Avondale. Heavy metal. And the path to Jon Shari’s Little Cottage Brewery.
When Jon Shari was scouting locations for Little Cottage Brewery, he kept returning to Avondale Estates. While admittedly knowing little about the sleepy little community nine miles outside of Atlanta, he was drawn to its unique, small-town charm. The intimacy was reminiscent of a close-knit neighborhood from his childhood—a place where everyone knew each other, block parties were a thing and community was everything. All of that, combined with its proximity to the more established Decatur area, made it the perfect place to start his own story.
Known for its barrel-aged beers and heavy metal swagger, Little Cottage mirrors the personality Jon wanted to establish when it opened in 2021. The establishment, complete with an on-premise brewery, has become a haven for craft beer and music lovers with tastes that transcend the norm. “One of the things that defines us, our shtick, is that we are a metal brewery. At the time, when I decided to do that, nobody else in the area or Georgia was doing it.”
The heavy metal motif that defines Little Cottage is everywhere, from the brewery’s website and marketing approach, to metal and hardcore bands that occasionally serve as live entertainment. But the real story behind Little Cottage is the beer, something that Jon, owner and brewer, has become somewhat legendary in making. From barrel-aged stouts to lagers, Little Cottage offers an array of beers, each featuring its own unique twist.
Jon’s approach to brewing has followed the same path as when he received his first home-brew kit as a gift in 2012. Along with his brother, Jeremiah, and brother-in-law, Joel Ward, the craft was always about experimentation. “I follow the path of Mark Twain’s famous quote, which reminds us that there is no such thing as a new idea—we keep taking old ones and perfecting them. There’s always beers I haven’t made yet, but I get a better idea when I’m researching. Right now, we’re having fun creating NA (non-alcohol beer) as well as hard seltzer-based cocktails. There’s always something for everyone here. It’s just fun to see people’s reaction to those things.”
Little Cottage, the name of which comes from a small cottage in Sandy Springs he was staying in, continues to be a force in the craft beer space. Several of its offerings have come from local, regional and national partnerships, including brewers in Cumming, Georgia; Cucamonga, California; Shelby, North Carolina; and beyond.
“Part of the reason I chose Avondale was because of the people. Today, people come to see us from everywhere. Wherever they are from, we love to hear them say why they came. I am just happy to be able to do this, not only for myself, but for everyone who loves the surprise of what craft beer can offer.”
