Farm to Tap Program Links Farmers to Brewers to Make Truly Tennessee Products
In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
A cold, crisp beer might remind you of downtown Nashville, hockey games or days on the lake, but it should also make you think of agriculture. With the help of the Farm to Tap program, a joint project between the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild, Tennessee breweries are connecting with local farms to source the needed agricultural products for their beverages. “Over 70% of craft beer drinkers prefer to drink local beer, and 90% of Tennessee brewers are involved with farmers in some way,” says Sharon Cheek, executive director of the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild. “From purchasing grains to donating spent grain to cattle producers, breweries and farms are connected. The Farm to Tap program helps make those contacts and tells the story of locally grown products.”
Without help, it can be challenging for breweries to locate the farms they want to source ingredients from and for farmers to find the best market. The Farm to Tap program eases that process by helping farmers and brewers make the right match. The initiative’s mission focuses on connection plus promotion for all involved.
“Consumers who drink craft beer in Tennessee are very interested in supporting local,” says Kyle Hensley, business development consultant with TDA. “There’s nothing more local than a Tennessee brewer taking Tennessee inputs and making Tennessee beer for Tennessee consumers.”
Crack a Cold One in Clarksville
In Clarksville, the award-winning Kings Bluff Brewery focuses on community, sustainability and elevated craft recipes for an emerging beer market. They took advantage of Farm to Tap to make their hyper-local brewery even more local.
“We use locally sourced products like strawberries, pumpkins and honey as well as grain and corn grown in Tennessee,” says Jessica Atkinson, head brewer at Kings Bluff Brewery. “We’re a grain-to-glass brewery partnering with local farms and producers. No brewery should stand alone. It’s better to utilize as many local products as possible.”
Farm to Tap empowers breweries to create more local products because they have an easier way to find farmer partners.
“Tennessee is an agricultural state, and we are honored to be part of this initiative and ecology. To be able to benefit from these products is truly awesome,” says Dustyn Brewer, co-founder of Kings Bluff Brewery with his wife, Kristen. “We’re glad to help spread awareness to our customers about how integral our local agricultural scene is to the brewing community and Tennesseans at large. We appreciate all the hard work these farmers put into their products, and we do our best to treat them with the respect they deserve, one pint at a time.”
Brewing on Rocky Top
Elst Brewing Company in Knoxville was created by four neighbors in search of a great-tasting beer. The journey led to brewing full time.
“The process for us is creating a recipe, sourcing the finest ingredients, and combining them with precision and science to create something that is only truly appreciated by enjoying with friends and family,” says Shane Todd, owner and operator of Elst Brewing Company.
Elst uses Farm to Tap to source products from local farmers and promote locally grown and brewed beers. Elst also partners with farmers to reduce waste at the end of the process by giving the spent grain to livestock farmers for feed.
“Farm to Tap is an important program that bridges the gap between farmers and brewers,” Todd says. “The program has helped promote our use of locally farmed grains and will help bring more of the resources we use to brew beer to our backyard.”
To learn more about the Farm to Tap program, visit farmtotap.org.
See more: Take a Trip Down the Tennessee Ale Trail
If You Go…
Kings Bluff Brewery
Open Sunday noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday noon to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday noon to 10 p.m., closed Monday
128 University Ave., Clarksville
(931) 919-9145
Elst Brewing Company
Open Sunday noon to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday 3 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 10 p.m.
2419 N. Central St., Knoxville
(865) 498-3306
elst.beer