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Brewery Contact Information

Awards

- World Beer Cup - Helenboch Holiday Ale
- World Beer Cup - Georgia Mountian Maple
- World Beer Cup - Helenboch
- World Beer Cup - Georgia Wild Raspberry
- World Beer Cup - Helenboch Oktoberfest
1989 - GABF - Muenchers - Helenbock Beer
1991 - GABF - European Dark/Munchner Dunkels - Helenboch Oktoberfest
1995 - World Beer Cup - Helenboch Beer
1995 - World Beer Cup - Georgia Peach

Brewery Information

Brewery Type: Contract brewing company (beer made under contract by another brewery).

Brewmaster: August Schell

Beers This Brewery Produces: Georgia Peach Wheat, Georgia Wild Raspberry, Helenboch, Helenboch Oktoberfest, Georgia Mountain Maple, Helenboch Terminator Double Bock, Helenboch Holiday Ale,

Comments

See what gak thinks of the beers from Friends Brewing Company at Beer Is My Life!

They produce Helenboch beer, awarded best georgia beer in the past. Now have some 22 oz bottles of Georgia Peach. Brewed in Minnisota I belive. (Date added: 8/10/97)
Rating: 3 (out of 5) - Anon.

I guess you could say that beer loving Georgians have Friends" in high places. "Friends" is the name of a brewing company in Georgia and the high places are in up in the Applalachian Mountains in the northern end of the state. The quaint and scenic Bavarian town of Helen, Georgia was chosen location for Friends Brewing Co. when it was founded in 1988.

After spending a half a lifetime drinking beers together, Frank Cronin, Phil Churchman, Rick Roberts, and Dow Scoggins decided it was time to start making their own at home. The art of homebrewing held their interest for awhile but the need for fresh, German style beers in Georgia still existed. The solution was obvious. Once Friends Brewing was established, Canadian Master Brewer Jon Downing was hired to formulate the brews, and Friends also consulted with Ted Marti, President and fifth generation brewmaster at August Schell Brewing Co. in New Ulm, MN. Together these brewmasters combined their talents to create Friends' beers.

In the fall of 1989, Friends Brewing introduced Helenboch, a Munchner Helles (Munich Pale), and Helenboch Oktoberfest, a Munchner Dunkel (Dark) style lager. Both were rolled out at the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the United States in Helen, GA. Just weeks after the roll-out, Helenboch won a Silver Medal at the Great American Beer Festival. That achievement was topped by Helenboch Oktoberfest winning a Gold Medal at the GABF in 1991. One interesting note regarding the Oktoberfest beer, every year the recipe is slightly modified in keeping with tradition dating back to the first Oktoberfest in 1810. According to this tradition, the Royal Braumeister would make a new beer every year in an attempt to his previous one.

In 1994, Friends began serving up the Southern Belle of Beers, Georgia Peach Wheat, and the only beer of its type bottled in the United States. This brew is a light, refreshing beer that’s perfect for a hot summer day," says Dow Scoggins, president of Friends Brewing Co. of Atlanta. "We wanted to make a beer that was reflective of our home state," Scoggins adds, " and although we thought of peanuts, they really don’t ferment well." Georgia Peach Wheat is made with 50% malt wheat, 30% malt barley and 20% peaches, with a blend of Cascade and Mount Hood hops, and infused with the flavor of fresh Georgia peaches. In early 1996, Friends introduced its second fruit beer, Georgia Wild Raspberry, made with wheat and barley malt and a hint of raspberry flavor. Later in 1996, Friends introduced its first breakfast beer, Georgia Mountain Maple.
In the spring of 1997, Friends added another German style brew, Helenboch Terminator Double Bock. This dark, rich double bock beer is named for Atlanta's original name--Terminus. In keeping with the tradition of ending doppelbock names with the suffix -ator, this beer was dubbed Terminator.

As is true most everywhere in life, the honeymoon couldn't last forever. After a couple of years in Helen, Friends realized its major market was in Atlanta. The decision to move the brewing operations to Atlanta was one that had to be made. Today, Friends brews under contract at the August Schell Brewery, New Ulm, MN until an Atlanta location can be developed. Friends products are distributed nationwide, so if you can not find our products in your area, gives us a call and Friends will put you in touch with the nearest distributors.

Now, once you have had the pleasure of drinking one of Friends Brewing Co. beers, you can honestly say, "I have gone to Hel-en-boch" - Dow Scoggins

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