kavon Togrye was deeply involved in the initiative.

Discussions about IndieBrew have been scarce since late 2022. The acquisition of Bearded Iris, which does not involve Scofflaw Brewing, likely impacts the IndieBrew partnership.

Future

The acquisition brings two of Tennessee’s most popular craft beers—Wiseacre’s Tiny Bomb (a pilsner) and Bearded Iris’ Homestyle (an IPA)—under one brand. No word of any leadership changes or exits by any existing brewery founders.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Developing…

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Braselton Brewing, Brewery Closures, Headlines

Braselton Brewing closes in Georgia

Braselton Brewing Company, a brewpub housed in a historic 1920 cotton gin in downtown Braselton, Georgia, has closed its doors, marking the end of a nearly 7 year run.

Opened in December 2018 by Todd Braselton, the brewery gained local popularity, offering a pet-friendly patio, comfort food, and beers like the Hefe That Killed Elvis and Government Shutdown. Inspired by the Pacific Northwest’s brewpub culture, the venue blended industrial-chic looks with a relaxed social setting.

According to an Instagram post, Brazelton cites rising food costs since the pandemic, and a 200% increase in insurance costs.

To all our Customers, Employees, Vendors, Friends and all the other people that supports us, we are closing Braselton Brewing Company for good on Monday July 28. We will be staying open as just a taproom serving beer and wine for some limited time.

The combination of rising operating costs coupled with the slowing demand for craft beer has left us no other choice but to close our doors. Food costs have increased for us about 30-40% since Covid. Our insurance costs have doubled since we opened in late 2018. These are just 2 examples of the financial strains on our business.

We join a number of other Georgia breweries that have closed since Covid. Many of these closing are due to the failure of Georgia politicians to adopt alcohol distribution laws similar to those of many states.

Thank you again to all our supporters and friends for supporting us for the last six and half years.

Brazelton Brewing, July 28th, 2025

Recently, Georgia has lost a few other breweries, including Jekyll Brewing, Elsewhere Brewing, Best End Brewing, Torched Hop Brewing, Red Hare Brewing and Eventide Brewing.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Distilleries, Headlines, Wild Heaven Craft Beers

Wild Heaven Electric Avenue, the 8th Bulleit collab

Wild Heaven Electric Avenue, the latest in the brewery’s ongoing collaboration with Bulleit Whiskey debuts this week.

Munichwine. You don’t see that style in the beer often- if at all. This is a first in 16 years for Beer Street Journal. The idea is pretty simple- think barleywine with mainly German Munich malts.

The 8th Collaboration.

Electric Avenue marks the 8th collaboration with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, with the first release being 95 Shilling, dating back to one of the worst years in human history, 2020. There are two components to each collab – the brewer and the distillery. In Wild Heaven’s case, each of these unique releases have been the brainchild of head brewer Josh Franks. Franks excels at digging out the right beer style to compliment what barrels Bulleit will send down to Georgia.

Fresh, just emptied “wet” barrels head 437 miles south to Wild Heaven, (also one of the beer collaborations) to be filled with what Franks and co-founder Eric Johnson concocted. Having had 7 of these beers thus far, the fresh barrels make all the difference in the end result.

“Bulleit-vardier”

The Wild Heaven team were on a trip to the Bulleit Distillery last year, drinking Boulevardier cocktails (a bourbon-swapped take on the Negroni) where the idea of a cocktail-inspired “Bulleit-vardier” came to mind. The challenge? Making the herbal and bitter notes of the cocktail work in this barrel-aged beer. That’s where the additions of Gentian root, rubarb root and Angelica come in.

“The question had become what style would work well for the cocktail idea and I had really liked the idea of a Munichwine, I’m a big fan of Munich malt. But some of that Munich and aromatic malt profile doesn’t feel dissimilar to red vermouth so I ran with it,” says Franks.

Tonight we find out the result at a special Bulleit & Beer media preview at Wild Heaven’s new Toco Hills location.

Wild Heaven Electric Avenue debuts this week in 12-ounce cans and draft for a limited time.

Style: Munichwine (w/ Gentian Root, Rhubarb, Angelica. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz cans, Draft.
Debut: Mid-March, 2025

9.6% ABV

Media launch party pics below.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, SweetWater Brewing

SweetWater celebrates 28 years [PICS]

SweetWater celebrated their 28th Anniversary on February 22nd, with live music, food plenty of beer.

For 28 years, SweetWater has been brewing in Atlanta – and a lot has changed since the early days. Having been to almost every birthday party the brewery has thrown for the last 18 years, the obvious changes are that Tilray owns the brewery now, that Shock Top is brewed at SweetWater, and soon, Terrapin Beer (at least Hopsecutioner) will be made on Ottley Drive for the first time. Two breweries that were once friendly competition are now one after Tilray acquired Terrapin from Miller last year. The stacks of Shock Top, once owned by brewing giant Budweiser was also a weird sight.

FLASHBACK: SWEETWATER 15TH ANNIVERSARY PICS

The 28th Anniversary party featured music headliners Break Science and STS9, as well as serving as the unofficial/official launch party for the new Dive Beer Lager.

SweetWater has grown and changed over the years, but one thing remains unchanged – they still know how to throw a party. Next up is SweetWater 420 Fest in April.

Check out the party below.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, J Wakefield Brewing

J Wakefield annouces location move [Updated]

J. Wakefield Brewing announced yesterday that the brewery would close their Wynwood taproom, and were seeking a new location. Today, they announced a location move is imminent with no production interuptions.

J. Wakefield Brewing is closing their taproom in the Wynwood area of Miami, Florida in October, the brewery announced Wednesday. The location opened in December 2014. Today, the brewery announced the brewery would officially relocate, with no change or break in production or availability.

Best known for its incredible Star Wars motif, J. Wakefield has been been a craft beer meets sci-fi institution for years now. Neighborhood changes and challenges have affected the decision to close that location, citing the changing landscape and challenges of the Wynwood neighborhood, “This decision has not come easily, but the ever-changing landscape of the neighborhood has presented challenges that we can no longer navigate effectively,” the the brewery said via Instagram.

Officially not the end.

Today’s announcement is clear – the J. Wakefield is moving locations, and beer supply will not be interupted. The new location has not been announced.

The taproom will remain open for the time being.

Updated: 8/8/24, 11:30 am EST.

by Reid Ramsay