Friday, January 3, 2014

Aly Moler: A Lady Who Loves Beer

There might be a chill in the air, but Aly Moler still has ice cream on the brain. Ice cream and beer, that is. Her goal? More designated ice cream eaters. 

Inspired by a night of drinking, someone poured a beer in the ice cream maker and the idea for Frozen Pints was born. 

A Virginia native, this small-town girl has big city dreams with hopes of growing her small business into a nationwide brand. Partnering with local craft breweries like Terrapin for a series of limited release flavors, Frozen Pints is focused on building a strong presence in Atlanta before expanding to a wider audience. 

With more beer than cream, you'll still need your drinking card to partake. So pick up a pint yourself with your ID ready from local Atlanta markets like Gremlin Growlers, Smyrna Beer Market, and Barrel and Barley (to name just a few). You'll also find Frozen Pints making it's way onto restaurant and bar menus around town, so ask your server for a scoop.

I caught up with Aly over the holidays and asked her to dish about her future plans, past achievements, and favorite spots in Atlanta to partake. 

Tell us about you. Where are you from? How did you end up in Atlanta? Do you think this is your forever home? When you're not drinking beer, you're...
I’m a Virginia girl – grew up in a small, rural town (only 3 stoplights!) called Purcellville, and spent the majority of my childhood on a playing field. I was recruited to play softball at Emory, and fell in love with the campus and city when visiting. I never thought I’d be in Atlanta for as long as I have, but I can’t imagine what my life would look like anywhere else! It’s a big city, but the many neighborhoods give it that small town feel.

When I’m not drinking beer, I’m likely out drinking something else! I love exploring the local restaurant scene, and uncovering the city’s hidden gems with friends. You also may find me out on the Atlanta Beltline – I love being able to jog the Eastside trail in to Piedmont Park, and checking out the art installations that pop up from time to time.
Tell us about Frozen Pints. How did it get started? What makes it special? Do you have plans to expand beyond Atlanta?
The legend is true – Frozen Pints was actually started by accident! My partner Ari was hosting a party, and a friend spilled a beer near the ice cream maker. They decided to pour it in (alcohol may or may not have influenced this decision), and while the first batch was a little soft, the flavor was great. It evolved from hobby to plausible business idea after great feedback from friends and family. We spent the summer of 2011 handing out samples, learning as much as possible about the worlds of alcohol and ice cream, and finally had a finished package in market in June of 2012.

It’s the first product of its kind – we don’t cook out any alcohol, so you must be at least 21 to consume. And it’s really all about the beer - we start with a great craft beer, then build a flavor around it. There’s more beer than cream! Our next focus is our Limited Release series – we most recently partnered with Terrapin Beer Co. (Athens, GA) to release a flavor using Moo-Hoo, their Chocolate Milk Stout, but plan to have some more collaborations and one-offs part of our rotating line-up.
We’re still focused on GA for now, but hope to expand to another state once we’ve gained a good presence locally.
Favorite spots in Atlanta to grab a brew?
Choosing favorites is tough! It’s all about what you’re in the mood for. I love Cypress Street Pint & Plate – in addition to a good beer selection, the staff is always friendly, the food is great, and the patio and firepit make it a great time day or night. Wrecking Bar has a great menu, and I enjoy H. Harper Station or Local Three when I’m feelin’ fancy. I tend to frequent spots around the neighborhood - The Albert, Drafting Table, The Family Dog and Augustine’s.
New brew loves? Old favorites?
Again with the favorites! I really enjoy sours and wild ales, as well as saisons and wits – I’ll try anything citrusy, tart, or funky. Bell’s Oarsmen Ale is one of my favorites, and I really like Terrapin’s Recreation Ale for anytime drinking. Triple Karmeliet was probably my first love in the craft beer world, but I enjoy some of the interesting Dogfish and The Bruery special releases.
Future goals/plans/dreams, either beer-related or not...
I hope to see Frozen Pints nationwide one day and can’t wait ‘til we have a facility open for tours and events! Also, being part of a start-up in the craft beer world, I have experienced firsthand the challenges small business owners and local artisans face. I hope one day to be in a position to help others in our industry with their journey to get a business off the ground.
If you could have one beer with anywhere and with anyone you like (past or present) who/where would you raise your glass and why?
I would love to enjoy a few pints at a cool little Belgian hole-in-the-wall with my parents. You may have met TomMo or DebMo at a festival – in addition to serving up ice cream for hours with a smile, they’ve been so supportive of my journey as an entrepreneur. They will talk you into “just one more,” but it’s OK – they truly know how to make the most out of life, and I count myself lucky to have them as family and friends.
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Join us for a new feature on Atlanta women and beer on the first Friday of each month throughout 2014. Not in Atlanta, but still have something of interest to offer our readers? Requests for promotion and individual features are offered on a first come, first serve basis provided there is an opening in or limited schedule and your brand/expertise meets the needs and interests of our readership. Inquiries, interest, and requests for more information should be sent to heybrewtiful@gmail.com. 

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