Skip to main content

Creature Comforts Brewing Co. is the Rising Star of Athens, Georgia

Georgia isn’t a state that’s revered for its craft beer culture. Until just a few weeks ago, it was the only state that didn’t allow breweries to conduct direct sales with customers. That meant no bellying up to the bar in a tap room or buying a six pack or growler to-go when visiting your friendly neighborhood brewery. With new laws firmly in place now to allow these transactions, Georgia breweries are preparing to grow larger, faster thanks to this needed revenue source.

One of the breweries you’ll hear a lot more about in the coming months is Creature Comforts Brewing Co. Located in the college town of Athens, Georgia, Creature Comforts’ origin story is a familiar one. A couple of dedicated home brewers decided to go pro; teamed up with a business-minded acquaintance; and, through a lot of hard work and a little luck, a brewery was born. While that tale isn’t unique, Creature Comforts’ early success makes it stand out from the increasingly crowded local market.

Recommended Videos

Its collection of rave reviews and a legion of dedicated fans is typically traced back to one beer: the Tropicália IPA. But that’s not the only great beer in Creature Comforts’ portfolio. While its line up is only available in Georgia (for now), be on the look out for these quality, delicious beers at bottle shops and bars state-wide — or plan a trip to the tasting room. You won’t be disappointed.

Tropicália

This is the big dog in Creature Comforts’ stable. A big, fresh, juicy IPA, Tropicália tends to sell out immediately wherever it’s shipped. Your best bet is to grab this beer is at the brewery or one of the surrounding Athens liquor stores, like Five Points Bottle Shop. Is it worth the hype? Yes.

Bibo

I’ll be the first to admit that it’s hard to get excited about a pilsner. But, even with all of the extreme beer on the market today, sometimes it’s nice to have a quality, clean, classic drink. Bibo is refreshing and crisp, perfect for hot Georgia summers.

Athena

Another highly drinkable beer for those lingering summer months, Athena is a Berliner weisse that is brewed in the traditional style with a house-blend of lactobacillus, a bacteria that imparts a sour quality to the beer. In Athena’s case, it’s a very mil, lemon-like tartness reminiscent of a dry white wine.

Beyond this core line-up, Creature Comforts also brews a variety of seasonal and limited edition beers, as well as a new series called Subtle Alchemy that features wood-aged beers. Get more information about where to find these beers by visiting the Creature Comforts website.

Lee Heidel
Lee Heidel is the managing editor of Brew/Drink/Run, a website and podcast that promotes brewing your own beer, consuming the…
Smoking meat on a gas grill is easier than you think — here’s how to start
Affordable tools that make your gas grill smoke like a pro
chicken cooking on a gas grill

I never planned on getting into smoking; I had a basic gas grill, no fancy add-ons, and no clue what I was doing. But after trying a few simple techniques and picking up a couple of affordable tools, I realized that smoking food on a gas grill was more doable than I thought. You don’t need to spend hundreds on a full smoker setup to enjoy the rich, slow-cooked flavors of real wood smoke. With the right accessories, your existing gas grill can do a lot more than just burgers and hot dogs. These budget-friendly tools make it easier to get great results without overcomplicating the process.

Smoker box

Read more
Can you put vanilla extract in coffee? Here’s why it’s a game-changer
Is vanilla extract or vanilla syrup a better choice?
vanilla extract

Vanilla extract is an ingredient that immediately makes me think of baking -- from vanilla pudding to a simple vanilla birthday cake. Until recently, the thought of adding vanilla extract to coffee hadn't occurred to me. Of course, I've enjoyed a cup of vanilla-flavored coffee many times and used various vanilla coffee syrups. In my coffee research, I recently discovered that adding vanilla extract to instant coffee can enhance its flavor.

While this is true for instant coffee, I wondered how vanilla extract would taste when added to traditional drip coffee drinks. So, can you put vanilla extract in coffee? Here's what to know about using this baking ingredient as a way to upgrade your coffee bar.

Read more
New Belgium partners with iconic Chicago wormwood liqueur brand on special beer
The Colorado brewery is daring you to try this six-pack
Voodoo Ranger Malort IPA.

New Belgium Brewery is calling it a dare. The brand has teamed up with Jeppson's Malört on a six-pack of beer that includes both a popular IPA beer and one made with the legendary Chicago-born liqueur. The Roulette IPA pack is officially out and it includes four Voodoo Ranger IPAs and two cans of the unique Malört-style IPA.

It's a clever bit of marketing as all six cans look the same. Hence, the roulette name. Consumers won't know what they've cracked until they have a taste. The move is decidedly fun, playing off the adventurous aspect of the ranger character and combining a blind tasting with a challenge of sorts.

Read more