What's On Tap: The Porter, Atlanta

by Mike Pomranz, Posted Jan 14th 2010 @ 5:00PM

Photo: theporterbeerbar.com

A weekly look at the draft selection in beer-friendly bars across the country.

When Molly Gunn and her husband, Nick Rutherford, served their first pint at The Porter fifteen months ago, they had done more than just open a new beer bar and restaurant: They were opening up a new part of Atlanta, GA, to delights of craft beer and microbrews.

"We're very lucky there is another bar near here called The Brick Store that is super committed to craft beer and small beers," says Gunn. "They paved the way for us, but they are in a totally different neighborhood."

Realizing the growing demand for great beer throughout the Atlanta area, The Porter seemed to fit a niche in their part of town. A number of local bars featured a few crafts on tap, but none offered a selection as robust as theirs, featuring over 30 taps and 300 bottles.

The response has fit their expectations: "It's been great. We've definitely found that beer is recession proof. People still want to drink and it's a less expensive option than wine." Then, with a laugh she adds, "You still want to drown your sorrows."

But hard times aside, Atlanta's beer culture continues to grow. "It's definitely up and coming," Gunn continues. "We have a few great local brewers," she says, providing Sweetwater Brewery, Terrapin Beer Co. and Atlanta Brewing as examples, as well as pointing out the large brewpub culture. "We have a few good beer festivals here. It's all growing... on the cusp."

For now, if fans of great beer and food find themselves in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta, rest assured that The Porter is representing that cusp quite well.

Check out The Porter's draft selection as of yesterday, January 13th. But don't expect it to last too long. The bar is featuring a Smuttynose "takeover" on the 15th featuring at least nine Smuttynose beers on tap.