Tom E.
Yelp
It seemed that over the last few years while I was gone, the craft brew scene really started popping up around metro Atlanta. I even heard that there was a brewery in the city that I live in, like 10 minutes away (the only reason why it is 10 minutes is because it takes 5 just to get out of my neighborhood lol).
I even went to restaurants and tried out their beer. I mean having a Pineapple Habanero IPA? Genius! Southern Juice? Some of the smoothest 6.3% I have ever had! And, Southern Juicy Juice? Bring out the funnel! I mean, Jekyll, has some of the best beers I have had, and I am proud to say that it is close to home. So, why would I give the HQ/brewery 3 stars?
So, my buddy told me he had gone once before to pick up some Southern Juicy Juice (which unfortunately is only available at the brewery). I started asking him like 20 questions, which he knew the answers to NONE of them- as he said when he went, he just beelined to the counter to buy the canned beer.
So, knowing this was a brewery and with my recent collection of getting 4 64oz growlers, I put them in my trusty Yelp tote and drove my buddy up there. I told him it was time to go fill those puppies up. So, I drove. As I drove down Marconi Drive (the street it is on, off of busy Windward Pkwy), he told me to be careful, he has seen a lot of drunks on this road. That's great to know, knowing this is a business park. Hey, if I worked around there, I would probably spend every lunch I had there.
So, we pulled up. And low and behold, right in an office building. There was a decent crowd, not too crowded, I would say about 60% filled. There were a lot of tables in there, and it looked like people brought their own food as well. While I am walking in with my growlers, I noticed nobody else didn't have any.
We sat at the bar and they gave us a menu (which looks like they update daily). I ordered a pint of Southern Juice (just to see how it tastes fresh instead of from a can). I lucked out, as the keg just emptied. So, I waited about 10 minutes. They gave me a sample to try while I was waiting, so I got the Juicy Juice. That was dangerous.
While I was waiting, I asked if they do growler fills and they do not. My heart sank that very moment. And then I saw the prices of everything else, and I was shocked. I mean, $3.50 for a 4 oz pour ($2.50 for a "core" beer)? That is like a shot for me. $16 4 packs of tall boys? From the source? I hope that they do that with the means of them wanting you to support your local business (like getting your beer from a restaurant or liquor store). But, I do not know their vision or what not. But, for a 16 oz beer, a 10 oz beer, 3 4 oz pours, and 12 tall boys, came to $72 after tax. And that is from THE source. I will note there is a rotating tap special that runs for $3 a pint, $2 a 10oz, and $1 a 4oz.
The whole time too, we had a female beertender get us our drinks. At first she was nice, but then I don't know. I couldn't put my finger on it per se. Since I still had to wait on my original drink, other beertenders kept asking us for stuff. And then they were asking if we wanted a tab or close out. Honestly, I just wanted my drink. After they ran the card, just 3-4 different people kept asking us for our names and such, and it was kind of annoying. I know they were trying to do their jobs but it just seems like there were way too many people behind the bar. By that time, I was just ready to leave with my empty growlers.
I do like they do have an area out front for pets, and you can bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks (as they only sell bagged snacks). After leaving the brewery though, I just left with a little bit of emptiness inside. I will still support Jekyll, but only by getting beers from Publix. Be careful of the drunks of Marconi (the speed limit is 30)!