Even in the face of aggressive expansion by local craft brewers, more and more regional breweries are eyeing Nashville as an opportunity to grow their distribution by introducing their wares into our market. Bryson City, N.C.-based brewery Nantahala Brewing Co. is the latest to make the trip across the border to Middle Tennessee with their launch of four year-round brands plus some specialty beers, all distributed locally by their partners Lipman Brothers Distributing.
A relatively young brewery, Nantahala started up in 2010, marketing their beers to the visitors who go to the western North Carolina region to take advantage of hiking, kayaking and other outdoors activities opportunities. Specializing in ales, Nantahala features four flagship brews:
Noon Day IPA, a piney and citrusy IPA, awarded silver in the 2016 Carolina Championship of Beer; Little Tennessee Logger, a hop-forward, crisp lager, awarded the bronze in the 2016 Carolina Championship of Beer; Bryson City Brown Ale, a light-bodied brown ale with notes of chocolate, awarded silver in 2016 Carolina Championship of Beer and the brewery’s newest year-round selection; and App Trail Xtra Pale Ale, a crisp and hoppy pale ale, also awarded a silver in the 2016 Carolina Championship of Beer.
They will also be showcasing two specialty recipes at their launch events this week: Swallowtail Ale, an American wheat ale made using lemongrass and Citra hops, and Deep Creek Wit, a lower-ABV Belgian brewed with grapefruit peel and coriander.
Nantahala Brewing Co. has announced three big launch events this week to say “howdy” to Nashville, so mark your calendar, starting today:
Wednesday, Aug. 17
4:30 p.m. — The Filling Station, East Nashville (904B Main Street): Tap Takeover
Thursday Aug. 18
5:30 p.m. — Jack Brown’s Burger and Beer Joint, Germantown (1123 Third Ave. N.): Tap Takeover
Friday, Aug. 19
5 p.m. — Craft Brewed (2502 Franklin Pike): Featured Brewery
