Because You Really Need An Excuse...

© Waites Laseter / RumBum.com

Athens, Georgia, a bright blue dot in an otherwise overwhelmingly red state, is an easy town to get lost in.  Not in any sort of geographical sense, but in a lifestyle kind of way.  With close to 40 bars occupying the six blocks long by three blocks wide area located directly on top of the University of Georgia's campus, it's very easy to wander into a too loud, poorly lit underage grind fest of an establishment.  Luckily, the Classic City, as residents refer to Athens, has a bevy of bars your fake ID won't get you into. 

Located up the street and just around the corner from the UGA's famed Arches lies Copper Creek. A warm glow spills out of the front windows, beckoning you to come inside. Copper Creek's glow is a distinct one; it is a glow bounced and reflected off the giant copper brewing tanks, the real reason people come here. This is a brewpub, the only place downtown that brews its own delicious intoxicants.

Under the guidance of brewmaster Matt Buley, Copper Creek keeps four homebrews in seasonal rotation, ranging from the lightest ales to the most robust stouts.  But hurry up, once the cask is empty, that one-of-a-kind beer is gone forever. I was disappointed on my most recent trip that the Pumpkin Ale had run dry (nothing like getting sloshed to the tastes of autumn), but the American Pale Ale was decent, though nothing spectacular. After one sip of the Abbey Ale, a robust darker beer with hints of cherry at the end, I had settled on my beer of the evening.  And with cask-to-glass freshness combined with that homebrew touch, it only takes a few pints before you're feeling festive.

Though the beer is the main draw, the food at Copper Creek was quite tasty. The prime rib sandwich is made from leftovers from a local high-end steakhouse owned by the same folks, and is raved about.  The portabella mushroom sandwich was the best non-meat meal I've had in a while, and the waitress-recommended spinach soup is my new favorite way to eat my greens. 

The bar itself has a homey feel, with the copper motif expanded upon by the old copper pots hanging from the rafters and the thousands of pennies lacquered onto the bar. The bartenders are friendly, but can get a little short when the bars packed out and you're having a hard time choosing between a Michelob and a Heineken. (Friendly hint:  choose one of the house beers.) Two large, but discretely placed, flat screen TVs allow just enough distraction if you find yourself in the unfortunate company of poor conversationalists. The background music comes from a bartender's iPod, and is kept just loud enough to hear.  Ranging from Beck to Modest Mouse to Journey to P-Funk, there's sure to be a drunken sing-a-long at your table sometime around pint number four. And if you haven't hit serenading drunk yet, ask the bartender about their dollar shooters and bid sobriety a good night.

Copper Creek offers a variety of daily specials, ranging from tapas on Wednesdays to service industry employee discounts on Mondays, but its biggest night of the week is Tuesday. You have to be an especially committed to your Rum Bum lifestyle to drink regularly on a Tuesday, but Copper Creek makes it easy with $2 pints of their homebrew.  Get there early if you want a table, it's typically standing room only by 11 p.m.

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