The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Peachy keen summer drinking
In these tense times, a beer labeled Bright Day Coming never sounded so good. It’s one of four local craft beers that are perfect for weathering the heat of the moment.
Bright Day Coming
Three Taverns Brewery, Decatur Available on draft and in sixpacks of 12-ounce cans
Profile: Brewed in part as a response to the ongoing stress and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bright Day Coming is Three Taverns’ new year-round hazy IPA. At 5.5% alcohol, the beer was designed specifically to be easy-drinking and accessible. But, brewed with a combination of Citra, Amarillo and Mosaic hops, it has loads of complex citrus, herbal and berry flavors and aromas, balanced by a nice malty character, and a touch of funk.
Pair with: As usual, I say hazy IPAs like Bright Day Coming are perfect for Thai and Vietnamese dishes that feature the bright flavors and aromas of lemongrass, basil and coriander, and complement the aromas and flavors of the hops.
Everything Is Strata dry-hopped pilsner
Creature Comforts Brewing Co., Athens
Available in limited four-packs of 16-ounce cans
Profile: This newest offering in the Everything Is rotating single-hop series of dry-hopped Pilsners features Strata hops, which impart plenty of tropical fruit notes — including peach, passion fruit, cantaloupe and a distinct hint of strawberry. There also is a dank note of cannabis that’s most prominent in the nose.
Creature Comforts calls the series “a marriage of two of our favorite beer styles: Pilsner and India pale ale.” But, at 5.2% alcohol, with a clean malt presence and a pretty pale gold color, it drinks like a Pilsner to me.
Pair with: Everything Is Strata calls for a seasonal pairing. How about a Southern summer veggie plate, with fried okra, fried green tomatoes, black-eyed peas, squash casserole and peach cobbler for dessert?
Love Tractor peach milkshake IPA
Six Bridges Brewing, Johns Creek
Available in 16-ounce cans Profile: Dubbed a double dryhopped peach milkshake IPA, this year’s version of Love Tractor was made with Scarlet Prince peaches, picked in Alto and handprocessed by the Six Bridges brewing crew.
Brewed with flaked oats and wheat, Eldorado hops, milk, sugar and Madagascar vanilla beans, it’s a hazy, 7% alcohol fruit beer for the waning days of summer. Slightly sweet and peachy, with a creamy smooth mouthfeel, a whiff of stone fruit in the nose, and a balanced bitterness, it easily should please milkshake IPA devotees.
Pair with: It pairs well with peaches, of course — peach pie, peach cobbler, peach ice cream, or maybe try using it to make a peach ice cream float.
Heritage Helles
Arches Brewing, Hapeville Available in six-packs of 12-ounce cans
Profile: This Munich Hellesstyle beer was brewed with custom Pilsner and light Munich malts from Riverbend Malt House in Asheville, North Carolina; German Perle hops; and a late addition of Tettnang and Hallertau Hersbrucker hops.
The result is a pale gold, lightly carbonated beer, with a soft, smooth, malt-forward flavor. The yeasty freshness offers notes of honey and graham cracker, with a touch of peppery spice in the finish. At 4.8% alcohol, Heritage Helles is very easy-drinking, and very food-friendly.
Pair with: Try Heritage Helles with German foods, including sausages, roast pork or roast chicken. Its light, malty flavors also make a good match for brunch dishes, such as omelets or eggs Benedict.