Summits Wayside Tavern

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

This is the most amazing beer bar I have ever visited! A double row of taps about as long as a city bus, and a huge refrigerator full of numerous brews - this place is beer lover's heaven! The food is great and reasonably priced, and the waitstaff are friendly and personable. If you live anywhere near Cumming and are adventurous when it comes to beer, I recommend that you sign up for the Passport Club.

I have visited this place many times and never been disappointed. It is definitely worth the drive all the way from Atlanta. Not only do they have much better food than your typical bar, they frequently have special menus for month-long promotions. Also, for the past three years they have served specialty brews from the Rogue brewery in Portland Oregon on the 15th of the month. In addition, they have occasional beer tastings, coupled with other foods; reservations are recommended.

12-25-2006 16:33:52 | More by Cyberkedi

TheEclecticGent

Georgia

4.65/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I visited the Summit's Wayside Tavern in Cumming, GA on the 28th of May, 2006. This is one of three locations for Summits in the Atlanta area. I frequent the Summit's in Sandy Springs and this was my first trip to the Cumming location. My girlfriend and I sat at the bar and the bartender Chris made us feel right at home. The service at all locations is great. This location is vastly different from the Sandy Springs Summits. The Sandy Springs location is a locals bar, this Summits has a restaurant feel to it. Open windows, booths, high ceiling, and very little smoke. Beer paraphernalia adorns the walls along with some sports paraphernalia. It didn't have the intimate feel of the Sandy Springs location; however it makes up for any perceived shortcomings by its massive beer selection. Two rows of taps adorn the wall behind the bar (around 200 taps). Even if 10 to 20% of the taps are out at the moment, that is still a huge draft beer selection. This location without a doubt has the largest draft beer selection in the Greater Atlanta area. The bottled beer selection has a better overall variety than the sandy Springs location. Both locations have a massive bottle beer selection as well. The food at any Summit's location is great, well beyond average bar food. The greatest thing about Summit's is you can always find someone to talk beer with. Beer geeks, like myself, abound at the locations.

05-31-2006 15:26:42 | More by TheEclecticGent

aracauna

Georgia

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5

Where the Sandy Springs Summits feels more like a pub with crowded seating, dark rooms and a bar that really imposes on the rest of the main room, the Cumming location is much more restaurant-like. The seating is spacious and airy and the room is better lit. The beer selection is better and the owner seems to consider this location his crown jewel and keeps more of the taps occupied and the coolers better stocked. There are beers in the cooler and on tap that I haven't been able to find anywhere else in Georgia. If only I lived close enough to attend regularly, I'd be broke. The pints are pricey (prices are the same at all three bars) but if I can make it through the Passport Clubs 1 and 2, my mug will hold enough to make the amount of beer make the cost a bargain.

10-16-2002 00:59:45 | More by aracauna

jlervine

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$$

This particular Summits is closest to me, so I've established my Passport club here.

Take a sports bar, quadruple the size of it, and give it a helluva beer selection, and you've got the atmosphere for this place. Quality is pretty good - as mentioned before, this Summits appears to be the jewel in the crown of the Summits chain in the metro area.

Service can be hit or miss. Me and the lady have found a particular waitress that we are fond of who is very knowledgeable about beers and always seems to know the special brews hiding back there behind the bar. Heck, she even remembers our name after only 2 visits. Overall, though, the number of beer lovers outweighs the unintiated and ignorant.

The selection is the best you can get in the Atlanta metro area - typically 125 on tap, and another 150 or so in bottles. Food selections are pretty good and reasonably priced - about on par with a Chili's, TGI Friday's, and the like. For a fantastic appetizer, try the blue cheese fries - tasty paired with your favorite IPA or ESB.

My only complaint is the cost of pints - they start at $4.99 and work their way up. Occasionally, certain Rogue and other specialty beers show up - the price is the same, but they are served in a smaller flute. I think the Lindeman's lambics top the price list at $8.99 for a flute.

11-01-2003 02:18:40 | More by jlervine

Southernbrew

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4

The second Summits I've been to. This place is absolutely incredible. 220+ on tap with just about anything Rogue you could want, dry hopped Red included (they were out though). Everything from local breweries, including Sweetwater's imperial stout. This place really gets about everything they get their hands on. Good bottle selection too. All Chimay, Duvel, Ommegang, mostly Belgians. Our server was a friend of a friend so the service was good. We stopped in on a saturday night during college football season so it was a bit loud, but the selection here makes you forget real quick. The prices are a bit high, but the selection is worth it. If you can go to one bar in Atlanta, go here.

09-20-2004 05:04:24 | More by Southernbrew

fattyre

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5

This place is definitely more refined than its sister establishment. Much larger and more open with less of an emphasis on the bar. Lots of polished woodwork and bar tables separated from the dinind room by a low metal partition. The tap selection is enormous even after going to its aforementioned sibling and MacGregors in Rochester,NY. Though sadly no growlers in GA. You could dwell over the beer list alone for an hour or so. When I went there were forty some odd others going in at the same time, and we were still well taken care of. The pints are a bit pricey but I can understand it with this kind of inventory to maintain. A must see in the Atlanta area.

02-27-2004 02:08:24 | More by fattyre

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

Summits has really taken a dive in the selection department. The service took a step forward but the selection has taken a step backward. Almost every beer I asked for tonight was off, yet they still had the tap handles in place. Upon further inspection I noticed things like 6 Abita handles and only three Abita beers on. Probably 15 Rogue handles and about 6 of those on. 6 or so Sierra Nevada handles and maybe 3 of those on. My original selection score was a 5.0...I'm taking that back to a 4.0. What good are 200 plus taps with 10-20% blown kegs?


As of 6-16-05
overall: 4.45
atmosphere: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$$

Summits is located just off SR9/SR20 and very easy to find. I was worried since my mapping program had me in an odd location, but never fear, it was an easy trip from Jax to Summits.

I met a fellow BA at Summits, kp. It was a Rogue 15th night so the John Locke beer was out, Rogue Black Brutal Bitter. Some friends of kp were also there when I arrived fashionably late. Great company made for ultimately a great experience.

The tap list that I counted was 200...freakin 200! That missed at least 3 beers, and based upon other reviews they may be able to accomodate 220! Every beer I inquired about was available and the service was attentive with only the occasional bobble or two.

The atmosphere was definite sports bar. Lots of TV, lots of noise, and quite a bit of smoke, but the smoke was being handled well by the air handling unit so it was not near as smoky as the Sandy Springs location. It was nowhere as dark either. The place was very well lit and nicely decorated with beer memorabilia.

The only gripe of the night was when I found out you cannot purchase beer to remove from the premises. With 8, count them, EIGHT, Rodenbach Alexander in the cold case I wanted to purchase them all and take them home, but alas, no dice. So if you are in GA and want a Rodenbach Alexander, I can point you to the place to hit...Summitts in Cumming!

01-11-2006 02:03:24 | More by GCBrewingCo

adamette

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

Visited this place with brother in law Steven just before getting back on the plane to head back to Northeast Ohio. 200 taps and hundreds of bottles was the short description.

Atmosphere. A dozen flatscreens showing current games, a few hundred beer flags, metal, neon, lighted beer signs signs which range from macros to ayinger to Lindeman's to Orval. Very cool signage atmoshphere. There were also 10 to 15 Atlanta sports jerseys of various teams. The place was a bit smaller than I had anticipated, though as there was seating for probably only 120 to 150. The 200 taps were ligned up along the back wall behind the bar (I know, where else would they be?) and there was large cases of beer to the left of the bar.

Quality. Good. Not excellent due to the multitude of beer available elsewhere but also not bad or fair due to the amount of choices. Even if the choices are common ones, it is better to have choices which this place has many of.

Service. Good. Our waitress was patient with me and when she did not know an answer she directed me to the bartender who certainly answered my question and provided good information for me to make a choice about.

Selection. As previously stated, about 500 beers to choose from although most of these are pretty common. I welcome the choices, even if they are not all unique. I have to say that the selection is exceptional.

Food. We only had the chips and salsa but they were hot and very very good. Steven reported that their food indeed is above average.

Value: Just fine. my ten fiddy stout was $8.99 but that is reasonable. The chips, salsa, two cokes, two beers were something like $28.

11-18-2008 00:46:18 | More by adamette

SaCkErZ9

Florida

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5 | $$$

This placed is dubbed as "the Worlds Largest Draft Beer Selection". They have 226 draft beers and over 300 bottle beer selection. It is impossible to name all of the beers and there wasnt one thing I could think of, that is available, that they dont have. Well, perhaps some Lagunitas or ABC, but Im splitting hairs here.

Went here one day for lunch. I wasnt able to partake in any of the beer, but I did have a nice little lunch. I chose the bratwurst sandwich since it was one of the October specials. It was okay. A little vinegary as far as the saurkraut, and the spicy mustard had a little twang to it, but I was satisfied overall with the food. My lunch was $9.99 for the brat and some fries. Seemed like they had a pretty decent menu.

Service at the bar was exceptional and the bartenders were eager to answer any queries. I would certainly come back for dinner and some beers when in town again.

10-30-2007 22:34:01 | More by SaCkErZ9

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $

Took my wife to this place to watch a football game while visiting my folks in Atlanta for the holidays. This was actually my second visit to the location. Atmosphere is basically that of a sports bar. Jerseys and sports memorabilia are everywhere. There are plenty of beer signs as well. A room with video games and of course a wall of taps. The service was good, beer knowledge was lacking a bit. The beer list was pretty out of date and quite confusing, but we managed. The patrons on this day were mostly football fans that came to cheer on their team (many teams represented) and wear their team's jersey.
Overall the vibe of a sports bar that happens to carry good beers, vs. the opposite.

Food was standard pub/sports bar fare but was good. Wings were very good, my wife really like them. Their cheese/spinach dip was also very good.

Basically if you are in Cumming, GA this is the place to get some decent craft beer. Worked for me since I was in a mood to watch football. Wouldn't travel out of my way to make this a destination, but if in the neighborhood, they'll treat you well.

01-10-2011 04:48:50 | More by Reagan1984