March 29, 2014: A judge at the Peach State Brew Off sniffing aroma of Imperial IPA. File Photo by Lauren Ragland

Atlanta’s brewing industry has taken off in recent years, with big names like SweetWater and Red Brick immediately springing to mind.

If you’ve ever wondered about the story behind Atlanta’s breweries, consider dropping by the Decatur Library on Wednesday, June 11.

The Georgia Center for the Book will host a discussion about “Atlanta Beer: A Heady History Of Brewing In The Hub Of The South” at 7:15 pm in the Decatur Library Auditorium. The library is located at 215 Sycamore Street in Decatur.

The book by Ron Smith and Mary O. Boyle, “Chronicles Atlanta’s rich brewing culture, from the rise of the city’s beer history in the 1850’s, to the city’s Saloon Row and the parched days of local and national Prohibition, to the present day rise of craft brews.”

The book description on Amazon says, “Atlanta is a unique southern city known for its vast diversity and fast-paced lifestyle. Rarely is it associated with a rich beer and brewing culture, but not for a lack of one.”