Sea Island Life Magazine Fall/Winter 2013 | Page 14

SOUTHERN SIPS

Beverage manager Ryanne Carrier
and the Sea Island culinary staff pride
themselves on offering some of the
South’s distinctive craft brews, with a
focus on Georgia breweries, alongside
a list of meticulously curated options
from around the world. Here’s a look at
some of the beers available throughout
the resort:

Freddy Bensch founded Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing Co. in 1997.
IMAGES COURTESY OF SWEETWATER BREWING CO.

Saint Arnold Brewing Co. is Texas’ oldest
craft brewery.

important to feature them, rather it is
an imperative,” says Ryanne Carrier, the
resort’s beverage manager. “[It] falls into
the philosophy of featuring products that
have a sense of place. To feature both beers
and spirits that are produced locally gives
our resort guests the opportunity to taste
products that are most likely unavailable to
them [elsewhere].”

“Certainly, there is a preference for many

produced beers, most craft beers are made

“At the same time, IPAs (India pale ales) are
immensely popular here. Our Elissa IPA has

light American lager.
Wagner has watched the popularity of craft
visiting our brewery on their 21st birthday,”
he muses. “That never would have happened
a decade ago.” He adds that Southern states
traditionally had laws that were less friendly
to craft brewers than laws in the Northern
states. That’s beginning to change as one law
now allows Texas brewpubs to distribute beer
outside of their establishment.
Whether they’re buying it at a brewpub or
in the store, do Southerners have a favorite
beer? Yes and no, the brewers say.

SweetWater Brewing Co. pale ale

beers drawing from classic local tastes such
as pecans, cane syrup and bourbon barrel,
ing these staples to create unique brews that
are true to the culture from which they come,”
she adds.

Wild Heaven: This Georgiabased company has plans
to open up a brewery in
Avondale Estates soon.
Guests can find Wild Heaven’s
Belgian-style Invocation in
Southern Tide and the Davis
Love Grill. Tavola serves the
brewery’s Let There Be Light,
an American ale, and Oak
Room serves their imperial brown ale,
Ode to Mercy.
SweetWater Brewing Co.:
The brewery’s 420 Extra Pale
Ale can be found at the River
Bar and the Davis Love Grill;
this West Coast-style ale
is best savored after a day
spent at the beach.
Terrapin
Beer Co.: The
Athens-based brewery’s
Hopsecutioner IPA will
please hops lovers; it’s available at Southern Tide and
the Davis Love Grill.
Lazy Magnolia:
From a couple
states west comes
Lazy Magnolia’s Southern
Pecan Brown Nut Ale.
Served at the Davis Love
Grill, this Mississippi brewery’s offering won bronze in
the 2006 World Beer Cup in
the specialty beer category.

ment, location also dictates a favorite.
“Southerners are recreational, and I believe

the Appalachian Trail, IPA for the picnic and a
brown ale for the relaxing evening out.”
As the craft beer movement continues to

ments. “If you’re on the coast, you might go
lighter. If you are in the hills, you might go
darker. A wheat ale for the beach, a porter for

try, it’s likely the list of favorite ales, lagers,
porters, stouts and other varieties will grow
with it.

FALL/WINTER 2013/14 | SEA ISL AND LIFE 13

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