A stroll (and a sip) through Knoxville’s beer gardens

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Mary Ellen Brewington

When you think about your neighborhood watering hole – you know, that place where “everybody knows your name” – what do you see? Friends gathered around the bar; folks at tables enjoying a bite to eat; the pool table in the back, perhaps… You’re picturing the inside, aren’t you?

Well, it’s time to rethink your neighborhood pub. And there’s no better time than a sunny East Tennessee summer to take the party outside – to the beer garden!

Born in Southern Germany, beer gardens are simply outdoor areas designed to enjoy food and drinks – most importantly, beer.  These open-air drinking establishments usually connect to an indoor bar or restaurant but have evolved over the years. Some stick true to their roots, featuring traditional wooden benches for seating, tree canopies for shade and a no-frills approach to serving food and brews. Others have expanded into modern beer gardens in various styles and offering entertainment, games and more.

Knoxville beer aficionados are fortunate to enjoy several unique beer gardens in town, where you can get a Black and Tan – and a suntan – all at once!

Bearden Beer Market

 

Established in 2010, Bearden Beer Market offers a wide selection of great-tasting beer from across the country and around the world. The Beer Garden at Bearden Beer Market features a large patio area perfect for sitting back with a cold pint of craft beer, relaxing with friends, playing a round of cornhole or watching the game on the outdoor projector. Enjoy a bite to eat from nearby restaurants as well as on-site food vendors. The laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere serves as a community hub for those in the Bearden area and beyond – and that even includes the canines at this dog-friendly beer garden!

The Bearden Beer Market offers hundreds of packaged beers to-go, kegs for your kegerator or next event, and a rotating draft wall to enjoy a pint in the Beer Garden or to take home with you in a growler. Stop by the Beer Garden to see what’s on tap or to grab a six-pack ranging from Abita Purple Haze, Depot Street Loose Caboose Lager and Crispin Original hard cider to a classic Miller High Life.

Bearden Beer Market is located at 4524 Old Kingston Pike across from Western Plaza.

The Crown & Goose

 

The Crown & Goose is the city’s first authentic London Gastropub and features a beautiful beer garden that allows patrons to escape to “jolly old England” without ever leaving Downtown Knoxville.

The outdoor courtyard features a 60-foot mural depicting a 19th century London streetscape, several whiskey barrels planted by local farmers, large shade umbrellas, sparkling lights hung from authentic wood beams, beautiful landscaping and several seating options. Most importantly, it’s a great spot to rendezvous with friends for a pint or two!

Enjoy a sweet Highland Gaelic Ale with some Fish & Chips or try the Dublin Steak Sandwich with a cold Guinness Original Extra Stout. With brews ranging from the uniquely bitter French Broad 13 Rebels ESB to a creamy Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout, this authentic English beer garden serves up a variety of brews to please the beer lover in all of us.

The Crown & Goose is located at 123 S. Central St. in the Old City in Downtown Knoxville.

Vic’s Beer Store

Vic’s Beer Store and Cigar Shoppe caters to beer enthusiasts in North Knoxville and throughout the city. Upon opening its patio last fall, Vic’s Beer Store has become a popular beer garden for self-proclaimed beer snobs, beer enthusiasts and anyone looking for a good time and a cold drink. The relaxed atmosphere on the 2,500-square-foot patio attracts young adults and others to relax after a long workday or savor the last weekend hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon. This beer garden also allows dogs on the patio, so patrons include two- and four-legged friends.

Vic’s Beer Store specializes in American craft beers and micro-brews and feature 21 beers on tap that rotate regularly. This makes Vic’s beer garden a great spot to relax this summer while discovering a new favorite brew – or two. Beers on tap at Vic’s have included Abita seasonal brews, Woodchuck Amber Cider, Lagunitas IPA and Depot Street Porter – but there’s always something new to try.

Vic’s Beer Store is located at 102 Stekoia Lane across from the back of the Clinton Highway Home Depot.

From an old English pub to a couple community hangouts, these beer gardens are the perfect outdoor spots to enjoy good brews and good times with friends and family. Please drink responsibly, and we’ll see you at Knoxville’s beer gardens this summer. Cheers!

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