Meet Travis Irions: President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Travis Irions and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Travis, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
There were some law changes in 2017 that affected breweries in Georgia. Since then, breweries started opening at a rapid pace. As more and more breweries opened, we needed a way to let the public know who they were and where they were located. I opened our business to help beer enthusiasts experience Atlanta’s breweries and not have to drive. We handle all the details once our guests arrive!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
There are several Brewery Tour companies in Atlanta, so it was critical to find a way to stand out. The existing companies have very limited service offerings and do not leave much flexibility for the customers. I built the Atlanta Beer Bus with one idea in mind: let the customer choose how to make the most of their brewery experience. Our signature HOP-on/HOP-off shuttle allows riders to experience as many breweries as they like and stay as long as they desire at each location. For those that want more structure, we also have Guided Tours that run at various times throughout Saturday afternoons. The hardest part of starting the business has been working with various agencies to remain compliant and safe for our guests. It takes a lot of organization and scheduling to make sure everything is kept up-to-date. If I were to do it all over, I would have started smaller to allow more time to learn the ins and outs of the transportation industry. I built the brand for a fun, professional experience. Because we’ve been so active with the breweries, we’ve shifted our brand to include being the Experts in Atlanta Craft Beer. We pride ourselves on knowing more than any other company about the different breweries and their products.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I travel, I like to “live like a local” so I would want to include things you might not find at the top of the review sites or in a guidebook. Day one, we would go to Ann’s Snack Bar on Memorial. Hands down, these are the best burgers I’ve ever had and is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall. After a nap, we can go for drinks at Golden Eagle, a dark, cozy bar. To nurse our hangovers, we would go for breakfast the next day at Homegrown and get the Comfy Chicken. This is the perfect meal before/after a long day of drinking. After that, we can spend a few hours wandering around the Sweet Auburn district, which is full of Atlanta history. For a classier meal, we can head to Rathbun’s Steak for steaks and cigars. The next day, we could spend the day on a scooter riding up and down the Beltline and checking out the various bars and art installations. Since the Beltline goes right by Piedmont Park, we can also check out the park and Orpheus Brewing, which has an amazing outside deck for afternoon beers. The next day, we would head to East Atlanta for Banh Mi sandwiches at We Suki Suki before heading into Little Five Points. Little Five has a couple great beer bars: The Porter and Wrecking Bar. For a more relaxed dinner, head over to Six Feet Under by Oakland Cemetery. This place has great views and you can explore Atlanta history without having to move your feet. To end the week, we would take the obligatory trip downtown. Things I love to do downtown are: the CNN Center Backstage Tour, the Georgia Aquarium, the Sundial at the Westin, and Red Phone Booth.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One of my best friends from high school, Nate Murray, started Merchline in 2002 as a way to help local bands/artists sell their merchandise online. He was inspired by his love for indie music and has turned the company into a multi-faceted brand management company. Not only am I proud to see what he built, but talking entrepreneurship with him over the years has really helped motivate me.

Website: atlantabeerbus.com
Instagram: @atlbeerbus
Twitter: @atlbeerbus
Facebook: facebook.com/atlbeerbus
Yelp: yelp.com/biz/atlanta-beer-bus-atlanta