TailGate Brewery, Tennessee’s fastest-growing brewery and pizzeria, is having a big 2024. The Nashville-based independent craft brewery opened its ninth taproom, its sixth new taproom in two years, expanded its distribution portfolio, and is reporting double-digit growth this year.
“Our team is growing and so are we,” says Wesley Keegan, founder and owner of TailGate Brewery. “Tennessee’s craft landscape is evolving and as a leader of that, we’re proud to be not only a great place to work but a great place for the community to gather and enjoy our favorite pairing: pizza and beer.”
TailGate Brewery is the go-to destination for pizza lovers across Tennessee. It continues to offer an inventive food menu, including the popular Detroit-style pizza and rotating Pizza of the Month, which perfectly complements its diverse beer offerings. Speaking of those beer offerings ….
Lagers and sweet tea
From German Reinheitsgebot-inspired lagers to heavily fruited sours and IPAs, TailGate Brewery offers something to please everyone. The success of Lager Projekt, the brewery’s lineup of crisp and clean lagers that launched in 2022, has led to a 200% increase in lagering capacity. Additionally, the introduction of Wizards’ Order, a new rotating IPA series available both at TailGate’s nine taprooms and at retail across Tennessee, and the expansion of their core lineup reflect TailGate’s commitment to variety and quality.
The brewery’s non-alcoholic tea brand, Nashville Sweet Tea, is entering its fourth year with the launch of two new flavors in 2024: Lemonade and Sunshine Tea. TailGate Brewery is also responding to increasing market demand by launching distribution of its locally crafted seltzer and expanding its production of limited-release seltzers, ensuring a variety of craft options that everyone can enjoy.
TailGate Brewery partnered with Lipman Brothers, a new distributor, in 2024 to maximize its continued growth. “We’re getting more and more calls for our beer and this partnership allows us to expand our points of distribution, including the number of draft handle placements around town and increase our presence with national retail partners like Kroger, Walmart, Publix, and more,” Keegan adds.
Increased capacity and can sizes
To support its deepening distribution footprint and expanded taprooms, TailGate Brewery has made significant investments in equipment and production capacity, increasing its cellar capacity by over 70%.
TailGate Brewery also launched 19.2oz cans in 2024, a new format that caters to the growing single-serve and large-format beer category. This move opens new retail channels, including venues, gas stations, and convenience stores across Tennessee.
Investments have also been made in packaging tools for 19.2oz cans, lab equipment, and warehousing tools, including forklifts and new instrumentation. The brewery plans to expand its production facility this year, with construction to complete in mid- to late-2024.
Recognize
Founded in 2014, TailGate Brewery has opened six taprooms in the past two years, each focusing on made-from-scratch pizza and craft beer. Following the recent opening of its ninth taproom in Murfreesboro, Tenn., TailGate Brewery has been named a Top Workplace for the second consecutive year.
“We’re honored to again be named a Top Workplace,” said Keegan. “It’s important to us to create a unique culture in the industry, with great benefits and a growing team culture for our more than 200 team members.”
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