My fellow Georgians , impart me your ears . Believe it or not , there are people who think that ill will exists between Georgia ’s two major craft brewers – Atlanta ’s SweetWater Brewing Company and Athens ’ Terrapin Beer Company . I ’ve hear people argue over it with that same mistaken train of thought that makes hoi polloi with iPhones jest at Android users , or fans of that other Michael Jordan take adoration of LeBron James as profanation to MJ ’s legacy . But alas , folks just make up reasons to contend sometimes . And though that ’s often due to beer – in an dry mode – those kind of incompatible position are inappropriate as they pertain to arguing over which locally made beer is good , and which one sucks . The answer is both , and neither .
It ’s time to put the rumors to bed . There is no SweetWater / Terrapin competition . Quite the contrary : the two breweries have nothing but good words for each other , and they each unfeignedly treasure the hunky-dory work being done on either side of the nonliteral battle lines .
Dustin Watts – the VP of Sales and Marketing at Terrapin – can promptly name his favorite SweetWater brew . “ I really like the Hop Hash , a lot , ” he admits , “ but the IPA is belike what I would just reach for . " That ’s not something you ’d expect a real Earth competition to willingly say on record . But you could differentiate Watts has never see SweetWater as an opposition during his 13 age as a member of “ the Terrapin Tribe . ” From his perspective , Terrapin and SweetWater are more like sib . They both grew up , and matured , in Georgia during a clip when things were n’t so easy or commodious for a start - up brewery .
Sweetwater Brewing
“ I would never say we ’re contender by any mean . There are a lot of cracking people there , and there ’s competition in the market that makes both brands good and stronger . I mean that throughout the years of coexist – not just in the market but in the same distributor ’s house in Atlanta – we ’ve decidedly pushed each other to be better , to make more unique beers , and push the gasbag . I think we ’ve helped evolve and develop the southeastern culture powerfully as regional breweries . ” Watts enunciate Terrapin sees the kinship between the two as not only neighborly , but favorable . “ It ’s very open . It ’s like when you move into a new neighborhood , meet the neighbors and say , ‘ Hey , I need a loving cup of sugar , ’ so you just knock on the threshold . The same kind of affair , except it ’s , ‘ Hey , do you need some hop ? ’ ”
" friend with welfare " is the term SweetWater “ Minister of Propaganda ” Steve Farace uses when he talk about the relationship with Terrapin . He ’s not as expressive as Watts , and tends to commune with shorter , quick - witted answers , such as “ Nope , ” in reply to the question of whether there ’s ever been a prison term when the kinship was hostile . However , just because he has less to say does n’t think of he does n’t respect what Terrapin does , as well as admit that SweetWater is partial of the Athens brewing ship’s company ’s product with a spry : “ We like Wake - n - Bake ! ”
Farace also agree that – when it comes to their mutual hard - knock origins as Georgia brewing companies – neither had it light . However , he does like playfully discard a few friendly jabs Terrapin ’s way : “ I ’d probably say that SweetWater is one of the bigger breweries in the craft industriousness , who still deeply care about its roots and community . And that Terrapin has done wonderment for tortoise knowingness . ” And when asked what he admires most about Terrapin , Farace says “ their pop - anatomy . ” He does n’t impart SweetWater unhurt though . Especially when he says “ manful design baldness ” is a challenge both brewing companies have in vulgar .
Michael Jordan/Thrillist
jab by , his respect is unambiguous . He salutes Terrapin ’s early days , when they both pushed hard to be successful in an industry deaf to their battle . Now , at a prison term when Georgia ’s beer industry had an economic impact of over $ 1 billion in 2014 , he face back on how they not only hustled one by one , but helped support a brewing residential district that owe both companies a sudsy standing ovation . “ We were two of the only few breweries in Georgia , trying to educate folks about what trade beer is all about , ” Farace states . “ Same guys launch the show , figuring it out as we go , and having a kick ass meter along the manner . ”
They used creativeness rather than shortcuts or fierce tactics to mark themselves
Early adopters like Watts and Farace can appreciate each other , but naturally want their case-by-case brewing company to be successful for years to derive . Both pop off about chasing their dreams with the same importunity someone with inert gustatory perception towards beer might have swigging a Corona after a scene of cheap tequila . But they used creativity rather than shortcuts or fierce tactics to specialise themselves while building .
Sweetwater Brewing
To condition a fight , one might look at challenge beer caller face in Georgia . It ’s heavily out here for an entrepreneurial hop - chief , specially if you ’re not global brand name that can survive or influence wholesale changes , as well as make investments that go far beyond Terrapin ’s or SweetWater ’s budget . Only recently have the laws in Georgia loosened up a bit to make it gentle for beer - drinkers … as well as local beer - Jehovah .
“ Most of it cranked up when the ABV law change back in 2004 [ when Georgia raise the ABV point of accumulation from 6 % to 14 % ] , " Watts admits , " We were relatively young , and we created the Monster Beer Tour [ in high spirits - ABV seasonals ] with a high - gravity serial publication of beer . Watching all that evolve over the days , with outside labor and their Dank Tank series , it kind of pushed the gasbag on panache . I mean that we ’ve always had a very exchangeable approaching that we do n’t take it too seriously . It ’s just beer . And that ’s important . It ’s not head operating room ; it ’s just beer . I reckon both brands have never assume themselves too seriously . "
Watts say Terrapin is lofty to see emergence in the res publica and neighborhood , and sees competition as level-headed for the local manufacture , though he sometimes wonder if the easier road that newer brewer have could be a hindrance to foresighted - terminal figure stability .
Michael Jordan
“ I conceive it ’s awful to see all the breweries opening . It ’s Brobdingnagian for the state of Georgia and the southeastward . Everything we talked about happening for over a decade is happening , ” Watts states . “ But it ’s kind of one of those thing where it ’s like there ’s a new brewery possibility down the street , and they ’ll automatically have two pat handles [ at a local bar ] that ’s never even try their beer . To me , that ’s a entirely different spot for the folks opening breweries today . They ’re accept quicker , but I mean to create seniority and a bequest is going to be a little turn more of a challenge . multitude are amplify very quick without a lot of struggle scar … We ’ve been around for a while . We ’ve certainly messed up a hundred clip over in growing our business but we ’re worked up to be where we ’re at , and we ’re excited to see the aspect where it ’s at today . ”
Both of these brand are a immense reservoir of pride for the cities they call home
If it sounds like there could be a separate battle brewing between adolescent and elder brewing companies , think again . Nancy Palmer , executive director of the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild ( of which SweetWater and Terrapin are both member ) , have it off at first hand how fatuous the melodic theme of a competition between SweetWater and Terrapin would be .
Sweetwater Brewing
“ Both of these brands are a huge source of pride for the city they call home , ” she allege . “ Their founding , unwavering passion , and consistency have put Georgia on the mapping as a place where excellent wiliness beer is made . They ’ve seat in urban manufacturing and caused ripple throughout the manufacture – beer wholesalers , bars , restaurants , convention centre , etc . have all reaped the benefits of the craft brewing energy create by these company . ”
take note beer writer Dennis Byron , aka “ Ale Sharpton , ” agrees . “ I do n’t see bunch signs just yet . Every issue I hit up has brew rep try each other ’s brews and commenting on how the industriousness can grow jointly . Everyone is very down - to - globe and they make out their community with the various charitable reason they support year - round . With two enterprising brewery that fetch so much mien , I think they have a lot in common – the humor of their campaign , the love for their community , and the kickass party they flip throughout the twelvemonth . No one really shits on each other … no ‘ he say , she say ’ bull . ”
If there take to be a villain in this scenario , one that two likely rivals could draw together together to defend against , it ’d be Georgia law . Particularly a law that restricts wiliness and microbreweries from selling their own beers – and other way they might push themselves .
“ regrettably , we are limited greatly by Georgia ’s antediluvian laws and we are not able to serve our communities in the manner they desire , ” allege Nick Purdy , cofounder ofPastemagazine and founding partner of Avondale Estates - based Wild Heaven Craft Beers , one of Atlanta ’s late brewing success story . “ Voter desires are being disregard by politicians , but we do the best we can to create blank space where our friends and neighbors can follow together to share a beer . Regionally , craft beer is growing very fast , in part to catch up with the quietus of the res publica . The South has been behind , but a lot of good stuff is happening . From raw breweries , to just laws in most states , and an understanding that our businesses are the best kind . We create manufacturing jobs . [ We ] pay excise taxes and generate tourism . ”
Jonathan Baker , one of the three founder of Monday Night Brewing , which began from a bible study group before give-up the ghost big in 2010 and becoming an crying ATL favorite , knows his westside - base company owes a lot to SweetWater and Terrapin . In especial , he take account the former help Monday Night experience back when they were getting started . “ The bigger brewery like SweetWater and Terrapin have been around longer and have more resource and experience than the rest of us , and I ’m grateful they ’ve shared that with us , whether it ’s information , equipment , or element . Both have been incredibly generous to us as we were go up – they ’ve even loaned us hops when we lead out and needed to finish brew a batch of beer . ” Rather than try on to create competing rickety towers out of frail toothpick , both breweries have decided instead to become concrete pillars that support the foundation for Georgia brewing .
If they did quarrel , it ’d crumple everything they ’ve worked to build , and we ’d all be drinking hard lemonade
So , is there existent squawk happening in the Georgia beer community ? perhaps . But it ’s not between our two foxiness brewing champions , and nothing would be sillier than if such a contention were ever to amount about . They ’re both bastion of the Georgia beer scene . They created an enduring substrate based on capital beer , consistence , and unvoiced work , upon which others were able to grow their own beer brands . If they did quarrel , it ’d crumble everything they ’ve worked to build , and we ’d all be fuddle hard lemonade , orchard apple tree - flavour lagers , Clamato Chelada , and white lightning mixed with sugared tea .
The more we all underpin Georgia trade beer , the more we increase its strength – not necessarily in terms of ABV ( that ’s all right too though ) , but as consumers and brewer . Just as it would be ill - give notice for SweetWater and Terrapin to be enemies , so would it be for them to throw shade towards Creature Comforts , Red Hare , Orpheus , or all the other bully brewing noobs who are crushing a lot more than beer cans when it comes to earn devotee and cash flow .
Georgia is behind on so much that matters a spate more than petty perceived competition . The last thing anybody needs is to think that we ca n’t drink the same infernal beer together . If you ’re still not sold , mind to Dustin Watts one last time … and please , love responsibly : “ It ’s hard for me to address on SweetWater ’s behalf . Obviously we both mesh as breweries and have like challenges and growth on the yield side of things . But from Terrapin ’s standpoint , there ’s a monumental amount of respect for SweetWater , for what they ’ve done and created in the SE . Which is awesome . We ’re proud to be in the same state as them , and to have done a whole lot for craft beer . ”
regard .
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