With the New Year Upon us, it's a time where we allow ourselves to have a clean slate, look forward to achieving new goals, and harness the courage to attack and overcome those challenges we’ve been facing. The end of a year is a time to reflect and get excited for a fresh start and new beginnings, and what better way to celebrate a new chapter than by highlighting a branch that has turned its challenges into triumphs. For the last Branch of the Month feature of 2024, we are absolutely thrilled to flash our headlights on Tap Truck North Georgia! From transforming personal setbacks into a dream business and constantly overcoming unforeseen challenges, Tap Truck North Georgia truly embodies the resilience of our Tap Truck Family. 

Known for its Southern hospitality, Hallmark-like towns, and tight-knit community, Northern Georgia is the perfect setting for Tap Truck to bring its tapped beer trucks. The engine of Tap Truck North Georgia is Makayla de Jong. By her side when she needs it is her father who acts as the business's “jumper cables” or “official intern”. 

Makayla’s course towards joining the Tap Truck family is an inspiring and triumphant one, to say the least. Her journey started long before she knew of Tap Truck USA. Makayla was let go from her job, which she says, “broke me like nothing had ever broken me in my life”. In a loving effort to pull Makayla out of her rut, her husband suggested that she go to work at their local brewery down the street, Rock Solid Brewing Co. She told us working at the brewery was some of the most fun she’d ever had, and that it never even felt like work! She emphasized, “My regulars became like family, my coworkers became friends, and my depression began to fade away with every shift”. Previously in her career, Makayla ran the special events department for a secondary branch of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and after a while at the brewery, she knew she wanted to take her experience in special events along with her tap tender expertise and create something that was all her own. This is where we came in. While on TikTok one day, Makayla came across a cocktail batching video on the Tap Truck USA account. From there she dived head first into research and couldn’t stop dreaming about the opportunity to start her own mobile beer tap truck. She filled out an inquiry on our site and the rest was history!

Tap Truck North Georgia first hit the road in 2022 serving craft beverages throughout the counties of Pickens, Hall, Gilmer, Lumpkin, and Dawson. Since they started, they’ve found to enjoy serving the quant Hallmark-like towns and northern suburbs of Atlanta. When we asked Makayla what she was most excited about when bringing Tap Truck to her location she said, “I was most excited to support our local breweries. We’re hoping to rent the truck out to our favorite breweries for them to use at festivals in 2025”! The face of Tap Truck North Georgia started as a 1962 Volkswagen Bus named ‘Rosie’. While the stunning pink bus was hard not to love, it turned out to be Makayla’s first big challenge. After spending the first year building their brand around ‘Rosie’ and its Boho theme, the bus decided not to cooperate and to spend more time at the shop than serving drinks at events. After borrowing a truck from the old Tap Truck Atlanta branch, Makayla decided to adopt her new tapped beer truck. Today Tap Truck North Georgia sports a rad blue and silver 1941 Plymouth sedan named ‘Belle’. Makayla looks forward to adding a second truck to her fleet sometime in the near future, possibly a vintage Jeep Willy Wagon like Tap Truck OC’s. The branch’s second biggest challenge has been overcoming the strict liquor laws Georgia implements. Tap Truck North Georgia has been working closely with local breweries and the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild to get a bill passed that will allow for the self-distribution of microbrews and help revitalize some of the community's breweries. 

When we asked Makayla about some of the trends in her territory she told us that she initially thought she would have been serving a ton of wedding events due to the countless rustic wedding venues nearby, however, she told us she’s done more corporate events than anything else. And after planning thousands of weddings previously in her career, she can firmly say she enjoys the less stressful corporate gigs more! 

Throughout her Tap Truck journey, Makayla is most thankful for the strong relationships and partnerships built within her local community. Tap Truck North Georgia often works with Rock Solid Brewing Co. and Talking Rock Brewery. The branch has also had the opportunity to assist several local fundraisers. The most recent partnership was with Camp Kudzu, where Tap Truck North Georgia helped raise over ten thousand dollars that will provide children with Type 1 diabetes a safe, and fun summer camp experience. 

For Makayla, being a part of the Tap Truck USA family is more than just running a mobile bar business, it’s a way to give back to those who gave to you when you were down. When we asked her about her experience as a Tap Truck licensee she said, “I love the freedom of being a business owner, but also having the backing of a nationwide brand. With Tap Truck USA, I am in business for myself, but not ever by myself”.

As we recount the memories made in 2024, and look forward on the ones we’ll make in 2025, we’re filled with inspiration and pride thanks to Tap Truck North Georgia, our December 2024 Branch of the Month! As we turn the page on a new chapter, we’d like to raise a toast to Tap Truck North Georgia, and Makayla’s resilience, determination, and hard work. Here’s to all the exciting opportunities 2025 will bring! 

Ready to take a chance on your dreams? Click here to start your own Tap Truck adventure and become a Mobile Bar Boss just like Makayla!

Cheers,