Jackalope Brewing Company may be named after a mythical creature, but the success story of a beer-loving law student who had a dream is a reality. The beloved female-founded beer destination started brewing back in the late 2000s, when Bailey Spaulding, a law student at Vanderbilt, decided to follow her passion of home-brewing with a friend. And thus, Jackalope was born, and the rest is the hop-filled history of one of Nashville's favorite beer brands.
Upon signing the first lease for Jackalope's premier brick-and-mortar location, Bailey was joined by Steve Wright, who began as Jackalope’s "biggest fan." He parlayed that into being the first-ever Jackalope intern, and Steve is now a partner of Jackalope.
Everyone agreed that Jackalope's focus was to build a craft brewery that put out delicious, creative beers while being an active force in the community. Its taproom doors opened on May 21, 2011, and the Jackalope team appears to have worked tirelessly to embody those goals ever since.
In 2013, Jackalope became the first Nashville craft brewery to can its beer using a mobile canning company that would come just for the day to package the beer (Thunder Ann was the very first one). At the time, there was no real "beer scene" in Music City. Demand grew faster than a fresh yeast starter, and they eventually outgrew their original brick-and-mortar brewery. The team opened a second location (The Ranch) in 2018, with larger production plus taproom and private event space, just more than a mile from the original brewery.
Today, Jackalope Brewing is a beloved fixture of Nashville's thriving beer scene, known for its innovative and tasty brews, commitment to sustainability and community, stellar branding and design, and of course, its quirky, hoppy spirit and dedication to the community. Jackalope beer is now distributed throughout Tennessee and staffers recently launched distribution in North Carolina and Arkansas, with direct-to-consumer shipping through its website to beer aficionados in 44 states (plus D.C.!).
Check out Bailey's three top picks for summer beers here, perfect for sipping at the taproom's expansive patio, the pool or lake, or at home on front porches:
1. Lovebird
Style: Strawberry Raspberry Wheat
ABV: 4.4%
Availability: Seasonal (March through October)
Tasting Notes: The abundance of strawberries and raspberries, married with wheat, in each batch of Lovebird results in a light yet flavorful brew. The fruit adds a tartness and berry aroma (as well as a slightly pink color) while the wheat gives it a velvety base.
2. Casper The Friendly Gose
Style: Sour - Traditional Gose
ABV: 5.0%
Availability: Limited Release
Tasting Notes: Gose is a historical German beer style experiencing a resurgence in modern craft brewing. Refreshing lemony tartness leads the way, with notes of the coriander and sea salt for which the style is known. Like Casper the Ghost, this Gose is surprisingly friendly.
3. Drinking Buddy
Style: Golden Ale
ABV: 5.2%
Availability: Year-Round
Tasting Notes: Drinking Buddy pays homage to the strong bonds formed from sharing a pint with a friend. Bright golden in color, and lightly malty with hints of citrus, Drinking Buddy is a refreshing brew that finishes dry and crisp and has you longing for your next.
JackalopeBrew.com
