Summer fun in Tennessee will be even more satisfying than ever before thanks to Knoxville Beer Week 2014.
Knoxville Beer Week, held June 14-21, is eight full days of celebrating craft beer. From beer cocktail competitions to home-brewing demonstrations, it’s a week of exciting events spread throughout our city’s best restaurants, bars and breweries, so you can enjoy favorite brews and discover new ones.
The festivities kick off this Saturday at 11 a.m. with a special beer tasting of local Tennessee breweries on the Bill Lyons Pavilion stage at the Market Square Farmers’ Market. For just $5, you get to try four pours, each four ounces, all while supporting local breweries and a nonprofit, with proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee.
Cherokee Distributing Company is one of the sponsors of Knoxville Beer Week, and a full list of fun-filled events is listed here. With fun, beer-filled events every day, be sure to check out all the week has to offer. Here are a few highlights.
One of our suppliers, Highland Brewing Company, is a Beer Week participant known for its unique craft brews. This brewery believes in creating a sustainable culture around its product, from harvesting hops to pouring pints. Highland Brewing believes all of its beers have a distinct “personality.” Each of its five year-round brews takes a unique spin on a traditional style. The names alone convey this belief: Gaelic Ale, Oatmeal Porter, St. Terese’s Pale Ale, Kashmir Ale and Black Mocha Stout.
Highland Brewing has several events planned for Knoxville Beer Week. On Tuesday, June 17, at 5 p.m., there will be a Highland Tap Takeover at the Casual Pint-Bearden. For Wednesday, June 18, there will be a Highland Cask & Tap Takeover at the Bearden Beer Market. And for Thursday, June 19, Highland has scheduled two events: from 3-5 p.m. there will be a Highland Brewery Display & Sampling at the Three Rivers Market, and at 6 p.m. there will be a Highland Beer Dinner at Cru Bistro Downtown.
Head over to Suttree’s High Gravity Tavern on June 19 at 6 p.m. for Tap Attacky from the Cakalackies. The tavern will feature draughts that hail from the Carolinas. Look for brews from The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery – a hip, 10-year-old microbrewery located in Farmville, North Carolina, that specializes in full-flavored, dark beers.
On June 20 from 5-9 p.m., The Market in Maryville will host Buffalo Shrimp & Tacos, along with selected craft brews and live music as entertainment. One of our suppliers that will be featured is the Lagunitas Brewing Company. Based in Petaluma, California, this is one of the most successful craft breweries in the country, ranking fifth on the Brewers Association Top 50 U.S. Craft Brewing Companies of 2013 in terms of sales volume.
Knoxville Beer Week culminates June 21 with Knoxville Brewfest – and we’ll be blogging about that, too. Don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance for a full afternoon sampling fresh beers of all colors, styles and flavors – including brews from more than a dozen Cherokee Distributing Company supplier partners.
So, look forward to a full week of celebrating the eclectic assortment of craft beers that Knoxville has to offer. And, of course, always do so responsibly.