Love at the Pub: An Insider's Guide to Craftsmanship, Conversation, and Community at the Brick Store Pub (Paperback)

~ Mary Jane Mahan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"A heartfelt epistle written with passion and grace. Grab a copy, grab a beer, and prepare to be entertained."

--Stephen Beaumont, Author of A Taste for Beer

"A wonderful, fun tribute to our vibrant pub."

--Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, Georgia, House Representative.

"If you've ever loved a beer joint, you will love this book."

--Hollis Gillespie, Author of Trailer Trashed

Love at the Pub is the true story of a small southern town's love for its friendly beer pub. When three bootstrapping young men opened the visionary Brick Store Pub in 1997 on the commercial square of Decatur, Georgia, the neighborhood was smitten. Economic renaissance and properly poured pints swept the city as a unique culture began to grow inside this relaxed, community-minded pub. Love at the Pub is an intimate sharing of a warm mystique that brims with world class beer, authentic conversation, staff parties, and community celebrations-including a few marriages and a start-up church. The Brick Store's perfect timing with Decatur's growth and the craft beer wave explosion made it a local darling, a venerated national star, and a valued "third place" that thrives to this day.

Stories from inside these historic red brick walls
*How the Brick Store became rated the #2 beer bar on planet Earth
*What local building used to sit on the site of 125 E Court Square
*How the Georgia beer law fight was won (and who to thank)
*Why the second floor bar makes you swear you're in Europe

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (October 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440170355
• ISBN-13: 978-1440170355
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,754 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Falling in love with The Brick Store Pub, October 24, 2009

By	Tiffany Songvilay "Tiffany" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I kept looking for the beer snob in this book and never found it. I was sure it was there when I read that The Brick Store Pub decided Warsteiner was too mainstream, but the replacement beer they chose to introduce the mass marketed beer crowd to craft brew, Victory Prima Pils, and the story of how one blue collar worker worked his way up from that launching point in just six months was inspiring. Accessible to a new connoisseur, I'll bet even a seasoned veteran of Belgian Ales and craft brews will learn something new. Every few pages, there is a definition of a different style of beer or a famous quote. But no matter where you fall on the spectrum of beer lovers, you'll enjoy hearing the story of how this place came to be and what keeps it on the map in Decatur, Georgia.

Love at the pub is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of opening a pub. Part 1 takes you through glassware, servers, and how the law literally changed because of the influence of this place. If you've ever heard the phrase `a perfect pour,' then don't miss the story of how three bartenders practiced pouring Guinness all day long until one of them got it perfect. From stories of kids turning 21 and sharing their first beer with mom and dad to how the owners literally built the place out with their bare hands, you'll be able to call the staff by name when you make a pilgrimage to visit this bar after reading this book. At least one woman scheduled a 10-hour layover in Atlanta to visit the Pub again. Not bad for a place with "no neons, no TV's and no domestics."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from Atlanta A List, November 11, 2009

By	Leefa Roe (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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From [...]

Love at The Pub sets out to tell the history of a bar. A bar that was founded by 3 friends on the town square in Decatur, GA and has grown to be the number 2 beer bar in the country. The Brick Store's owners built their business on connecting with the community, from buying local foods to founding charity events such as SkaterAid and the Decatur Beer Festival. (Not to mention the fact that you can often find them behind the bar or working the floor.)

Maybe this is why when I think back on Love at The Pub I don't think of it as a book on the history of a bar. This book is so much more than that - a true chronicle of Decatur's recent history and revitalization. Ms. Mahan interviews many of the key players who set the stage for the community Decatur is today, and records the thoughts of those who have witnessed the transformation. The planning that went into restoring Decatur is impressive for a city of this size, particularly when community planning was not in vogue. Through concerned citizens who formed the planning committee, Decatur was able to start on a 20 year path to becoming a pedestrian friendly, community minded, small town kind of city.

That said, Ms. Mahan leaves no detail of the Brick Store unexamined. Any question I have ever had about the Pub was answered, from wondering where that door came from to why don't they have "my beer" anymore. The interviews of the Brick Store's regulars are heartwarming tributes to the founders and staff. These stories are supplemented with Ms. Mahan's rich presentation of beer knowledge showcased in text boxes throughout the book. Readers who take the time to read the inlays receive an education in the arts of brewing and tasting along with the great community history.

Love at the Pub is a great read for those who love stories of the "third place" - the place that allows a community to grow and rest, and anyone who ever wanted to know anything about starting a pub.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read! This is a one-of-a-kind book for a unique reading experience..., November 11, 2009

By	Laure M "Laure M" (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

A mix of local history, beer knowledge and heart warming stories from local pub goers... This is a one-of-a-kind book that feels good when you read it. It's that simple. Thanks Mary-Jane for this unique experience.