Brewery Day Trips: Fun Escapes from Knoxville for Craft Beer Lovers

Sometimes you just need to get the hell out of town for a decent pint. We’ve mapped out the best brewery day trips from Knoxville that are worth the gas money. Pack a cooler, grab a designated driver, and let’s explore the craft beer scene beyond the city limits.

Reading Time: 5 minutes—shorter than the wait for a patio table.

Welcome to your guide for brewery day trips from Knoxville. This is for people who like good beer, solid patios, and being back home before the evening news gets weird. We’re skipping dark, cave-like drinking holes and focusing on daytime escapes with sunlight, open air, and zero interest in acting 25 again.

The Strategy for Day Tripping

A brewery day trip without a plan is how you end up sunburned, underfed, and aggressively Googling “best hangover breakfast near me” at 7 PM. Avoid dark basements. Chase patios. Use a designated driver like the grown adult you allegedly are. Stick to flights and keep the whole damn adventure centered on easy, daylight-friendly stops. This guide covers three beer-loving destinations, all within about two hours of Knoxville.

Destination 1: Maryville and Alcoa, TN

Distance: ~20–25 minutes from Knoxville.
Vibe: Rural, relaxed, farmhouse-style.

Maryville offers a short commute. It is ideal for a half-day outing. You spend less time driving and more time on the patio.

Blackberry Farm Brewery

• Status: Active.
• Atmosphere: Open-air taproom. Farmhouse aesthetic.
• Beer Style: Saisons, lagers, classic farmhouse ales.
• Daylight Factor: High. Large windows and outdoor space.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Yes.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes.
  • Food: Small snacks available.
  • Sun Hit: Afternoon sun is peak.

Round 6 Brewing

• Status: Needs local confirmation before you commit your sacred afternoon to it.
• Atmosphere: Casual and local. Industrial-lite.
• Beer Style: Diverse. IPAs and approachable ales.
• Daylight Factor: Moderate. Indoor/outdoor flow.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Yes.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes.
  • Food: Often has food trucks.
  • Sun Hit: Direct late afternoon light.

Tri-Hop Brewery

• Status: Needs local confirmation before you commit your sacred afternoon to it.
• Atmosphere: Neighborhood focused. Small and intimate.
• Beer Style: Hop-forward. Rotating experimental taps.
• Daylight Factor: High. Large garage doors often open.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Small front patio.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes.
  • Food: Bring your own or local delivery.
  • Sun Hit: Morning to early afternoon.

Destination 2: Asheville, NC

Distance: ~2.5–3 hours from Knoxville.
Vibe: Urban, highly walkable, experimental.

Asheville is the overachiever of beer day trips, and annoyingly, it earns the hype. Park once in the South Slope district and spend the day walking between excellent breweries without wasting half your life moving the car every 20 minutes.

Burial Beer Co. (South Slope)

• Status: Active.
• Atmosphere: Industrial, artistic, often crowded.
• Beer Style: Hazy IPAs, heavy stouts, creative sours.
• Daylight Factor: High. Large outdoor courtyard.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Extensive outdoor seating.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes.
  • Food: On-site kitchen (Visual and Culinary Arts).
  • Sun Hit: Constant sun in the courtyard.

Green Man Brewery

• Status: Needs local confirmation before you build your whole damn route around it.
• Atmosphere: Three-story "GreenMansion." Rooftop views.
• Beer Style: English-style ales. Traditional IPAs.
• Daylight Factor: Very high. Glass walls on upper floors.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Rooftop and ground level.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes (ground floor).
  • Food: Basic pub snacks.
  • Sun Hit: Excellent for sunset views.

Hi-Wire Brewing (South Slope)

• Status: Active.
• Atmosphere: Bright, circus-themed, spacious.
• Beer Style: Accessible lagers and sessionable ales.
• Daylight Factor: High. Massive windows.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Small outdoor area.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes.
  • Food: Walkable to nearby restaurants.
  • Sun Hit: Afternoon brightness.

The Funkatorium (Wicked Weed)

• Status: Active.
• Atmosphere: Dedicated to sour and wild ales.
• Beer Style: Sours, brettanomyces, barrel-aged.
• Daylight Factor: Moderate. Large back patio.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Yes, covered and uncovered.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes.
  • Food: Full menu available.
  • Sun Hit: Mid-day focus.

Destination 3: Chattanooga, TN

Distance: ~2–2.5 hours from Knoxville.
Vibe: Riverfront, scenic, community-centric.

Chattanooga is for the day tripper who wants pretty views with their pint and maybe a little smug satisfaction about “making a whole day of it.” Hit the Southside for walkable brewery clusters, then wander toward the river if you want your drinking to feel borderline wholesome.

Chattanooga Brewing Company

• Status: Active.
• Atmosphere: Sports-friendly. Near the stadium.
• Beer Style: German-inspired lagers and pilsners.
• Daylight Factor: High. Large beer garden.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Large outdoor beer garden.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes.
  • Food: Full kitchen with burgers and bratwurst.
  • Sun Hit: Direct afternoon sun.

OddStory Brewing Co.

• Status: Active.
• Atmosphere: Lush, plant-filled, modern.
• Beer Style: Experimental. Fruit-forward and Belgian styles.
• Daylight Factor: High. Floor-to-ceiling windows.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Large greenhouse-style patio.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes.
  • Food: On-site kitchen.
  • Sun Hit: Bright all day.

Hutton & Smith Brewing Co.

• Status: Active.
• Atmosphere: Climbing-themed. Local favorite.
• Beer Style: Rock-solid West Coast IPAs and ambers.
• Daylight Factor: Moderate. Garage door opening.
• Quick Facts:
  • Patio: Sidewalk seating.
  • Pet-Friendly: Yes.
  • Food: Bring your own.
  • Sun Hit: Morning sun.

The Before 5 PM Day Trip Checklist

If you want the kind of brewery day trip that feels fun instead of reckless, follow this little masterpiece of common sense.

1. Departure Time: 9:00 AM. Get on the road early and avoid turning your “quick day trip” into a traffic hostage situation.
2. First Stop: 11:30 AM. Roll in around lunch so you can put food in your body before the beer starts making bad ideas sound smart.
3. The Flight Rule: Order 4oz pours. You’re tasting, not auditioning for a cautionary tale.
4. Hydration: Match every beer with 8oz of water. Boring? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
5. The Exit: 4:30 PM. Wrap it up before the day slides into sloppy territory.
6. Arrival: 6:30 PM. Get back to Knoxville with enough energy left for dinner and maybe one final humblebrag about your excellent planning.
7. Bedtime: 10:00 PM. Because sleeping like an adult is still cooler than suffering like an idiot.

Essential Logistics

• Travel: Knoxville serves as a central hub. Driving times are estimates and can swing with traffic, weather, mountain-road nonsense, and construction.
• Internal Links: Check our events page for local Knoxville meetups before you travel. Read more about our philosophy on the about-us page. Browse our full blog for more city guides.
• Equipment: Carry a portable charger. Download offline maps for mountain drives to Asheville.
• Safety: Always have a designated driver. Rideshare services are available in all three cities.

Summary

If you need a brewery fix beyond Knoxville, these day trips actually justify the mileage. Maryville keeps it easy, Asheville brings the walkable beer playground energy, and Chattanooga delivers scenery with your buzz. Prioritize patios, keep it daytime, and for the love of your tomorrow self, be home before dark.

For more information on daytime social events, visit DayDrinking HQ.