Shook at Halfway Crooks

‘Cause ain’t no such things as halfway crooks

Scared to death, scared to look, they shook”

With Atlanta’s Halfway Crooks Beer, there is no reason to be scared as Mobb Deep implies in Shook Ones, Pt. II. 

Walking into a stylish building in the Summerhill neighborhood just south of Downtown, one does not immediately think they have stepped into a brewery, no doubt an intentional decision. Loungey cocktail bar vibes radiate through the space, inviting the patron to take a seat and enjoy a beverage of their choosing. Coming here for the beer, my decision was simple, but a list of wine and cocktails may entice those not so brew oriented. 

Halfways Crooks is a rare brewery that perfectly aligns its aesthetic in all manners of presentation from from beer styles to packaging art to taproom feel. Known best for the easy drinking Lagers they make incredibly well, the can art reflects this beauty in simplicity with an analog meets digital theme that is uncomplicated yet full of depth. 

This alignment continues to the taproom, an elegantly stylish space that is both unpretentious and consequential, the result of careful design and thoughtful consideration for achieving a cohesive vibe. 

As one does when traveling alone, I settled into the bar and began perusing the beer menu. For first pour, it would be blasphemous to not order a Lager, so that is exactly what I did. Baseline was my poison of choice, a German-style Pilsner gently hopped with Saaz. Adorned with a mound of gentle foam, the draft pour shone a straw yellow from the mini-stein. 

Sometimes clean is the best descriptor for a beer, and I can’t think of anything more apt for Baseline. From a gentle nose to an effervescent introduction upon the palate and a silky finish, there is nothing harsh nor overly fussy going on here. Grandma’s saltines accentuate lemon and lightly floral hops for a brief second in the aftertaste. Baseline is there and then it’s not, leaving but memories of fine sips.

Beyond the magnificent beer, leave some room for the dry rub lemon pepper wings coated in buffalo sauce, a combo I did not know existed and am very glad to have experienced.

While nowhere near frightened at Halfway Crooks, I did leave slightly shook, altered by the experience of a brewery nailing all aspects of their taproom. It gives me something to think about, a changed man always pondering what beer and its creators can deliver.