Best Breweries in Chattanooga: 8 Popular Taprooms in 2025

In This Article

Why Chattanooga Is a Craft Beer Hotspot

Set in the foothills of the Appalachians, Chattanooga is known for its access to nature, making it a favorite among hikers and campers. Ruby Falls and Rock City Gardens on Lookout Mountain bring in plenty of tourism to Tennessee’s fourth-largest city, but Chattanooga’s cultural scene is highly underrated.

The restaurants are impressive, particularly for a city of its size, and the nightlife is solid thanks to the number of craft breweries. Southern cities were slow to buy into the craft beer craze of the 2000s, but like Asheville, Chattanooga was at the forefront and isn’t playing catch-up to anyone.

With Chattanooga’s outdoorsy streak, it’s no surprise that the local breweries have found success catering to the (let’s just say it) granola-forward locals and visitors who want to relax after a long hike.

There are a number of taprooms right in the city, with even more dotting the outer neighborhoods. It’s easy to plan a Chattanooga trip based around the breweries alone—you’ll just want to plan ahead.

Here’s everything you need to know about breweries in Chattanooga.

Top 8 Breweries in Chattanooga (with Must-Try Beers)

Hutton & Smith Brewery

431 E MLK Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37403
huttonandsmithbrewing.com

What makes them great: One of the city’s legacy beer brands, you simply can’t tell the story of Chattanooga craft beer without a stop at Hutton & Smith. They’re a model of consistency, with a focus on their core brands rather than relying on one-off hazy IPAs or imperial stouts. Still, you’ll find exceptional quality along with some variety.

What to expect: Their taproom is situated in the heart of Chattanooga and is quite popular, but it’s still a comfortable place for the whole family (including dogs). They have a lovely patio with ample seating, and their taproom programs plenty of events like live music or their “Can-iversary” releases.

Must-try beers: Promenade IPA (west coast), Tectonic Session IPA, Prusik Pale Ale, BaseCamp Blonde

MonkeyTown Brewing

724 Ashland Ter, Chattanooga, TN 37415
monkeytownbrewing.com

What makes them great: This regional brewery has multiple locations across the Southeast, but its flagship location is in Chattanooga. There’s nothing overly flashy about their beer, but their lineup of core beers is as good as anyone’s in Chattanooga, with a few surprise releases to get excited about.

What to expect: Their airy taproom feels more like a restaurant (a testament to their superb kitchen), but don’t sleep on their beer menu. With a nice variety of mainstays and specialty releases, you can put together a nice flight or spend a whole afternoon exploring the menu.

Must-try beers: Genetic Drift Hazy IPA, California Dreamin’ Hoppy Pilsner, Black Magic Oatmeal Stout

Chattanooga Brewing Co.

730 Chestnut St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
chattabrew.com

What makes them great: This revived pre-Prohibition brewery once served the region’s best German-style lagers, but Chattanooga Brewing’s focus is on modern craft styles like IPAs and hoppy lagers. That’s not to say you can’t find a traditional Pilsner (or their exceptional Kölsch) on the menu.

What to expect: This is a straightforward craft brewery taproom if there ever was one. Exposed brick and ample seating across multiple floors. The menu of upscale bar food can’t be overlooked!

Must-try beers: Chestnut Street Brown Ale, Faultless Lager, Casual Friday Session IPA, Chattahooligan Kölsch

OddStory Brewing Co.

1604 Central Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37408
oddstorybrewing.co

What makes them great: This has been Chattanooga’s most hyped brewery for years, with specialty stouts and sours being poured at their two taprooms.

What to expect: The brand matches the name, with the brewery celebrating all things funky and psychedelic. Across their two spaces you’ll find longer tap lists and gorgeous settings filled with plants instead of the sports-bar-centric décor of other spots.

Must-try beers: Trellis Hazy Pale Ale, Woven Stone Vienna Lager, Golden Blackbird Belgian Blonde

The Taphouse

3800 St Elmo Ave, Ste 114, Chattanooga, TN 37409
taphousechatt.com

What makes them great: Full disclosure—this company does not brew its own beer. And yet, there is no proper Chattanooga craft beer experience without a visit to this veteran-owned bar.

What to expect: This is an OG craft beer bar and restaurant, so you can count on comfortable seating and a massive variety of draft options from local and international breweries. Their spacious (kid-friendly) taproom has a huge patio, and there’s a stunning view of Lookout Mountain.

Must-try beers: Try a flight of expertly curated local beers!

Five Wits Brewing Company

1501 Long St, Chattanooga, TN 37408
fivewitsbrewing.com

What makes them great: Being a college town, you should expect a certain amount of counter-culture in Chattanooga. It seems to be encapsulated by this groovy outfit just south of downtown.

What to expect: While it’s a great spot to grab a beer and some garlic Parmesan fries, the Five Wits space really excels as a live music venue. Whether it’s an up-and-coming local group or a cover band, there’s live music several nights a week to pair with their superb IPAs.

Must-try beers: Sunblaze IPA, Hello Darlin’ Helles Lager, Blackstar Schwarzbier

Mad Knight Brewing Company

4015 Tennessee Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37409
madknightbrewing.com

What makes them great: By far the most unique brewery in Chattanooga, this basement-dwelling brewery makes some of the best suds in all of Tennessee.

What to expect: It’s a subterranean taproom, so space is limited. Still, their bar is comfortable and inviting, with a smattering of regulars and serious beer geeks venturing outside the city center to sip IPAs and snap pics of this basement taproom.

Must-try beers: Everything is small batch and rotates regularly, but their hazy IPA and stout offerings are top-notch.

Wanderlinger Brewing Co.

55 Station St, Chattanooga, TN 37408
wanderlinger.com

What makes them great: While there are awesome IPAs on the menu, Wanderlinger really excels at traditional European styles, along with some delicious sours utilizing locally-grown fruits.

What to expect: Similar to other breweries in Chattanooga, Wanderlinger brings more than just beer to the table. Their centuries-old building features an art gallery and a stage for live music. During the day expect a family-friendly (including dogs) space with beloved local food trucks serving up munchables.

Must-try beers: Multi-Tool Czech Lager, Blackberry Hug Sour, Joose Caboose Hazy IPA

Chattanooga Beer Festivals & Events to Check Out

Chattanooga Beer Fest is held every year at the First Horizon Pavilion in the Southside Historic District. Dates vary, but it generally takes place in late winter and features dozens of local, regional, and national breweries.

It’s one of the most notable showcases for Southern breweries, so you can expect the best of the best from cities like Asheville and Atlanta. The 2025 edition was hosted by New Realm Brewing Company.

While there aren’t a ton of beer festivals, the breweries themselves often double as event spaces. Check out the websites or social media pages of these breweries to see what’s happening while you’re in Chattanooga!

Final Thoughts: How to Plan Your Chattanooga Beer Adventure

Chattanooga is small enough that you can explore most of the city in a few days, but you’ll still want to plan out your trip so you get the most out of your time.

Here are a few tips for planning your taproom crawl:

• There are quite a few taprooms right downtown, making it easy to hit a few in an afternoon. But the neighborhoods are well worth exploring, so don’t skip some of the taprooms outside the city center.
• While it’s not a small town by any means, business hours might differ from places like New York or Chicago. It’s always best to check each taproom’s hours and event calendar to plan ahead.
• There isn’t a robust public transit network serving Chattanooga, so having a car or budgeting for rideshare is important if you’re hitting taprooms outside the downtown area.

Join the Conversation

💬 Love exploring new breweries? Share your favorite Chattanooga taproom or beer in the comments below!

📷 Tag us on Instagram @craftbeermenow and show us your brewery photos.

✉️ Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter below for more craft beer guides, tasting notes, and travel inspiration straight to your inbox.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Patrick Daul Expert Writer

Patrick, based in Chicago, is our expert writer at Craft Beer Me. Cicerone-certified since 2017, he brings a wealth of technical knowledge and refined tasting expertise to every article. With a background in travel, Patrick is passionate about experiencing the best craft beers around the world—sharing his experiences and knowledge through engaging and insightful writing.

See Full Bio