7 Best Breweries In Memphis, Tennessee To Sip Top Craft Beer At
Craft beer options are becoming more and more popular, and Memphis is no exception. Any beer lover will be excited to visit and taste beer from a host of top Memphis breweries.
So, let’s get hoppin’ and find out the best breweries in Memphis and which one you’ll visit first!
Each Memphis brewery I’ve listed in this post are all small batch and local to Grind City aka Memphis.
With a broad spectrum of beer options, cool atmosphere, and friendly staff you can’t go wrong doing a tasting at any one of the these breweries.
Some of the breweries offer tours and have food which I’ll mention under each one below.
Although I enjoyed sipping my way through these great beers, if you can only pick a few to visit, my top three picks are Memphis Made Brewing, Crosstown, and Wiseacre. Keep reading to find out why…
Tip: Each of the breweries mentioned in this post are dog friendly.
Check out these other cool cities that have a unique beer scene!
Fun Things To Do in Hot Springs, Arkansas – Did you know Hot Springs has the only brewery in a National Park?
Cool Oklahoma City Attractions To See For First Time Visitors – OKC has several great breweries, but I especially love this funky one with my name!
Best Breweries In Memphis, Tennessee
1. Memphis Made Brewing
This small local brewery in Memphis midtown is serving up not only an array of great tasting beer but a hard seltzer too.
With its industrial warehouse feel, grab a seat at the bar or at one of the picnic-style tables and select from one of the year-round beers or seasonal brews offered.
The three beers you can get all year at Memphis Made Beer are Cat Nap (India Pale Ale), Fireside (Amber Ale), and GonerBrau (Pilsner with a kick).
Owners Drew Barton and Andy Ashby opened their doors in 2013, committed to making top-notch beer and collaborating with local businesses in the process.
And while you are enjoying your beer, there is a cool art mural in red that says “I love Memphis” directly through the back door.
When dining in Memphis, keep your eye out for Memphis Made Brewing being served!
Food Available? No, but there is usually a food truck onsite. If not, you can bring in pizza from next door or have food delivered.
Brewery Tours Offered? No, but if that changes I’ll update with info!
Hours: Open Wednesday from 4:00pm – 7:00pm, Thursday & Friday from 4:00 pm to 10:00pm, Saturday from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Neighborhood: One location in Memphis midtown, in the Cooper-Young neighborhood.
It’s half way between downtown and the Memphis Botanic Garden or less than a mile from the Memphis Zoo and Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.
2. Ghost River Brewing Co.
Independently owned, Ghost River Brewing happens to be the first craft brewery in Memphis!
Wondering if this Memphis brewery is haunted? Nope. It’s name hails from the nearby Ghost River whose water is essential to the community.
There are two Ghost River Brewing locations, one downtown on the famous Beale Street and another directly south (1.4-miles) on Main Street.
The South Main Street location is the original brewery and taproom which is more spread out and has an outdoor area with fun lawn games and a dog-friendly section.
They even have rotating events such as trivia night, crafts, bingo, and book club to attend. At South Street you’ll find 12 beers on tap made with the fresh, mineral free water from the Ghost River.
It’s no surprise that at the Beale Street location (opened in 2021) there is always live music to accompany a cold beer on tap.
Beale Street is the number one place in Memphis for awesome tunes so this Ghost River Brewing spot has later hours.
You’ll find a quaint beer garden with the traditional Ghost River beers, but some unique brews only found on Beale Street.
Depending on the time the Grizzlies are playing at the stadium, it is a great brewery to pop into for a beer pre- or post-game.
Food Available? The South Main Street taproom has rotating food trucks and at Beale Street you can order beer-friendly grub from New Wing Order (one of the best food trucks in Memphis).
Brewery Tours Offered? Not at this time but they are planning to offer tours once they move to a new space.
Ghost River Brewery Hours
Downtown Beale Street Hours: Open Wednesday & Thursday from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Friday & Saturday from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am, and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
South Main Street Hours: Open Wednesday & Thursday from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Friday from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Saturday from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
3. Crosstown Brewing Co.
Crosstown Brewing Co. (CBC) is in a unique section of Memphis midtown part of the mixed-use village known as Crosstown Concourse.
You’ll find tons of shops, restaurants, art galleries, and more on the bottom floors with residents living in the upper floors.
The brewery is adjacent to the main Crosstown building with both indoor seating and an outdoor patio, a relaxing setting to grab a beer solo, with neighbors, or friends.
As the founders Will Goodwin and Clark Ortkiese like to say, the brewery is truly “Crosstown Born & Raised”.
In fact, the concept and first brews took place in Clark’s yard just steps from Crosstown Concourse!
You can get a beer on tap or from one of their vibrant artsy cans with staples such as Traffic and Siren.
And it doesn’t hurt that each beer has a fun name ranging from Pizza Party Pale Ale to Malt Liquor Man, Animal Frequency, and 74 & Sunny.
Crosstown Brewing is the perfect hang out spot whether you live at Crosstown or just visiting especially on a night there is trivia or live music.
Overall, you get a strong sense of community and a great place to gather. In this case to share great beer and good company…
Food Available? Not in the brewery itself but they do have food trucks there Wednesday – Sunday. Or you can have food in Crosstown Concourse delivered.
Brewery Tours Offered? Yes, tours of the brewery are available upon request. Reach out to them to schedule.
Hours: Open Monday & Tuesday from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Wednesday – Saturday from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Neighborhood: Two miles east of downtown Memphis in Memphis Midtown at Crosstown Concourse (1350 Concourse Ave)
Learn More: 7 Reasons To Visit Crosstown Concourse Memphis!
4. Wiseacre Brewing Co.
There are two Wiseacre Brewing Co. locations in Memphis with the downtown location being the brewery headquarters.
If you are sightseeing in the downtown area visiting the National Civil Rights Museum, then you’ll likely go to the downtown space in South Main Arts District.
Decked out in pale turquoise and yellow colors, this fun and artsy Memphis brewery serves up top-quality and flavorful beer.
The idea behind Wiseacre all began a few decades ago when brothers Davin and Kellan Bartosch had a pretty strong desire to learn all they could about beer even if that meant taking their parents car out as teenagers to visit the Sam Adams Brewery!
From there it was beer history each of them taking in-depth paths around the United States and Germany to master the making of beer.
The name came from a family term meaning being a “smart aleck” and often used to refer to them.
You’ll find plenty of year-round beers and seasonal beers rotating but one you must try is the award-winning Tiny Bomb.
Tiny Bomb is a pilsner much like those found in Germany using German pilsner malt and the soft local waters of Memphis.
Food Available? You can bring in food to the Broad Ave location and on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday you’ll likely see a food truck parked there. At the downtown location, no outside food as there is food menu via Little Bettie.
Brewery Tours Offered? Yes! You can take a tour of Wiseacre brewery by booking your spot on their website or going on this guided tour of Memphis breweries.
Wiseacre Brewery Hours
Broad Avenue Hours: Open Monday – Thursday from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Friday & Saturday from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. (2783 Broad Ave, Memphis, TN 38112)
Downtown Hours: Open Monday – Wednesday from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Thursday from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Friday & Saturday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. (398 S B.B. King Blvd, Memphis, TN 38126)
Neighborhoods:
The Broad Ave location is in Midtown about 5 miles east of downtown.
The downtown location is in the South Main Arts District a 5-minute walk from the National Civil Rights Museum.
5. High Cotton Brewing Co.
High Cotton Brewing Co. is located east of downtown Memphis in what’s known as the Edge District or the old cotton district where its name pays homage to.
The owners at High Cotton Brewing Co. wanted to show love for their Southern roots with reference to the cotton that was bought and sold in this neighborhood.
High Cotton meant “times were good” and drinking great beer at High Cotton Brewery fits the name well.
Up to a dozen craft beers are on tap with top favorites such as the Mexican Lager, Scottish Ale, Oatmeal Brown Ale, and the German Pilsner.
From the moment you step into the historic building with its rustic ambiance, you quickly feel like you might be in another era.
Food Available? No, but you can order food to be delivered from nearby restaurants and rotating food trucks stop by most days between Friday – Sunday.
Brewery Tours Offered? Yes, after a hiatus they are offering tours again but check their website to confirm availability.
Hours: Open Tuesday – Thursday from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Friday from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Saturday from noon to 10:00 pm, and Sunday from noon to 6:00 pm. Closed on Monday.
Neighborhood: In the Edge District about 10 minutes east of downtown and just a 5-minute walk from Sun Studios!
Other Memphis Breweries To Visit
The following are breweries I wasn’t able to visit or they don’t have a physical location yet. But I did have the chance to sip their beers in restaurants and bars in Memphis.
6. Grind City Brewing
If you didn’t already know, one of the nicknames for Memphis is Grind City referring to the motto “Grit and Grind” of the Grizzlies basketball team.
Determination and spirit also happen to describe the city of Memphis well.
A father and son partnership took over the old Tri-State Plywood & Veneer property and turned it into the large brewery and tasting room you see today.
Offering an open layout with ample space indoors, outdoors, and lots of green space it really is a great addition to the neighborhood.
With 16 beers on tap, you won’t have a problem finding an easy to drink Memphis beer with favorites such as Poppy’s Pils, Belga, Lip Zinger, and The Godhopper.
If you love listening to live music, don’t miss out on attending the Grind City Music Festival on April 5-6, 2024!
Food Available? Yes, they have various food trucks rotating
Brewery Tours Offered? The only way to tour the brewery is on one of the tours mentioned below under Brewery Tours in Memphis.
Hours: Open Wednesday & Thursday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Friday & Saturday from noon to 10:00 pm, and Sunday from noon to 8:00 pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Neighborhood: A few miles north of downtown Memphis in the Uptown neighborhood bordering the Wolf River.
7. Beale Street Brewing Co.
This Memphis brewery shows its love for the famous Beale Street in Memphis known for hearing live blues performances and fun nightlife.
Besides its beer, Beale Street Brewing stands out as the first Black-owned brewery in Memphis. Owner Kelvin Kolheim aims to make great Memphis beer for every demographic within the community.
Blues music, sourcing top ingredients, and the soul of Memphis go into each batch brewed. You’ll notice that each can of beer has music inspired artwork representing the abundance of music found on Beale.
Although there isn’t a physical taproom location yet, you’ll spot Beale Street Brewing beers all over town!
Food Available? Not at this time
Brewery Tours Offered? Not at this time as there is not a physical tasting room.
Hours: TBD once a taproom opens.
Brewery Tours In Memphis
If you don’t want to worry about transportation and want to go on a guided tour of the best breweries in Memphis, hop on one of these great tours!
Local Breweries Tour – Ready to taste awesome craft beer from 3 breweries in Memphis?
Memphis City Brews Tour – Get VIP access to 3 local breweries on this list including behind the scenes tour!
Memphis Beer Festivals
Grind City Music Festival – Held at Grind City Brewing in April.
Memphis Chicken & Beer Festival – Who doesn’t love eating fantastic fried chicken with beer in August?
Memphis Brewfest – Each September Brewfest is the largest beer festival in the Mid-South.
Cooper-Young Beerfest – In October sip all local breweries in conjunction as a fundraiser for the community.
Where To Find The Best Memphis BBQ
If you like good beer, then you’ll likely be highly interested in finding the tastiest BBQ in Memphis.
Look no further as I did the hard work of eating my way through all the lip-smacking delicious BBQ in Memphis for you!
Read More: 5 Best Memphis BBQ Restaurants That Are A Must To Try!
Where To Stay In Memphis, Tennessee
The best place to stay in Memphis is in downtown in and around Beale Street and Main Street.
Each of these hotels is in walking distance or a short trolley ride from most of the main Memphis attractions.
Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis
Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel – if you are in town for a convention, Renasant Convention Center is across the street
How To Get Around Memphis
If you are staying in downtown Memphis, you can get around by foot, the trolley, or even an Uber/Lyft.
Some of the breweries listed in this post are too far to walk, so you would need to take an Uber/Lyft.
Or you can rent a car for the day and see all the places outside of downtown in that one day.
Best Memphis Tours To Take
I think I went on more tours in Memphis than I have in any other city. There are seriously so many great tours from history, museums, food, and beer! Here are some of the top tours in Memphis beyond beer…
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour – For attractions that are too far to walk and you don’t want to get a rental car, this hop-on hop-off bus takes you around the city to 9 major attraction stops!
Memphis City Tour – Go on a tour with a local guide taking you to the top Memphis attractions and the option to add on a riverboat cruise and Sun Studios.
Food Tour Of Downtown Memphis – There is no better way to get to know a city than by going on a food tour!
Historical Tour of Beale Street – Beale Street is one of the most famous streets in Memphis and in America. Learn all about the history of this fascinating area!
But Before You Go…
Explore all the top things to do in Memphis in addition to all the fantastic beer including museums, Graceland, tasty food, and more!
Got Travel Insurance?
Don’t leave home without travel insurance as you never know what might happen on a trip! It is always when you least expect it that something can go wrong like getting sick, in an accident or cancellation of some sort.
Get a no-obligation quote from two trusted travel insurance companies for peace of mind on your next trip! I have used both companies on numerous occasions and trust them for myself and my family.
Looking For More Related Travel Inspiration?
19 Cool Things To Do On A Weekend In Memphis, Tennessee
Crosstown Concourse Memphis: 7 Top Reasons To Visit The Cool Urban Village
9 Best Museums In Memphis For Music, History, & Civil Rights
5 Best Memphis BBQ Restaurants That Are A Must-Try When Visiting
25 Best Things To Do In Birmingham, Alabama You Don’t Want To Miss
7 Amazing Waterfalls In Alabama That Will Take Your Breath Away
21 Fun Things To Do In Mobile, Alabama On A Weekend Getaway
17 Fun Things To Do In Orange Beach, Alabama On Your First Visit
17 Fun Things To Do In Hot Springs, Arkansas For First Timers
15 Top Reasons To Visit Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, AR
Ultimate New Orleans Bucket List: 35 Fun Things To Do In NOLA
Vanessa Shields
Vanessa Shields is the founder of Traveling Ness helping people with trip ideas, itineraries, travel planning, and boosting confidence for female travelers to take a solo trip. She has been a travel writer and content creator since 2019.