Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville: Music City is a burgeoning beer destination

National craft beer conference will bring 13,000 beer professionals to Music City

Lizzy Alfs
The Tennessean
  • Nashville has 19 craft breweries and Tennessee has 66
  • Beer conference brings high-profile exposure to Nashville beer industry
A sampler from TailGate Beer.

Nashville will take center stage next week in the national craft beer movement as some 13,000 beer professionals descend upon Music City.

In its 35th year, the Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America (CBC) is the ultimate beer symposium for a $68 billion industry that employs more than 450,000 people in the United States.  

And the fact that it’s being held in Nashville for the first time ever means a lot to a city whose craft beer industry trails behind developed markets like Asheville, Portland and Denver.

Spirit of the South:  A tour through Tennessee's craft breweries and distilleries

On the move:Yazoo Brewing to relocate to Madison in major expansion

“Six or seven years ago, Nashville probably wouldn’t have even been considered for this conference based on how few breweries we had. Now, we are going to be in the spotlight for the national conference and have so many interesting breweries finding their voices,” said Bailey Spaulding of Jackalope Brewing.

Bailey Spaulding, CEO of Jackalope Brewery in Nashville.

Nashville may not be considered a craft beer destination yet, but this is just another sign we’re getting close.

Ann Obenchain, marketing director for the Brewers Association, called Nashville a “great match” for CBC attendees. The last three conferences were held in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Portland.

“The city is steeped in the same spirit of entrepreneurialism, artistry and creativity as our independent craft brewers. It is an up-and-coming city with a growing craft brewing community and offers wonderful Southern hospitality,” she said.

Brew news:Cheeseheads rejoice! Lombardi Beer Company expanding into TN

Growing industry:TailGate on mission to rank among Tennessee’s largest breweries

Indeed, the local craft beer industry has grown tremendously in recent years.

Nashville now boasts 19 craft breweries and the city has shed its Bud Light reputation of the 1990s when there were only a couple of brew pubs.

By comparison, the most active beer cities in America are San Diego (82 breweries), Portland (72 breweries), Denver (68 breweries) and Seattle (63 breweries).

In Tennessee, there are 66 craft breweries producing more than 255,000 barrels of beer per year, up from just 24 breweries in 2011, according to the Brewers Association. The state ranks 24th in the number of craft breweries and 22nd in annual production.

Like many states in the Southeast, Tennessee has been burdened by strict alcohol regulations and high beer taxes, but some new laws have boosted the sector.  

“The Southeast has always been kind of lagging behind a little bit in craft beer, and the past few years it has been catching up quickly,” Spaulding said. “We had a lot of very prohibitive laws for beer that I think really slowed us down.”

Last year a law raised the alcohol by volume limit from about 6.2 percent to about 10.1 percent, allowing brewers to make popular higher-alcohol beer without a specialty license.

This year, brewers are poised to save thousands of dollars under President Trump’s tax reform bill, which cuts the federal excise tax on spirits, wine and beer through 2019. Yazoo, Nashville’s largest brewery by production, is poised to save about $80,000 in taxes this year.

Bottles of beer on the production line at Yazoo Brewing Company.

Despite those gains, industry insiders say there is still plenty of room for growth in Nashville’s craft beer market — and the Craft Brewers Conference should help with exposure and education.

“It’s going to make the Nashville market better immediately. That’s what’s really special about this happening in town,” said TailGate Beer owner Wesley Keegan, adding the conference is a significant educational tool for local breweries that now won’t have to pay for travel or accommodations to attend.

Many of the breweries around town are planning events and beer collaborations to coincide with the conference and draw attendees to their taprooms during the week.

It's a prime opportunity to cement Nashville’s reputation as a city with some stellar breweries.

“Our beer scene has taken off in such an amazing way. I do think we’re starting to reach beer destination status — just the beginnings of it,” Spaulding said.

By the numbers: Craft beer industry

$67.8 billion: Craft brewers' contribution to the U.S. economy in 2016

456,373: People employed in the craft beer industry

12.7 percent: Craft beer's share in the overall beer market

6,000+: Number of craft breweries in the U.S.

66: Number of craft breweries in Tennessee

2018 Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America

When: April 30 to May 3

Where: Music City Center

What: More than 13,000 brewing industry professionals will have the chance to meet with 700 exhibitors and attend 70 seminars during the week.

More info: craftbrewersconference.com

Reach Lizzy Alfs at lalfs@tennessean.com or 615-726-5948 and on Twitter @lizzyalfs.