Brew You!

One of the best-kept secrets in our city is not the Yazoo beer itself; many a loyal Nashvillian enjoys a pint of Dos Perros, Pale Ale, or Hefeweizen at his favorite venue. But the secret is the tour of the brewery. After outgrowing its original location at Marathon Village, the well-loved beer company has moved to The Gulch and wants to show off its new home to thirsty locals and tourists alike.

In this warehouse on Division Street, Linus Hall brews up 6-8 different natural, preservative-free beers. And every Saturday from 2:30-6:30, Linus and his crew show off these beers and the brewing process in a fun, energetic tour. The brewery tour guide Kelly is as full of energy as she is knowledge and makes the 50-min. tour both entertaining and enlightening. Tourists walk amongst the actual tanks, tubes, and testing sites where all varieties of Yazoo are made. Oh, and they get to taste-test the beer too!

For only $6, visitors to the Yazoo Brewery get a tour, a souvenir glass, and 3 samples of beer. So as not to ruin the experience for you, I won't give all the details, but I will say this beer-loving girl loved it! This tour is one of the best values I've come across lately.

Hefeweizen in a Yazoo souvenir glass from the brewery tour!

Now, the weekend I chose to tour the brewery, it was slammed. This tour is widely popular and limited to a small group to keep it intimate and not overwhelming. My date and I made 3 different trips before finally getting our tour tickets for the 5:30 show. Of course, the Monday after we toured, the shop added an option to reserve your tour tickets online. Tickets can only be reserved for the following Saturday, but this option is much better than waiting in the long, long line hoping you make it into the winning group. (On our third trip, when we were finally walking in with our tour tickets in hand, I couldn't help feeling a little bit like Charlie Bucket on my way to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.)

While you wait for your tour (or if your 3 samples serve to whet your appetite for more), spend some time in the Yazoo Taproom, where you can sample the 6 different beers on tap for just  $8 or have a pint of your favorite drink. The taproom is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4-8 p.m. for an after-work drink and Saturdays from 2-8 p.m. As the weather starts to warm up, the taproom's patio will surely be a popular watering hold. To add to the local color, order up a plate of local cheeses to go with your brew. Got a growler? Come by anytime the taproom is open to get a refill. The taproom is open for growler fills on Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. so you don't have to wait til the weekend to open your own Yazoo at home.

Next time you need to entertain out-of-town guests or just want to something different to do on the weekend, head over to The Gulch and reserve your spot on the Yazoo Brewery tour. I challenge you to find a better way to spend $6 in Music City.

The End Notes:

• Yazoo Brewery Tours are a great value but online reservations are highly recommended to ensure your spot on the tour.
• Tour guide Kelly is spunky and will make you think twice next time you order a draught at your favorite happy hour.
• Fun for out-of-towners looking for a little taste of Nashville. (As a side note, also makes a great date spot!)
• Yazoo beer is now sold in grocery stores throughout Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi so your neighbors can enjoy Yazoo at home too!

Some More Sambuca for your Buck

This week, I braved the snow to meet a friend for Happy Hour at Sambuca in The Gulch. It's been much too cold to think about going outside, but I had started to get a little stir crazy. What better way to cure the cold mid-week blues than cheap, delicious food and drinks?

I am a big fan of bargains. I'm an even bigger fan of establishments that offer Happy Hour specials on Fridays. Sambuca has both, plus a swanky, comfortable lounge area in which to imbibe. During "Rush Hour" as they call it, drinks and small plates and pizzas are 1/2 price from 4:30-6:30. Yes, 1/2 price! Plus their small plate menu boasts 16 different options and four varieties of pizzas. Priced anywhere from $4.50-12.50, these dishes are a steal on special. Where else can you get Shrimp & Crab Rangoon, Seared Tuna, Goat Cheese-Stuffed Artichokes, or Buca Beignets (Italian meat and cheese melted inside a sweet, flaky crust--yum yum!) for roughly $5?? I challenge you to find somewhere else that does it better.

A word of advice: arrive early. Don't dawdle after work, or you might have trouble finding a seat. No one wants to miss happy hour specials because they couldn't get a table in time, right? I will mention that in light of Arctic-tundra that has been Nashville this week, the lounge was relatively empty last night. But this meant we got our food and drinks quickly.

Last night I opted for a glass of Malbec, but once the warm weather hits I want to try some of Sambuca's creative cocktails, like the Cucumber Pineapple Crush, Call A Cab (made with Firefly Sweet Tea vodka, tequila, gin, rum, and Coke), Hibiscus Sangria, or the Double Standard (made with chocolate vodka, vanilla, and cherries). The thought of those drinks should warm anyone right up! Is it summertime yet????

The End Notes:

• Happy Hour specials from 4:30-6:30 every weekday make it easy and affordable to enjoy Sambuca's atmosphere and fare without the hefty price tag. Be thrifty in style!
• Arrive early to secure a good seat. If you ever need an excuse to leave at 5 on the nose, Sambuca's Rush Hour is a great reason to rush out of the office.
• Valet parking right outside makes it easy (and affordable) to visit The Gulch.
• I hear Sambuca's lunch specials are great too...