The Helen Craft Beer Scene
A riverside deck in town, a taproom in Cleveland and a fall full of German beer
The short answer
Where to drink beer in and around Helen
Hours come from each business's own website. Confirm before you go, especially on weeknights.
| Stop | Where | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Brew Deck | 11 River Street, Helen (on the Chattahoochee) | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 9 PM; Fri to Sun 11 AM to 11 PM | Open seven days. Pub food such as pierogis, boneless wings and beer-cheese mac. Phone 706-878-7293. |
| 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 | Food trucks on site. Phone 678-771-8116. About 12 minutes from downtown Helen. |
| Helen Oktoberfest Festhalle | 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen | Open nightly Oct. 1 to Nov. 1, 2026 (weekdays 6 PM; Sat and Sun from 1 PM) | Admission $10 Mon to Thu, $15 Fri and Sat, free Sunday (2026 prices, subject to change). Adults show ID at the door. |
The Alpine Brew Deck
The easiest pint in town is the one with a view. The Alpine Brew Deck sits on the Chattahoochee at 11 River Street, and the site bills the spot as a place for "good food, cold beer" with the tubing crowd floating past in season. The menu leans on pub favorites: pierogis, boneless wings and an Alpine mac and cheese with beer cheese and pretzel pieces. It's open every day, Friday through Sunday until 11 PM.
NoFo Brew Co. in Cleveland
About 12 minutes south of Helen, NoFo Brew Co. runs a taproom at 1939 Helen Highway, the address that was Tantrum Brewing's before NoFo took over the Cleveland location. NoFo was founded in 2019 in North Forsyth County by three friends and now has taprooms in Cumming, Cleveland and Gainesville. The Cleveland taproom is open Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday, and invites guests to "come have a beer, enjoy the views and stay a while." Food trucks set up on site; check the location page for the tap list and events.
Oktoberfest and German beer
Helen's German side runs through the Festhalle. The Chamber calls 2026 the 56th Helen Oktoberfest, open Thursday through Sunday in September and every night from October 1 to November 1. Weekday admission is $10, weekends $15, and Sundays are free. See the Oktoberfest guide for hours, parade and ID rules, and the Chamber's Oktoberfest page for the official word.
Oktoberfest hours and events
The Festhalle has the clearest schedule in town, and the Helen Chamber posts it each year. Kids 6 to 12 pay the child rate and children under 6 are free. A Friday and Saturday pass is $25 for adults and $12 for kids, and active and retired military get in free with ID. There are no advance tickets except for groups of 25 or more, IDs are checked for all adults, and the hall is smoke-free with no pets.
| Day | Hours | Adults | Kids 6 to 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 6 to 10 PM | $10 | $5 |
| Friday | 6 to 11 PM | $15 | $7 |
| Saturday | 1 to 11 PM | $15 | $7 |
| Sunday | 1 to 7 PM | Free | Free |
Beyond the regular nights, these beer-related dates are worth knowing.
| Event | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Stein Holding Competition | October 10, 2026, 6 to 8 PM | Inside the Festhalle during regular Saturday hours; Saturday admission applies |
| Halloween Costume Party | October 31, 2026 | German band, food and beer; Saturday admission ($15 adults, $7 kids 6 to 12) |
| Appalachian Brew and Music Festival | October 24, 2026, 11 AM to 5 PM | Hiawassee; $55 in advance through October 23, $60 at the gate |
| Oktoberfest Parade | September 11, 2027, noon | Free to watch; opens the 2027 season |
More beer, and a quick clarification
If you're willing to drive, the Appalachian Brew and Music Festival in Hiawassee on Saturday, October 24, 2026 pours 70-plus breweries from four states, with advance tickets at $55 through October 23. For spirits, see North Georgia distilleries. Habersham Winery is a winery, not a brewery, so it's a stop for wine. Georgia's drinking age is 21, so plan a designated driver for the Cleveland and Hiawassee trips.
Related Imagery from Around Helen
