If you’re traveling to Alpharetta, Georgia, and need a great place to unwind and relax with a delicious adult beverage, you have lots of options. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur, prefer to sip a local craft brew, or enjoy creative specialty cocktails, there’s a place in town that’s got you covered. Here are just a few to start you out.
Jekyll Brewing
Craft breweries are popping up everywhere, so it’s always fun to check out the locally made brews. Jekyll Brewing, at 2855 Marconi Drive, offers tours of the brewery, which produces several varieties of beer. Year-round beers include IPAs, Kolsch-style beer, brown and amber ale, and American lager. They also have an interesting pineapple-habanero brew called “Hop Dang Diggity.” Visit frequently to check out the limited editions and seasonal releases. All relevant information about each beer is displayed on the website as well as in the taproom, such as its bitterness, color, and alcohol by volume (ABV).
While it’s helpful to know the ABV of the brew you’re sampling to avoid imbibing a bit too much, it’s even more helpful to have a hotel room nearby. Book a room in advance, have a great time, then walk or take an Uber.
Flatlands Bourbon and Bayou
Located at 52B N. Main St. in historic downtown Alpharetta, Flatlands Bourbon and Bayou brings a bit of Louisiana just a bit north of where it usually sits. It serves up over 30 different brands of whiskey and bourbon for your tasting pleasure, along with an impressive selection of wine and beer. Pair your booze with a selection from the lunch or dinner menu, which includes sandwiches, salads, and entrees that are Cajun-inspired, such as gumbo, blackened redfish, shrimp and grits, and crawfish.
Hop Alley Brew Pub
You can find Hop Alley Brew Pub at 25 S. Main St., and spend some time perusing their menu before you choose from over 61 types of beer from Belgium, Germany, Scotland, U.K., and America. The variety includes cider as well, and a few beers made right at home in Atlanta. The names of the brews are even more entertaining than the beer itself; who can resist “Drafty Kilt” or “White Zombie Ale?” The pub offers a full menu of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, tacos, and entrees.
Wine Me Down
If your idea of a relaxing beverage is one in a glass with a stem, you must visit CRU Food & Wine Bar. Located at 300 Avalon Boulevard in Alpharetta, it’s a great place to learn about wine and discover new favorites. They serve more than 30 different wines by the glass and more than 300 wines from all over the world by the bottle. Let them help you choose a wine to pair with your food order from their Sunday brunch or daily lunch menu, which features Napa-style appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and main entrees. Special events are held periodically, such as champagne tasting and happy hour.
For the travelers who value the atmosphere where they drink as much as the quality of the beverage itself, Alpharetta won’t disappoint. Stop in one of these establishments and order something a bit out of the ordinary, because exploring new things is what traveling is all about.