Craft beer enthusiasts from all over Georgia attended Acworth’s sixth annual Craft Beer and Wine festival in downtown Acworth on Saturday, sampling more than 100 beers and a variety of wine and cider from dozens of craft beer breweries.
Following heavy rain showers on last year’s festival, attendees this year were treated to sunny skies and unlimited samples of national and local favorite beers. Cobb County brewers Burnt Hickory Brewery, Dry County Brewing Company, Ironmonger Brewing, Red Hare Brewing , and Treehorn Cider attracted some of the largest crowds at the festival.
Burnt Hickory Brewery tent (photo by Alex Patton)
“We always try to support and promote local breweries and their beers at our festivals,” said Kari Weaver, Director of Events at Atlanta Beer Festivals. “There aren’t a ton of beer fests in Cobb county, so we want to show locals some love. It rained last year, and that was pretty crazy, but a lot of people still came out again this year and it’s always a great crowd.”
The Geeks Band entertains guests (photo by Alex Patton)
A brand new Cobb County brewery called Firewater Brewing Company was present for its first Acworth Beer Festival this year. The startup brewery has been brewing its beer commercially out of Atlanta’s Second Self Beer Company in the last year, and will soon begin distributing to local restaurants and bottle shops.
Owner and Cobb County Firefighter Michael Sorg served Firewater’s Lifechanger New England IPA from a huge fire truck parked right in the middle of the festival.
“I was born and raised in Cobb County, and I’m happy to serve the community as both a firefighter and a brewer,” Sorg said. “This event is great publicity for new breweries like us, because they attract all these people who might not know where to look for us if they didn’t see us here.”
Sorg said that ideally Firewater Brewing Company will be opening somewhere in Kennesaw in the next year, but he is still working out details, including the location. Until then, Firewater is planning to keep getting its name in the public eye, including attending more beer festivals like Acworth’s.
Upcoming Atlanta Beer Festivals events include Guaco Taco Festival on Nov. 10, New Beers Eve on Dec. 31, Winter Wine Festival on Jan. 19, and Atlanta Winter Beer Fest on Feb 2.
