Tom Brady is 2-0 this season versus the Atlanta Falcons with nine touchdown passes and 644 yards through the air. He's also a perfect 10-0 throughout his 20-year career against the Dirty Birds, including a come-from-behind Super Bowl victory that Atlantans still can't mention without wincing.
Yet, Tom Brady is a System Quarterback, according to Printer’s Ale Manufacturing Company, a 20-barrel brewery & taproom based in Carrollton.
Printer's Ale has been having fun with a series of New England-style IPAs for some time. They tie beer names to famous New Englanders. Greg Smith, the brewery's owner and founder, says the targets for their fun are people who have done really well and it's "fun to roast and poke fun at a little bit."
They've made Matt Damon Cries When He's Sad, Ben Affleck Has a Big, Fat, Stupid Mouth, Amy Poehler is an Upright Citizen, and currently have a taproom-only IPA called B.J. Novak Didn't Start the Fire. But the beer, thus far, that's gotten the most feedback and notoriety is Donnie is the Talented Wahlberg.
Smith said Wahlberg's assistant found the beer and reached out and told Printer's Ale if they'd send some to Donnie he might mention it if he liked it.
He liked the beer.
And now Printer's Ale is poking fun at the G.O.A.T., and Smith hopes Brady doesn't take offense.
"He's easy to poke fun at because he's so great at what he does, has the perfect life, and that discussion that Tom is just a product of the system, what could he do going someplace else," Smith said. "Well, he proved what he could do going someplace else. It's just poking fun at that whole mythology... Tom Brady.
Tom Brady is a System Quarterback has been the most polarizing beer from this series, says Smith. He's had guests in his taproom who wouldn't drink the beer because Brady's name is attached to it. He's also seen feedback on UnTappd, a popular beer rating app, where Falcons fans begrudgingly drink the beer. Smith finds this "hilarious."
"Whatever you think of Tom, he's a good guy and obviously the greatest quarterback," said Smith. "He's Neo from The Matrix. He sees things that none of us see, this year proves it."
Even with recent history as proof, Smith, a long-time Pittsburgh Steelers fan, has known for some time that Brady plays at a different level. The 2004 AFC Championship Game crushed him..
"At the point, right then, this team is a different level team," said Smith. "And that discussion of 'Is it the system or is it the individual.' It's obviously both, I mean look at the Patriots now, what they're doing. Tom Brady is at such a different level."
What's next for the brewery in this New England IPA series? Smith says Printer's Ale is putting the finishing touches on a beer aimed at professional wrestler John Cena.
If you can't find Tom Brady is a System Quarterback at your favorite Atlanta metro restaurant, Printer's Ale has a taproom on 15 acres of land in Carrollton with a half-mile pint path and a disc golf course. The taproom is open Thursday through Sunday.
Printer's Ale | 940 Columbia Drive, Carrollton, GA 30117