Beer and Spirits Near Helen
A river deck, a Cleveland taproom, a whiskey tasting room in town and distilleries a drive away
The short answer
Beer near Helen
| Stop | Where | Hours | From Helen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Brew Deck | 11 River Street, Helen | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 9 PM; Fri to Sun 11 AM to 11 PM | In town |
| NoFo Brew Co. Cleveland | 1939 Helen Highway, Cleveland | Tue 12 to 7 PM; Wed to Sat 12 to 10 PM; Sun 12 to 7 PM; closed Mon | About 12 minutes |
The Helen craft beer guide has more on both, plus Oktoberfest.
Spirits: one in Helen, the rest a drive
R.M. Rose & Company's tasting room is on South Main Street in Helen. The visitors bureau describes complimentary whiskey tastings, a rustic cocktail lounge with a full bar, slushies and rocking chairs outside. The company calls itself the oldest registered distillery in Georgia. The rest of the list is a day trip. Hours below come from each distillery's own site.
| Stop | Where | Hours | From Helen |
|---|---|---|---|
| R.M. Rose & Company tasting room | 8160 S. Main St., Suite A1, Helen | Not posted; call 770-744-5017 | In town |
| Big Creek Distilling Co. | 2148 Town Creek Church Rd., Dahlonega | Wed and Thu 12 to 6:30 PM; Fri and Sat 12 to 8 PM; Sun 12:30 to 6:30 PM; closed Mon and Tue | About 45 minutes to Dahlonega |
| Grandaddy Mimm's, The Co-op | 112 Wellborn St., Blairsville | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 6 PM; Fri and Sat 11 AM to 8 PM; closed Sun | About 50 minutes |
| Grandaddy Mimm's, The Garage | 415 Hwy 53 E., Suite 130, Dawsonville | Wed and Thu 3 to 9 PM; Fri and Sat 12 to 10 PM; Sun 1 to 7 PM | About an hour |
| Moonrise Distillery | 31 Webb Rd., Clayton | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 7 PM; Fri and Sat 11 AM to 9 PM; Sun 1 to 6 PM | About an hour |
Grandaddy Mimm's
Big Creek
Moonrise
Beer and spirits events
The beer calendar is Oktoberfest-heavy, but there are two good reasons to leave town. The Appalachian Brew and Music Festival at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee pours unlimited tastings from more than 70 breweries in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama, with a souvenir glass and Appalachian and Americana music. And the Mountain Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville celebrates Dawson County's moonshine-hauling past with a car show and a parade.
| Event | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 56th Helen Oktoberfest, Festhalle | Nightly through November 1, 2026 | Hours vary by day; admission is $10 Mon to Thu and $15 Fri and Sat (adults), and Sunday is free |
| Mountain Moonshine Festival & Car Show, Dawsonville | October 23 to 25, 2026 | Free admission; parking donations $10 to $25; Saturday parade at 10 AM |
| Appalachian Brew and Music Festival, Hiawassee | October 24, 2026, 11 AM to 5 PM | 70+ breweries; $55 in advance through October 23, $60 at the gate |
| 57th Helen Oktoberfest | Opens September 9, 2027 | Full 2027 schedule to be announced |
Oktoberfest details, including the Halloween night costume party on October 31, are in the events calendar. The Festhalle checks IDs for all adults, and the hall is smoke-free with no pets, per the Helen Chamber.
Planning a trip
Pair it with wine
Pair it with racing history
Go deeper
Plan your ride
Related Imagery from Around Helen
