Since 1993, the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Cartersville has been brewing beer at a feverish pace. It brews more than 20 of the beer brands, the iconic Budweiser sign can be seen from Interstate 75. It was the first Anheuser-Busch brewery to be certified organic by the USDA so that it could produce the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold brand. With over a million square feet of space, the brewery operates 24/7 and employs nearly 600 people.
This past summer, they picked up six more employees. Only temporary though. Six state lawmakers visited Cartersville and worked alongside the brewing team to create signature beers inspired by local flavors and ingredients.
Based on the idea that, despite all our disagreements, beer is still something that can bring people together, the Brew Across Georgia event is the first state-wide extension of the annual Brew Across America. The competition brought together legislators from across the state, and across the aisle, to meet constituents and taste some of the beverages made in Georgia.
The participating state lawmakers and brews were:
- Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan | “Lead off Lager” Lager
- State Senator Bill Cowsert (R-46 Athens) | “Chill Bill Blackberry” Kolsch
- State Senator Jen Jordan (D-6 Atlanta ) | “Georgia Peach” Wheat
- State Representative Brett Harrell (R-106 Snellville) | “Olde School ESB” Extra Special Bitter
- State Representative Alan Powell (R-32 Hartwell) | “Ice Cold Beer” Dortmunder
- State Representative Kasey Carpenter (R-4 Dalton) | “Space Force IPA” India Pale Ale
On Wednesday, the beers were judged a panel of media and beer industry specialists based on different characteristics. Hosted by Taco Mac in Dunwoody, Rep. Powell walked away with the victory.
“We’ve been brewing for more than 165 years, and we love being able to share our passion for brewing quality beers with our local lawmakers,” said Chrissy Davenport, Senior Brewmaster of the Anheuser-Busch Cartersville Brewery and head judge of the competition. “Beer brings people together, and there’s no better way to capture the bipartisan nature of beer than through a friendly competition. Thank you to all those who participated, and a special congrats to Representative Powell!”
Going all the way back to the Founding Fathers, beer has been a staple of American culture. Thomas Jefferson was a believer in its potential. “Beer, if drunk in moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit and promotes health,” said the Declaration of Independence writer.
Lincoln also noted the place of beer, though a bit cheekily. “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer,” said the Great Emancipator.
