Macon Magazine

PIEDMONT BREWERY AND KITCHEN Longtime Macon residents Brian Whitley and Richie Jones opened the doors of Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen in March 2017. Brewmaster Whitley said brewing beer started as a hobby. "I began brewing beer in my carport at home. As I began winning awards, I began taking it more seriously. Three or four of my original beers are brewed in this brewery currently," Whitley said. Then, he met Jones. "He had a history of running incredible bars and fine restaurants," Whitley said. "Combine that with my love for making beer, and it appeared we were destined for Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen." When Whitley and Jones were raising the necessary capital to open Piedmont, they were "thrilled" to meet the folks at Central Piedmont Investment Group. "They are a talented and diverse group of professionals who not only helped us with capital investment, but also used their talents and resources to help get us off of the ground. Three years later, we have been able to repay their investment plus a return, giving them the additional resources to go out and help others with big dreams like we had in 2017," Whitley said. Bob Easter, managing director of Central Piedmont Investment Group, said his group was proud to have helped launch Piedmont. "The partners at CPIG want to help founders launch and grow their businesses by investing funds, but also by sharing experience that they have gained from their own businesses and lives," Easter said. "We are proud to have had a hand in helping Brian Whitley and Richie Jones launch their wildly successful Piedmont Brewery & Kitchen. We look forward to continuing to see crowds pack their place daily." Not only is Piedmont a restaurant with good food and good beer, it's a place where families can come and have a good time. Those good times include an arcade on the building's bottom level. Before becoming a brewery, the Third Street building sat empty for several years, but previously it had been a general store and at one time a crematorium. "We even believe that the place may still have a few lingering 'spirits' based on some things we've seen and heard," Whitley said, adding that if any visitor can figure out why the floors of the building slope out toward the street, he'll treat them to a free beer. We suggest you try their signature beer, Satisfied Local Lager, which won a silver medal in the 2019 U.S. Beer Open championship in the American Lager category. SATISFIED LOCAL LAGER: Modeled after Schlitz, the beer that made Milwaukee famous, this beer is crisp, cold and crushable. It's light on color and big on flavor. FALL LINE BREWING COMPANY The newest brewery in town also is owned by Nate and Kaitlynn Kressin. Located on Plum Street, the building was first occupied by W.G. Horses and mules in 1919. Later, Ford automobile sales and repairs moved in, followed by the House of Kings Barber Shop in the 1980s. In 2018, Fall Line Brewing took occupancy and began introducing folks to craft beer in a fun, event-friendly setting. "We are a full-scale brewery, with a full kitchen, large outdoor beer garden 40 maconmagazine.com | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021

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