Sometimes I take a break from the Big Apple and go south to see my family. This Christmas, I actually headed to my brother's house just outside of Atlanta. But just because I go on vacation doesn't mean I take a break from drinking good beer.

My first night in town, I went out to dinner with my family to a spot called Village Tavern (a City's Best nominee), and ordered SweetWater 420, a west-coast style pale ale. The beer was tasty with a crisp flavor. The glass was even passed around the table so that everyone could sample a bit. Each sip was followed by agreement that the drink was an enjoyable one.

It surprised me to learn that this clean, crisp brew was pulled from a tap shaped like a fish flopping out of the water.

The SweetWater brewery is located in midtown Atlanta. And the brewers cook up a few different flavorful beers, including the seasonal SweetWater Festive Ale. I had the pleasure of trying the festive ale when I visited a little spot called Pub 57 (located in the spot vacated by Fosters Grill) in Alpharetta on my last night in town.

The Festive Ale was full-bodied and darker than the 420 but still quite delicious. It calls to mind the holiday season with a pinch of cinnamon. The brew also complimented a delicious mushroom & swiss burger and sweet potato fries quite well.

The brewers have a strict philosophy for their beer but an incredibly laid back philosophy for life making SweetWater a great drink for those who love to have a good time. The founders are a pair of roommates from the University of Colorado in Boulder so it only follows that they would promote a pretty chill atmosphere.

But laid back or not, those boys are certainly kicking ass when it comes to their beer. Since 1997, the SweetWater brews have gained a great deal of popularity. They've won several different awards and even earned the title "Small Brewery of the Year" from the Great American Beer Festival in 2002. SweetWater was the first east coast brewing company to earn the title and for good reason: the beer is delicious.