Exploring Beer Options At Georgia Breweries

Georgia is home to a booming craft beer scene, with breweries providing jobs, community gathering spots, and a brand for smaller cities and towns to get behind. As of 2023, there were 170 breweries with active licenses in the state. While the number of beers you can buy at a Georgia brewery is unclear, we do know that the state's breweries are much more than unique spaces to sample brews.

Georgia's drinking laws vary from county to county, with some being dry counties that prohibit or heavily restrict the sale of alcohol. However, in most of Georgia, you can buy beer at bars and restaurants, package and liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms, as well as gas stations, grocery stores, and convenience stores.

How many beers can you buy at a Georgia brewery on a Sunday?

Georgia is not a dry state, but it does have dry counties, which place restrictions on the type of alcohol that can be sold and the times and places it can be bought.

State law in Georgia allows the sale of alcohol on a Sunday between 12:30 pm and 11:30 pm. However, individual counties can prohibit Sunday alcohol sales. Some counties do not allow alcohol sales at any time on Sundays.

In terms of how much beer you can buy at a Georgia brewery on a Sunday, there does not appear to be a specific limit. However, breweries are subject to the same Sunday sales timings as other licensed retailers, and customers are subject to the same daily limits on alcohol purchases.

Daily limits on alcohol purchases in Georgia are as follows:

• Distilled spirits: up to 4,500 mL per consumer per day
• Malt beverages: up to 288 ounces per consumer per day

In addition, the number of beers you can buy may be limited by the brewery's license. There are different types of licenses for alcohol retailers in Georgia, and each license comes with different permissions and restrictions. For example, a package license allows the sale of alcoholic beverages in their original packaging, while a consumption license allows the sale of alcoholic beverages by the drink on the licensed premises.

Can you buy beer at a Georgia brewery 24/7?

In Georgia, you cannot buy beer at a brewery 24/7. Licensed retailers are only permitted to sell alcohol at certain times. The sale of alcohol is prohibited in some counties on Sundays and religious holidays such as Christmas Day.

From Monday to Saturday, beer can be purchased for off-premises consumption between 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. On Sundays, beer may be sold from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. or 11:45 p.m., depending on the source. On-premise consumption regulations vary by county.

Some counties in Georgia are dry, meaning they don't allow the retail sale of liquor at all. However, there are often specified 'wet' areas within these dry counties where you can purchase beer.

The city of Atlanta allows the sale of packaged wine or malt beverages 24 hours a day from Monday through Saturday and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. midnight.

What are the drinking laws in Georgia?

Drinking laws in Georgia are complex and vary from county to county. While the state does not heavily restrict the sale, production, or consumption of alcohol, there are certain times and places where alcohol cannot be sold.

Where can you buy alcohol in Georgia?

Alcohol can be purchased in bars and restaurants, package and liquor stores, breweries and taprooms, and gas stations and convenience stores. However, the days and hours of sale vary depending on the type of retailer and the county.

In Georgia, you can buy alcohol for off-premises consumption between 7:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, alcohol may be sold from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. On-premise consumption regulations vary by county, with an average closing time for bars of 2 a.m.

Minimum Drinking Age in Georgia

The minimum drinking age in Georgia is 21 years old. It is illegal to sell or provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21, and those under 21 are prohibited from purchasing, attempting to purchase, or possessing alcohol. However, there is an exception that allows minors to drink alcohol with the permission and in the presence of their parents or guardians in their private residence.

Open Container Laws

Georgia has an open container policy, which means you can walk along public areas with an open container of alcohol. However, it is illegal to consume or possess an open alcoholic beverage inside a vehicle, and there are strict regulations and fines for doing so.

DUI Laws

The legal limit for drivers in Georgia is 0.08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for those over 21 and 0.04% for those driving a commercial vehicle. For those under 21, the legal limit is much lower at 0.02% BAC. DUI penalties include license suspension, fines, community service, and possible jail time, with harsher consequences for those over 21.

What are the opening hours of a Georgia brewery?

The opening hours of breweries in Georgia vary, but they typically open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 11:45 p.m. Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, breweries are permitted to sell alcohol from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

However, it's important to note that the last call for bars is not uniform across the state and varies by county. While the average closing time for bars is 2 a.m., some counties may enforce earlier closing times.

Additionally, on-premise consumption regulations are determined by each county and can differ. For example, some counties do not allow alcohol sales on Sundays at all, while others may have enacted a "brunch bill" that allows bars and restaurants to serve alcohol starting at 11 a.m. on Sundays.

• Jekyll Brewing Co. in Alpharetta
• Reformation Brewery in Woodstock, with additional locations in Canton and Smyrna
• Gate City Brewing Company in Roswell
• NoFo Brew Co. in Cumming, Cleveland, and Gainesville
• Cherry Street Brewing Co-op in Cumming
• Abide Brewing Company in Newnan
• Terrapin Beer Co. in Athens
• Creature Comforts Brewing Co. in Athens
• Oconee Brewing Company in Greensboro
• Savannah River Brewing Co. in Augusta
• Wild Leap Brew Co. in LaGrange
• Omaha Brewing Company in Omaha
• Eagle Creek Brewing Company in Statesboro
• Georgia Beer Co. in Valdosta
• Pretoria Fields Collective in Albany
• Service Brewing Co. in Savannah
• Southbound Brewing Company in Savannah
• Silver Bluff Brewing in Brunswick

How does a Georgia brewery get licensed?

To open a brewery in Georgia, you will need to obtain a minimum of three licenses or permits: one from the federal level, one from the state level, and one from the local jurisdiction. The process can be complex and time-consuming, so it is recommended to start working on it at least three months before you plan to open your brewery, and ideally six months in advance. Here is a detailed guide on how to obtain the necessary licenses and permits.

Federal Level

At the federal level, you will need to apply for and obtain a federal Brewer's Notice. The form for this can be found on the official TTB website, and there is no charge for the permit.

State Level

At the state level, you will need to apply for a Georgia manufacturer's license, which costs $1,000. The necessary forms can be found on the website of the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Local Jurisdiction

You will also need to obtain a manufacturer's license from the local jurisdiction, which can be the city or county where your brewery will be located. The cost of this license varies depending on the local jurisdiction but can range from $0 to $5,000.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the three main licenses/permits, there are several other requirements you must fulfil:

• Criminal background check: Officers, directors, shareholders, and members will have to be fingerprinted and undergo a background check.
• Tax clearance: This is similar to the background check but does not require fingerprinting.
• Source of funds: You will need to prove that your funds for starting the brewery are from a legitimate source.
• Inspection of premises: Your brewery's premises will need to be inspected, and the build-out will affect your licensing timeline.

Timeline

The process of obtaining all the necessary licenses and permits can take between 6 to 12 months, depending on various variables. It is important to start the process as early as possible to avoid delays in opening your brewery.

Frequently asked questions