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SUPER BOWL LI
Choose Local Brews if You’re Hopped Up for Falcons It’s hard for many of us to believe that our Atlanta Falcons are in the Super Bowl. Whether they win or lose in their bid for a first NFL championship, a celebration is in order, and there’s no better way to celebrate Atlanta than with a crisp, cold, hometown beer. While regular beer doesn’t need to be hechshered, a beer brewed with anything other than barley, malt, hops and water does need certification for those with strict kosher standards. Here are some of our favorite local beers to toast the Dirty Birds as they take on the New England Patriots. • Monday Night Brewing: Slap Fight and Blind Pirate Blood Orange IPA Founded by a group of friends over a weekly Bible study, Monday Night Brewing went kosher under the supervision of the Atlanta Kosher Commission last summer. It’s the only brewery in town that’s certified kosher. All of Monday Night’s yearround beers are worth trying, but my money’s on Slap Fight, a West Coast-style IPA, and Blind Photos by Robbie Medwed Monday Night Pirate, an IPA Brewing’s Blind Pirate brewed with gains depth of flavor blood oranges. from blood oranges. Both have a bit of a bitter, hoppy edge that goes great with salty snack foods like pretzels and chips, but Blind Pirate’s fruit addition adds a depth of flavor that can’t be beat. • Orpheus Brewing: Atalanta Orpheus has quietly spread its roots from its brewery on the edge of Piedmont Park. It has become known for the impressive art on its cans, not to mention its unique beers. My favorite Orpheus brew is Atalanta, a tart plum saison named for the Greek goddess who may or may not have given our city its name. I’m not usually into tart or sour beers, but the plum flavor pushes through just enough to keep the flavor well balanced. If you’re superstrict with kashrut and want to try something that doesn’t have fruit, I recommend Lyric Ale. Its hops and yeast combine nicely to mimic fruit flavors and add a touch of spice. • Three Taverns Craft Beers: White Hops and A Night on Ponce Decatur’s Three Taverns takes its inspiration from the storied Belgian brewing tradition with a bit of a Geor-
gia spin. By mixing old methods with new ingredients, Three Taverns has created some incredibly interesting beers that are also very approachable. White Hops is a white IPA, a newish style that combines the brewing methods of IPAs with the ingredients typically used in Belgian beers. If you like Blue Moon, you’ll like this beer, which is infused with grapefruit peels. A Night on Ponce began as a brewery experiment and has become wildly popular, and it’s one of my favorites. It also fits the category of beers that are kosher without a specific certification. • Creature Comforts: Tropicália and Bibo
Creature Comforts brews its beer just down the road in Athens, but there’s no doubt it’s a local favorite. Tropicália features passion fruit, which makes for a legendary brew that was, until recently, almost impossible to find in stores. The brewery has stepped up its production to ensure that its most famous beer is available. Bibo is a lower-alcohol pilsner that’s dry, crisp and perfect for enjoying over an afternoon. It doesn’t need specific kosher certification. • Terrapin Beer Co.: Recreation Ale and Hopsecutioner Terrapin is another Athens brewery popular in Atlanta. Its Recreation
Ale is one of my favorites. It’s a session ale, a beer that’s brewed to have a lower alcohol to be enjoyed all day long. In contrast, Hop secu tioner is an incredibly assertive and hoppy beer that packs a punch. Neither of With its lower these beers needs spe- alcohol content, Creature cific certification. Comforts’ Go, Falcons! ■ Bibo is a good option for a long afternoon Robbie Medwed of celebrating writes about alcohol at before the big game. koshercocktail.com.
FEBRUARY 3 ▪ 2017
By Robbie Medwed
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