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Final Projects

Local Brews Prevail in Athens, Georgia

Don’t be deceived – the modest exterior of 271 West Hancock Ave is no indication of the vibrancy found inside.

The facade hints at the venue’s previous function, a garage with gaping windows that can be opened to let in a breeze during the warmer months and vintage Snow Tire Co. signs that remain as tribute to the former tenant, flanking the unadorned label of the current CREATURE COMFORTS BREWERY. But inside, bustling groups and dozing dogs cluster around picnic tables that are strewn about the cavernous interior. A lofted ceiling scatters the chattering of the crowds and disperses the acoustic guitar of a musician performing in the corner. Nearly everyone is sipping on a pint glass of beer; however, under Georgia’s restrictive brewery laws, none of them were allowed to directly purchase their beverage by itself.

Years of fighting against the laws of “the worst state in the country for craft brewing,” have finally paid off. On March 22, the Georgia General Assembly reformed the state’s current beer laws and passed Senate Bill 85, allowing breweries to sell alcohol directly to their customers for the first time since prohibition. “It really cannot be overstated how impactful these changes are to helping breweries connect better with consumers, to generate value for the breweries, to create jobs, and increase tourism,” Creature Comforts CEO Chris Herron wrote in an email praising the legislation’s ratification, which will go into effect on September 3.

Before the revisions, Georgia laws allowed local breweries only to sell beer to customers through the purchase of tour experiences, with an additional “souvenir” product at the end, a complicated process that was required only in Georgia. Creature Comforts has been one of the breweries campaigning alongside the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild to change that legislation. “We wanted to be part of a solution here, as opposed to running to somewhere where the grass was greener,” said Herron to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in January. “We approached Athens with the idea that we wanted to stay here, and that was it.”

Creature Comforts opened when David Stein, a University of Georgia graduate of 2006, returned to Athens in April 2013. Stein’s dream brewery came to life at the previous site of the Snow Tire Company. The decor is simple and modern but incorporates rustic elements remaining from its Snow Tire Co. phase. “We did a lot of cool adaptive reuse,” Stein said to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution in 2014, referencing the reclaimed wood that created the bar tops and the old tire racks that hang from the ceilings in the restrooms. “We wanted to keep the building as much the same as we could.”

The main attraction at Creature Comforts is the brewery tour, since up until recently it has been the only way to drink beer on site. Upon purchasing a tour, you receive a Creature Comforts glass and a bracelet with six tasting tabs, each redeemable for a 6-ounce sample of beer. An employee, usually bearing a beer in hand as well, casually guides you around a network of whirring metallic machines while explaining the fermentation and production processes. At the end of the tour, you can take 72-ounces of packaged beer with you as a “souvenir”. The last tasting tab is marked “Get Local” and serves as a 10 percent off coupon for various popular restaurants downtown. The tours run on Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-8 p.m., Fridays 5-10 p.m. and Saturdays 1-6 p.m. and cost $14, although they’re free on your birthday or discounted $2 with a local ID.

The brewery hosts private events for local businesses and organizations, but also arranges weekly community events.

Once a week on Curious Tuesdays, Creature Comforts hosts a local musician as a part of their Curious Music Series. Since the company has, “just been crazy busy lately,” according to packaging assistant Graham Jarboe, they have had to halt the production and weekly release of a special brew, a former attraction for Tuesday nights at the brewery.

Creature Comforts draws people in on Wednesdays by hosting the Athens Farmers Market. Visitors meander between stands set up by local farmers and artisans who proudly allocate samples, eager to discuss their homegrown products. “There’s a good crowd,” said Athens local Laura George. “It’s kind of cool, the mix of people that come.”

These weekly events not only attract customers to the brewery on typically slow weekdays, but also cultivate a sense of community. “We try to put on really good events and be involved in our local community. I think that sort of dedication helps create a fan base almost so even people who aren’t really into craft beer maybe are into Creature Comforts at least because they like to support something local,” said Jarboe.

Regardless of community involvement, the majority of the brewery’s enthusiasts are in it for their creative and diverse selection of beer. Creature Comforts makes unique variations of classic brew styles, ranging from fruity, hoppy IPAs like Tropicalia to sweet, creamy milk porters like Koko Buni.

Click here to take a quiz to see what kind of Creature Comforts brew you are.

Although the escalating popularity of craft beer contributed to Creature Comforts’ growth in popularity, it was cultivated only by the communities of Athens and Atlanta. “It’s just awesome how those two communities have been in supporting the brand, and we remain committed to serving them,” said Herron to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in January. To give back, the brewery has a local charity initiative called Get Comfortable that, “helps people in need get more comfortable.” All of the proceeds from the sales of Get Comfortable IPA, Get Comfortable merchandise and family-friendly tours on Wednesdays are donated to specified local nonprofit organizations such as Action Ministries, Athens Area Homeless Shelter and The Ark. As an additional incentive to doing good, if you bring in an item to donate, they will take $2 off your tour price. “I think it’s awesome that a brewery, something so cool and hip in Athens, would want to get involved and help out local organizations and people,” said Maddie Swab, a volunteer with Action Ministries.

Creature Comforts has stimulated economic growth in Athens-Clarke County, and in turn, the local government has awarded it a $475,000 development fund to help finance a second location in the Southern Mill complex off North Chase Street. The brewery is planning on refurnishing and reusing some of the original components of the historic building, similar to how they incorporated reclaimed wood from the Snow Tire Company. “There’s a lot of old pieces of that building…that we definitely want to preserve if we can,” Jarboe said. Construction will begin in May 2017, and the opening date is projected to be in October of the same year.

Within the next five years, Creature Comforts is planning to create 25 full-time jobs and about 20 part-time jobs in order to staff the Southern Mill location. The new venue will also greatly increase the quantity of all of its beers; the additional 50,000 barrels will bring total production to 78,000 barrels, an amount that is nearly 20 times the designed capacity of the original downtown brewery. The production of Tropicalia alone will almost double, reaching about 25,000 barrels, a quantity that will still barely meet its high demand. Seasonal beers Koko Buni and Cosmik Debris have popularities that far surpass their quantities, their scarcity making them seem more like limited release brews; however, the second brewery will provide enough capacity to ensure these fan favorites last the entire season.

“We are extremely excited to have an opportunity to stay and grow our business here in Athens, a city we love,” Herron said in a news release. “We are grateful for the cooperation and assistance of the Athens-Clarke County government on this project. We look forward to building another brewery this community will be proud of.”

Click here to view a photo gallery of Creature Comforts beer taken by fans.

Exercises

Chapter 14 Exercise

Today I read part of an issue of Flagpole and used Twitter, Instagram and my News App. The magazine was at my work so I didn’t pay for that, & I did not have to pay for any of the applications. Technically at random times when I was out in public I might have paid a little bit of data to use them, but for the majority of the time I was on campus or at my apartment, so I was connected to Wifi. Even if I did have to pay more, I think it would be worth it because it keeps me informed on current events and connected with my friends.

 

Exercises

Ch. 13 Exercise

News Article: Close to Half of American Adults Infected With HPV, Survey Finds

Text Message: Nearly half of American adults are infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) according to a recent report.

Billboard: *image of 100 people with 42 of them colored differently* “HPV. More prevalent than you think.” Then a link to a website with more information.

Email: A recent study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics shows that 42% of American adults are infected with genital human papillomavirus. About one-fourth of men and one-fifth of women have been infected by a strand of HPV that is considered high risk for cancer. This new data recording the prevalence of HPV has initiated a new urgency to get youths vaccinated before they become sexually active.

 

Lifestyle, MOTS

Date Night in the Classic City

Whether you’re planning to spend Valentine’s Day with your crush, significant other or just some pals, University of Georgia students have plenty of creative ideas for the perfect date in Athens, according to an informal poll conducted by JOUR 3190 last week.

Of the dozen students surveyed, eight suggested a restaurant, although the specific recommendations varied.

Kaitlyn Hemstreet, a junior marketing student from Macon, said she loves the weekly dates she has with her boyfriend, which they call “Sushi Sunday.”

Kaitlyn Hemstreet

“We go to Ru San’s in Beechwood,” said Hemstreet. “We go to the gym, do crunches right there and then we go after,” Her favorite is the Suki roll, which includes snow crab, avocado and salmon.

Anjelique Simmons, a fourth year German and linguistics major from Stone Mountain, suggested going to see a comedy show with some friends at Rashe’s Cuisine. The Jamaican restaurant occasionally hosts comedians who are not afraid to take jabs at the audience members. Simmons laughed and said she couldn’t repeat any of the jokes that were made.

Julia Dunlap, a junior Spanish and international affairs major from Peachtree City, said she thinks Mama’s Boy would be the perfect place to go out to eat because of the cute but casual environment and their legendary biscuits. “Breakfast dates are the best dates,” Dunlap said.

Katie Kirkland, a sophomore wildlife major from Fayetteville, and her boyfriend Sam Perryman, a sophomore finance major from Cumming, suggested going to Five Guys. Kirkland raved about the grilled cheese, which is made with two inverted hamburger buns. In addition to the food, Five Guys’ location on a busy corner makes it the perfect spot to people watch while you eat or hang out downtown after your meal, Kirkland said.

If you’re not incredibly hungry, Ashleigh Proctor, a sophomore biology major from Augusta, recommended Ike & Jane Café and Bakery. “You can try a little dessert or something, get to know the person and…if they can hold a conversation,” said Proctor. She said she likes the intimate, laidback atmosphere, which she said creates, “a nice place to talk.”

If sitting at a dinner date is not your style, Callie Hood, a third year linguistics and international affairs major from Buchanan, said going to the State Botanical Garden in Athens would be a great activity. “I feel like that’s a cool place to walk around and get to know a person,” Hood said. “I also feel like it’d be less awkward than trying to go and make conversation over dinner.”

For those who are more artistically inclined, Karen Mejia, a senior advertising major from Norcross, said ARTini’s would be a cute place to go for a friend date. This unique activity involves taking a painting class while adult beverages are available for sale.

Sven Leicher, a junior economics major from Atlanta, mentioned the location of a field near the Jittery Joe’s roaster where people fly their drones overhead. “You can get coffee and stuff like that at the same time,” he said. “That was the first time I went [out] with my girlfriend, before we dated.” 

Gunnar Weger

Gunnar Weger, a senior finance major from Honolulu, said his perfect date would be going ice skating in the Classic Center, an activity he did often in the winters of his childhood in Washington, D.C. “It just brings back very fond memories. Makes me feel young — younger,” Weger said.

Backgrounder, Business

Creature Comforts ADD SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS A HEADLINE NOT JUST A LABEL

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal wagered two six-packs of Creature Comforts’ Tropicalia beer to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as part of a bet over the NFC championship game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

Tropicalia is the one of the most highly sought after beers from Creature Comforts Brewing Company, located in historic downtown Athens.

David Stein, a University of Georgia graduate, returned in April 2014 to open his dream brewery in the renovated Snow Tire Company. The facade still resembles a garage while similar rustic elements inside are incorporated into a modern design. “We did a lot of cool adaptive reuse,” Stein told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution IN WHAT YEAR. “We wanted to keep the building as much the same as we could.”

The main attraction at Creature Comforts is the brewery tour experience. Tours run on Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-8 p.m., Fridays 5-10 p.m. and Saturdays 1-6 p.m. Once a week, on Curious Tuesdays, the company releases a new beer that is available on that day only.

The tour experience costs $14, but is free on your birthday or discounted with a local ID. The package includes a tour of the facility, up to 72-ounces of packaged souvenir beer or a Creature Comforts glass and a bracelet with six tasting tabs, each redeemable for a 6-ounce.

Of the four staple beers offered, Tropicalia and Athena are the most popular. Bob Townsend of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution describes Tropicalia as a, “hoppy beer for people who think they don’t like hops,” a gentle IPA infused with undertones of citrus and passion fruit.

Athena is a variation of a classic German wheat beer called Berliner Weisse. Although it has a lower alcohol content than Tropicalia, Townsend says this refreshing, fruity beer is, “better than lemonade on a hot day.”

Creature Comforts has also generated a cult following around some of its seasonal beers, including Koko Buni and Cosmik Debris.

Instagram

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Creature Comforts has company T-shirts for sale, but it also sells a line of merchandise called Get Comfortable, which is the brewery’s charity initiative that, “helps people in need get more comfortable.” All of the proceeds from the sales of Get Comfortable IPA #3, Get Comfortable products and family-friendly tours on Wednesdays are donated to specified local nonprofit organizations such as Sparrow’s Nest, Athens Area Homeless Shelter and The Ark. If you bring a donation item, they will take $2 off your tour price.

The brewery has received $475,000 from an Athens-Clarke County government economic development fund to help finance a second location in the historic Southern Mill complex, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. With the addition of this new venue, Creature Comforts will greatly increase the production of all of its beers; the output of Tropicalia, which is frequently in shortage, will nearly double. The new brewery location is expected to open in October 2017.

Exercises

Kitty Cams

A free-roaming cat named Booker T took National Geographic to his favorite underground hide-out in a storm sewer of Athens-Clarke County. “Now I know what the storm sewer looks like. It’s kind of frightening,” said owner Amy Watts. “I wish he would never go down there again.”

Exploring storm drain systems is only one of the few risk factors free-roaming cats experience, according to a study conducted by National Geographic in collaboration with the University of Georgia. Researchers measured, “cat predation on wildlife,” and quantified common factors that threaten the health of free-roaming cats.

All of this was possible through the use of Kitty Cams, which are lightweight, waterproof units that record HQ video and are attached to a breakaway collar. 60 Athens cats wore these camera while they galavanted outdoors for 7-10 days.

The most prevalent dangers the cats encountered involved crossing the street, interacting with unknown cats, consuming substances, exploring storm drain systems and entering crawlspaces where they could potentially become trapped.

4 out of the 60 cats were also caught seeking out attention or food from other households. “Archie got a whole other family,” Watts said. “I feel like one of those women on the talk shows: ‘My husband has two wives.’ My cat has two families.”

Exercises

Apartment Fire

A fire that occurred on Thursday night in an east Athens apartment building has displaced about 25 renters although no one was injured, according to the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department Captain Mary Smith.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the fire department does not suspect foul play, according to Smith.

The apartment building, Windfair, had 10 of its 25 units completely destroyed by the fire, and displaced residents have lost nearly all of their possessions.

“I lost everything,” said Thomas Jones, a three year resident of Windfair. Since he does not have renters insurance, he is uncertain of what he will do next.

Jones has two cats, George and Gingersnap, that he was able to take with him when he evacuated the apartment. Other residents’ pets were also saved, although some are still missing.

Exercises

A Unique Form of Exercise

Emily Nalwasky enjoys, “a very unique form of exercise,” – spin cycling. She attended her first spin cycling class two years ago and then took the initiative to begin self-training. Spin cycling independently gives her the freedom to push herself by creating her own customized combinations of hills, jogs and sprints rather than sticking to the set pace of a class.

Nalwasky enjoys having the ability to listen to her own workout playlist and get, “lost in the music,” while she exercises. Besides providing a source of entertainment, her soundtrack also enhances her workout because she matches her revolutions per minute to the beats per minute of different songs.

The exhilaration of her own carefully selected music combined with the satisfaction of completing her personalized routines make Nalwasky, “feel really powerful,” every time she spin cycles.

Contributors

Becca Beato

Becca Beato moved from Long Island, New York to Peachtree City, Georgia when she was 11 years old. She is a third year journalism student at the University of Georgia who has written for UGAzine and currently writes for the culture desk at the Red and Black. In her future, Beato hopes to remain in print journalism, and would enjoy traveling to be a part of her career as well. She is excited to embark on a study abroad next summer in Dublin, Ireland where she will be practicing her travel writing skills. Her Twitter account is @beccabeato.