Nashville is the heart of the country music scene, but isn’t just a travel spot for music-lovers. Also known as Music City, Nashville has a young craft beer scene that has blown up in the past few years. So now beer lovers are able to get something local to drink while they enjoy live music.
From the best breweries in Nashville, and even the best beer bars and most popular local brews, here is your guide to Nashville’s craft beer scene.
Read This: A Travel Guide to the Best Nashville Neighborhoods
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The 11 Best Nashville Breweries
Bearded Iris Brewing
Bearded Iris was founded in 2016 and since then they’ve become quite loved with Nashville craft beer drinkers. They are mostly known for their range of IPAs, DIPAs, and pale ales.
The taproom is roughly 1,500 square feet and features antique furniture, chandeliers, and a bar partially covered in embossed velvet fabric. Part industrial taproom, part speakeasy, this is one Nashville brewery you do not want to skip!
Website | 101 Van Buren St
The Black Abbey Brewing Co
If you love Belgium beers you need to visit Black Abbey Brewing in Nashville. This Nashville brewery has a “monastery-inspired setup”. Not sure what that means, BUT I do know that they are quite popular. And they’re good at what they brew! ‘Nuff said.
Website | 2952 Sidco Dr
Blackstone Brewing Co
Established in 1994, Black Stone is Nashville’s oldest and most award winning brewery. I’ve yet to visit them in person, but they’re high on my list for my next trip. This is a brewery that has been recommended heavily to me, and for good reason. I mean how impressive is it that they’ve been around since the early 90’s?!
When it comes to their beer and taproom, well since 1994 they’ve been able to upgrade to a state-of-the-art brewing system. This system allows them to crank out incredible beers that win awards on local, national, and international levels.
Website | 2312 Clifton Ave
East Nashville Beer Works
East Nashville Beer Works is a community and taproom centered brewery. Come visit Nashville’s most family and dog friendly brewery and one of the top rated patios in town.
Website | 320 E Trinity Ln
Fat Bottom Brewing Co
Established in 2012, Fat Bottom Brewing is an industrial-chic taproom known for their specialty ales & seasonal brews. The brewery itself is a massive 33,000 square foot facility with state-of-the-art equipment, Their beers are served alongside juicy burgers and other great comfort food dishes.
The taproom itself is large and hosts plenty of community events. There is an endless amount of dog-friendly patio space and even a biergarden surrounded with great landscaping.
Website | 800 44th Ave N
Jackalope Brewing Company
Industrial-style beer pub offering its own brand of microbrews, plus cheese curds & event nights. With two locations, Jackalope Brewing is one of Nashville’s top breweries.
The Den is the original Jackalope taproom and is now its production facility. The Ranch is Jackalope’s second location (and my personal favorite). The Ranch is bright, colorful, and home to more of Jackalope’s amazing beers!
Website | Two Locations: The Ranch (Pictured Above) 429B Houston St + The Den 701 8th Ave S
Living Waters Brewing
Living Waters is one of the newest breweries to open in East Nashville. This brewery focuses heavily on unique and small batch beers, they even have an impressive coffee program. Their name comes from “the ever changing nature of flowing water, yeast, and the constant pursuit of perfection.”
This Nashville brewery gives off some heavy hip vibes. I love the mid-century modern styled taproom. It feels like the type of brewery Don Draper would spend time in! When it comes to the beers, this brewery in Nashville focuses on New England IPAs and dark and roasty stouts.
Website | 1056 E Trinity Ln #101
New Heights Brewing
New Heights Brewing Company is a craft brewery that specializes in crisp IPAs, unique collaborative batches, and mouthwatering seasonal ales near downtown Nashville.
Founder and head brewer Jeff Fountain started his brewing experience as a volunteer at San Diego’s Mission Brewery. There he honed his craft and developed his own style. In 2014, with years of brewing experience under his belt he move to Nashville to start New Heights as a salute to “starting new beginnings”.
Website | 928 5th Ave S
Southern Grist Brewing Co
Southern Grist is a neighborhood brewery operating in two locations in Nashville: East Nashville and the Nations. Their spot in East Nashville (pictured above) is very small but still home to a long list of their much-loved beers.
At both locations, this Nashville brewery specializes in creating unique creations and variants on styles that we all know and love. They’re also one of the top breweries in Nashville! Seriously, everyone recommended me a visit here and I’m so glad I finally got to visit in person on my last trip.
Website | Two Locations: East Nashville: 1201 Porter Rd + Nations: 5012 Centennial Blvd
TailGate Brewery
Established in 2014, TailGate Brewery in Nashville has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. Starting with a 3-barrel system, they’ve grown to a 50-barrel system and three local taprooms. TailGate offers monumental options when it comes to beer– the brewery usually features 30 of their own brews on tap!
All three locations offer their own beers and seltzers, wine, liquor, and absolutely divine pizzas, sandwiches and salads. Their headquarters in West Nashville is filled to the brim with artwork from their in-house artist. And with plenty of room to spread out, you’ll be able to enjoy local brews and take in the beauty of Nashville’s mountains.
Website | Three locations in Nashville
Yazoo Brewing Company
Yazoo Brewing started in 2004 in the old Marathon Motor Works building, but has since relocated to a bigger facility just outside of Nashville in Madison.
Today, you’ll find their Dos Perros Mexican Brown Ale all around Nashville. Personally, I’ve never been to their actual taproom (I’ve just drank a lot of their Dos Perros), but next visit to Nashville, best believe I’ll pay them a visit in person.
Website | 900 River Bluff Dr, Madison 37115
Must Try Nashville Craft Beer
So maybe you can’t make it to Nashville, or you only have a short time in the Music City… Well, no worries, here are the top 5 local beers in Nashville not to be missed:
- Peanut Butter Milk Stout, TailGate Brewing (Pictured Above) is one of Nashville’s most heavily awarded beers. PBMS, for short, thisone is a medium-bodied stout with notes of chocolate and coffee, and TONS of peanut butter.
- Lovebird Strawberry and Raspberry Wheat, Jackalope Brewing – Heaps of strawberries and raspberries come together with wheat to create a light, yet flavorful brew. The fruit adds a tartness, as well as a slightly pink color, while the wheat gives it a velvety base.
- Homestyle New England IPA, Bearded Iris – A heavily oated, incredibly juicy and lush single-hopped IPA packed full of Mosaic hops.
- The Rose Belgian Blonde Ale, The Black Abbey – A rich, golden color with the spicy aroma of clove and candy banana. The Belgian yeast shines bright on the palate, light and silky, with a clean, slightly drying bitter finish.
- Loud Whispers Pale Ale, Southern Grist – What started as a New England Pale ale has been amped up with a double dry hopping of Mosaic and Vic Secret.
- Dos Perros Mexican Brown Ale, Yazoo Brewing – Deliciously bready and toasty, Mexican-style brown ale brewed with flaked maize.
Bonus: Best Beer Bars in Nashville
- The Filling Station (Pictured Above) in the lovely 12 South neighborhood of Nashville is a little, hole-in-the-wall beer bar. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a pint of Nashville beer and escape the hordes of bachelorettes shopping nearby.
- Hops & Crafts in the Gulch is a neighborhood hangout with a strong list of rotating craft beers from Nashville and the surrounding area. The staff on hand are just as knowledgeable as they are friendly!
- The Pub is also in the Gulch and is a British-inspiried tavern nailing all the right vibes. Plenty of food options and beers from the UK, but the real fun is the self-serve beer taps set up around the restaurant.
- Vinyl Tap in East Nashville, right near Southern Grist, is a funky, music-centric bar/retail space with craft brews AND vinyl records for sale.
- The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden is a Nashville original offering a creative selection of burgers & sausages along with an old-time soda fountain & outdoor seating in an inviting biergarten.
- Butchertown Hall in Nashville’s Germantown, is a rustic-chic restaurant that features wood-fired eats and oak-smoked meats. Plus a knockout beer list and expertly-crafted cocktails.
Now it’s your turn! Time to start planning your beercation to Nashville, Texas!
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