I’m on the road to the 2015 Beer Bloggers and Writers Conference. USA and European conference meetings are held annually. Asheville, North Carolina will host the USA conference July 17-19. Attendees will receive local, regional, and national presentations related to all things craft beer as well as sample numerous brews.

Although the 2015 Beer Bloggers and Writers Conference isn’t until mid-July, I departed early from California to visit family in the Southeast. I’m also conducting a small sampling of unique beer stops in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina on my meandering way to Asheville.

My first stop was in Atlanta. I wrote about my Atlanta beer adventures here. Atlanta is emerging as a Southeastern brewing hub in spite of oppressive Georgia laws regarding breweries. However, you’ll be hard pressed to find many breweries in Georgia once you are about an hour or so outside of the greater Atlanta area.

I made a new friend who offered to help me sniff out the best places for craft beer in southern Georgia. — My new friend offered to help me sniff out the best places for craft beer in southern Georgia.

In spite of this brewery vacuum, I drove deeper south in Georgia to visit family, revisit the highly respected deep south Georgia Guardians of Craft Beer – Maltitude, and visit a new brewery that started last year as a nano-brewery and is now in the process of expanding – Omaha Brewing Company.

Maltitude

Opening in September 2013, Maltitude is the first craft beer, wine & growler store in Columbus, GA. I visited Maltitude right after they had opened and wrote about my visit here.

Great craft beer awaits! — Great craft beer welcomes all who enter.

Co-founders Miles Alexander Greathouse and Garrett Lawrence ensure that Maltitude offers a large and rotating selection of bottled beer with an added emphasis on beer brewed in Georgia. Maltitude also provides growler and crowler fills of rotating draft craft beers. Whenever in Columbus, I always visit Maltitude to say hello, catch up on the latest regional craft beer news, and acquire a brew or two. I was thrilled to visit again.

Garrett Lawrence (left) and Miles Greathouse (right) welcome me back to Maltitude.

However, Boulder isn't that excited. — However, Boulder isn’t that excited.

Miles Greathouse prepares me a crowler of Omaha Brewing Doc Dweller - a Berliner Weisse style beer. — Miles Greathouse prepares me a crowler of Omaha Brewing Doc Dweller – a Berliner Weisse style beer.

Since my last visit, Maltitude and other small businesses have greatly contributed to the revival and renovation of downtown Columbus. The city’s downtown revitalization includes white water rafting on the Chattahoochee River. Adventurers can also zip line across the river from Georgia to Alabama.

Rafting the rapids of the Chattahoochee River is very popular.

Zip line from Georgia to Alabama on the only dual zip line connecting two states.

The owners of Maltitude are also in the process of opening a new downtown business (a pub featuring Georgia and other regional craft beers) a couple of blocks away. I’m looking forward to visiting the pub once opened. Maybe I can even wrangle an invite to the Grand Opening.

During a visit to Maltitude in January, Miles Greathouse introduced me to Nick Fowler, Brewmaster at Omaha Brewing Company, and I arranged to visit Omaha Brewing as I headed to the 2015 Beer Bloggers and Writers Conference.

Omaha Brewing Company

Omaha Brewing Company’s logo honors occupants of the nearby lakes and rivers.

Located south of Columbus in the unincorporated town of Omaha, GA is a new brewery called Omaha Brewing Company. Omaha Brewing Company was founded by Doctor Robert E. Lee (known as “Doc” to his friends). He purchased a former 1940’s school house and industrial plant with an initial intent to start a winery but the idea rapidly morphed to brewery after he realized craft beer was a vibrant industry with extensive room for growth in the South. In their own words,

“When we decided to start a brewing company in Omaha, Ga., (Yes, Georgia) it wasn’t only because our family believes in the craft and individuality found in each craft beer, but because craft beer isn’t prevalent enough in the South. We want to incorporate our family-oriented upbringing into the craft beer industry and brew a barrel of beer that feels like Southern comfort and the crisp mornings Georgia knows best.”

The interior renovation of this old building will serve as Omaha Brewing's tasting room, barrel aging facility, and offices. — The interior renovation of this old building will serve as Omaha Brewing’s tasting room, barrel aging facility, and offices.

Brewmaster Nick Fowler, formerly of Red Brick Brewing Company, was hired to guide the path of the brews. Recently hired Grant Kirby is Omaha’s Head Brewer. Grant worked as a commercial brewer for Sweetwater Brewing Company and as a head brewer for 5 Seasons Brewing Company.

Brewmaster Nick Fowler. Photograph courtesy of Omaha Brewing Company.

Started as a nano brewery and distributing to the public in Columbus and Valdosta since June 2014, Omaha Brewing Company is in the process of expanding with a new building under construction that will house a 30-barrel brew house, 60 and 120-barrel fermenters, and packaging equipment. The expansion forms the foundation for significantly greater distribution of Omaha’s beers. The brewery benefits from using water provided by an underground artisan spring running directly beneath the brewery’s foundation.

Construction is underway for Omaha Brewing Company's expansion. — Construction is underway for Omaha Brewing Company’s expansion.

The new building is adjacent to Omaha Brewing's original facility. — The new building is adjacent to Omaha Brewing’s original facility.

Grant Kirby, my daughter, and I toast the future success of Omaha Brewing Company.

Two Omaha Brewing beers I recommend are the Doc Dweller Summer Seasonal and the Hannahatchee IPA. Doc Dweller (4.4% ABV) is a Berliner Weisse style beer that delivers tart flavor from lactic acid with a flavorful background of white wine and green grapes. Doc Dweller is a great beer for a hot, humid south Georgia day. Hannahatchee (6.6% ABV / 53 IBU) is an east coast style IPA with an excellent balance of malt flavor coupled with Amarillo hop derived aromas and flavors of citrus and orange peel.

I’m excited about trying more brews from Omaha Brewing Company in the future and hope to attend their brewery expansion grand opening this fall. Cheers guys!

Once again, a big thanks to my talented wife Patricia for the excellent photographs.