First Draft with Twain’s new head brewer David Stein

Decatur brewer talks about plans to revamp beer lineup

Although David Stein is only 28 years old, he got started in the craft-beer world early. As a teenager, he discovered SweetWater, and by the time he got to the University of Georgia, he was already home brewing. After graduating, he started taking his passion a little more seriously, naming his home brew Creature Comforts, giving it away to friends, and spreading the word within the Atlanta beer community through word of mouth and social networking. He worked at Brick Store Pub and Ale Yeah! in Decatur, and Hop City on Atlanta’s west side. He even apprenticed for Fraserburgh, Scotland’s BrewDog, a hip brewery known for making some of the world’s most alcoholic brews. The Scots offered him a brewing position, but he turned it down, thanks in no small part to Fraserburgh’s rather bleak and heroin-plagued environs.

On Dec. 5, Twain’s Billiards and Tap named Stein its new head brewer. He’s already gotten to work on his plans to clean out the lines and invigorate the establishment’s beer lineup with fresh recipes and new styles, and his first beers should be ready in mid-to-late January. Creative Loafing caught up with Stein a week before Christmas to learn more about what we can expect on tap at Twain’s soon.

Describe your first beer experience.
?I don’t remember this, but I have a picture of me drinking a Heineken at 2 years old. Then, when I was in middle school, I used to sneak my dad’s Fosters and chug them in the basement. Unbeknownst to them, my parents were strong proponents of underage drinking. My love of craft beer began with SweetWater 420 in early high school.

What is your favorite beer style, and why? An ideal pairing for that style?
?My favorite beer style is the American IPA. The versatility of hops is incredible. It’s crazy that with one plant species you can create such a variety of flavor and aroma — passion fruit, peach, mango, grapefruit, pine needles, earthy notes, and so on. The pale ale is the perfect canvas for using endless creative hop combinations that enhance the bitterness, flavor, and aroma of the beer. Anyone who says they don’t like hoppy beers just doesn’t know what’s up yet.

An ideal pairing for the IPA is spicy food. Hoppy and spicy flavors are very complementary. Sachin Patel, owner of Five Points Bottle Shop in Athens, told me about his brilliant idea of a brewpub that serves Thai food. Someone needs to do this immediately — it would be the best.

You’ve said previously that you’re going to clean out the lines at Twain’s and start experimenting with styles the pub has never served before. What do you hope to accomplish in your first year?
?Honestly, I plan to make the best damn beer Atlanta has to offer. We deserve it. Many of the beer styles will remain the same, but with new and improved recipes. During the first year, I hope to build a consistent core line of beers that will satisfy Atlanta’s rapidly growing population of craft-beer enthusiasts. Twain’s will also do a lot of barrel-aging and begin a sour-beer program. Additionally, I’ll involve the community as much as possible, brewing collaboration beers with local brewers, bars and restaurants.

Now that you’re working at Twain’s full time, it makes sense that your home-brewing brand, Creature Comforts, will go on hiatus. What are you planning for the future of that project?
?I decided the Creature had some shaping up and maturing to do. I chained him up in my basement. I’ll let him out eventually.

Next: Atlanta’s best beer events in January

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Atlanta’s best beer events in January



Leon’s Full Service Flight Night
?When: Every Monday, 5 p.m. until they’re out
?Where: Leon’s Full Service
?Price: Varies
?Leon’s serves up myriad beer and wine flights (five or six of each), with food pairings.

Cypress Street Beer Geek Tuesdays
?When: Every Tuesday, 7 p.m.
?Where: Cypress Street Pint & Plate
?Price: Depends how much you drink
?Each week, this Midtown establishment features anything from tap takeovers to guest speakers, special brews to the company of beer aficionados.

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.

5 Seasons Cask Night
?When: Every Thursday, 5:55-7:55 p.m.
?Where: 5 Seasons North and Westside
?Price: Varies
?Each week, a different guest taps a different keg of “real cask ale.”

Brains and Brews
?When: Sat., Jan. 7, 2-8 p.m.
?Where: The Porter Beer Bar
?Price: Depends how much you drink
?For this “zombie pub crawl,” the Porter will serve up $2 Dale’s Pale Ales and $4 Lemon Gingerades.

Team in Training for Lymphoma
?When: Tues., Jan. 10
?Where: The Porter Beer Bar
?Price: Depends how much you drink
?On this night, 10 percent of beer sales will be donated to the quest to cure Lymphoma.

Allagash Takeover
?When: Weds., Jan. 11
?Where: Thinking Man Tavern
?Price: Depends how much you drink
?There will be 12 to 15 draught lines pumping Allagash, selections still to be determined.

The Decatur (Home) Brew Off
?When: Sat., Jan. 14, 1-8 p.m.
?Where: The Marlay House
?Price: n/a
?Terrapin will supply the ingredients and homebrewers are expected to bring their equipment for this event, which will culminate in an awards ceremony on Feb. 11.

2 Course 2 Beer Pairing
?When: Fri., Jan. 20, 6-9 p.m.
?Where: The Marlay House
?Price: $20-$25 (estimated)
?Every third Friday of the month, the Marlay’s chef creates two unique dishes to go with two unique beer pairings. Call 404-270-9950 for further details and/or RSVP.

Atlanta Winter Beer Fest
?When: Sat., Jan. 28, 3 p.m.
?Where: The Masquerade
?Price: $35-$45
?There will be more than 100 beers for sampling, live music and food.

Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting
?When: Sat., Jan. 28, 3-6 p.m.
?Where: 5 Seasons (Sandy Springs)
?Price: $42.99
?There will be more than 30 rare cask ales from the U.S. and U.K., and attendees get a free pint glass and 5 percent off food at 5 Seasons/Taco Mac Prado that night.

Allagash Beer Dinner
?When: Tues., Jan. 31
?Where: Trappeze Pub (Athens)
?Price: $60/person
?Allagash brewmaster Jason Perkins will attend, and Trapeze is promising “some very special and very rare beers.”