Bar Review - Navel gazing at the Beer Mug

For those of us who search for Zen-like enlightenment in the arena of drinking, the pursuit of nirvana often drives us from bar to bar in quest of that comfort zone of oneness sought in a watering hole. For those seeking, the Beer Mug is a good place to start.

At first glance, the Beer Mug appears almost too average, but look beyond the illusion of walls sparsely decorated with generic sports memorabilia and you will discover the real treasure is the people. One minute you could find yourself in a conversation with a 35-year-old divorce lawyer who can still toss her long blond hair with the spryest. And the next, you could be enmeshed in an evolutionary dialogue with a genetics major from Tech slinging drinks on the side.

Other distractions vary just as wildly. One night started with drinking and rooting for the Falcons, and ended with a live performance from Sexxxy Cirkus, a band that rubs the funk on it in no less a fashion than Morris Day and the Time.

And while all of that was great, the drinks were even better. For the sake of our religion, my partner and I sampled: a Maker's Mark and Coke ($6.25), a Ketel One and tonic ($6.25), a White Russian ($5.50), a Sex on the Beach ($5.50) and a Screwdriver($3!). We chased the liquor with a couple of beers — a Guinness and a Killian's (each $4). A woman named Eddy found the Chardonnay ($4.75) to be "acceptable," and a woman named Billy was at a loss for words (in a good way) over the margarita ($4.50). In all, I wasn't exactly enlightened, but they played Nirvana and I was awash with a serenity that would make Buddha jealous.

The Beer Mug. 857 Collier Road. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11-4 a.m.; Sun. 11-2 a.m. Drinks: Beer (bottle and draft) $3-$4; wine $4.75; mixed drinks $2.75-$8. 404-351-3795. www.thenewbeermug.com.