NOTE: I don’t feign to know enough about brews to make informed decisions, so when I visit beer halls, I opt for pupu platters (read flights of beer) whenever available. Furthermore, I ask bartenders to choose the selections for me. In Japan, this type of trust is referred to as omakase (translation: I leave it up to you), a practice I embraced long ago, as I trust the muses behind the bar to know much more than I.
This week I veered off my proverbial path to travel a road less taken: I chose to explore some of Augusta’s biergartens and breweries. I very much enjoy the conviviality of open-aired, multi-tabled biergartens, so I wrangled a designated driver and spent an afternoon traversing the town.
????Working my way from Midtown to East Boundary, my first stop was Arsenal Tap Room + Kitchen. With 150+ craft beers from around the world, it touts itself as having “the best beer selection in the South.”
As Arsenal does not serve beer flights, my server chose two bevvies for me. First was Drive Thru: Tiger Blood, the color of radiant blood oranges. I had never had a Berliner Weiss nor a brew so drenched in tropical fruits. I do love a good flavor adventure! Next, I tried Skull Splitter Scotch Ale. While I cannot intelligently speak to its creaminess or head or hops, I can tell you I enjoyed it. Its caramelly-ness and semi-full bodiness reminded me of a dark carbonated milkshake.
Arsenal’s shady walled biergarten is ideal for sipping alone or with friends, but the inside of this repurposed home has several cozy rooms with a more intimate feel.
✔️indoor + outdoor dining
✔️well-behaved dogs welcomed
✔️food available for purchase
1419 Monte Sano Ave.
(706) 925-2960
Hours: Closed Sunday and Monday; 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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????Stop number 2 landed us at Hive Bodega. Here, John presented me with a hexagonic flight of three of the 70+ assorted beers, wines + ciders Hive has on tap:
▪︎Fruited Gose
▪︎Mango Habanero
▪︎Organic Coffee Stout
All complex + delightful (and one with a very high APV).
✔️indoor + outdoor dining
✔️well-behaved dogs welcomed
✔️food available for purchase
215 10th St.
(706) 836-3661
Hive Bodega is temporarily closed due to staffing issues, but when business resumes, the hours are
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
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????Before River Watch Brewery opened in 2016, it had been a minute since Augusta had its own brewery-difficult to imagine in this Golden Age of craft brewing. But River Watch’s inception put Augusta on the craft beer map, one of about 8,000 breweries across the U.S. This small-production brewery starts its tasty lineup with three core brews and branches out by creating innovative experimental brews as well as limited seasonal releases.
Tyler constructed a varied flight board to include
▪︎Fireside Spiced Winter Brown Ale
▪︎Cautionary Tale Red IPA
▪︎Cattywampus Milkshake IPA
▪︎Route 104 Pale Ale
While I prefer to sit on the deck in the sunshine, Augusta weather had other plans. We stayed in the cozy beer room adjacent to a room of competitive board-gamers making the most of a beautiful yet blustery day.
✔️brews are available in various sizes ranging from 5-ounce tasters to pitchers
✔️tours available
✔️well-behaved dogs welcomed
✔️bring your own food
1175 Fourth St.
(706) 421-7177
4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday
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????Voted Augusta’s Best Brewery, Savannah River Brewing Co. has championed hand-crafted beers, ales + lagers since its inception in 2017. It’s a veritable 21,000-square-foot brewery, taproom and playground for games, live music, trivia and karaoke with a super friendly + knowledgeable staff. Manny (@thatgreekchef) is often on deck if you need some tasty nosh.
For my flight, proprietor Jim Christian chose a delicious array including
▪︎Wolf Dog Witbier
▪︎Flight of Brynhildr Belgian Dubbel
▪︎Swamp Thing After Dark Smoothie Sour
▪︎Mango Pine IPA
With large indoor space and lots of activity, SRBC is an ideal place to sip away the time, regardless of the weather.
✔️tours available
✔️well-behaved dogs welcomed
✔️food often available for purchase
813 Fifth St.
(706) 426-8212
4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 2 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Ann Beth Strelec is known around town as the Naked Epicurean, sampling the finest cocktails known to Augustans. Find out about adult beverages at The Augusta Press on the first and third Friday or on Instagram @NakedEpicurean
