NoFo Brew Co — Restaurant in Dahlonega

We have been to countless wineries in north Georgia in recent years, but I can say without hesitation that NoFo Brewing in Cleveland is the most fun place we have visited. There’s something about a craft brewery that a winery cannot begin to replicate. Maybe it’s the lack of pretense, the snobbery of oenophiles discussing acidity and nose, and the fact that this is the beverage of Common Man. The Brotherhood and Sisterhood of good beer extends far beyond the reaches of anything that ever came out of a grape.

That’s not to say I won’t ever visit another winery, because I will. But we had so much fun here last night that we’ve already decided we’re coming back tonight for more. Take that, you $60 a bottle sommeliers. I would much rather trust my money with a cicerone.

NoFo boasts 19 beers and one seltzer on their menu, which is an impressive lot. Styles run the gamut, showcasing just how much the brewmaster can flex, because this is not just another IPA filling station. From Mexican Lagers to Baltic Porters and everything in between, there are plenty of beers to please visitors.

On my visit with my wife and brother-in-law, I went with my traditional flight of four, which included SnowGhost NEIPA, Yonah Live Once Vienna Lager, North Rim Rye IPA, and Raging River Pale Ale. Each were excellent brews, a wide variety if there ever were one. Brother-in-Law had a flight of completely different brews, and was equally impressed. Wife, a non-beer appreciator, went with the seltzer. I then ordered a short pour of the Amber Collateral, the first time I have ever seen and amber Mexican Lager.

Oh, and the entertainment was most excellent, adding to the ambience. A food truck outside provided sustenance for the hungry.

By all means, include NoFo in your itinerary. They have three locations in north Georgia, and while I can only attest to the Cleveland location, I’m sure all three are great....

This is a difficult review because I’m gonna start with the positive and end with the negative. My wife and I have never ever left a negative review because we never want to hurt small business. The beer was fantastic. The gentleman Quinton, who is the bartender is a great guy. Now, the only reason the place gets anything negative. My wife and I came 14 hours to vacation in the area, love the area. We went into what used to be called tantrum brewery. We ordered our beer and realized quickly that we left my wallet in the car, I waited for my wife to get my wallet and sat at the bar, the bartender was about to hand me our beer when the manager who is sitting about 6 feet away, she motioned to him not to give us our beer until she saw the money. That left a awful feeling. As somebody who has been a manager of a large restaurant and brewery for years and years, I would be extremely upset if one of my managers treated a customer that way.. did she think we were going to run away get in the car after chugging a beer? I truly would’ve stayed and had more beer if it wasn’t for the absolute unfriendly, cold manager, sitting 6 feet away from us who couldn’t make one comment or showing ounce of kindness. if I was the owner, I would rethink having her as my manager but once again, the beer was fantastic and the bartender he was a rockstar. if you had a family or manager who didn’t have such a rude way about her, you would...

Edit message (8/30/25) changing my review to 5 stars my favorite drink is back in stock. I was so excited when I saw it. The staff is amazing as always.

Edited Message (8/5/25): I’m still holding off on a 5-star review until our favorite drink is actually back in stock. I just stopped by today (8/5/25 picture taken of the wall and posted with edit), and despite the comment claiming the beer wall has been restocked, our go-to drink is still unavailable. We’re locals and visit often—this has been ongoing for a while now.

The service here is top-notch—honestly, the staff deserves a gold medal for patience and charm. But… we’ve been on a quest (think Indiana Jones, but thirstier) for a glass of Collateral since July 4th. Every time we ask, we get the magical phrase: “Next week!” At this point, “next week” feels like a mythical land we’ll never reach.

Collateral has become our white whale. We just want one glass. Just one. Is that too much to ask?

On the bright side, this place would be the perfect spot for a brewery—great vibe, awesome team, and clearly a crowd ready to drink… if only the drinks...