If you have a passion for drinking beer and would love to learn more about how middle Tennessee gets the job done, look no further than our brewery guide! We’ve prepared a list of the top breweries showcasing their brewing process, flagship beers to try, locations and history about how they came to be. Craft brewing has leveled up in the past couple of years, bringing a different intimacy to one of our favorite year-round activity…enjoying a nice, cold one. So crack open your favorite craft beer, sit back and enjoy the beauty of perfectly crafted beer designed specifically for your drinking pleasure.
BEARDED IRIS BREWING
★ 4.7
After opening their doors in February 2016, Bearded Iris Brewing made their footprint in Tennessee craft brewing. The brewery, with beautiful checkered floors and a traditional bar area with a variety of seating options, features a menu that steers heavily in the direction of IPAs, DIPAs and pales. Some hop varieties featured in their beers have come from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States as well as international countries like Australia, New Zealand, France and more! Take a seat at the bar and get things started with their flagship beer, Homestyle. This oated IPA is brewed only with mosaic hops, as well as notes of mixed citrus and berry. YUM! The building is a 3 vessel, 30-barrel brewhouse and also features their own canning line to have a more hands-on approach with their products. Their main focus is to give their customers a personal experience that feels familiar and new at the same time. Bearded Iris is kid-friendly and their outside patio is pet-friendly. You can even BYOF (bring your own food). Join them for “Hoppy Hour” every week, Monday through Friday from 5pm-6pm. We promise you won’t be disappointed!
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BLACKSTONE BREWERY
★ 4.7
The next brewery on our list is Nashville’s oldest! Open since 1994, Blackstone Brewery has produced many award-winning beers, featuring wards from Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. The St Charles Porter is their claim to award fame, this English style porter will have you blown away with hints of chocolate and caramel. You definitely have to get your hands on one of these! Enjoy one in their Taproom, which features 16 beers on tap, and the Food Bus, featuring classics beer food pairings like a burger and fries or some delicious fish and chips as well as daily special. The food bus is a retrofitted, 1989 Ford School Bus, available anytime the tap room is. The 30 barrel, state of the art brewhouse was built in 2011 as well as their own bottling facility. They feature Guided Tours, Historical Tours, Founders Tour, and Group tours which will lead you through an active brewery, all while sipping on their carefully crafted brews. This experience isn’t one you want to miss!
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OLE SMOKY DISTILLERY & YEE-HAW BREWERY
★ 4.5
Our next spot features a beer garden and a distillery, providing a family friendly spot that knows how to bring your experience to life. Yee-Haw Brewery got its start in Johnson City, Tennessee in 2015. In 2019, Yee-Haw paired up with Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine to bring Ole Smoky Distillery to Nashville. This place is one you’re going to want to see! Designed with shipping containers, Ole Smoky is more than just a distillery. It features a beer garden, Moonshine Tastings, a restaurant, and live music. There is also plenty of ways to stay busy with their life size Jenga, cornhole, ping pong and a perfect venue for watching your favorite sports. The food menu will have you coming back for more. Tacos or Hot Chicken? We say both! Their tacos include some yummy options like pork belly taco, lump crab taco, lamb gyro taco and MANY other variations. You definitely have to grab some of their hot chicken and the sides to go with it. Don’t forget about the beer! Yee-Haw offers a line of deliciously crafted beers like the Pale Ale and Eighty Shilling Scottish Ale. The Pale Ale is and American style ale that is bold in flavor with a hunt of sweetness. Eighty is a red ale with hints of caramel and toffee. You have got to stop by the bar and enjoy what Yee-Haw has to offer.
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SOUTHERN GRIST BREWERY
★ 4.8
Opened in 2016, the creators of Southern Grist Brewing Company take their love for beer to the next level. 3 Friends who once worked together also shared an immense appreciation for home brewing which later led them to risk it all to start their own brewery. They now have two locations and business is booming. Their first taproom, located in East Nashville, is a petite brewhouse that displays their brews on tap along with delicious pizza, snacks and board games to pass this time. The Eastside taproom became a local favorite which late led to higher demand and brought them to the decision to open their second taproom in the growing neighborhood, the Nations. The Nations taproom has a warehouse vibe and industrialized décor. Enjoy one of their refreshing beers on their outside patio! Southern Grist has also been serving up some specialty beer that you won’t want to miss. Their beers are adventurous and are for folk who have a wide range of pallets. Two specialty beers that caught our eye and are perfect for summer weather. Pineapple Boil the Ocean will have you floating on clouds with hints of gummy peach rings and papaya. Check out their BroCoNut which is brewed with citra, Ekuanot and of course, loaded with coconut. At Southern Grist Brewing, it’s not about just one beer, it’s about all of them.
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EAST NASHVILLE BEER WORKS
★ 4.7
East Nashville Beer Works is a spot for everyone! Whether it’s a couple of friends from work, or a big group with family visiting, there’s a comfy spot with your name on it. The folks over at ENBW are bringing community togetherl. The venue is family friendly and also offer a dog friendly beer garden, outside deck, regulation dart boards and food to satisfy the whole group. They also love to host! Check them out for any group needs such as wedding rehearsals, networking events, non-profit nights, or any style party. Their food menu features delicious pizza like the White pizza and Perfect Pig pizza, (which is perfect in deed) and appetizers like empanadas and hummus as well as salads. Ask them about their floats (wink, wink)! The ambiance over at East Nashville Beer Works isn’t compete without their flagship beer, Honey Blonde Ale. This American ale is brewed with real Tennessee honey and sure to keep you coming back for more. If you like citrus notes, try their Cumberland Punch for the perfect summer time treat. No matter the reason, bring your group together at East Nashville Beer Works, we promise you’ll leave more than satisfied.
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FAT BOTTOM BREWERY
★ 4.4
Fat Bottom Brewery was established in 2012 becoming East Nashville’s first brewery. It began as a smaller, neighborhood favorite and after 4 years, they moved from the East to the West side in its new neighborhood, the Nations. Known as the Hop Yard, Fat Bottom began to evolve their brand into a powerhouse, putting the craft in craft beer. Every detail, from ambiance, to food to the way they can their beers, has been curated specially to bring what Fat Bottom has to offer to the next level. With quality as their main focus, it doesn’t stop at the beer! Their food menu has some local favorites such as pretzels with beer cheese, sweet potato truffle tots, and you HAVE to try their Nashville hot chicken bao buns. They are to die for! The menu also has beer pairings so that you really get the full tasting experience. You may find their flagship beers on that list; Ruby American Red Ale, Firestarter Smoked Pumpkin Porter, Knockout IPA, and W.A.C. American Pale Ale. Grab a flight and sample all 4! If you love these beers, you should schedule a tour of the brewery to see where all the magic happens.
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TENNESSEE BREW WORKS
★ 4.7
If you want to support the local community, you’ve got to check out the operation over at Tennessee Brew Works. From the brewing to the ambiance, you’ll want to put this spot at the top of your list of places to visit. This brewery was started by Tennessee natives who wanted to pay homage to their homeland by drawing influence from the land, culture and traditions into their brews. They are environmentally conscious and have fostered a unique brewing system that enhances their efficiency and uses less water and energy than a traditional brewing system. They also locally source their materials to stay true to their mission. You can also sign up for a brewery tour on their website if you’d like to see just how things are done with the folks over at TBW. Their food menu is highly recommended for the mere fact that each dish incorporates a brew, in some way, shape or form, that is produced on site. Talk about locally sourced! Order the Five Beer Burger that features their Southern Wit beer into an unforgettable sauce as well as featuring beer in every other component of this delicious burger. You’ll definitely enjoy the freshness of their food as well as the presentation. Be sure to try their seasonal brew, Country Roots which is a sweet potato stout and enjoy it out on their double decker patio. It will have you coming back for more!
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JACKALOPE BREWING COMPANY
★ 4.5
Jackalope Brewing has been around since 2011 and have made it their mission to provide specially crafted beers, all while serving the environment and local community. Staying true that, every month they donate 20% of their sales from their featured beers to local non-profits. Be sure to grab their featured beers on tap to support a good cause! In 2013, they became the first craft brewery to can their own beers, setting the pace for their divine success. The Den, their original taproom and brewery sports a more intimate experience compared to their second taproom and brewery, the ranch. The Ranch is a bigger brewery, better for bigger crowds and for those who are interested in their exquisite brewing process. They have plenty of community seating as well as an outdoor shuffle board with lounge chairs. Whether you check out The Den or The Ranch, you’ve got to try their year-round beer, Thunder Ann. Named after Davy Crockett’s fictional wife, this American Ale features citrusy hops with hints of apricot and mango. If you’re looking for something lighter, check out their Sarka Pilsner, a bohemian pilsner that pairs well with summertime.
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BLACK ABBEY BREWING
★ 4.7
Started by 3 friends in 2013, Black Abbey Brewing bring an interesting and historical concept to the world of craft beer. Their aesthetic relies on 600 years of brewing traditions that was started by outlaw monk, Martin Luther and his refugee nun wife, Katherina. She received her brewing certification before leaving her convent and brought her skills and knowledge to the enjoyment of a good brew. The ambiance at the BAB taproom, also known as “Fellowship Hall”, is lined with farmhouse tables and has a historical feel you’ll have to witness for yourself. The hall was designed to remind guests of a chapter house in a monastery. BAB has alos done some collaborations with Jameson to create delicious beverages you can only find at fellowship hall. If one of the top whiskey companies wanted to collaborate with a local craft brewery, they must be doing something right! They also offer barrel aged beers that started off as a passion for homebrewing which later won awards for the careful preparation of such a beer. Drop by to try a few of their flagship beers; the Rose, a Belgian blonde ale or the Forty-Four, a delicious coffee porter. Whichever of their original brews you taste, you’re sure to have a blast from the past.4313
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