Saturday, January 30, 2016
I think I’ve said this before but I am a fan of beer…craft beer to be exact and I have been super happy to have been living in Georgia as it grows into a brewery friendly state. I am not the only one who feels this way and if you were at The Masquerade in Atlanta the last Saturday in January you would have seen close to 4,000 people who agree with me.
The annual Atlanta Winter BeerFest brought out its biggest crowd yet as breweries from the local area brought out their finest for tastings galore. It is a little sad but this is the last year that the festival celebrating all things craft beer will be held at The Masquerade as it transitions from one of Atlanta’s best known music venues to, well to be honest, no one knows yet. The land beneath the venue that has seen the likes of Nirvana, GWAR, Method Man, Dave Matthews Band, and so many more come through its doors over the past 25 years, has been sold. There are whispers that the old excelsior mill will be turned into apartments and a restaurant. There are also rumors that it will turn into a 24,000-square-foot adaptive reuse project. The future is still uncertain but that being said there are plans to hold next years BeerFest in the park next to the venue.
Kris Howell (right) and Allie Juchem walk through the crowd carrying glasses of beer during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Stephanie Asay (left) and Sasha Fridman talk to Ashley Tippett as she pours their beers during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Leigh Germy (center) walks through The Masquerade as she heads to her next beer station during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Amber Jaric (left) pours beer into a glass during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Sailing to Denver’s Shannon Case (right) and Patrick Haynes perform during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Amanda Gillis (right) takes her glass full of beer from Luis Falcon during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Alex Bayyoud (left) talks with Becky Justice as people stand in line to get a sample of different beers during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Bottles of Jailhouse Brewery beers sit on ice as Sean Shapiro comes up to the bar for a sample during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
The Spins’ Chris Ruch performs during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Close to 4,000 people came out to try the 150 plus beers during the sixth annual Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Mercene Lee (left) pours beer into a glass during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Olivia Calbario (right) walks through the crowd carrying glasses of beer during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Emily Lupoli (right) pours a Blue Moon beer during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Nelson Brownstone’s Jake Kitchen performs during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Matthew Nystrom (right) pours a Monday Night Brewing beer during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
T.J. Hartnett (right) serves the crowd during the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday, January 30, 2016.