Michael Waltrip Brewing coming to Bristol, VA (Memphis, Kingsport: living in, restaurant)

[Serious Conversation]

This is going to be a good reuse of the Studio Brew building (although I’d rather have SB back) for downtown Bristol. This will now be the fourth brewery in downtown Bristol (State Street, Bristol Station, Elderbrew), and will hopefully have the financial muscle to get through to normal times.

https://wcyb.com/news/local/michael-...istol-virginia

[AppalachianAngler]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

This is going to be a good reuse of the Studio Brew building (although I’d rather have SB back) for downtown Bristol. This will now be the fourth brewery in downtown Bristol (State Street, Bristol Station, Elderbrew), and will hopefully have the financial muscle to get through to normal times.

https://wcyb.com/news/local/michael-...istol-virginia

Good news for downtown. It's amazing to me that such a small market has 4 microbreweries. I think that is the same amount we have in Memphis.

[jjbradleynyc]

This is a pretty cool thing to see.

I do love how Bristol is embracing the brewery scene--it can really transform a city's image for the better, in a short period of time.

Look at how it has helped Asheville over 20 years, in part.

If Kingsport leaders were living in the 2020s LOL, they would push for this. I do think there is a Bays Mountain Brewery in downtown Kpt, but I never went when I was there, although it looked cool.

Also, JC could add a couple more to its growing scene. I think they could support it.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

This is a pretty cool thing to see.

I do love how Bristol is embracing the brewery scene--it can really transform a city's image for the better, in a short period of time.

Look at how it has helped Asheville over 20 years, in part.

If Kingsport leaders were living in the 2020s LOL, they would push for this. I do think there is a Bays Mountain Brewery in downtown Kpt, but I never went when I was there, although it looked cool.

Also, JC could add a couple more to its growing scene. I think they could support it.

JRH Brewing actually went under due to the pandemic. IMO, they were the weakest of the JC locally owned breweries, but it’s still sad.

Little Animals recently opened in JC, and while small, I think they put out beers as good as the top Asheville names like Burial.

Bays Mountain Brewing Company is probably tied with #1 in the area with Little Animals. They have a different focus, and I always make BMBC a stop when in Kingsport.

[VinceTheExplorer]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

JRH Brewing actually went under due to the pandemic. IMO, they were the weakest of the JC locally owned breweries, but it’s still sad.

Little Animals recently opened in JC, and while small, I think they put out beers as good as the top Asheville names like Burial.

Bays Mountain Brewing Company is probably tied with #1 in the area with Little Animals. They have a different focus, and I always make BMBC a stop when in Kingsport.

None of which make the top 50 craft beers across the US in many instances. Asheville breweries (like many across the US) are nothing more than marketing campaigns for the towns they reside to draw people in to spend $$$.

Have had dozens of Asheville craft beers with 95% tasting just like the last one we had. Nothing special about any of them except for ... well, I can’t even remember.

We enjoy a good craft beer as much as anyone, but TBH put zero weight on the quality of our evening out if one is found or not. The whole brewery scene has been played out way too much IMO.

Much rather go to a new restaurant and have a normal beer than to go to another one of the hundreds of look a like breweries for subpar beer and grub from a dingy food truck out back.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

JRH Brewing actually went under due to the pandemic. IMO, they were the weakest of the JC locally owned breweries, but it’s still sad.

Little Animals recently opened in JC, and while small, I think they put out beers as good as the top Asheville names like Burial.

Bays Mountain Brewing Company is probably tied with #1 in the area with Little Animals. They have a different focus, and I always make BMBC a stop when in Kingsport.

Interesting--didn't realize that about JRH. I do love the Yeehaw brewing company. The location they are in is just perfect.

It'd be awesome to see a brewing company locate in the old Tupelo Honey restaurant site in JC.

As for Kingsport's Bays Mountain, I'll have to check that out when I'm back in town this summer.