Best Craft Beer Spots In Lawrenceville, Georgia

If you're looking to buy craft beer in Lawrenceville, Georgia, there are plenty of options to choose from. The city has a rapidly emerging brewery scene, with 13 breweries in total and many more in the planning stages. You can explore local beers and brewery taprooms, or opt for a craft beer tour to learn about the history of the county and how beer is made. Notable breweries and stores include Exhibit Ale, Slow Pour Brewing, Truck & Tap, Beverage Superstore, and Mega Package Store. These locations offer a wide variety of craft beers, ranging from sours and IPAs to light lagers and seltzers.

Local breweries and taprooms

Lawrenceville, Georgia, is home to a thriving craft beer scene, with a variety of local breweries and taprooms to explore. Here's a guide to some of the top spots to find craft beer in Lawrenceville:

• Exhibit Ale : Located in downtown Lawrenceville at 178 E Crogan St, Exhibit Ale was one of the first growler stores to open in Georgia. They offer a wide variety of local and out-of-state beers, including sours, IPAs, light lagers, and seltzers.
• Slow Pour Brewing : Gwinnett County's original brewery, Slow Pour Brewing, opened in 2017 and is now one of the largest breweries in the county. They offer a diverse selection of beers, including sours, IPAs, light lagers, and seltzers. The brewery is housed in a transformed garment factory, contributing to the unique atmosphere.
• Truck & Tap Lawrenceville : With a range of craft beers on offer, Truck & Tap Lawrenceville is a great spot to enjoy a pint. From Japanese-style rice lager to imperial red IPAs and fruity sours, there's something for every taste.
• Monkey Wrench Brewing : A short drive from Lawrenceville in Suwanee, Georgia, Monkey Wrench Brewing is a local neighbourhood brewery with a taproom featuring a wide variety of craft beers. They also host events with food trucks, live music, and more.
• Brewery Tours : For a more in-depth experience, consider taking a brewery tour like the 'Sippin' in the Suburbs' tour, which takes you on a stroll through downtown Lawrenceville, exploring the emerging craft beer scene. You'll get to visit multiple breweries, learn about the beer-making process, and even enjoy a beer during the walk, as downtown Lawrenceville is an open container district.

Whether you're a local or just passing through, be sure to check out these fantastic breweries and taprooms to get a true taste of Lawrenceville's craft beer culture.

Craft beer tours

Lawrenceville, Georgia, is a great place to visit for craft beer enthusiasts, with a rapidly emerging brewery scene and a cultural and culinary heart. Here are some places to consider for a craft beer tour:

Exhibit Ale

Located in downtown Lawrenceville at 178 E Crogan St, Suite 210, Exhibit Ale was one of the first growler stores to open in Georgia. It offers a wide variety of local beers from around the state, as well as some of the best beers from out of state. The atmosphere is very friendly, and it is a great place to start your craft beer tour.

Slow Pour Brewing

Gwinnett County's original brewery, Slow Pour Brewing, was the first to open in Lawrenceville in 2017. Since then, it has become one of the largest breweries in the county, offering a wide selection of beers, including sours, IPAs, light lagers, and seltzers. You can find this brewery in a transformed garment factory at 2855 Marconi Drive.

Truck & Tap

Truck & Tap, located at 175 S. Perry St., offers a range of craft beers with unique flavours. Their offerings include a Japanese-style rice lager, a malty ale with notes of toffee and coffee, and a strong golden ale with hints of banana and honey. They also have IPAs, sour beers, and ales with tropical flavours.

Monkey Wrench Brewing

A short drive from Lawrenceville, in Suwanee, Georgia, Monkey Wrench Brewing is a local neighbourhood brewery. They offer a wide variety of craft beers, rum and vodka slushies, food trucks, and live music on the weekends. They are usually open from Tuesday to Sunday, with varying hours.

Local Stores

In addition to the breweries, there are several stores in Lawrenceville that offer a good selection of craft beers. These include Beverage Superstore, Mega Package Store, and Dacula Cork & Bottle. You can also find craft beer at Sprouts Farmers Market and Cosmo’s Pizza + Social.

Beer styles and flavours

Crisp Beers

Lighter in flavour, these beers are clean and refreshing, ranging in colour from straw to amber, with low to medium ABVs. Notable styles include Cream Ale, English Blond Ale, and American Blond Ale.

Hop Beers

These beers are all about the hops, with generous additions that provide the most intense flavours. They range from medium to full-bodied, yellow to brown in colour, and can have low to high ABVs. Notable styles include American Pale Ale, American India Pale Ale, and American Imperial IPA.

Malt Beers

Malt-driven flavours dominate these beers, with sweetness and deep malty notes of nuts, toffee, caramel, toast, and fruit. They range from copper to dark brown in colour, from light to full-bodied, and can have low to high ABVs. Notable styles include Best Bitter, Scottish Ale, Irish Red Ale, and Belgian Pale Ale.

Roast Beers

These beers employ highly roasted malt grains, resulting in coffee and cocoa flavours, rich mouthfeels, and very dark appearances. They can be medium-light to full-bodied, deep copper to black in colour, and may have low to high ABVs. Notable styles include Sweet Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Imperial Brown Ale, and Imperial Porter.

Smoke Beers

Smoke Beers incorporate malts smoked over various wood fires or aged in whisky oak barrels. They range from medium-light to full-bodied, deep amber to dark brown in colour, and may have medium to medium-high ABVs. Notable styles include Smoked Beer and Smoked Porter.

Fruit and Spice Beers

Fruit and Spice Beers are characterised by bold fruit and spice flavours, with fruits and spices sometimes added to further accentuate these flavours. They may be sweet, semi-dry, or dry, with ABVs ranging from low to high, bodies from low to high, and colours from golden to dark brown. Notable styles include Witbier, Hefeweizen, Belgian Blond Ale, and Saison.

Tart and Funky Beers

These are the sour brews, exhibiting rustic, earthy, and winey notes. They can be light to medium-full-bodied, ranging in colour from straw to dark brown, and may be very low in alcohol or quite strong. Notable styles include Berliner Weissbier, Gose, and Flanders Oud Bruin.

Light Lagers

Lighter in colour and clearer compared to other styles, light lagers are usually refreshing and easy to drink. They typically have lower alcohol content and fewer calories. Notable examples include Budweiser and Coors Light.

Pale Ales

The pale ale family offers a wide range of beers where hoppy aromas meet balanced bitterness. Notable styles include American Pale Ale, English Pale Ale, and India Pale Ale (IPA).

Stouts and Porters

Stouts and Porters are dark beers with flavours ranging from coffee to chocolate and a smooth texture. Notable styles include Imperial Stout, Baltic Porter, and London Porter.

Belgian Ales

Belgian ales are known for their distinct flavours driven by yeast and their spicy undertones. Notable styles include Witbier, Abbey Dubbel, and Tripel.

Wheat Beers

Wheat beers are known for their smooth and creamy texture, often with flavours like banana or clove from special yeast strains. They usually look cloudy due to the wheat proteins and are loved for being refreshing. Notable styles include Hefeweizen, Witbier, and American Wheat Beer.

Craft beer stores

If you're looking to buy craft beer in Lawrenceville, Georgia, there are several options to choose from, including stores, breweries, and pubs. Here is a list of some great craft beer stores in the area:

Beverage Superstore

A well-stocked store with a great selection of craft beers and wine. If you're looking for a specific craft beer, there's a good chance they'll have it.

Mega Package Store

This store offers a good variety of craft beers at reasonable prices. You'll be able to find what you're looking for and discover new favourites as well.

Exhibit Ale

Located in downtown Lawrenceville, Exhibit Ale was one of the first growler stores to open in Georgia. Here, you can find a wide variety of local beers from around the state, as well as some of the best beers from out of state. They also offer a taproom experience, so you can enjoy your craft beer on-site.

Sprouts Farmers Market

While Sprouts Farmers Market may not be exclusively a craft beer store, it offers a large vegetable tray, avocado, cucumber, chips, and a 6-pack of craft beer for a very reasonable price. It's a great option if you're looking to pick up some fresh produce and a craft beer to go with it.

In addition to these stores, there are also several breweries in the area, such as Slow Pour Brewing and Truck & Tap Lawrenceville, that offer a variety of craft beers on tap. So, whether you're looking to stock up at a store or enjoy a fresh pint at a local brewery, Lawrenceville has plenty of options for craft beer enthusiasts.

Beer and food pairings

If you're looking to buy craft beer in Lawrenceville, Georgia, there are several options available to you. You can try the Beverage Superstore, Mega Package Store, or Exhibit Ale Grayson, all of which offer a good selection of craft beers.

Now, onto the important topic of beer and food pairings! While there aren't many hard and fast rules, keeping a few guidelines in mind will help you create delicious combinations that enhance the flavours of both the beer and the dish. Here are some tips and specific pairing ideas to get you started:

Guidelines for Beer and Food Pairing

• Contrast: Choose a beer or dish with one dominant flavour, such as sweet, rich, or oily. For example, oysters and stout make a great contrast pairing as the briny flavour of oysters can stand up to the rich, chocolatey notes of the stout.
• Complement: This is a simple yet effective way to pair food and beer. Match rich foods with heavy and rich beers like stouts or porters. Light salads and fish go well with light beers, and wheat beers are perfect with fruity desserts.
• Cleanse: Beer can be a great palate cleanser, especially with bold or intense dishes. For instance, a light beer can cut through the heat of spicy food, and fatty foods like French fries can help balance the bitterness of an IPA.
• Avoid Overpowering Flavours: Be mindful of the flavour intensity of both the food and the beer. Medium and dark beers, with their rich and powerful flavours, can easily overpower certain dishes. For instance, pairing salmon with a pint of Guinness would result in the beer's flavour overwhelming the delicate taste of the fish.

Specific Beer and Food Pairing Ideas

• Light lagers: Spicy food, burgers, and salads.
• Wheat beers: Spicy dishes and fruity desserts.
• India Pale Ales (IPAs): Steak, barbecue, and Mexican food. IPAs also go well with burgers and fried food.
• Amber ales: Pizza, fried food, and smoked pork.
• Dark lagers: Pizza, burgers, and hearty stews.
• Brown ales: Sausage, sushi, and fish. They also pair well with chocolate and nutty flavours.
• Porters: Seafood, coffee-flavoured desserts, and game meats like rabbit, venison, and other game meats.
• Stouts: Chocolate desserts, shellfish, and Mexican food. Stouts are also excellent with chocolate and coffee flavours.

So, the next time you're in Lawrenceville, Georgia, stock up on some craft beers and experiment with these pairing ideas to elevate your dining experience!

Frequently asked questions