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BREWTOPIA LLC

Owen Ogletree's
Monthly Brewtopia Brewsletter
August 18, 2025
 
Owen is founder/editor of Brewtopia.info, a group beer trip organizer, columnist for Southern Brew News, lecturer at Knoxville's Brewing & Distilling Center, founder of the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting, and a BJCP National Beer Judge.
 
 
In this issue:
- Join an Upcoming Brewtopia Group Beer Trip
- Classic Beer Styles Tasting with Owen Ogletree
- Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting is BACK!
- Modern Hops' Beer Spotlight
- Featured Events
- Follow Owen Ogletree and Brewtopia Events on Social Media
Follow our craft beer adventures...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- Join an Upcoming Brewtopia Group Beer Trip
 
My exciting Brewtopia group beer trips have just been announced for 2026 and 2027. March's Spain/France trip and May's Kentucky Bourbon & Beer adventure are now open for registration:  
MADRID & BASQUE COUNTRY SPAIN, BORDEAUX FRANCE - March 4-10, 2026 - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
$2395 per person (double occupancy) - add $499 for a single room. Experience two vastly different areas of Spain, along with France's most alluring wine region!
 
  • Fly from the USA to Madrid on March 3 to land in Madrid on March 4. Trip activities begin on the early evening of March 4. Fly home from Madrid on March 11, or stay later on your own dime. Hotel rooms provided starting on March 4, checking out on March 11. 
  • See the top scenic spots in historic Madrid. Sample traditional foods and wines and visit a couple of pioneering craft breweries in the city. 
  • Gorgeous drive north to San Sebastian on our private charter bus, with food and beverage stops along the way. 
  • Taste our way through lovely San Sebastian's pubs and restaurants. 
  • Experience THREE different Basque cider houses that offer traditional farm cider and hearty food. 
  • Tour and taste at a traditional Taxoli Winery and a winery in the Rioja region. 
  • Check out the personable Basqueland Brewing. 
  • Day trip to beautiful Bordeaux, France for wine, history and lunch. 
  • Journey back to Madrid for a final day of fun. 
 

KENTUCKY BEER & BOURBON - May 23-28, 2026 - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
$1995 per person (double occupancy) - add $499 for a single room. Experience the best of beer and bourbon in Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown in comfort without having to drive or organize taxis. We will cruise in style on our VIP charter bus. 
  • Trip activities begin on the evening of May 23 in Louisville and end on the evening of May 28 in Louisville. Hotel rooms provided starting on May 23, checking out on May 29. 
  • Experience tours and special tastings at the best bourbon distilleries in Louisville and Bardstown. 
  • Relax in comfort on our group charter bus. 
  • We will visit the best craft breweries in Louisville and Lexington. 
  • Tour Churchill Downs and the Louisville Mega Cavern. 
  • Taste the famous mint julep and other whiskey cocktails. 
 

2026 OKTOBERFEST & BAMBERG, GERMANY - September 22-30, 2026 - REGISTRATION OPENS LATER IN 2025
$2395 per person (double occupancy) - add $499 for a single room. A super fun and easy way to experience Oktoberfest and the surrounding beer region! One of our most popular trips! 
  • Fly from the USA on September 22 or earlier to land in Munich on the morning of September 23. Trip activities begin on the afternoon of September 23. Fly home from Munich on September 30 or stay later on your own dime. Arrival day lunch and tour at Erdinger Brewery with dinner and beer this evening. Overnight at a Munich airport hotel. 
  • Day trip to the glorious Neuschwanstein Castle in rural Bavaria. 
  • We then head to the gorgeous city of Bamberg for two days of smoked beer, taverns, brewpubs, and a VIP Schlenkerla Brewery tour and tasting. Head back to Munich after two days to check into hotel and see some amazing taverns for Bavarian food, beer and fun. VIP lunch and beer tasting at the world-renowned Weihenstephan Brewery. Ride in style on our private charter bus with a private driver. 
  • Experience the magnificent Marienplatz central square of Munich. 
  • Visit Oktoberfest on TWO days with reserved seats and lunch, then hit downtown Munich taverns in the afternoons and evenings that include Schneider, Augustiner, Hofbrau, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Andechser, Ayinger, and more!Fall in love again with classic German lagers and wheat beers. 
  • Includes tours, group ground transportation, private charter bus and driver, guides, information, hotel rooms and reserved VIP Oktoberfest seats with food and beer. Food and beer for group meals and group gatherings also included. Breakfasts included each day. Airfare and airport transfers are not included. 
 

ENGLAND'S ICONIC CASK ALE BREWERIES - October 2026 - Exact dates announced in February of 2026 - REGISTRATION OPENS IN EARLY 2026
Price per person TBD - add $499 for a single room. Travel in comfort on our VIP charter bus for visits to several of central England's most fascinating, historic and iconic breweries. These hard-to-reach breweries and sights will be a breeze on our group charter bus. 
  • Pop across the pond to experience the best of central England up to Yorkshire with Owen Ogletree. Dates will be announced in early 2026. 
  • Amazing cask ale breweries and pubs will be visited each day. British pubs are simply wonderful places. 
  • Brewery visits may include: Hop Back, Castle Rock, Hook Norton, Batemans, Thornbridge, Black Sheep, Theakston, Brampton, Wadsworth and Oakham. 
  • Possible sights: Nottingham Castle, Stonehenge, Cadbury World, Lincoln Cathedral, and Skipton Castle. 
  • Experience a traditional CAMRA beer festival. 
  • Take part in a traditional "Curry Club" group dinner.  

 
PLANNING AHEAD for 2027: 
  • EASTERN BELGIUM & WESTERN GERMANY - March 3-9, 2027. Cantillon, Achouffe, Interpol, Orval, Chimay, Caracole, Dusseldorf, and Cologne (Koln). Amazing Belgian ales, followed by traditional altbier in Dusseldorf and kolsch in Koln. 
  • ARGENTINA - July 2027. Craft beer, a cask ale festival, Malbec wine, beautiful scenery, thick fugazzetta  pizza, and grilled meats (asado). 
  • GERMANY: FRANCONIA, BAVARIA & OKTOBERFEST - September 2027. Bamberg, Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle, and two days at Oktoberfest. One of our most popular trips! 
  • TORONTO & MONTREAL - October 2027. We'll show Canada some love by checking out the beer scene in two amazing cities. Toronto is known for its UK and American-inspired beers, while Montreal leans toward French/Belgian styles. Experience Quebec’s splendid ice cider and learn how it’s made. We will also visit the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest celebration. 
 
- Classic Beer Styles Tasting with Owen Ogletree
 
Owen will be spreading the love of classic beer styles during a special experience in Athens, Georgia. This tasting is perfect for beginning beer drinkers who need some schooling or any lover of the classics. Please join me!
 
The ten beers will include some of the best international beers from around the world: American Pale Ale, American Barleywine, Trappist Dubbel, Trappist Tripel, Belgian Lambic, Witbier, German Hefeweizen, Munich Helles, UK Bitter, and English Dark Mild. 
 
Classic Beer Styles Seminar & Tasting
September 11, 2025
5:30-7:00 PM
Ages 21+
Athentic Brewing
108 Park Ave, Athens, GA 30601
 
Discover ten timeless beer styles in this flavorful experience hosted by Owen Ogletree. Explore their rich histories, savor every sip, and learn why these classics remain essential to the heart of craft beer culture.
 
Only $20 per person. Seats will fill quickly!
 
 
- Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting is BACK!
Tickets are now on sale for our epic 19th annual Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting coming to Bold Monk Brewing on Saturday, January 31, 2026. We'd love to see you there, sipping from 50 unique and creative cask-conditioned beers. There are many delicious reasons why ACAT is considered a favorite beer event in Georgia. Come find out for yourself!
 
 
 
A benefit for the Atlanta Humane Society
 
 
- Modern Hops' Beer Spotlight

 
Craft beer distributor Modern Hops is excited to bring a range of new beers to the Peach State:
 
 
 
Tens of Hundreds, Other Half Brewing (7% New England IPA) is a hazy IPA with heaps of Citra, Citra Cryo and El Dorado hops. [Untappd 4.1](Available in cans and kegs)
 
Cat-O-Lantern, Fat Orange Cat (8% Brown Ale) is an American imperial brown ale that just screams the season. [Untappd 4.06](Available in cans and kegs)
 
Bavarian Kittens, Fat Orange Cat (5.5% Märzen) is a balanced Märzen-style lager. (Available in cans and kegs)
 
Baby Kittens, Fat Orange Cat (6.5% New England IPA) is a hazy IPA with a tiny hint of sweetness on the nose. Up front you'll find a relaxed medley of fresh citrus, mangos, and pineapple. It finishes with a hint of pine and invigorating grapefruit with just enough bitterness to cleanse your palette. (Available in cans)
 
Check Yourself, Two Tides (7% IPA) is a West Coast IPA hopped assertively with Riwaka, Chinook, and Citra atop a crispy bitter base beer for some classic notes of fresh cut grass, some dankness, and nearly-ripe grapefruit. (Available in cans and kegs)
 
Tan Lines, Two Tides (5% Pilsner) is a German Pilsner brewed with with soft water, Pilsner malt and Motueka, and fermented low and slow with a house lager yeast for a crisp bouquet of cracker, honeysuckle, and a distinct lemon-lime citrus flavor with a perfect lil smack of bitterness. (Available in cans and kegs)
 
- Featured Events
  
 
 
*****
 
  
ACAT RETURNS!
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Bold Monk Brewing
 
- Follow Owen Ogletree and Brewtopia Events on Social Media
 
 
UP NEXT...
  • Owen Ogletree and Rob Macardle head to Brussels, Belgium to check out a few new breweries and lambic blenders!
 
Owen Ogletree is an Athens, GA beer writer, beer traveler, nationally certified beer judge, and founder/director of www.ClassicCityBrew.com, the Classic City Brew Fest, and the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting. Phone: (706) 254-BREW.
Brewtopia Events LLC • 1070 Christian Ln. • Watkinsville, GA 30677
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