TailGate Brewery, Tennessee's fastest-growing brewery and pizzeria, reports double-digit growth this year. In 2024, the Nashville-based independent craft brewery opened its ninth taproom, its sixth new taproom in two years, expanded its distribution portfolio, and earned a Top Workplace award.
"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.”
Continued Product Innovation and New Packaging
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.
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.
Investment in Equipment and Increased Capacity
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%. 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.
New Taprooms and Recognitions
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.”
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. The brewery’s newly refreshed pizza menu now includes out-of-the-box options like a Birria pizza made with mozzarella and beef marinated in birria sauce, topped with fresh cilantro and a slice of lime.
Visit tailgatebeer.com or follow @tailgatebrewery on social media to stay updated as to what’s on tap, upcoming events, and more.
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About TailGate Brewery
TailGate Brewery is an independently owned and operated craft brewery and pizzeria based in Nashville, Tennessee. Since 2014, Tennesseans and visitors alike have enjoyed TailGate’s inventive craft beers and scratch-made pizza at their nine taprooms across Tennessee, and airport outpost. TailGate is known for its commitment to its team members: providing great wages, 100% paid health benefits, and great work environment for 200+ people in Tennessee. Four award-winning core beers are available year-round: TailGate Orange, Wizards’ Order IPA, TENN Golden Lager,, and TailGate Cider. TailGate brews over 250 unique recipes each year, and releases several small-batch beers weekly. These limited runs are available at the TailGate taprooms only. TailGate beer is available in small and large retailers, restaurants, and craft beer locations in Tennessee. In the U.S., TailGate Brewery distributes exclusively in Tennessee. For more information visit tailgatebeer.com or follow @tailgatebrewery.
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