Talk of the Town - Gimme a brewski July 10 2003

Anouncement: AA meeting Sunday at the Five Seasons Brewing Company. But don’t get the wrong idea.

Georgians for World-Class Beer, an outgrowth of the beer club Ale Atlanta (AA), presents 10 gourmet beers paired with imported and domestic cheeses.

Six men who were tired of the same old shit, or beer rather, founded the consumer group in hopes of legalizing the sale of gourmet beer in Georgia. Mark Nelson, Ted Hull, David Feldman, John Willett, Rick Lubrant and John Lock, all friends who also brew their own beer at home, had another reason for forming the group — they were sick of hauling beer-stuffed suitcases through the airport.

“And my poor wife was tired of the lugging them,” laments Nelson.

State law does not allow the sale of any beer that contains more than 6 percent alcohol by volume. And most gourmet beers exceed that limit, so they resorted to their own devices to imbibe. To further their cause, they organize beer- and cheese-tasting events, which raise awareness (and consumption) of the bubbly brew. The upcoming event July 13 includes beers smuggled from Washington, D.C., and Chattanooga, Tenn. The pairings include the Troubadour Belgian Golden Ale with smoked gouda, Sam Smith’s Imperial Stout with brie, and Chimay Grand Reserve with Chimay beer-washed-rind cheese. Mmmm. Whet your palette in an atmosphere where there’s no shame for being drunk.


Beer and cheese tasting, July 13, 4-6:30 p.m. Five Seasons Brewing Company 5600 Roswell Road, 404-255-5911. $25 donation. www.beerinfo.com/worldclassbeer.