The Best Breweries In Nashville, TN

Nashville is renowned for its southern whiskey and spicy chicken, but were you aware that the city also has a thriving beer scene? Nashville is creating a variety of sours, IPAs, and craft beers all across town! Plus, because you’re in the heart of Music City, most breweries include a performance.

Without further ado, here are some of the best breweries in Nashville you ought to try!

• Yazoo Brewing Company 
• New Heights Brewing
• Southern Grist Brewing
• Bearded Iris Brewing
• Living Waters Brewing
• Honky Tonk Brewing Co.
• Crazy Gnome Brewery
• East Nashville Beer Works
• Smith and Lentz 
• Fat Bottom Brewery 

Yazoo Brewing Company

In 2003, Yazoo Brewing opened at the facility for Marathon Motor Works but soon outgrown it and relocated to the Gulch in 2010. Yazoo cashed out and relocated their huge brewery to a highly polished, gargantuan location in Madison as Nashville grew and the Gulch turned into one of the hottest properties in Nashville.

The most recent brewery version has a big taproom as well as an outside terrace where you can sample Yazoo’s limited-edition and year-round beers. Embrace the Funk, their barrel-aging and wild ale program is Yazoo’s crown jewel. The trip to Madison is well worth it if you can get your fingers on these beers.

New Heights Brewing

Going to the New Heights Brewing can be like playing Frogger in real life due to its location, but trust us when we say that it is definitely worth it. This relatively new establishment has a diverse tap selection that all beer lovers will love. The lineup’s foundation is its IPAs, but we do recommend trying out their creamy ales like their popular Coffee and Cream. It even has many unique treats like their S’Wheat Tea, which is a great wheat beer that was designed by Nashville’s High Garden Tea Shop.

They are genuine standouts. If you’ve had your share of honky-tonks after walking Broadway, come to New Heights, grab a seat, order delicious slices from 312 Pizza (another favorite local Nashville), and enjoy a few rounds of fun board games as you enjoy the brewery’s vast choices.

Southern Grist Brewing

Southern Grist is a relatively young brewery in Nashville’s beer hierarchy, with two sites: their original facility in East Nashville and the newly added Nations taproom. No matter which one you go to, you will definitely enjoy it. It is determined by your lodging, if you have a rental vehicle (pro tip: you will need a car), or whether you like wide-open or intimate settings.

The East taproom, in our opinion, is the better option. You can enjoy their selection of board games or one of their incredibly wonderful dessert sours, like the Raspberry Hazelnut Truffle Hill. Plus, it’s quieter, a mile away from the city’s bustle, and provides personal time with its bartenders.

Bearded Iris Brewing

The Breaded Iris Brewing is located in the center of Nashville’s urban landscape, East Germantown. It is an amazing neighborhood with matching warehouses and lofts. Bearded Iris Brewing, based on the theme of division, is comfortably placed amid old and new style innovations. On one side, there’s the taproom, which is centered on a speakeasy-style traditional bar, and then there’s the brewery itself, which has all of its gear on display for guests to observe.

Rather than clashing with the ambiance of the tavern, the contrast enhances it. Breaded Iris Brewing offers a relaxing and laid-back ambiance that is coupled with the best beer in town. It offers the DDH IPAs that highlight how it really should be. They also have an imperial milky stout, Mood Dust, which is creamy and buttery. It also has a great soundtrack, which is nothing new in Music Town.

Living Waters Brewing

Nashville’s little engine is Living Waters. It has an amazing coffee program that goes so well with its well-crafted beers. Although it may not be the biggest brewery in Nashville, it hasn’t stopped it from producing outstanding beer.

Thomas Becker and Ryan McCay, the brewers and proprietors, make some fantastically constructed brews that beer aficionados all around the nation dream of trying. The taproom is a nice, inviting environment with a modest terrace. They promote local companies by serving Crieve Hall Bagels on weekdays, pastries from Brightside Bakeshop on weekends, and donuts from Conny & Jonny throughout the week.

Honky Tonk Brewing Co.

Located in the Metro Center in North Nashville, Honky Tonk Brewing is located in the industrial park. The taproom, which is popular among the nearby workplaces, has a changing menu of beers ranging from fruited IPAs and Berliner Weisses, as well as live music. Honky Tonk Brewing provides take-out and delivery services too. 

Crazy Gnome Brewery

The tornado and pandemic last year might have claimed another victim, but Crazy Gnome has emerged as a narrative of resiliency. Crazy Gnome is a tiny, working-class taproom and brewery that serves six taps for beers and an outdoor terrace in East Nashville. While Crazy Gnome invites customers to bring food from any breweries and nearby eateries, the brewery does sell a selection of chips. Crowlers are also available to go at Crazy Gnome.

East Nashville Beer Works

The East Nashville Beer Works is a hidden treasure in the area, with a large beer garden that can hold pop-up yoga sessions and vintage movie screenings. This generously large patio is both dog and child-friendly -so much so that the jungle-like structure surpasses most neighborhood parks. Inside the taproom, live music is performed every night, and a wide range of fantastic beers are available, ranging from classic German and Belgian beers to innovative stouts and IPAs. If you become hungry, they provide appetizers, empanadas, pizza, and salads.

Smith and Lentz

Smith & Lentz spent the majority of a year renovating after being nearly directly affected by the horrific 2020 tornado that ripped through East Nashville, but they got stronger than ever. Aside from the brewery’s crisp pilsners and famed IPAs, Smith & Lentz decided to go all-in on a new pizza program, which included hiring an experienced chef to create the menu. Craft beer aficionados seeking a pleasant night out have turned to pints and pies, whether for takeout or to savor in their beer garden or snug taproom.

Fat Bottom Brewery

Since relocating to a considerably bigger location in the Nations, Fat Bottom Brewing has remade itself as a drink, food, and entertainment complex, from modest beginnings in a former mattress factory in East Nashville. What began as a home brewery for entrepreneur Ben Bredesen has grown into a regional powerhouse with outdoor and indoor seating in the taproom, an in-house canning line, Biergarten, and a private event facility. The Hopyard’s beer quality has continued to grow, with mainstay brands like Knockout IPA, Ida Golden Ale, and Ruby Red American Ale bringing in all the beer lovers.