Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour

Memphis has more to offer than barbecue, blues, and Beale Street. This three-brewery tour takes you into the city’s working beer scene, from a reused furniture factory above the Mississippi to the creative Crosstown Concourse district. Guide Brian adds local history, beer trivia, and plenty of humor, so the ride between stops is part of the experience.

I like the small maximum of 14 people and the private, air-conditioned transport, especially since you can taste freely without worrying about driving. I also like that the breweries are quite different from one another, giving you a better sense of Memphis brewing than a single taproom visit would. The main consideration is the amount of beer: three flights in roughly three and a half hours may feel like a lot, especially if you are not used to tasting several beers in one outing.

Key points to know before booking

• Three distinct Memphis breweries: Visit Grind City, Wiseacre, and Crosstown Brewing, each with its own setting and personality.
• Brian leads the tour: Expect beer education, Memphis stories, jokes, and help choosing styles that fit your preferences.
• Twelve advertised tastes: A flight of four beers is included at each brewery, though individual pours and selections can vary.
• The Flagon Wagon handles the driving: Private, air-conditioned transport connects the stops and returns you to The Peabody Memphis.
• Snacks are included: Food may include simple snacks or pizza, useful during an afternoon of tasting.
• Best for curious drinkers: You do not need to be a serious beer fan, but you should be comfortable with several samples and a social group setting.

Why this Memphis brewery tour is more than a crawl

A standard bar crawl is mainly about moving from one drink to the next. This experience has a different shape. Brian explains how beer is made, talks about the breweries and their neighborhoods, and brings in broader stories about beer and Memphis.

That matters if you are new to craft beer. Instead of simply handing you a sample, he can help you understand why one beer tastes sharp, malty, bitter, fruity, or light. Several people who usually do not care much for beer found styles they enjoyed, which suggests the tasting is not aimed only at hop hunters or serious beer fans.

The tour also has a useful social rhythm. You start at The Peabody Memphis, ride together to the breweries, taste in each taproom, and return to the same meeting point. The group limit of 14 keeps it from feeling like a large bus outing, though your enjoyment will still depend partly on how much you like talking with other people.

Brian appears to be the central character of the day. His approach combines beer facts with Memphis sightseeing and personal conversation. He has also brought in brewers to answer questions when a topic called for more specialized detail. If you enjoy a guide who keeps a group talking, rather than someone who gives a short speech and steps aside, this is a good fit.

Grind City Brewing at the Mississippi bluff

The first stop is Grind City Brewing Co., located in a former Tri-State veneer and furniture factory on one of Memphis’s bluffs above the Mississippi. The building gives the visit a strong sense of place before you even taste the beer.

Grind City reused scrap wood and old furniture materials throughout the space. Tables, walls, bar tops, flight boards, and other features preserve pieces of the old factory. I like this kind of setting because it connects the brewery to Memphis work culture instead of placing it in a generic new building.

The brewery’s name also reflects the city’s working identity, with an emphasis on the hard work and daily effort that keep Memphis moving. Grind City says it supports local causes, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Angel Street, Folds of Honor, and the Streetdog Foundation. That community role gives Brian another angle to discuss beyond hops, yeast, and barrels.

You have about 45 minutes here, with admission included. The advertised tasting is a flight of four beers at each brewery, so this first stop lets you begin comparing styles while learning how a larger production space operates.

A practical point: the sample schedule can change. The breweries named for the tour are sample stops, not a guarantee that every departure will follow the exact same order. Still, the listed route gives you a good idea of the variety you can expect.

Wiseacre Brewing and Memphis beer culture

Wiseacre Brewing Co. brings a different tone. Founded by brothers Davin and Kellan Bartosch, the brewery focuses on distinctive beer, education, and good times. Its story is tied to the founders’ interest in gathering ideas and experience from brewing culture around the world, then bringing those influences back to Memphis.

You will have about 50 minutes here. That is enough time for a flight, conversation, and a closer look at how the brewery presents its beers, though it is not a long technical production tour. The emphasis is on tasting and learning within a working brewery setting.

This stop is useful for putting Memphis beer into a wider frame. You can compare Wiseacre’s approach with Grind City’s old-factory setting and community focus. Brian’s job is to connect those differences to the beer in your glass, and his beer trivia helps keep the information light rather than turning the tour into a lecture.

If you already know the basic beer styles, ask questions about ingredients, brewing methods, and how the beers differ. If you are less familiar with beer, tell Brian what you normally like and dislike. The experience includes guided recommendations, and he has adjusted tastings for different preferences.

The main limitation is that the tour does not promise a particular list of beers. The available flight is likely to reflect what each brewery is pouring at the time. That is normal for a brewery visit, but it means you may not get to select every beer yourself.

Crosstown Brewing beside the Crosstown Concourse

The final scheduled stop is Crosstown Brewing, founded in 2018 by homebrewer Will Goodwin and Clark Ortkiese. The brewery sits beside the Crosstown Concourse, a former Sears building from 1927 that was restored after years of vacancy and disrepair.

Crosstown Concourse now functions as a large mixed-use urban center with shops, restaurants, offices, a YMCA, a high school, a post office, and a grocery store. The brewery’s location gives you a quick look at one of Memphis’s notable neighborhood renewal projects, even if the tour is primarily about beer.

Crosstown Brewing also frames beer as a way to build community. That idea links well with the stop’s setting. You are not visiting a taproom in isolation. You are seeing how a brewery fits into a larger local district.

The visit lasts about 50 minutes, and another flight is included. By this point, you can compare three very different brewery identities: Grind City in a reused industrial building, Wiseacre with its founder-driven brewing story, and Crosstown next to a renewed urban hub.

This final stop may be the most useful for visitors who want to see more of Memphis beyond the central tourist areas. You are still tasting beer, but you are also getting a look at how old city spaces are being put back to work.

What the beer tasting is really like

The tour includes alcoholic beverages, with a flight of four beers at each brewery in the planned format. That means up to 12 tastes across the day, though the exact pours and available beers can change.

The descriptions from the experience also note at least three beers at each stop, so you should think of the tasting as a broad sample rather than a fixed promise of 12 specific selections. The important point is variety. You get several chances to find something that suits you, even if your usual order is not beer.

I would tell Brian early in the tour what you normally drink. Some people in the group may want bold, bitter beers, while others may prefer something lighter or more approachable. Brian has helped groups with mixed tastes, and that personal adjustment is one of the tour’s strongest features.

Snacks are included, and past outings have included pizza. That is welcome because the beer is served over several hours, not all at once. Still, snacks should not be treated as a full meal unless your departure details specifically confirm the food plan.

You should also plan your day with the alcohol in mind. This is a tasting tour, but the total amount can add up. Eat before or during the experience, use the provided water, and do not schedule an activity immediately afterward that requires sharp focus.

The Flagon Wagon and the value of private transport

Transportation is one of the clearest practical benefits. The tour uses an air-conditioned private vehicle, referred to as the Flagon Wagon, to connect the three breweries. You do not need to arrange rides between neighborhoods or choose a designated driver from your own group.

That matters in Memphis, where the breweries are separate stops rather than one compact beer district. Safe transport also lets you pay attention to the guide and the scenery instead of checking directions or worrying about parking.

The tour begins and ends at The Peabody Memphis, at 149 Union Avenue. Returning to the starting point simplifies planning, especially if you are staying downtown or using The Peabody as a central meeting place.

The price is $69 per person. I see reasonable value here because that fee includes three brewery visits, beer samples at each stop, snacks, bottled water, private transport, and a local guide for about three and a half hours. Buying the same number of brewery pours separately, then paying for transport, could quickly narrow the price difference.

The value is weaker if you are mainly looking for a large meal, a long behind-the-scenes brewing tour, or complete control over every beer you taste. This is a guided tasting outing with transportation, not a formal brewing course or a pub meal.

Group size, timing, and the overall pace

The tour lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes. Each brewery receives about 45 to 50 minutes, with travel time between them. That creates a steady pace without leaving you in one taproom for most of the day.

A maximum of 14 people is a useful middle ground. The group is small enough for Brian to hear your questions and notice your preferences, but large enough to create the friendly social feeling that many people want from a brewery tour.

The tour can also work well for couples, families with adult children, and groups of friends. It is limited to people aged 21 and older, so it is not an outing for mixed-age families. Service animals are allowed, and the supplied information says most people can participate.

The atmosphere is likely to be conversational rather than quiet. You will be tasting in public breweries, meeting brewery staff, and spending several hours with a guide and other adults. If you prefer a private tasting with no group interaction, this is probably not the right format.

Who should book the Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour?

I would choose this tour if you want local context with your beer. Brian’s role is not limited to pouring samples. He adds Memphis sightseeing, brewing history, stories about the individual breweries, and plenty of humor.

It is also a good choice if your group has mixed beer experience. You can be a serious enthusiast, an occasional drinker, or someone who normally skips beer. The range of styles and Brian’s attention to preferences give you a fair chance of finding something appealing.

I would hesitate if you do not drink alcohol, want to choose every sample, or dislike a fixed schedule. You should also think twice if three flights sound excessive for your pace. The tour is generous with samples, and the drinks are spread out, but it is still a substantial amount of beer.

Book at least a little ahead if your dates are fixed. The experience is booked, on average, 42 days in advance, which suggests that popular dates may fill before a last-minute decision. You receive confirmation at booking, and free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and the operator may offer another date or a full refund if the minimum group size is not met.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to see a less obvious side of Memphis while letting someone else handle the driving. The reused factory at Grind City, the founder story at Wiseacre, and the Crosstown setting give the day enough variety to feel like more than three identical taproom visits.

The strongest reasons to go are Brian’s personable guiding, the small group, the private transport, and the chance to taste broadly without committing to a full pint at every stop. Skip it if you want a quiet, highly technical brewery class or a self-directed tasting menu. For most visitors who enjoy local stories, good conversation, and discovering what Memphis pours beyond the usual sights, $69 is a sensible use of an afternoon.

FAQ

Where does the Memphis brewery tour begin?

It begins at The Peabody Memphis, located at 149 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point at The Peabody Memphis.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes.

Which breweries are included?

The planned stops are Grind City Brewing Co., Wiseacre Brewing Co., and Crosstown Brewing. The schedule and breweries may change.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum group size of 14 people.

Is the tour available to people under 21?

No. Participants must be 21 or older.