Smokey Mountain Hop

Me enjoying enjoying some Cherokee Red Ale

This Thanksgiving I was worried I wouldn’t be able to savor my turkey dinner with a nice craft brew, but who would have thought that I would find a decent beer in the middle of whisky country?

Due to unexpected circumstances I was not able to purchase any beer before I left to Gatlinburg, Tenn. for Thanksgiving.  I was pretty bummed out but upon arriving I found out that Gatlinburg actually has a small brewery called Smokey Mountains Brewery.  Having never heard of this place I was a bit skeptical but I decided to go give them a try anyway.

 Upon first impression the brewery looked more like a ski lodge than anything.  The two-story building located in a section of Gatlinburg called Calhoun’s Village offers its customers first class service and a majestic view of the Smokey Mountains.  Complete with TV’s on all floors and a well stocked bar this brewery offers patrons a friendly and lively atmosphere to relax in after a long day in the Smokies.

 I started off with a pint of their Cherokee Red Ale.  The ale has a beautiful reddish brown color and a rather mild odor compared to some other red ales I’ve had in the past.  The taste was also not as bold as some red ales but it has a wonderful crisp flavor that makes it very easy to drink.  This 5.5 percent ABV ale is a great choice for beer drinkers that prefer something light and refreshing, and let me tell you it goes great with chicken wings.

 For my second round I had the Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Ale, which can only be purchased on tap at the Gatlinburg brewery.  It has a dark orange color, and smells like fresh pumpkin pie.  On the first sip I could taste the sweet pumpkin flavor, brown sugar, and just a hint of walnuts.  It was the perfect desert beer.

 Needless to say I really enjoyed the Smokey Mountain Brewery, so I took home a variety 12-pack as a souvenir.  If you ever find yourself in the Gatlinburg area I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful brewery.

Standing outside Smokey Mountain Brewery with my souvenir 12-pack

Cheers!