Welcome to Creative Loafing’s new beer column

First Draft with the Wrecking Bar’s Bob Sandage

Editor’s Note: The problem with beer writing, in my experience, is that it often has very little to do with the things we love about beer. We love to drink beer because it’s social, because it’s relaxing, because it’s delicious. Most times, beer writing is all about tasting notes, brewing styles and flavor profiles. While that type of writing certainly has its place, it doesn’t get to the heart of our affection for hops, malt and bubbles. So instead of tasting notes, we’ve decided to ask beer personalities around town about their relationships to beer — what their first beer experiences were like, where and how they like to drink beer and, of course, what they like to drink. Along with that, we’ll offer some beer events for the month. This month, our beer columnist Austin L. Ray spoke to Bob Sandage, who owns Atlanta’s newest brewpub, the Wrecking Bar. We hope you enjoy First Draft. Cheers! — Besha Rodell

Bob Sandage


?Owner, Wrecking Bar Brewpub

Describe your first beer experience.

Of course, there was sneaking an occasional sip of my dad’s PBRs when I was about 10, but I don’t necessarily count that. In high school in Nebraska, I had a co-worker at Pizza Hut that was of age buy me Heineken. I would drink other beers like Miller High Life with friends, but when I was buying it, I preferred to get Heineken, Heineken Dark, Molson or Moosehead.

Where is your favorite place to enjoy a beer?

Obviously, the newest and shiniest brewpub in town, the Wrecking Bar Brewpub. We have diverse styles and a quality that is tough to beat in the distributed beers available. This said, I do love to frequent the Porter and Brick Store Pub, as they have so many commercial styles to choose from.

What is your favorite beer style and why?

India Pale Ale (IPA). The bitterness, flavor, and aroma of hops are almost intoxicating to me by themselves, and the IPA style is a showcase for hops. Especially the American-style IPAs. There are so many different qualities to the hops and there exists an almost infinite combination of various malts and hops used throughout the boiling process.

An ideal pairing for that style?

I love spicy foods and the IPAs have an acidity from the hops that helps to cut the heat on the palate.

When it’s time for a beer run, where do you go?

I usually go to Green’s on Ponce de Leon Avenue. Convenience is big for me, and Green’s has a great selection and is less than a mile from me.

Aside from the passage of Sunday sales, what would you like to see happen to Atlanta’s beer scene going forward?

Two things: One, abolish the three-tier system in Georgia. It stifles creativity from breweries, at events, etc. For example, a beer festival can’t have representatives of the brewery pouring their beers, but rather must have volunteers or distributor representatives that often have little knowledge of the beer. So many other states have the brewers make a special beer for the festival, pouring it and on-hand to answer questions. Two, growler sales by brewpubs. This helps spread the word about the brewpubs outside of the establishment. The customer has a beer at the pub, likes it, buys a growler and then shares with friends somewhere else.

Next: The best Atlanta beer events in August

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Beer Events



Hop City beer tastings
?When: Every Wednesday, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
?Where: Octane
?Price: Free
?Octane hosts different beers from Hop City Beer every Wednesday.

Beer + Barbecue Dinner
?When: Thurs., Aug. 4, 7 p.m.
?Where: Atkins Park Tavern
?Price: $45 per person
?Atkins Park is pairing up with Terrapin Beer to create a four-course menu with beer pairings.

International #IPADay
?When: Thurs., Aug. 4, all day
?Where: Internet, various local establishments
?Price: Depends on how many IPAs you have
?Created by a pair of beer evangelists on Twitter, International IPA Day is an excuse for hops lovers the world over to enjoy India Pale Ales and share their thoughts, photos and videos on their preferred social networks. This is the kind of “collaborative worldwide grassroots social media event” we can get behind.

Tomatoes at Terrapin
?When: Thurs., Aug. 4, 6 p.m.
?Where: Terrapin Brewery, Athens
?Price: $18-$20
?In its second year, Tomatoes at Terrapin benefits the Athens Nurses Clinic. Admission includes eight beer tickets, a tour of the brewery, tomato sandwiches and live bluegrass from Packway Handle Band.

Beers for Books
?When: Sun., Aug. 7, 5–10 p.m.
?Where: Tap
?Price: However much you spend on beer
?For every drink you purchase at Tap on Aug. 7, $1 will be donated to Room to Read.

Monday Night Brewing launch party
?When: Mon., Aug. 8, 7 p.m.
?Where: Ormsby’s
?Price: Free
?Monday Night Brewing, a new beer company in Atlanta, is launching Aug. 8. Purchase its beers for the first time and hang out with the founders at Ormsby’s for the launch party that evening, or buy the beer at Hop City Beer at 5:30 p.m.

Leukemia & Lymphoma fundraiser
?When: Mon., Aug. 8, all day
?Where: The Porter Beer Bar
?Price: varies
?The Porter will donate 10 percent of the day’s sales to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Canoe and SweetWater End of Summer Barbecue
?When: Sat., Aug. 13, 1 p.m.
?Where: Canoe
?Price: $25
?Canoe is pairing up with SweetWater Brewery to throw an end-of-summer barbecue. A portion of ticket proceeds will go toward the Save the Hooch campaign.

Heritage Sandy Springs Beer Fest
?When: Sat., Aug. 13, 4–8 p.m.
?Where: The Heritage Green on the Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn
?Price: $25
?The second-annual Sandy Springs Beer Fest will feature food, live music and more than 70 beers to sample.

Porter Beer Bar beer class
?When: Every third Tuesday of the month, 7:30–9 p.m.
?Where: The Porter Beer Bar
?Price: Around $30, depending on the beer
?The Porter features a different style of beer each month. The next class is Aug. 16.

German Bierfest
?When: Sat., Aug. 27, 2–7 p.m.
?Where: Woodruff Park
?Price: $30-$35
?The eighth annual German Bierfest will feature German beers, food, music and activities.