An elite brewery in the South’s premier college town
Do you remember how weird and alarming it felt the first time you saw a child at a bar?
I’m not talking about a sports bar. I don’t mean a restaurant that has a bar. I mean a BAR bar. The place your buddies generically call, “THE bar.” The kind of place that is overwhelmingly intended for drinking while minoring in socialization, not the place where families gather.
I remember being in college and seeing a couple of kids — I’d guess they were 8 and 10 — walk through the doors of a bar on University Avenue in Gainesville, accompanied by their 30-something dad. Despite being daytime on the Friday of a game weekend, it seemed like every patron stopped and gawked. I watched as all those faces were subconsciously overcome by confused looks. My face likely did the same.
It was uncommon. It didn’t make sense. It was strange. Here we were, mostly college kids, plus a smattering of alumni in their 30s, and suddenly there were kids walking into the bar where we were furiously downing $2 Natty Lights and/or $3 wells before prices went up at 6pm.
But that was over 15 years ago, before the rise of craft breweries. Before the rise of casual beer bars that exuded at least some small shred of responsibility. Before places that served beer wanted patios not for smokers to (literally) blow off steam, but for kids to run around and have fun.
Times have changed. Now you can walk into breweries across the country and expect to see kids. Beer bars actively promote themselves as family-friendly. Some places even have a kids’ food menu and games to keep them occupied.
On a homecoming weekend in Athens, GA — arguably the finest college town in the country — this was certainly the case as I sauntered into Creature Comforts Brewing Co., conveniently located right in the heart of Athens’ famed downtown district. On a weekend designed for alumni to bring their families back to campus, I couldn’t help but notice the message on the marquee out front: “Official Taproom of Georgia Athletics.”
This was a place for people of all ages.
I strolled into Creature Comforts about 10 minutes before the homecoming parade was scheduled to pass by.
Folks were already lined up along the street, especially families with young children who were excited to catch a closeup glimpse of the Redcoat Marching Band, UGA cheerleaders, or Georgia’s costumed mascot, Hairy Dawg.
Along the glass storefront of the taproom was a wrap-around drink shelf with barstools facing out towards the street. Every stool was filled, with most of the space between occupied by eager onlookers who chose to stand instead. The atmosphere was fun and lively, perhaps bordering on frenzied.
I chose to grab a drink and head out to the patio.
Having sampled Creature Comforts’ mainline beers previously, including its signature Tropicalia, I opted for Beautiful Mosaic, a Hazy Double IPA released only a week before my arrival. As you may expect from the name, it features Mosaic hops, a popular variety used in IPAs and known for its complexity of flavor.
My first impression, having spent a good amount of time walking around campus and Downtown Athens in the early-autumn humidity, was that it was cold and refreshing. Who notices mouthfeel when you’re sweaty and parched?
As I continued to sip, I noticed more of the trademark Mosaic complexity. It had a lightly fruity taste with the smell of flowers when I tipped the glass towards my mouth. For a beer with 8.2% alcohol by volume, it was imminently (and dangerously) drinkable — not too heavy, nor too dry or super hoppy. It was a nicely balanced beer, exactly what I was hoping for when I ordered.
As I finished off the Beautiful Mosaic, I stepped out front to the sounds of the homecoming parade getting underway. With four chirps of a whistle, the drumbeats began rolling, backed by the bass drums and tubas, until finally the whole band began playing a familiar refrain that (as a Florida alum) I’ve grown to loathe:
GOOOOOOOOOOOO GEORGIA BUUUULL-DAWGS!
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Sorry to leave a couple of lines blank. I had to take a few minutes to wash my hands after typing that. (Shudder)
As the parade continued around the corner on to Pulaski Street, I headed back inside by way of the patio, passing through a small room dedicated to take-home cans and merch for sale.
Not wanting to kick the evening into high gear too quickly, I decided to take the edge off of my 8.2% ABV Beautiful Mosaic by washing it down with the flagship Tropicalia IPA, which clocks in at a mere 6.6% ABV.
I headed back to the patio once more, where young’uns energized by the homecoming festivities were chasing each other around the perimeter of the outdoor area. I ended up chatting with a young couple around my age with two kids of their own — confined to strollers, not yet old enough to join the melee developing around us. They were funny and friendly, joking with me about my Gators’ struggles, asking questions about my travels, and providing some intel about an important figure who would be featured in Georgia’s Lone Trumpeter tradition for homecoming weekend.
But as I finished up my beer, brought the conversation to a close, and began heading to supper at The Place with an old buddy, all I could do was shake my head and smirk confusedly towards no one in particular. Seeing a bunch of kids at a bar is still weird as hell.
CFB Travel Guy 