Town planner accountable for architecting modern-day Nashville and giving it form will need to have been ingesting on the job; the place is a hodgepodge, as if put collectively utilizing jigsaw puzzle items procured from completely different units. Up and coming residential zones abut business districts subsequent to disused streets and weathered industrial areas that, in at the least one occasion, sit smack dab throughout the road from a cemetery. Getting round is its personal problem, too. Nashville is hostile to automobiles and foot site visitors alike.
However, when the music is that this good, and the beer this diversified, who cares? Nashville hosts an array of breweries with distinct character, every slinging beers that vary from traditional to fashionable—and so they’re all actually, actually unbelievable. Listed below are our seven picks for the Music Metropolis’s finest breweries.
The 7 Greatest Breweries in Nashville
Southern Grist Brewing
754 Douglas Ave | (629) 203-7159
5012 Centennial Blvd | (615) 864-7133
A longtime brewery in Nashville’s hierarchy of beer, Southern Grist boasts the epitome of Southern hospitality, always pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a beer. Alongside these traces, the brewery has not one however two areas: Their unique spot in East Nashville, and the not too long ago opened Nations taproom.
The East Nashville location really made strikes final December, opening in a brand new spot at 754 Douglas. The up to date taproom options two massive patios, an enormous bar, and twenty-five beers on faucet. Plus, Southern Grist took the chance to launch Lauter, their first restaurant idea within a taproom. Helmed by Government Chef Andrew Cash, Lauter includes a seasonally centered, worldwide menu meant to be shared and paired with Southern Grist’s beers.
For instance, sourdough focaccia with garlic, sourdough butter, and strawberry jam ought to go properly with Newton’s Cradle, a West Coast double IPA brewed with Amarillo, Centennial Cryo, and Simcoe. Or a Nashville staple fried hen sandwich with sizzling hen spice, butter lettuce, smoked dukes, pickles, and a potato bun ought to be complemented completely by a DDH Combined Greens LVIII, the 58th iteration of the brewery’s rotating NEIPA sequence.
However whether or not you go to at least one or the opposite most likely relies on the place you’re staying, whether or not you might have a rental automotive (professional tip: you want a rental automotive), and whether or not you’re into scrumptious meals or not. For our cash, with this new restaurant launching, the East taproom is preferable. However you may’t go unsuitable with both. Simply don’t neglect to get one among their outrageously good dessert sours, a la the Imperial Aronia Strawberry Blackberry Hill.
And for individuals who don’t drink, Southern Grist even launched a non-alcoholic line this 12 months, together with a NA bitter and NA pils.
Bearded Iris Brewing
101 Van Buren St | (615) 928-7988
14101 Charlotte Ave, Suite 49 | (615) 681-5598
East Germantown, one among Nashville’s budding neighborhoods, mixes and matches lofts and warehouses as befits the town’s city transformation. Comfortably nestled amongst developments new and previous is Bearded Iris Brewing’s unique taproom, which is itself styled on division.
On one facet, the taproom, the place a traditional, speakeasy-style bar holds the middle, and on the opposite, the brewery itself, with all of its tools open for guests to see. Slightly than conflict with the taproom environment, the distinction facilitates it. Bearded Iris boasts a cool vibe maintained by way of a terrific soundtrack and top-notch beer, together with DDH IPAs that exhibit what a great DDH IPA ought to style like, and Moon Mud, an imperial milk stout smoother than butter.
Plus, simply final 12 months, the brewery opened a cool, eclectic satellite tv for pc referred to as Sylvan Provide within the eponymous growth on Nashville’s West Aspect. Right here, Bearded Iris planted its R&D system and lager program. Which implies you may count on extra area of interest, small-batch beers alongside a choice of favorites from the Germantown location. Resembling Daring Butler, an English porter brewed with chocolate rye and brown malt. Or Homestyle, an oated IPA brewed “intensely and singularly with Mosaic.” And if you happen to’re into ramen, Black Dynasty Secret Ramen Home units up store right here.
We guess the key is out. Go to Sylvan Provide for experimental beer and slurp-worthy ramen.
Dwelling Waters Brewing
1056 E Trinity Ln #101 | (615) 669-6035
A brewery centered as expertly on its espresso program because the beer? It’s like this place was made only for the Hop Tradition crew. Specializing in “small-batch beer and low experiences,” Dwelling Waters really represents life itself. Or, as co-founders Ryan McCay and musician Thomas Becker write on the web site, “the ever altering nature of flowing water, yeast, and the fixed pursuit of perfection.”
Beerwise, this journey usually takes Dwelling Waters to the bountiful lands of New England-style IPAs, fruited sours, and stouts. Damaged into two classes—waterfalls, which ought to be loved quickly after buy, and rivers, which might be cellared or drunk over a time period—Dwelling Water’s beers embody that essential sense of time and place.
For instance, Yosemite B8, a hazy IPA that evokes the forest with notes of grass and pine. And Rhein, a espresso stout.
Talking of espresso, Dwelling Waters additionally excels with caffeine, providing espresso, filter, and signature espresso drinks alongside native Crieve Corridor Bagels, Brightside Bakeshop pastries on the weekdays, and Conny & Jonny donuts on the weekends.
That is only a dope spot that’s in tune with our internal sense of calm and all of the issues we love.
New Heights Brewing
928 fifth Ave S | (615) 490-6901
A visit to New Heights Brewing means taking part in real-life Frogger, however the workforce behind this six-year-old outfit rock a wealthy faucet checklist, so the rewards of visiting outweigh the dangers. IPAs present the lineup’s bedrock, however the true standouts are its cream ales, together with Espresso & Cream, Nothing Fancy, and Fancy Monkey. Together with inventive takes like Kinda Fancy, a dry-hopped session cream ale generously dry hopped with Amarillo hops. Should you’ve already walked Broadway and had your fill of honky-tonks, head to New Heights, seize a desk, order up a 312 Pizza (one other native Nashville favourite), and play a couple of board video games when you lose your self within the brewery’s depth of choice.
Jackalope Brewing Firm
429B Houston St. | (615) 873-4313
In February 2021, Jackalope Brewing introduced that it could be shifting all of its operations to a brand new Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood spot lovingly dubbed The Ranch. Fittingly, it is a terrific stopping place for drinks that lives as much as its pastoral identify.
Right here within the sunny, colourful area you’ll discover all of Jackalope’s 4 year-round beers, two seasonals, and restricted releases on faucet to take pleasure in.
For instance, Jackalope’s core Bear Walker, a maple brown ale, and Thunder Ann, an American pale ale. (Insider secret: Ask the bartender to combine Thunder Ann with Lovebird, the brewery’s seasonal strawberry raspberry wheat.)
This beautiful location with a dog-friendly patio simply begs for folk to cease by on a sizzling summer time’s day, soak within the chill vibes, and revel in a beer or two.
Smith & Lentz Brewing and Pizza
809 Ewing Ave | (615) 436-0050
In a real comeback-kid story, Smith & Lentz Brewing and Pizza reopened after 13 months of rebuilding from the consequences of a tortuous twister. In March 2020, a tornado tore by way of Nashville, destroying dozens of eating places, together with Smith & Lentz. The twister tore up twenty p.c of the brewery’s Principal Road constructing, together with destroying electrical service and plumbing, in accordance with Kurt Smith as reported on this Eater Nashville article.
As a substitute of dropping by the wayside, the workforce went to work rebuilding Smith & Lentz into someplace even higher.
In April 2021, the brewery reopened not solely with a brand new look, but in addition with an unimaginable pizza menu. For instance, a White Pie with garlic, oregano, mozz, ricotta, black pepper, chopped parsley, and olive oil. Or the Mushroom Pie with roasted mushrooms, garlic, thyme, provolone picante, and mushroom pie. Regardless of which spherical circle of dough you select, don’t skip out on “Taking Your Pie to Promenade.” That’s the brewery’s code for including garlic, butter, parm, oregano, and chili flake to any pie for a mere $2 extra.
Beerwise, you might have loads of completely satisfied pints to snuggle as much as your cheese and dough. As an illustration, the aptly named Pizza Palace Pilsner dry hopped with Citra. Or the Pricey Hummingbird IPA with Citra, Talus, and Strata hops.
The story of Smith & Lentz is one which warms your coronary heart. And if you happen to can go assist them by warming your stomach with nice pizza and beer…properly, that looks like a win-win to us.
Tennessee Brew Works
809 Ewing Ave | (615) 436-0050
Final however not least, there’s Tennessee Brew Works. At this brewery, the solar shines shiny on the roof deck and the kitchen places out delicious meals. As an illustration, a pink pepper hummus plate, spent grain falafel, or the Nashville delicacy, sizzling hen. And downstairs the reside music rings out practically each night time of the week.
The beer’s fairly good, too, with a lens on European types and Southern American flavors. IPAs do seem on the menu, however they’re tokens. Tennessee Brew Works focuses extra on farmhouse ales, brown ales, porters, ESBs, and witbiers, and so they’re all fantastically balanced. (They’re additionally one of many few breweries to call a beer in honor of the Ryman Auditorium: Basil Ryeman. It’s a saison made with Thai basil and rye malt.)
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