17+ Best Georgia Beer Gardens You’ve Got To Check Out

Beer gardens arrived in America in the late 1800s with German and Eastern European immigrants, who brought the communal outdoor drinking culture along with dreams of a better life. The light lagers and pilsners were served in family-friendly shaded picnic areas, offering a refreshing contrast from the small dark saloons that served strong ales and porters to working men.

Today, craft breweries, artisan food halls, and pubs feature inviting alfresco spaces where beer and food bring communities together. Georgia is home to dozens of award-winning breweries and eclectic outdoor watering holes.

Ready to learn more? Here are some of the best Georgia beer gardens you can find in the Peach State.

BLUE MOON BEER GARDEN – THE BATTERY ATLANTA

NEW IN 2023. Live! at The Battery – the entertainment destination located in the heart of The Battery Atlanta – unveiled the new Blue Moon Beer Garden in April 2023, just in time for spring weather and baseball season. The new concept features a completely redesigned, expansive outdoor patio, coastal-inspired menu, live music and a thoughtfully curated selection of daily activations.

A re-imagining of The Tavern adjacent to Sports and Social, the new venue boasts fresh and light decor with a coastal touch. The most notable physical change is to the outdoor patio, steps away from the main entrance to Truist Park, which now features pergolas wrapped in garden vines and planters, diverse seating options with umbrellas and lounge seating, more TVs and an outdoor bar. 

The coastal-inspired menu features a mixture of seafood, beer and Southern fare including shareable snacks like Citrus Poached Jumbo Shrimp with Blue Moon Cocktail Sauce and Braised Mussels with garlic & fries. Plus, salads and sandwiches like the Burrata Salad with spiced peach compote, roasted pecan, arugula & pickled blackberry and Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich with black pepper aioli & braised red cabbage on a brioche bun. 

True to its name, Blue Moon Beer Garden features multiple types of Blue Moon beer plus cocktails like cheladas, shandies and a signature Blue Moon Beermosa – a refreshing mix of OJ and Blue Moon’s classic brew. Guests at Blue Moon Beer Garden also have the option of ordering from the menu of neighboring Live! at the Battery restaurant Sports & Social.

Blue Moon Beer Garden will play host to activations throughout the week like Beer Garden Wednesdays featuring refreshing beer, appetizer specials, entertaining patio games and live local musicians, and Girls’ Night Out Thursdays with drink and appetizer specials, a live DJ, rotating activities from Sip’ N Paint to cocktail classes and opportunities to shop with local small businesses. On the weekends, guests can enjoy Late Night Foodie Fridays & Saturdays and Sunday Party Brunches, plus quarterly Blue Moon Beer Dinners and fan-favorite games like cornhole, giant Jenga, card games and darts.

GEORGIA BEER GARDEN – SWEET AUBURN

If a dog and a peanut farmer were going to walk into a bar, this would be the place. Sweet Auburn’s former peanut factory and veterinary hospital is actually a bar owned by Johnny Martinez and Brandon Ley.

The Georgia Beer Garden in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood in Atlanta has two dozen brews and ciders on tap, along with local bottles and cans. And the story goes…the spirits aren’t just behind the bar. Apparently, the basement kitchen is haunted!

Still, the friendly folks at the Georgia Beer Garden still crank out some crave-able bar food that guests can enjoy in the lush backyard on Edgewood Drive, where parking is free all day on Sundays.

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BRICK STORE PUB – DECATUR

Three friends from Athens got degrees and decided to open Brick Store Pub in Decatur. With a combined 20+ years in hospitality, they wanted to fill a niche in Decatur, imagining a neighborhood pub where pints are served properly in the appropriate glassware and the service is friendly.

A knowledgeable staff serves made-from-scratch food in a beautiful historic building on the Decatur Square. You’ll find that here, conversation replaces TVs and neon.

Local, regional and nationally acclaimed American craft beers, German and English specialty beers, along with vintage and reserve bottled beers are featured here. You’ll also find a rotating list of 31 carefully chosen draughts.

A trip to Belgium spurred the addition of cellared beer. In the past 10 years, they have collected 900 global vintages brewed to improve with age. The owners believe this to be the largest beer cellar in the United States. The beer garden is located in the alley.

Read More: 19 FREE THINGS TO DO IN DECATUR GA FOR EXCITING FAMILY FUN

RED’S BEER GARDEN – BENTEEN PARK

Red and Ed are two Wilmington, NC natives who moved to Atlanta and decided to share their love of spots showcasing local beers in self-serve coolers, like the ones they frequented back in North Carolina.

Located just off the Atlanta Beltline in Benteen Park, Red’s Beer Garden patrons are invited to walk in, peruse the pale ales and pilsners, and pursue their own passions. (Or Red can recommend a draft from the tap!)

Ed serves up hot dogs and barbecue from the Big Green Egg when he isn’t tending bar. The local neighborhood vibe at Red’s Beer Garden is inviting and inclusive. The coolers are filled with a rotating selection of over 200 varieties of beer and other libations.

Play trivia, bingo and hit corn dog night. Try the tater tots!

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BOLD MONK BREWING – UNDERWOOD HILLS

Monks were among the most noteworthy of original brew masters, developing bread-like recipes at the monasteries to serve during religious fasts. The Bold Monk Brewing Co. in Atlanta is a place where people are encouraged to engage, celebrate, and reflect.

Artful dining and gathering spaces, both indoor and outdoor, are purposely designed to promote harmony and a shared spirit of joy.  John “JR” Roberts now embraces the Belgian beer model and enjoys traveling the world as a beer advocate, beer judge, and collaboration brewer.

With compassion for community and a neighborhood hangout, Bold Monk Brewing Co. is a brewery, a restaurant, a bookstore, a co-working space, and a coffee shop all rolled into a single massive space in Underwood Hills.

Relax and reflect with a Resurrector Doppelbock, a strong dark lager brewed by German monks as sustenance during Lent, or order the Abbey Flight for a spiritual sampler from the award-winning venue.

BARNSLEY RESORT – ADAIRSVILLE

In 1841, Englishman Godfrey Barnsley built a manor house with extensive gardens on his new 10,000-acre plantation in Adairsville for his beloved wife Julia, who died before its completion.

The historic mansion and opulent gardens of Barnsley Resort are located about 60 miles north of Atlanta in an upscale, natural setting where visitors can kick back and relax in the pet-friendly, outdoor Beer Garden. Robust regional craft brews are paired with a casual menu of barbeque favorites, wings and pizza to enjoy al fresco or for take away.

Barnsley Resort is open to the public and online garden passes offer access to hiking trails, the Manor House Ruins, and gardens in the English-inspired village. The Barnsley Beer Garden is open Thursday-Sunday and hours are often expanded for holiday weekends.

Stay Here: Barnsley Resort

TUCKER BREWING COMPANY – TUCKER

Beer gardens developed quite naturally in Germany. Beer cellars were dug out along the river to keep beer cold after fermentation. Later, gravel was used to cover the casks and linden trees were planted to offer shade and help with the cooling process.

The German term “lagern” means “to store” and the name lager was adapted for the brews kept there. Before long, a few tables and chairs were added, and patrons began to enjoy a refreshing drink onsite.

After studying abroad in Germany, Ryan Chapman and Ashley Chapman Hubbard developed a passion for pilsners and helles (light) lagers, founding Tucker Brewing Company with the idea of re-creating those beers in the South.

Tucker Brewing Company is a family-owned and operated brewery dedicated to making easy-to-drink, flavorful lager beers in an 8,500-square-foot beer garden located near downtown Tucker. The largest of its kind in Georgia, the Tucker Brewing beer garden is a beautiful outdoor space where you can enjoy our beers and relax with family and friends.

Named by USA Today as the #4 best beer garden in America, the outdoor venue features seating areas, umbrellas, leafy trees, a 40-foot stage, cornhole and a play area for children. Pets are welcome. Get a beer on the house when you subscribe to the newsletter.

HALFWAY CROOKS BEER – SUMMERHILL

Conveniently located in the beautiful neighborhood of Summerhill on Georgia Avenue in Atlanta, guests of Halfway Crooks Beer can find respite just 10 minutes away from the airport and many major attractions.

The rooftop known as the Dak Bar features exposed brick, open air large window cutouts with views up and down Georgia Ave, and a private bar. A retractable roof over the entire space allows the radiant sunshine in, but also keeps the rain out. Three large format hanging infrared heaters are also installed for the colder months of the year.

The bier garden hosted beneath the elms is currently being enhanced and will be serving brews again soon.

WESTSIDE MOTOR LOUNGE – WESTSIDE

Westside Motor Lounge is a dynamic indoor-outdoor culinary environment near the Kudzu Trail, which connects Mercedes Benz stadium to Atlanta’s Beltline.

Three vacant auto repair shops and their surrounding lots have been transformed into a bustling three-acre complex with a restaurant and bar, cocktail lounge, listening room, event space, and game room. A half-acre courtyard featuring a music stage, beer garden, shuffleboard courts, cabanas, fire pits and a food truck can also be found here. 

Sample beer, ale, cider, seltzer and drinks from a full cocktail bar.

ORPHEUS BREWING – PIEDMONT PARK

Note: Orpheus Brewing closed their Piedmont Park taproom in April 2023, but their beers are still available at local stores, restaurants, and bars. They said, “In the coming months, we will be searching for a new, smaller space as we continue to focus on the craftsmanship and quality that we built this company around.” Check their Facebook page for updates.

Find native funk, old barrels, big hops, and a little bit of chaos in the heart of Atlanta at Orpheus Brewing at Piedmont Park.

Orpheus Brewing was the homebrew fantasy of trumpet-player-turned-brew master Jason Pellett. Opened in 2014 with an early emphasis on sour beers and wild barrels, Orpheus produced Atalanta, the first packaged sour beer in Georgia. They also producted Everything Lasts Forever, the first Lambic process Méthode Tradition Nelle three-year blend from the Southeast.

From sours, to IPA’s, to massive barrel-aged stouts, beer lovers can try to catch a dream on the Back Decks overlooking Piedmont Park.

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SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY

What started as a pipe dream of two college buddies in 1997 has turned into a dream job full of great adventures and lip-smackin’ beers at SweetWater Brewing Company. The boys had more of a hankering for beers than for books.

One of Atlanta’s original craft breweries, SweetWater is now the 10th largest craft brewery in the U.S. With two flagship breweries in Atlanta and Fort Collins, SweetWater’s award-winning craft beers and ready-to-drink cocktails are available coast to coast.

Inspired by the outdoors, SweetWater is a passionate advocate for healthy waterways and conservation initiatives. If you’re up for a good time, come check out the brewery anytime in Atlanta. Get tickets every spring to the raging 420 Festival to hang with 50,000 of your new best friends and visit the Eco-Village to learn how you can help save the planet.

SCOFFLAW BREWING CO.

A Wall Street executive and a microbiologist decided to join forces to pursue their passions for craft beer in Atlanta. What started as a basement brewery grew within two years into an 18,000 square foot operation in Atlanta’s westside.

Ranked as one of the fastest growing craft breweries, Scofflaw Brewing Co. doubled capacity to produce over 13,000 barrels annually and has been dubbed one of the best craft breweries in America by USA Today.

Scofflaw is working on another expansion, a 50-barrel brewhouse with high-gravity stouts, sours and IPAs, including the crowd favorite, Basement IPA.

In addition to fresh pours in the taproom, grab growlers and six-packs to go. Brewery tours are available upon request.

NEW REALM BREWING

The HopTripper, Brew Master Mitch Steele’s official blog, features beer-related trip stories, commentary on the state of the brewing industry, and fun memories.

Visit New Realm Brewing located along Atlanta’s Eastside Beltline Trail with amazing rooftop views of the skyline for local fare, house-crafted beer, live music, and a dog-friendly outdoor space. From novel hopping and brewing techniques to unearthing new and old beer styles, there is always something new on tap.

From the award-winning pilsner, Euphonia, to classic IPAs and new hazy IPAs, you should find the perfect beer to match your current mood. Take a seat, raise a glass, and explore the nuances and complexities that make up this hop-filled brewing realm where the goal is to never become stale.

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REFORMATION BREWERY – WOODSTOCK, CANTON, SMYRNA

With locations in Woodstock, Canton, and Smyrna, Reformation Brewery honors the classic tradition of beer gardens, where families and friends gather outdoors to have face to face conversations in a welcoming, inclusive environment with great local brews.

The owners believe local independent breweries are an important part of the long term health of communities and the venue is the anchor for many special downtown events.

Each location offers something special, but they all offer good times and good brews with friends.

RIVERSIDE BIERGARTEN – SAVANNAH

Travel to the Georgia Coast for a friendly atmosphere that invites patrons to let loose and celebrate Bavarian-style at Riverside Biergarten, a lively outdoor venue in Savannah that overlooks the Savannah River.

Enjoy Oktoberfest-style music while you sample authentic bratwursts and try traditional Bavarian pretzels. Grab a polka partner and a beer (or two), locally brewed and available in a variety of styles.

Seats are available on a first come first serve basis. The venue is open Wednesday-Sunday.

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MOON RIVER BREWING COMPANY – SAVANNAH

Experience the haunted history, local fare, and hand-crafted beers at Moon River Brewing Company housed in Savannah’s first hotel, built on Bay Street in 1821.

Brews are produced on-site in a 15-barrel copper-clad brewhouse, easily seen from the bar or walking along Bay Street. The mash tun is a single infusion vessel, so brewers combine science, art, and technique to brew consistent beers from batch to batch, successfully producing multiple GABF and World Beer Cup winners, garnering three Gold Medals.

Four fermentation vessels are rarely empty as the team keeps up with a thirsty squad of regulars and out of town “irregulars.” Each and every beer is made through hands-on labor and dedication to the highest quality standards.

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KING LUDWIG’S BIERGARTEN – HELEN

Beer gardens are popular tourist attractions in many German cities. In Helen, a Bavarian-style village located in the North Georgia mountains, King Ludwig’s Biergarten provides an entertaining open-air deck where visitors can purchase traditional German specialties, including pretzels, sausages and beer.

Famous for Oktoberfest celebrations, most guests agree that the long lines for beer and pretzels during the high season are worth the wait in the lively outdoor hall. 

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OCONEE BREWING COMPANY – GREENSBORO

Oconee Brewing Company is situated in a renovated cotton mill in Greensboro, a quaint community of just over 3,000 citizens. Day trippers enjoy visiting the vibrant downtown shops and golfing at premiere golf courses near Lake Oconee, where The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds welcomes over 62,000 guests per year.

Craft beer enthusiasts from Atlanta, Athens, and Augusta regularly come to the retail production facility and public tasting room. A 3,600 square foot event center includes an 18-foot floor to ceiling, glass curtain wall that opens to an outdoor patio where an onsite food truck, the Burch at OBC, provides great food.

Another cool thing is that the Brewery neighbor and owner of Farmers Feed and Seed also raises black angus cattle. The spent grain from OBC production is fed to the herd. The beef comes back to the local market. Farm, to table, to frosty glass of Oconee Brewing Company beer!

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