KNOXVILLE BEER TOUR
by KNOXGUIDES
First, a few words:
If you are from out of town and are interested in seeing what Knoxville has to offer in the way
of beer, be advised that only in the last few years has selection been as good as it is now.
Like many places, Knoxville has experienced legislative hinderances and merchant reluctance
and was slow to embrace the world of beer. Fortunately, the area has seen marked improvement
in both areas with the recent legalization allowing the sale of beer in the odd-sized larger bottles
used by regional micros and the permitting of liquor stores and bars with a liquor license to sell
"World Class Strong Beers," (a marketing term used to designate beers, generally imported,
that exceed 6.3% alcohol by volume / 5% alcohol by weight.) And, some new smaller specialized beer distributors have emerged to bring additional craft and imported brands to the area.
The following list is a select guide to the area's best purveyors of beer and are worth a visit if
you are interested in new places and beers. Parking is plentiful & free unless noted.
Beer may be sold 6:00 a.m. - midnight.in grocery, convenience & specialty stores in Knox County.
Bars must have an off-premise license endorsement to sell packaged beer to-go.
Tennessee allows the sale of draft beer to-go in growlers at brewpubs.
Liquor stores are independently run and may open 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday.
Bars may sell liquor and wine from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 a.m. daily and beer from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Liquor & wine is served in Knox County only within the city limits of Knoxville and Farragut.
Possession of an open container of alcohol outside of private property or licensed establishments
is not permitted in Knox County. Nor is it allowed by anyone in a moving vehicle.
EVENTS
local music and entertainment. Proceeds benefit community charity.
BREWPUBS
Black Horse Pub and Brewery - Closed. Sold to Green Hills Grille. No Brewing.
5-6 house staples plus occasional seasonals brewed by GABF gold medal award winner
Marty Velas. Growlers and bottles available at the bar. This facility is part of local Copper Cellar group and produces the beer for all of its Knox County locations: Calhoun's, Copper Cellar, Chesapeake's, Cappuccino's & Cumberland Grill. Full menu and bar available at all locations.
City Brew - Closed.
Great Southern Brewing Company - Closed.
Downtown Grill & Brewery - 424 S. Gay Street 37902 [Downtown - map]
A full menu compliments the craft beer lineup brewed by Al Krusen.
If you have time, or are vacationing near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
be sure to check out these neighboring brewpubs.
6 house staples plus rotating seasonals made in-house by GABF gold medal winner Ron Downer.
The area's largest brewpub operation housed in an attractive lodge-like structure located in the
large Governor's Crossing entertainment, dining & shopping complex. Full menu & bar.
Growlers available at the gift shop.
Sister brewing operation to Calhoun's nestled in this world famous bustling resort community.
4 -5 house staples plus occasional seasonals made on-premise by GABF gold medal winner
Marty Velas. Growlers and bottles available to-go at the bar. Park free in the lot behind the
brewpub. Full menu & bar.
BEER-FRIENDLY BARS [ * indicates availability of World Class Beers]
Baileys Sports Grille - 250 North 7 Oaks Drive [West / Cedar Bluff - map] (865) 531-2644.
Regional sports-bar chain with better-than-average beer list. Full menu & bar.
An Old City favorite with lots of free live music. The city's best selection of craft beer on tap.
Full bar and menu. Limited free parking in adjacent lot.
The Beer Sellar * - 1829 Cumberland Ave., [University - map] (865) 521-7464. Fourth location
in this expanding regional chain. The focus is on beer with 50 taps and sizable bottle stock.
World class beers plus full liquor & wine. Moderate pub style menu. Parking can be tough.
A vibrant bar and beer scene located in the revitalizing Market Square area. Modest tap
selection but a large bottle count, including high-alcohol choices. Liquor & wine.
Limited food available. Regular entertainment. Parking can be difficult.
Toddy's Back Door Tavern - 4951 Kingston Pike 37919 [West / Bearden - map] (865) 584-6828.
This is where the locals lean to make the scene and play horseshoes. Big bottled beer selection.
No beer on tap. Some food.
Rocky River Grille - 118 Merchants Drive 37912 Closed.
Spicy's on the Strip - Closed.
Spicy's in the Old City - Closed.
Union Jack's - 124 S. Northshore Drive 37919 [West / Bearden - map] (865) 584-5161.
Locals hang out at this quasi-English-style pub for the large bottled-beer selection, darts and occasional music gigs. Modest tap selection. Small pub menu.
Also worth a visit if you are near Gatlinburg...
Located mid-way along the Arts & Crafts Trail, this cozy two-story log cabin pub offers a wide
array of English ales and local microbrews, pub food menu, darts and loads of scenery.
RESTAURANTS [Ones with better-than-average beer selections.]
Little City - 11401 Municipal Circle, Farragut, 37922 Closed.
635 N. Campbell Station Rd. # 1700, 37922 [West / Farragut - map] (865) 777-6768.
2109 Cumberland Ave. 37916 [University - map] (865) MUSHROOM
Growing regional pizza chain highlighting draft beer. 27 beers on tap, with a third each of domestics, imports and craft brews. Liquor & wine plus a couple of high gravity choices on tap.
The Sunspot - 1909 Cumberland Ave. 37916 [University - map] (865) 637-4663
38+ draft selections, including a some World Class selections. Vegetarian friendly menu.
A campus-area favorite. Full bar. Parking can be difficult.
BEER STORES [These sell beer under 6.3% ABV.]
11535 Kingston Pike 37922 [West / Farragut - map] (865) 671-3377
4475 Kingston Pike 37919 [West / Bearden - map] (865) 584-8699
Regional gourmet grocery chain with a better-than-average grocery beer selection.
Leaf and Ale - 9220B Kingston Pike 37922 [West / Cedar Bluff - map] (865) 690-4772.
One of the largest selections of bottled beers in the area, plus homebrewing kits & supplies,
a well-stocked walk-in cigar room, and a coffee bar. Classes offered in homebrewing.
Paddle Wheel Mercantile - 6535 Kingston Pike Closed.
Sam's Party Store - 605 15th Street [University - map] (865) 522-5056.
Popular UT-area convenience store brimming with foreign and domestic bottled beers.
LIQUOR STORES [Ones that carry a decent selection of beer over 6.3 ABV%.]
Ashe's - 4534 Old Kingston Pike 37919 [West / Bearden - map] (865) 584-3341.
One of the oldest and most respected liquor stores in town. Fair selection of beers.
Good display of single malts. Some ports. Limited parking around store.
Good selection of wines and liquor with a fair beer selection. Will order kegs of strong beer.
Cedar Bluff Wines & Spirits - 9149 Cross Park Dr., 37923 [West / Cedar Bluff - map] (865) 690-0690
One of the best liquor store selections of beer. Good port and single-malt selections.
Earl's Liquor Barn - 4869 N. Broadway 37918 [North / Fountain City - map] (865) 688-4672.
The top liquor store for north Knoxville. Some beers.
Good selection of strong beers. Located across I-640 from Knoxville Center Mall.
McScrooge's - 307 N. Peters Road 37922 [West / Cedar Bluff - map] (865) 691-6463.
Features a specialty wine room and deep selections in many categories.
Good selection of beers, ports and single malts.
Sequoyah Place - 6601 Kingston Pike Closed.
HOMEBREW SUPPLIES
Allen Biermakens - 4111 Martin Mill Pike, 37920 [South Knoxville / Vestal - map] (865) 577-2430.
Offers a wide range of brewing supplies, plus national mail order. Some wine supplies.
Fermintations - 8817 Kingston Pike, 37923 [West / Cedar Bluff - map] (865) 694-7993.
Primarily a wine-making shop, with some beer supplies.
HOME BREW CLUBS
The Knoxville-area home brewers club. Recently merged with the Hillbilly Hoppers.
MICROBREWERIES
New Knoxville Brewing Company - Closed.
DISTRIBUTORS (Suppliers serving the Knoxville Area)
Beverage Control of Knoxville - 4333 Edington Rd., Knoxville TN 37920 (865) 577-5541
Liquor & wine distributor carrying the bulk of the area's World Class Strong Beers.
Brands include: Chimay, Corsendonk, Delirium, Dogfish Head, Orkney, Piraat, Stone.
Initially set up as a distributor of beer produced by Olde Hickory Brewery in Hickory NC.
Additional brands may be added.
Cherokee Distributing - 200 Miller Main Circle, Knoxville TN 37919 (865) 588-7642
SABMiller & Coors distributor with an extensive porfolio of regional & national craft beers
and imported lines. Domestic brands include: Abita, Anchor, Catawba Valley, Carolina Beer, Highland, Leinenkugel, Rogue, Rolling Rock, Shiner, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada.
Imported brands include: Amstel, Bass, Beck, Corona, Dos Equis, Fosters, Guinness, Harp,
Heineken, Molsen, Moosehead, Newcastle, Pilsner Urquel, Red Stripe, Samuel Smith, Tecate.
Dinwiddie Distributing - 6514 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville TN 37919 (865) 694-7566.
A smaller liquor & wine distributor with a partial portfolio of Merchant Du Vin beers.
Brands include Orval, Celebrator, Samuel Smith, Traquair and Duinen.
Eagle Distributing - 310 Radford Place, Knoxville TN 37917 (865) 637-3311
Anheuser-Busch distributor. Brands include Budweiser, Busch, Michelob, Redhook, Kirin.
Also owns the A-B franchise for nearby Lenoir City.
Glades Distributing - 1065 Glades Rd., #2, Gatlinburg TN 37738 (865) 436-0677
Boutique distributor focused primarily on products from the Britsh Isles.
Brands include Aass, Abbot, Ace, Belhaven, Greene King, Sterkens, St. Sebastiaan, Wexford.
Guild Distributing - 2 Wall St., Asheville NC 28801 (828) 285-0515
North Carolina-based boutique distributor featuring a mix of regional and national craft beers.
Brands include: French Broad River, Kind Ales, Left Hand, Lost Coast, Tabernash,
Thomas Creek, & Weeping Radish.
Molo-Tenn Distributors - Chattanooga TN (423) 503-2286
East & Mid-Tennessee boutique distributor focused primarily on assorted imported products.
Brands include: Bavik, Butte Creek, Casablanca, Moorehouse, Petrus, Tusker, & Wittekerke.
Given the inevitable realities of the business world, this list will always be a work in progress.
If you know of a place that pays great attention to beer that's not on this list, or a place that
Knox Guide's Beer Tour (c) 1999 - 2003 by KnoxVillage
All Rights Reserved.
