While breweries are found scattered throughout Tennessee, only a few locations allow people inside to tour their facilities. Most of these are found in and around Nashville, and you can even find organized tours that will take you to multiple breweries in one day. Other brewing companies that open their facilities for visitors can be found in east Tennessee, in Chattanooga and Knoxville.
Music City, or Brew City?
- With 12 breweries in Nashville and its suburbs, beer lovers should have no problem finding the perfect pint, as many breweries there open their doors for tours on the weekend. Go behind the scenes to see how beer is made during a Saturday tour at Yazoo Brewing Company. In less than an hour, you'll learn the history of the brewery, how it brews and be able to sample some of the finished products. Saturday is also the day to tour Turtle Anarchy Brewing Company and Fat Bottom Brewery -- just make sure you reserve a spot ahead of time. If you don't have time for a tour, you can at least catch a glimpse of the beer-making process by eating at Big River, Bosco’s or Blackstone brewpubs, and enjoying a pint brewed on-site.
Bus It to the Breweries
- The only organized tour of Nashville breweries, the Brew Bus will take you around to a handful of Nashville breweries, growler fill stations and even secret locations in style. You’ll visit at least four locations, such as Turtle Anarchy Brewing Company, The Black Abbey Brewing Company and Fat Bottom Brewing where you get to sample beer at every stop. In between, enjoy snacks and water on the Gray Line coach, before stopping for appetizers at a beer bar such as Nashville Saucer, 3 Crow Bar or M.L. Rose to conclude your tour of the city’s burgeoning craft beer scene.
Scenic City Tasting Tour
- Chattanooga has an organized tour that will take you around to some of the handful of local breweries. Chattanooga Brew Tours takes a short yellow bus to Chattanooga breweries such as Chattanooga Brewing Company and Terminal Brewhouse, and taprooms like Heaven and Ale, and SturmHaus. Along the way you’ll sample beers at each stop and enjoy snacks and water on the bus. At Big River Grille in downtown Chattanooga, you can try all six of the ales and lagers the brewpub produces on site. McHale’s Brewhouse keeps six brews on tap at all times, as well as providing a full dinner menu.
A Beer Tour of Tennessee
- Saw Works Brewing Company in Knoxville offers weekend tours of The Mill, its brewing facility, and has tasting room hours Wednesday through Saturday. Wiseacre Brewing in Memphis opens its taproom to guests throughout the week. The few remaining breweries don't offer tours, but do have taprooms or offer beer flights for you to sample their products. Blackhorse Pub in Clarksville, just north of Nashville, has a taproom, as do the Nashville breweries Black Abbey, Jackalope and Tennessee Brew Works. Beer lovers visiting East Tennessee can enjoy the taproom at the Turkey Creek location of Smoky Mountain Brewery, or the one at Woodruff Brewing's Downtown Grill and Brewery.
