I am among the most unlikely people anywhere to have become a beer afficianado, what with growing up in a Southern Baptist home that viewed alcohol as being "of the devil". Maybe the old adage of learning to appreciate certain things as one ages is especially true for me.

Whatever the reason, I have become a big fan of good beer. I should clarify that my love of beer does not involve massive quantities of mediocre beer but moderate quantities of world class beer.

I am also fortunate to live in perhaps the most underrated beers towns in America, Atlanta, GA. Two years ago, the selection was pathetic here. My, how far we have come.

This week BeerAdvocate.com announced their "Top 50 Places to Have a Beer in America" and I was thrilled to see my local pub, The Brick Store Pub, as number 15.

Kudos to Dave Blanchard for the best beer bar in the Southeast!

# 1 = The Moan and Dove (Amherst, MA)

# 2 = The Publick House (Brookline, MA)

# 3 = Spuyten Duyvil (Brooklyn, NY)

# 4 = Toronado (San Francisco, CA)

# 5 = The Map Room (Chicago, IL)

# 6 = Cock & Bull Pub (Sarasota, FL)

# 7 = Papago Brewing (Scottsdale, AZ)

# 8 = O'Brien's Pub (San Diego, CA)

# 9 = Stuffed Sandwich (San Gabriel, CA)

# 10 = Capital Ale House (Richmond, VA)

# 11 = D's Six Pax & Dogz (Swissvale, PA)

# 12 = Mahar's Public Bar (Albany, NY)

# 13 = Selin's Grove Brewing Company (Selinsgrove, PA)

# 14 = Capital Ale House At Innsbrook (Glen Allen, VA)

# 15 = Brick Store Pub (Decatur, GA)

# 16 = Dilly Deli Wines and Gourmet (Mariemont, OH)

# 17 = Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa, CA)

# 18 = Monk's Cafe (Philadelphia, PA)

# 19 = Rich O's Public House (New Albany, IN)

# 20 = Southampton Publick House (Southampton, NY)

# 21 = Hopleaf Bar (Chicago, IL)

# 22 = Naja's Place (Redondo Beach, CA)

# 23 = Sharp Edge Creekhouse (Pittsburgh, PA)

# 24 = The Alchemist Pub & Brewery (Waterbury, VT)

# 25 = The Linwood Grill (Boston, MA)

# 26 = The Blind Pig Co. (Champaign, IL)

# 27 = Kuhnhenn Brewing Company (Warren, MI)

# 28 = Ludwig's Garten (Philadelphia, PA)

# 29 = Great Lakes Brewing Company (Cleveland, OH)

# 30 = Liars Club (San Diego, CA)

# 31 = Willimantic Brewing Co. / Main Street Café (Willimantic, CT)

# 32 = Freakin Frog (Las Vegas, NV)

# 33 = Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company (Madison, WI)

# 34 = Three Floyds Brewery & Pub (Munster, IN)

# 35 = Falling Rock Tap House (Denver, CO)

# 36 = Mugs Ale House (Brooklyn, NY)

# 37 = Kclinger's Publik House (Etters, PA)

# 38 = The Great Lost Bear (Portland, ME)

# 39 = Tria (Philadelphia, PA)

# 40 = Pizza Port & Port Brewing Co. (Carlsbad, CA)

# 41 = Zeno's Pub (State College, PA)

# 42 = The Bier Garden (Portsmouth, VA)

# 43 = The Grey Lodge Pub (Philadelphia, PA)

# 44 = Brewer's Art (Baltimore, MD)

# 45 = The Drafting Room Taproom and Grille (Exton, PA)

# 46 = Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery (Minneapolis, MN)

# 47 = Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, PA)

# 48 = Max's On Broadway (Baltimore, MD)

# 49 = Barcade (Brooklyn, NY)

# 50 = Pizza Port & Port Brewing Co. (Solana Beach, CA)