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So I had just been up to Blue Ridge, Georgia maybe a week or so before when my local Taco Mac here in Canton decided to have a tap takeover by a Blue Ridge brewer, Fannin Brewing Company. Of course, tap takeover is a relative thing at Taco Mac, with 100 taps I can tell you they are not all getting taken over. Still, four beers were to be offered from Fannin: Blue Ridge Lager, Chief Whitepath Pale Ale, 7 Hills IPA, and the beer I’ll discuss tonight, Fannin Hiawassee Golden Ale.
Truth be told, I missed the tap takeover on Tuesday, May 5th when all four kegs were tapped. I did make it back to Taco Mac the following Saturday, though, and the beer I really wanted to try (the only one I hadn’t had before) was the Chief Whitepath. As luck would have it, the keg kicked a quarter way to filling my glass, so I ordered up the Fannin Hiawasee Golden Ale.
I had had a sample of this beer when I visited the brewery (that’s a picture of it next to the neat T-Shirt I bought). Still, I had only had a half pint and it was nice to sit back and luxuriate over a full mug on a Saturday afternoon at Taco Mac. Here’s what the brewery says about the beer:
A great year round craft beer, brewed with 7 different malts, including a generous amount of German wheat. This beer uses Kölsch yeast for a clean finish.
Fannin Hiawassee Golden Ale has an alcohol content of 5.4% with 16 IBUs. My only complaint was that the beer was a bit pricey at $8 for a 20-ounce mug.
That mug of Fannin Hiawassee Golden Ale arrived a dark golden color with a very minimal head formation and a soft nutty malt nose. Taking a sip, the beer has light carbonation and medium body, light toffee and toasted nuts in the palate, and a gentle grassy herbal bitterness in the finish. It was refreshing and highly drinkable with plenty of flavor to boot.
The good news for Fannin was that people were asking for their beer here left and right tonight. It’s always good to see such support for a local brewer (Blue Ridge is only an hour north of Canton). This is a very nice amber ale that I’d give 4 stars for flavor and style, but take off a half star for the high price. Still, I’d drink it again.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft