Atlanta newcomer Second Self Beer gets canned

Red Hop Rye is a spicy rye mixed with citrusy hops, balanced by a malty backbone from American caramel and honey malts. This is a great example of an American hybrid beer, canned for your convenience and pleasure.

Opened in the fall of 2014, Second Self Beer Co. may be new to the national craft beer scene, but in its hometown of Atlanta and throughout Georgia, the brewhouse and its brands are in demand. Soon, Second Shelf will release canned versions of its award-winning brews for the first time ever starting this week.

Wait, who are these guys? Founders Jason Santamaria and Chris Doyle started Second Self as a homebrewing experiment nine years ago and released their highly acclaimed beers to the public in fall 2014. The two met in college at Georgia Tech and bonded over a shared passion for good beer. Doyle went on to work at Atlanta’s Sweetwater Brewing Co. and earned his certificate from the American Brewers Guild Craft Brewers Apprenticeship program.

Santamaria has a background in food and business. Second Self says its beers are brewed with only fresh ingredients like blue ginger and lemongrass (never dried ingredients or extracts). Santamari and Doyle designed each brew to be paired with food. Second Self’s brewery is located at 1311 Logan Circle NW, Atlanta, and is open for tours and tastings on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

Previously only available on draft, Second Self’s Thai Wheat (a spicy American wheat beer) will be available in cans starting April 6, and Red Hop Rye (a hybrid red rye IPA) will be available in cans starting April 14. Second Self’s balanced and much-loved year-round beers will be offered in 12-ounce cans at bars, restaurants, and retail shops throughout Georgia (with plans to expand), including Tower, Hop City, Ale Yeah, and many more. Please see here for a map that will be continually updated with available locations.

Acclaimed Atlanta design agency Adrenaline, Inc. designed the crisp and vibrant can labels. Each features a “flavor stack” describing that beer’s profile in clear and simple terms — e.g. “Spicy, Lemongrass, Exotic, Ginger, Dry” for Thai Wheat. Second Self’s signature image — a face divided in two illustrating a “Second Self” — is a focal point of the design. [Man, that sounds pretty spectacular, Second Shelf. Send us some!]

“Thai Wheat and Red Hop Rye are our two most universal, signature brews,” said Jason Santamaria. “We’re excited that now people can enjoy them at more restaurants and bars and at home, without being restricted to draft.”