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Eddie Johnson, managing partner of Publik Draft House and founder of The Great Southern Beer Competition, is today’s Around Atlanta guest on Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio.
After years of working in the Atlanta restaurant industry, Eddie decided that opening a pub would fill a void missing in the Atlanta restaurant market. During the real estate downturn, Eddie was able to get a great deal on a commercial retail space right next to The Fox Theater. His pub was born, and it became an immediate success.
Publik Draft House is a gastro pub, serving a variety of beer as well as a menu of beer-paired foods. Highlights of the PDH menu include the kimchi-marinated wings served with Asian hot sauce. This savory spicy flavor is popular with patrons. The traditional fish and chips, made with North Atlantic Cod and an English batter mixed with peanut oil to make it extra crispy, is also a popular menu item. The fun part about visiting PDH is deciding what foods to pair with the beers offered. Eddie suggests a PDH burger paired with a Hefeweizen or a Belgian-style lager. The menu features staple crowd favorites, but it also features seasonal items. Plus, PDH makes sure to work with local growers for their menu ingredients. Local breweries also supply the beer offerings. The idea that PDH is a locally owned and operated business that serves locally produced product goes a long way with customers.
Eddie also attributes the popularity of PDH to its ideal downtown location, which is easily accessible on foot and convenient to area attractions. “We’re right across from the Georgian Terrace Hotel and a couple of condos, and it’s very walkable; you see all sorts of types there. A lot of locals have been really good supporters,” said Johnson.
PDH is also a sponsor of The Southern Beer Competition, which began last year and was a big success for PDH with more than 300 attendees. This year, PDH is partnering with Red Brick Brewery to host the competition. Local beer bloggers and members of local breweries serve as judges. Beer submissions are numbered, described in detail and judged on clarity, body, flavor notes and whether the taste matches the description given of the beer.
The competition is open to beers that have been home brewed only, and submissions are $10 per beer. Winners of the competition will have their brew carried by Red Brick Brewery and served at Publik Draft House.
This year’s Great Southern Beer Competition will take place Saturday, July 18 at Red Brick Brewery in Atlanta. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. Listeners interested in attending The Great Southern Beer Competiton can buy tickets at www.GreatSouthernBeerCompetition.com.
Check out Publik Draft house at www.PDH.com to find out information on how to submit a beer for The Great Southern Beer Competition, and stay up to date on the competition by checking out Twitter: @BeerDownSouth.
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The “Around Atlanta” segment is designed to showcase the best of metro Atlanta- the communities, attractions and special events that make this city great. To submit your event, community, or attraction to the Around Atlanta edition of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, contact 770-383-3360.
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