Welcome to the ultimate guide to the best breweries in Nashville for 2025—a curated, immersive look at the city’s top spots to sip, savor, and vibe. Whether you’re into hop-heavy hazies, tart sours, smooth lagers, or barrel-aged beasts, this list captures not just the beer, but the atmosphere, character, and local flair that make each brewery worth the stop. Think of it as your brew-lover’s roadmap to Music City, with insider tips and standout pours that go beyond your average taproom list.
1. Southern Grist Brewing Company
📍 East Nashville – 1201 Porter Rd | The Nations – 5012 Centennial Blvd
Southern Grist is the playground for beer lovers who like to live on the edge of the flavor map. With two locations—one in hipster-forward East Nashville, the other in the slick Nations neighborhood—this brewery brings wild creativity, bold experimentation, and a cult following. Inside, expect neon taps, cozy seating, and a casual, community-driven energy.
Standout Sips:
- Mixed Greens IPA – An ever-evolving hazy series for hop-heads who crave juice bombs.
- Hillbilly Breakfast – A pastry stout that tastes like your grandma’s pancakes got boozy.
- Fruited Sours – Rotating flavors like pineapple passionfruit or strawberry shortcake—they pour like smoothies.
Insider Tip:
Go to the Nations taproom for the full experience—it houses Lauter, their in-house kitchen serving up elevated beer bar food like beer cheese fries, Nashville hot chicken sliders, and duck confit tacos.
2. Bearded Iris Brewing
📍 Germantown – 101 Van Buren St | Sylvan Supply Taproom – 4101 Charlotte Ave
This is Nashville’s IPA kingdom, where the beer is bold, juicy, and unapologetically hoppy. The Germantown location feels like a hip, industrial lounge, and the Sylvan Supply taproom is a sleek, modern outpost in a historic complex. Either way, the vibe is mellow, stylish, and hop-scented.
Standout Sips:
- Homestyle IPA – Their signature hazy with Citra hops, smooth and citrusy.
- Double Scatterbrain – For serious hop lovers: creamy, dank, and delicious.
- Mood Ring – A rotating fruited sour series that’s eye-popping and tart.
Insider Tip:
Head to the Sylvan location if you want less crowds and more elbow room—it’s spacious, less hectic, and still pouring everything fresh.
3. East Nashville Beer Works
📍 320 E Trinity Ln
This is the brewery where families hang out, dogs chill on the lawn, and the pizza comes out hot and cheesy. With a sprawling beer garden, colorful patio lights, and a laid-back neighborhood feel, East Nashville Beer Works is a go-to for casual afternoons and low-key evenings.
Standout Sips:
- Miro Miel – A smooth blonde ale brewed with local honey—light, crushable, and crowd-pleasing.
- Tennessee Sipper – A classic American pale ale with just enough hop bite.
- Cumberland Punch – A malty amber ale with notes of caramel and biscuit.
Insider Tip:
They’ve got a wood-fired pizza oven and rotating special pies, so grab a flight and a slice—and if you’ve got kids or pups, this is one of the most family- and pet-friendly breweries in the city.
4. Jackalope Brewing Company
📍 429B Houston St (The Ranch Taproom)
A local favorite with a big heart, Jackalope was one of the first female-founded breweries in Tennessee, and they’ve kept that sense of community and craft pride ever since. The Ranch Taproom is cozy, inviting, and full of charm—great for beer nerds, first-timers, and dog parents alike. Expect an artsy-meets-chill vibe with murals, plants, and friendly regulars.
Standout Sips:
- Thunder Ann Pale Ale – Bright, citrusy, and perfectly balanced—an easy-drinking flagship.
- Bearwalker Maple Brown – Infused with real maple syrup, rich and slightly sweet.
- Lovebird – A summer favorite: wheat beer with raspberry and strawberry that’s fruity but crisp.
Insider Tip:
Swing by on Thursdays for Small Batch Nights—you’ll find one-off brews that never make it to retail. And yes, the patio is totally dog-friendly.
5. Yazoo Brewing Company
📍 900 River Bluff Dr (Madison)
A pioneer of Nashville’s craft scene, Yazoo has been doing it right since 2003. After relocating to a spacious new facility in Madison, they’ve stepped up their game with river views, a laid-back beer garden, and an expansive taproom. You’ll find a mix of classic styles done right and creative one-offs to keep things interesting.
Standout Sips:
- Dos Perros – A Mexican-style brown ale with German malt complexity.
- Gerst Amber Ale – A historical Nashville beer, brewed in tribute to the city’s brewing roots.
- Hefeweizen – Banana, clove, and silky smooth—perfect on a hot Nashville day.
Insider Tip:
Order a flight and ask for a sour from their Embrace the Funk series—their funky, barrel-aged line is one of the best kept secrets in the Southeast.
6. Smith & Lentz Brewing Company
📍 903 Main St, East Nashville
After a rebuild following the devastating 2020 tornado, Smith & Lentz came back better than ever. Their taproom is clean, minimal, and sunlit, with a patio that hums with friendly energy. Known for exceptional lagers, clean IPAs, and on-site wood-fired pizza, this place balances technical brewing mastery with relaxed, East Side vibes.
Standout Sips:
- German-Style Pilsner – Bright, crisp, and textbook clean—a brewer’s beer.
- West Coast IPA – Bitter, clear, and resinous for the hop purists.
- Helles Lager – Subtle, golden, and endlessly drinkable.
Insider Tip:
Come hungry—their in-house pizza is not just good-for-a-brewery good… it’s legitimately crave-worthy. Grab a lager, a pie, and post up on the patio.
7. Tennessee Brew Works
📍 809 Ewing Ave, Downtown Nashville
Tennessee Brew Works feels like an urban beer oasis, just steps from downtown yet worlds away in ambiance. This multi-level taproom has a glass-walled brewhouse, live music stage, and rooftop deck with skyline views. Their motto? “Finely Tuned Craft Beer”—a nod to their musical and brewing precision. The space is sleek but warm, often filled with locals and tourists alike who come for the beer, stay for the live shows, and linger for the food (yes, there’s a full kitchen!).
Standout Sips:
- Southern Wit – Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with coriander and orange peel.
- 1927 IPA – Bright, West Coast-style IPA with floral bitterness.
- Basil Ryeman – A peppery farmhouse ale with rye malt and fresh basil—wild and wonderful.
Insider Tip:
Catch live music on the rooftop at sunset, and don’t sleep on the duck tacos from the kitchen—they’re legendary pairings with their saisons.
8. Fat Bottom Brewing Co.
📍 800 44th Ave N, The Nations
Playful, bold, and unapologetically cheeky, Fat Bottom Brewing is where you go when you want a casual beer garden vibe with flair. The space features an open-concept taproom with garage doors, a sprawling lawn with picnic tables, and a menu stacked with comfort food favorites. The branding is fun, the beers are bold, and the atmosphere is welcoming, a little flirty, and always full of character.
Standout Sips:
- Knockout IPA – A bold, citrus-forward American IPA.
- Ruby Red – A fruited wheat beer with grapefruit zest.
- Firestarter – A spicy, chili-infused red ale with just enough heat.
Insider Tip:
This is one of the best breweries for big groups and outdoor hangs. Bring a blanket, order a flight, and snag a table near the bocce court. They also host regular trivia and live music nights.
9. TailGate Brewery (Headquarters)
📍 7300 Charlotte Pike, West Nashville
TailGate HQ is a beer-fueled playground for adults and families alike. With 25,000 square feet of space, an onsite pizza kitchen, a massive outdoor lawn, and more than 30 beers on tap, this is the kind of place you could spend a whole afternoon… and evening. From the quirky murals to the rows of picnic tables, everything here screams “laid-back fun.” It’s equal parts beer nerd haven and backyard party.
Standout Sips:
- Orange Wheat – Light, crisp, and citrusy.
- Peanut Butter Milk Stout – Silky, dessert-like, and dangerously smooth.
- Tenacious DIPA – A hop-lovers’ dream with big bitterness and stone fruit notes.
Insider Tip:
TailGate is also a top-tier pizza joint. Try the Nashville hot chicken pie, or grab a pint and build your own. Don’t forget to check the board for their weekly experimental small-batch releases.
10. New Heights Brewing Company
📍 928 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203
Tucked just south of downtown, New Heights is one of Nashville’s low-key beer gems. The taproom is intimate and minimalist, with a come-as-you-are vibe, but what really draws the locals in is the beer: clean, balanced, and consistently excellent. They don’t chase trends—they just brew it right. This is the place to go when you’re over the gimmicks and just want a damn good beer.
Standout Sips:
- Coffee & Cream Ale – Creamy, cold-brewed, and smooth as velvet.
- Nothing Fancy IPA – Ironically named; it’s bright, juicy, and deceptively complex.
- Scuba Steve – A West Coast IPA that’s dry, piney, and totally crushable.
Insider Tip:
Ask for a split-pour—two half-pints side by side to explore the flavor spectrum. Also, check out the local artwork lining the walls; it changes regularly and supports emerging Nashville artists.
11. Diskin Cider (Yes, we’re breaking the rules with a cider house—and it’s worth it)
📍 1235 Martin St, Nashville, TN 37203
Okay, it’s not technically a brewery—but Diskin Cider deserves a seat at the table. This is Nashville’s first craft cidery, and it delivers an experience just as beer-worthy, especially for anyone into crisp, dry, or fruit-forward flavors. With a modern, industrial taproom and a stylish patio, Diskin blends the refreshment of cider with the vibe of a brewery, offering a great change of pace between hoppy rounds.
Standout Sips:
- Dry – Their flagship: super clean, super dry, and full of apple nuance.
- Tiki Tonik – Pineapple + lime + a little rum-inspired magic.
- Bramble On – Blackberry-forward and lightly tart.
Insider Tip:
Their Sunday brunch is wildly underrated—think cider mimosas, waffles, and biscuit sandwiches with a cider twist.
12. The Black Abbey Brewing Company
📍 2952 Sidco Dr, Nashville, TN 37204
Black Abbey feels like a cross between a monastery and a pub tucked into Middle-earth. Inspired by the writings of Martin Luther and traditional European brewing, this spot brings a medieval-meets-modern twist to Nashville’s scene. It’s quiet, dimly lit, and a refuge for Belgian-style beer lovers and malty ale aficionados. If your ideal brewery vibe is a deep conversation with a strong beer in a candlelit corner, Black Abbey is your sanctuary.
Standout Sips:
- The Rose – A Belgian-style blonde ale that’s dangerously easy to drink.
- The Champion – A classic English-style brown with roasted malt notes.
- The Special – Rotating seasonal small batches that lean bold and boozy.
Insider Tip:
Come during one of their lecture or tasting series nights, where they dig deep into brewing traditions and beer history. Bring a journal or just your inner nerd—it’s that kind of place (in the best way).