Like many cities in the last decade, Nashville has seen a boom in its craft beer culture. What once was a niche in the bar landscape has now become the landscape itself, and local brewer’s bottles and cans are now found in gas stations as well as boutique retailers. Taprooms have popped up across the city, and one thing is clear when it comes to local breweries—the supply is rising rapidly to meet demand. 

Many neighborhoods have become home to the best breweries in Nashville, and it’s almost unbelievable how the quality of these local offerings keeps pace with the quantity. Here are Nashville’s especially beer-dense neighborhoods. 

The Gulch

The Gulch map

When it comes to Nashville's craft beer scene, The Gulch will always get credit for being the neighborhood that started the party. While the city’s offerings explode and taprooms pop up across middle Tennessee, this urban neighborhood is still the official home of Nashville’s best breweries. 

  • Yazoo Brewing Company: The undisputed pioneer and craft brewing champion of the city, Yazoo is everyone’s favorite local brew. Sure, their taproom is a haven for tourists, but their pale ale is still every local’s go-to on a beer run to Kroger.
  • Jackalope Brewing Company: This woman-owned brewery has skyrocketed in popularity in the last five years while maintaining its integrity as a local favorite. While the ambiance in their taproom is beloved, the beer speaks for itself. Jackelope could host visitors in an industrial storage container and the beer would still draw a crowd.
  • Tennessee Brew Works: This brewery has won the hearts of locals through their emphasis on Tennessee’s unique culture and the traditions of the area. They had us at a logo shaped like a guitar pick.

The Nations

The Nations

The pride and joy of Nashville’s west side, The Nations is now home to many of Nashville’s most popular breweries. This neighborhood was once a suburban pocket in the midst of vast industrial operations, and the resulting space and infrastructure has made the area perfect for brewing startups.

  • Harding House Brewing Company: This local nano-brewery is beloved for their attention to detail and meticulous craftsmanship.
  • Turtle Anarchy Brewing Company: While their taproom is still under construction, Turtle Anarchy’s headquarters in The Nations is cranking out some of the city’s favorite beer.
  • Fat Bottom Brewing Company: A mainstay of the Nashville beer scene, this brewery has a massive taproom and brewery in an industrial corner of the neighborhood. From intimate bar settings to large beer halls for group events, Fat Bottom is the crown jewel of this neighborhood’s beer culture.

East Nashville

East Nashville

Known for some of the city’s most cutting-edge coffee and dining options, it’s no surprise that East Nashville is well represented among local craft brewers. This neighborhood plays host to some of Nashville’s most upscale and progressive operations, making the east side the perfect home for some of the city’s best beer.

  • Smith & Lentz: A truly local operation, this taproom and brewery is a community gathering space that welcomes families and pets. Make no mistake though, Smith & Lentz is serious about their lagers and the quality of their small-batch brews.
  • East Nashville Beer Works: A relative newcomer to the scene, this brewery offers accessible drafts to the masses, and is becoming well-known among soccer hooligans as the ideal gathering place for viewing parties.
  • Living Waters Brewing: Emblematic of East Nashville culture, this brewery doubles as a coffee bar and offers small batch curations of beer and coffee complete with heady descriptions. Living Waters is perfect for the connoisseur who loves her brew with a side of metaphor.

Germantown

Germantown beer

The historic home of Nashville’s brewing scene, Germantown has been concerned with beer since before the Civil War. Historic markers dot the neighborhood, and more than one is dedicated to the area’s brewing traditions. With a name like Germantown, it’s no surprise that the Kölsch and Hefeweizen have finally made their triumphant return.

  • Oktoberfest: The neighborhood’s historic Oktoberfest says everything one needs to know about how seriously Germantown takes beer. Now gearing up for their 40th anniversary, Oktoberfest is a celebration and showcase for brewers across the city.
  • Bearded Iris: A true beer lover’s brewery, Bearded Iris is not for the faint of heart. Their brews pack a punch and it’s one of those offerings where one beer is enough and two is maybe too much.
  • Little Harpeth Brewing: The undisputed fan favorite, Little Harpeth has their roots in Bellevue’s Little Harpeth River, and every local loves them for this reference. Their lagers are known as the perfect companion for a summer day on the muddy banks of their namesake.

Honorable Mentions

While the following breweries can’t be clustered by neighborhood, they are still worth mentioning because of their ubiquity and clout. Some of the best breweries in Nashville can be found everywhere from Downtown to Berry Hill and scattered across West Nashville.