Fun Things to Do in Knoxville: Breweries with Beer Gardens

Fun Summer Things to Do in Knoxville: Breweries with Beer Gardens
Feeling thirsty? With 15 Knoxville breweries and brewpubs plus many more beer gardens, beer lovers have plenty of options to explore in the city. Slowing down with a pint on a sunny patio is one of the most popular summer things to do in Knoxville, from posh craft beer lounges to laid-back backyard porches. You'll find several Knoxville breweries within walking distance from our hotel, making it easy to discover the rich craft beer culture in the city.

Bearden Craft Beer Market: One of the Best Beer Gardens in the U.S.
Named as one of America's Best Beer Gardens by Foursquare, this dog-friendly local favorite is part retail store, part beer garden, and 100% pure Knoxville. Food trucks make regular appearances and showcase some of the city's finest street food, including Forks on the Road, Bull's BBQ, Oishi Food Truck, and Bow Ties & Hot Dogs. The market is stocked to the brim with kegs to go and rare beers, including domestic brews and hard-to-find imported beers. You'll also find wine, spirits, artisan cheeses, and other snacks. The beer garden hosts frequent cornhole games hosts the Bearden Beer Market Cornhole League. Join the fun or simply sit back and relax with an ice-cold Knoxville brew.

German-Style Biergarten Revelry at Schulz Bräu Brewing Company
Enjoy authentic German ales and lagers at this popular brewery, which features a large taproom (The Great Hall) and beer garden in Downtown Knoxville. It's castle-like architecture and medieval chandeliers give the brewery a cool old-world vibe. You can choose from 20 different beers on tap and watch the "chefs" at work in the brewery through a large glass wall in the taproom. Outside, there's a giant beer garden with leafy shade trees that hosts frequent events: movie nights, music performances, and trivia games. You'll also find tasty German pretzels (with amazing mustard) and bratwurst to fuel your patio adventures.

House Brews & Elevate Comfort Food at Blackhorse Pub & Brewery
One of the newest arrivals in Downtown Knoxville, this brewpub on Gay Street features interesting beers like the Barnstormer Red, Vanilla Cream Ale, and Local Motion IPA. It's a popular stop on downtown beer crawls and pub hops, and has a lively (and sometimes loud) atmosphere. Try tasty pub fare like big burgers, fancy flatbreads, sandwiches, and everyone's favorite – the beer cheese dip made with the brewery's Barnstormer ale.

Rustic Meets Urban at Balter Beerworks in Downtown Knoxville
Gather in this transformed service station for a unique brewery with front porch dining and a backyard beer garden. The vibe here is rustic-urban-industrial, which somehow just works. There's plenty of space in the airy taproom as well as on the outside patio, plus a menu made with fresh local ingredients. Enjoy great burgers, Mexican food, and Southwest cuisine plus a full brunch menu on the weekends. You'll find communal tables if you want to meet friends along with a standing-room-only bar on busy nights. Sip delicious house beers (brewed here on site) – the perfect choice to wash down your shrimp and grits, potato chip nachos, or beast burger with pimento cheese, fried green tomato, fried egg, and house mustard.

People-Watch at Woodruff Brewing Co.'s Downtown Grill & Brewery
Boasting patio seating on historic Gay Street along with a cool back porch, this lodge-like brewpub features global cuisine and excellent people-watching. The menu is huge and offers a little bit of everything, including pasta, steaks, Mexican food, salads, sandwiches, seafood, and classic pub cuisine. There's also a fantastic menu of bloody mary cocktails, plus special treats on game days and weekday happy hours. On Monday night you'll find poker games going on, and Wednesday is for trivia.

Hang Out at Abridged Beer Company: Dogs & Families Welcome
Located in a former 1950s auto garage, this welcoming joint is just as popular for its food as it is for its beer. Located in the neighborhood of Bearden, the brewpub serves "traditional pub fare with a Southern twist" – like pot roast nachos, fried green tomato BLTs, and buttermilk-maple fried chicken. The beer menu is always changing and offers a wide variety of brews created on-site, including sour beer, pilsner, hefeweizen, lager, IPA, and stout. There is open seating inside and outdoors on the patio at this kid-friendly pub, which even has a shelf of toys for tots to play with.

Music Concerts & Hand-Blown Glassware at Pretentious Beer Company
Every beer served at this Old Town brewery comes in a hand-blown glass made at Pretentious Glass studio, located just next door. It's artsy yet laid-back, with creative brews and raved-about beer. You'll find picnic tables on the covered patio out back, and a handcrafted bar inside. Pretentious Beer Company hosts frequent concerts in the summer months with hometown favorites and up-and-comers from all over.

Explore Knoxville's Craft Beer Culture from the Perfect Downtown Location
Situated in the heart of the city, Crowne Plaza Knoxville is an ideal home base for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the local culture. Stay with us and you can walk to several Knoxville breweries, including Balter Beerworks, Blackhorse Pub & Brewery, and Woodruff Brewing Company. We're also within walking distance to top things to do in Knoxville like the Bijou Theatre, the Knoxville Convention Center, and the University of Tennessee. Enjoy mouthwatering local beers and cuisine at our restaurant, Mahogany's, which features a Friday Prime Rib & Seafood Buffet. With plush rooms and a two-story fitness center, we're a fantastic choice for your stay in Downtown Knoxville.