Williamson County has long been known for the high-quality distilled spirits and wines produced here. And while it may not have been a completely legal production in decades past, it’s become an honest business in recent years. The Makers & Masters Trail can take you on a tour of it all, along with the breweries. Sometimes you just need a beer, and these selections from local spots won’t steer you wrong.
Perhaps the stalwart of the local beer scene is Mill Creek Brewing Co. in Nolensville. Since 2014, the innovators running these fermentation vessels have been rolling out an impressively diverse array of suds. In addition to the seven core beers (from lagers to a wheat and three different IPAs, including a low-cal), the seasonal rotation is deep and delicious. Maybe it’s a grapefruit summer Radler, a brown ale brewed with donuts, or a pumpkin cream ale that shows up right on time. Their taproom serves up food and fun, as well, both inside and on the expansive patio with cornhole and live music. Mill Creek and Nolensville are certainly worth the scenic drive.
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Back in Franklin, options abound, including Curio Brewing Company, where a pair of cold brew coffee brewers realized they could use the same equipment to make beer. They’re still cranking out canned and kegged coffees, but they are doing some cool stuff on the fermented grain side as well: the summer selection is a hoppy grapefruit and thyme IPA, a honey malt and coriander Gose, a summer witbier, and another limey session IPA if that tells you anything about their creativity. The menu is snacky and limited, but you’re liable to find a food truck parked outside when the weather is nice.
If you’re looking for a broad selection of Tennessee-brewed treats, Hop House Tennessee Taps in downtown Franklin should be on your list of destinations. This is a bona fide, no-frills pub—long, narrow, and bar-centric, featuring 38 taps (30 of which are from Tennessee) and a wide selection of cans. Their food menu highlights charcuterie, interesting small plates and bar snacks, handhelds, and salads, and they even have Prosecco on tap.
On the other end of Main Street stands Americana Taphouse, with 25 taps of their own and a curated selection of flights to complement a kitchen that highlights regional dishes from the corners of the country. True to form for the same folks who brought us Puckett’s Restaurant, the Americana Taphouse experience centers on live music most days.
Within the Cool Springs area, two national brands have become staples for locals in that area looking for a solid meal and a brew. Miller’s Ale House offers three dozen taps from around the globe, and Granite City Food & Brewery is producing consistently tasty bocks, pales, and lagers every day. They rotate in seasonal options and even have a craft seltzer with a handful of flavors mixed on order.
And brand new to the craft beer community in Williamson County, Huckleberry Brewing Co. has overhauled the familiar location of the former Cool Springs Brewery. Coming out of the gate with an IPA, an amber, a hazy lager, and a wheat, they’ve also recently introduced a porter to rave reviews. The family-friendly restaurant features wings, burgers, and Stromboli, and there’s also an arcade for the kids.
Wherever you are in Williamson County, if you’re looking for cold and bubbly this summer, we’ve got you covered!
