LOCATED ON THE ATLANTA BELTLINE, NEW REALM BREWING COMPANY OPENED ITS DOORS IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.FOUNDED BY CAREY FALCONE, BOB POWERS AND MITCH STEELE, FORMER HEAD BREWMASTER FROM STONE BREWING, THE TEAM TURNED A 20,000-SQUARE-FOOT SPACE INTO A 40,000-SQUARE-FOOT BREWERY AND RESTAURANT, COMPLETE WITH ROOFTOP BARS, EVENT SPACES AND A NEARLY 500- SEAT RESTAURANT.
Interview By: Angela Veugeler
We asked them some questions to find out more about the incredible experience they are bringing to atlanta’s craft beer community.
How did the co-founders come together to start New Realm?
BOB POWERS, CO-FOUNDER AND CCO: Combining a collective passion for beer and a desire to create and build something new in dining and craft beer, the trio (Falcone, Powers and Steele) teamed up in 2016. Carey and I have worked together on and off throughout our careers and we have a long-standing friendship. Together we curated a list of top brewmasters throughout the world and Mitch was at the top. The rest is history…
Why Atlanta and why the Beltline?
BOB: We selected Atlanta because it’s a young, progressive, multi-cultural city with a small, but thriving craft beer scene that we are excited to be part of. Our CEO, Carey Falcone, also resides here and is proud to support his city. There is also great opportunity here; Georgia has relatively low craft beer industry development and Atlanta is the least saturated major market in the entire southeast. In regard to the Beltline, we knew going into this that we wanted to be in, what we believe to be, the best location in Atlanta to showcase our vision. The Atlanta Beltline is uniting neighborhoods. It is a living, breathing part of the community; not simply a means of getting somewhere, but a destination unto itself. We love that people from all over enjoy exploring the city in this unique way.
Where does New Realm fit into Atlanta’s beer scene?
BOB: We feel fortunate to have put a team in place that has a collective love and passion for great beer and food. We are doing things the way that we want to do them with a departure from what is typical. At the end of the day, we all want to create exceptional beer and food, and share it with beer consumers far and wide.
How has the response been after opening?
BOB: We are thrilled with the success of our taproom and facility, Atlanta has really embraced us.
What’s the story behind the name?
BOB: New Realm speaks to our desire to create a new realm in brewing and dining experiences, and to support an outstanding and dynamic local craft beer community.
What’s unique about New Realm beer?
MITCH STEELE, BREWMASTER, COO AND CO-FOUNDER: I think the fact that we can take any beer style and put our own spin on it and make it taste great. We want to be able to brew any style very well and have a lot of variety available at our restaurant. Also, I like to make our beers bold in flavor. I’m not timid with malts or with hops. And finally, our beers tend to be on the drier side. Drier beer ultimately provides more refreshment and prompts the drinker to take another sip.
Mitch, what excites you most about brewing?
MITCH: Three things: 1. Seeing people enjoy our beer. That’s why we’re in this business. When people enjoy what we put our heart and soul into, there’s really nothing more gratifying. Walking out into our restaurant after a long day and seeing all the people drinking our beers and having a good time means everything. 2. Brewing a beer we’ve never brewed before and nailing it — tasting the finished beer for the first time and getting tremendously excited because it came out exactly how we envisioned it. 3. Being able to see our brewing team succeed — whether it’s coming up with great recipes, learning something new and excelling at it, or becoming recognized in our industry for our accomplishments.
What is your biggest seller in the taproom?
BOB: It depends on the day, but we find that our Hoplandia IPA and Euphonia Pilsner are very popular at the brewery. They were also our first cans released to market and are sold in many parts of the state.
Are you involved/active in the local community?
BOB: We’ve already supported several local charities, events, and festivals in the short time we’ve been in business. We are committed to having a positive impact on the community.
Where can Suwanee/Gwinnett County residents find your beer other than the brewery?
BOB: Restaurants include Tannery Row Ale House in Buford, Taco Mac Suwanee and Buford, Cheeky Suwanee, Anatolia Café in Suwanee and Local Republic in Lawrenceville. You can also typically find it at Mega Package Store and Beverage SuperStore in Suwanee.
Will you have any special events throughout the year?
BOB: Yes. We currently have Monday “sunset beer” yoga, Tuesday night (Geeks Who Drink) Trivia, and we will also be a part of a cornhole league soon. We have enjoyed hosting events with the Atlanta Humane Society and much more. Our Facebook page is the best way to keep up to date on special events and new beer launches. https://www.facebook.com/newrealmbrewing/
