After months of speculation and anticipation, the first public-facing portion of the Hop Springs Beer Park plans to open their Steel Barrel taproom to the public today (Thursday, Dec. 20). Located east of Murfreesboro at 6790 John Bragg Highway, about halfway between the 'Boro and Woodbury, Steel Barrel is only one part of a massive 83-acre research and education farm and production brewery that will house the offices of Life Is Brewing LLC. I know it’s confusing because there are a lot of corporate names involved here, but stay with me!
Life Is Brewing is the beverage brand and parent company over several different entities related to Middle Tennessee beers and brands. The company is owned and operated by Mark Jones (CEO), Derrick Morse (COO/Brewmaster) and co-founders Maneet Chauhan, Vivek Deora and Chad Frost, whom you might know through their involvement with Mantra Artisan Ales, Morse’s first big splash in the local brewing scene. After the success of Mantra’s line of innovative beers, many of which are featured at Chauhan’s Morph Hospitality restaurants, Life Is Brewing spun off into two new brewing projects, Steel Barrel Brewing, which focuses on what they call “crushable” beers that are approachable to the non-craft aficionado, and Humulus Project, their line of New England-style IPAs.
Hop Springs is the name of the massive complex that will eventually house the primary operations of Life Is Brewing, including a 60-barrel brewhouse that will be among the largest in the state, plus a dog park, hiking trails with a pond overlook, and a 5,000-seat amphitheater. It will also be home to the aforementioned Steel Barrel taproom, which will pour Steel Barrel, Mantra and Humulus from their taps, including 18 rotating beers plus crowler/growler fills. Opening concurrently with the new taproom will be an 18-hole disc golf course designed by a world champion discer, so feel free to come chuck one around if you visit the taproom.
While most of the rest of the Hop Springs Beer Park won’t officially open to the public until 2019, Life Is Brewing has already started up a partnership with the Middle Tennessee State University’s fermentation science degree program, and students will be able to take advantage of the Hop Springs facility as part of their education, including using fermentation and sensory labs and learning about hops cultivation in experimental gardens.
This will be a tremendous asset for MTSU and for all of Middle Tennessee. Family-friendly and welcoming of leashed dogs, Hop Springs should be a very popular hangout, especially once the weather is nice enough to enjoy all the amenities on the sprawling complex. But feel free to get a sneak peek once the taproom opens. Operating hours for the Steel Barrel taproom (beginning Thursday, Dec. 20) are 1:30-10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. (They'll be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.)
The team is also planning a big “Brew Year’s Bash” if you’re looking for a place to ring in 2019. More info and tickets are available at the Hop Springs website.
