James_May-June_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 22
CURRAHEE BREWING CO.
ALPHARETTA + CLAYTON, GEORGIA
ANYONE WHO HAS seen Band of Brothers, or is famil-
iar with the story of the 506th Parachute Infantry
Regiment the book and series are based on, knows
the name “Currahee.” Currahee originally stems
from a Cherokee Indian word which roughly translates to “Stand Alone.” The mountain that took that
name is the highest peak in Stephens County and
is one of the highest mountains in the foothills of
the Blue Ridge Mountain section of the Appalachians. The 506th would run up and down
the mountain for training, forever linking
the mountain with courage and
determination.
“We named our brewery Currahee in honor of the Cherokee
people who are deeply rooted in
Western North Carolina as well as the
brave men and women in the military
who fought and continue to fight for our
freedoms today,” said Brandon Hintz, a
veteran and founder of Currahee. “Currahee
is the official motto of the 506th Infantry Regiment, originally designated as the 506th Parachute
22
JAMES M AY/JU N E 2 02 6
Infantry Regiment (506th PIR) during World War II,
a unit of the 101st Airborne Division. The unit was
made famous by their role in Operation Overlord
(D-Day), Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the
Bulge, and many other campaigns throughout World
War II, and the Vietnam War.”
Currahee Brewing Company has been in operation since early 2016, with two locations—
one in Franklin, North Carolina
(just a few miles over the border
from Dillard) and the other in
Alpharetta— and now a third in
Clayton. The main production
facility is in Franklin, which is
located right off Main Street sitting on the Little Tennessee River.
The brewery in Franklin includes a
taproom, a bier garden overlooking
the river, a kayak put-in and take out,
outdoor music stage and a food truck.
The Alpharetta location is located right across
from the city center on Main Street. “We generally make all of our test batches and one-offs at this
location, with the brewery being located right behind
the bar,” said Hintz. “We have a patio seating out
back and outdoor seating up front. If you are hungry,
we have counter service with our BBQ restaurant—
Smokejack— next door, so you never have to leave
the taproom to enjoy some delicious BBQ.”
Specializing in European-inspired ales and lagers,
Currahee is a brewers brewery, offering something
both for the particularly cicerone-inclined (“cicerone”
being the equivalent of sommelier) but also for the
casual customer looking for something cool and refreshing on a summer day in the mountains or sitting
on a porch in Alpharetta.
