Knoxville, Tenn., creates an ale trail, fit for craft beer pioneering

Craft beer is something locals can rally behind as a defining feature of their city or state. It’s something that lets your beer-drinking fans say, “This is ours.” It can also attract craft fans from all over the country to experience your local flavors and beer culture. Here’s some good news for you Tennessee brewers and beer fans: Visit Knoxville is ready to show off its new Knoxville Ale Trail and tourism campaign.

The Knoxville Area Brewers Association (KABA) has partnered with Visit Knoxville to create the beer trail, which probably has some lagers on it too. The trail will be supported with maps and a website, knoxvillealetrail.com.

“Knoxville’s craft brewing scene is right on tap. This ale trail puts Knoxville on par with any craft beer destination,” said Kim Bumpas, president of Visit Knoxville. “We have a passionate set of people with KABA and it is great to collaborate with them on this new venture.”

“The Knoxville Ale Trail is an excellent way for the Knoxville Area Brewers Association to highlight everything the area has to offer when it comes to craft breweries and its related businesses and adventures,” stated Zack Roskop, KABA secretary. “Working with Visit Knoxville to promote the Ale Trail to those visiting our scruffy little city was the perfect partnership to make this vision a reality, and we couldn’t be more excited about what the future holds.”

The first run of the ale trail map can be found in the Visit Knoxville Visitors Centers, as well as many of the breweries around town. This map will guide visitors and locals to some of the craft breweries that actually have tasting rooms, as well as show the breweries that are on tap around town. Who will you see? Well, Alliance Brewery, Balter Beerworks, Blackhorse Pub and Brewery, Smoky Mountain Brewery, Crafty Bastard, Downtown Grill and Brewery, Last Days of Autumn and SawWorks Brewing have brick-and-mortar facilities where you can taste the beer. Fanatic Brewing, Cold Fusion Brewing, Bluetick Brewing and Blackberry Farm can be found around Knoxville.