Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour

Memphis has plenty of famous sights, but its craft beer tells a more local story. This 3.5-hour tour visits three very different breweries, with guide Brian leading the way in the comfortable Flagon Wagon. You’ll taste flights, hear the backstory behind each brewery, and return to The Peabody without needing a car.

I like two things right away: the small group, capped at 14 people, and the mix of beer education with Memphis history. Brian is known for good conversation, humor, and adjusting suggestions to what you actually enjoy, even if you do not think of yourself as a beer person.

The main thing to consider is the fixed tasting format. The tour includes a flight of four beers at each brewery, but you may not choose every beer yourself. The route and brewery order can also change, so book this for the overall experience rather than one exact beer lineup.

Key points at a glance

• Three Memphis breweries in one outing: Visit Grind City Brewing, Wiseacre Brewing, and Crosstown Brewing, with about 45 to 50 minutes at each stop.
• Brian leads the tour: Expect beer facts, brewing background, Memphis stories, jokes, and help choosing styles that suit your taste.
• The Flagon Wagon handles the driving: Air-conditioned private transportation lets you sample beer without worrying about parking or a designated driver.
• A good fit for mixed groups: People who usually avoid beer can find approachable options, while serious fans get plenty of brewery talk.
• Food and water are included: Snacks, bottled water, and small food touches such as pizza have been part of the experience.
• Small-group setting: The maximum is 14 people, which gives the tour a more personal feel than a large bus outing.

Why this is more than a Memphis beer crawl

The simple version of this tour is three breweries and a lot of samples. The better way to think about it is as a moving introduction to Memphis brewing, with a guide who connects the beer to the city around it.

Brian does not just drop you at a taproom and wait in the parking lot. He explains brewing history, talks about the breweries you are visiting, and adds Memphis sightseeing along the way. One especially useful feature is his willingness to listen to your preferences. If you like lighter beer, avoid bitterness, or want to try something unusual, he can steer the tasting in a better direction.

That matters because a flight can quickly become a blur of small glasses. The guide gives each stop a purpose. You can compare how a large brewery works with a smaller operation, notice how the spaces differ, and learn why a beer tastes the way it does.

The tour is also friendly to nonexperts. Several people who described themselves as only occasional beer drinkers found styles they enjoyed. You do not need to know the difference between a lager and an IPA before climbing aboard. Curiosity is enough.

Starting at The Peabody Memphis

The meeting point is The Peabody Memphis at 149 Union Avenue. That central start makes the tour convenient if you are staying downtown or already visiting the hotel and nearby sights.

The experience lasts about three hours and 30 minutes. That is long enough for three stops without turning the day into an exhausting marathon. Each brewery visit is scheduled for roughly 45 to 50 minutes, though the route can change.

You will ride between breweries in an air-conditioned vehicle called the Flagon Wagon. The private transportation is one of the tour’s most practical features. Memphis is spread out, and brewery visits are much easier when you are not checking directions, hunting for parking, or deciding who must skip the tastings.

The group limit is 14 people. That is large enough for a social outing but small enough for Brian to speak with people individually. If you book as a couple or a small family group, you may share the vehicle with other participants. The atmosphere tends toward conversation rather than a formal lecture.

Grind City Brewing on the Mississippi bluff

The first sample stop is Grind City Brewing Co., located in a former Tri-State Veneer and Furniture factory on one of Memphis’s bluffs near the Mississippi River.

The setting gives this brewery its strongest character. Grind City reused scrap wood and old furniture materials from the factory in tables, walls, bar tops, flight boards, and other parts of the taproom. You are not simply entering a polished new beer hall. The building carries traces of its industrial past, and the reused materials connect the brewery to the working side of Memphis.

That local connection is central to Grind City’s identity. The brewery presents itself as part of the city’s hard-working, blue-collar spirit, and its community partnerships reinforce that message. Its charitable work has included St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Angel Street, Folds of Honor, and the Streetdog Foundation.

You will spend about 45 minutes here, with admission and alcoholic beverages included. This is a useful opening stop because the space offers both beer and a sense of place. Look around as you taste. The building materials are not decoration added after the fact. They are part of the story.

The drawback is that this is a short visit. You will get an introduction and samples, not an exhaustive tour of every corner of the brewery. Since schedules can change, the order of stops may also be different.

Wiseacre Brewing and the playful side of Memphis beer

Wiseacre Brewing Co. brings a different mood. Founded by brothers Davin and Kellan Bartosch, the brewery is built around bold flavor, education, and good times. Its stated aim is to make distinctive beer for passionate and progressive drinkers, and the personality is more playful than formal.

You will have roughly 50 minutes here. That gives Brian time to explain the brewery’s story and help you make sense of the tasting flight. Wiseacre is a good stop for people who want beer with a clear point of view rather than a safe, generic lineup.

The tour description calls for a flight of four beers at each brewery. In practice, the exact pours and available choices can depend on the day and the brewery. One person specifically wished for more control over beer selection, so keep that in mind if you have very particular tastes.

Still, that limitation can work in your favor. A guided tasting pushes you toward styles you might skip on your own. Brian has adjusted recommendations for different preferences, and that makes the flight more useful than simply ordering four random beers.

Wiseacre also helps show why three stops are worthwhile. You are not visiting three copies of the same taproom. Each brewery has its own background, tone, and approach to beer.

Crosstown Brewing beside the Crosstown Concourse

The final sample stop is Crosstown Brewing, founded in 2018 by homebrewer Will Goodwin and Clark Ortkiese. Its location sits next to the Crosstown Concourse, the former Sears Crosstown building constructed in 1927.

The old Sears building spent years empty and falling into disrepair. In 2017, it was brought back into service as a vertical urban village with shops, offices, restaurants, a grocery store, a YMCA, a high school, and a post office. Crosstown Brewing sits right beside this unusual Memphis redevelopment.

That setting gives the stop a strong neighborhood connection. The brewery’s founders describe beer and good cheer as tools for strengthening the community, and the surrounding complex makes that idea easy to understand. You are seeing a brewery tied to a larger effort to put an old Memphis building back into daily use.

The visit lasts about 50 minutes. As at the other stops, you can expect beer samples, background about the brewery, and time to take in the space. This is also where the tour’s range becomes clear. Grind City uses the character of an old factory, Wiseacre brings a playful brewing identity, and Crosstown connects beer to a major urban renewal project.

The schedule may place Crosstown first or last. Either way, it gives you more than another tasting room. It shows how Memphis breweries fit into working buildings and changing neighborhoods.

What Brian adds to the ride

Brian is the personality at the center of the outing. His role goes beyond pouring samples. He talks about beer from its early history through modern brewing, explains how the local breweries developed, and adds facts about Memphis along the route.

His style is conversational. You can ask questions, compare notes with the rest of the group, or simply listen while he keeps the ride moving. He has also brought people into the conversation by introducing them to brewers when a question called for a more direct answer.

That access is not guaranteed at every stop, but it shows the value of having a guide with connections in the local beer scene. You are not relying only on a printed description or a self-guided tasting sheet.

Brian’s sense of humor is another strong point. This is not a quiet, technical class. Expect beer trivia, stories, and the occasional dad joke. If you prefer a serious lecture with little small talk, the tone may feel loose. For most people, the relaxed approach makes the information easier to remember.

The tour also includes Memphis sightseeing commentary. It will not replace a dedicated city tour, but it adds context to the drive and helps you see the breweries as part of Memphis rather than isolated businesses.

Tasting, snacks, and the practical value of $69

The price is $69 per person. That includes the guide, transportation, bottled water, snacks, and alcoholic beverages at three breweries. With a listed flight of four beers at each stop, the package offers a fair amount of tasting for the price.

The value improves if you would otherwise need rides between breweries. Three separate trips, parking, and a designated driver can add up quickly. Here, the transportation is built into the outing, and everyone in the vehicle can participate.

Food is not presented as a full meal, so do not book this as a substitute for lunch or dinner. Snacks are included, and pizza has been served on some tours. That is useful because several tastings over three and a half hours are easier with something to eat, but you should still plan a proper meal before or after if you need one.

The four-beer flights also deserve a little caution. Beer servings can differ by brewery and availability. The experience is generous, but it is not a private tasting where you select every pour in advance.

I consider the price best for people who value the guide and transportation as much as the beer. If you only want to buy local pints at one taproom, a self-guided visit will cost less. If you want to compare three breweries without driving, the price makes more sense.

Who will enjoy this tour most

This tour is a particularly good choice for:

• Couples looking for an easy Memphis evening
• Friends who want a social activity beyond Beale Street
• Families with adult children, provided everyone is at least 21
• Beer fans who want local brewery background
• People who are unsure about craft beer and want help finding approachable styles
• Visitors without a car
• Anyone who wants a designated driver built into the day

It also works well for people who have already seen the main Memphis sights. The breweries add a local layer that you will not get from the standard downtown attractions.

You should think twice if you dislike group activities, do not drink alcohol, or want complete control over every beer selection. The tour is offered in English, and you must be 21 or older. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

Timing, booking, and cancellation details

The tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking time of about 42 days in advance. That does not guarantee that every date sells out, but it is a useful sign to reserve early if your Memphis schedule is fixed.

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the experience uses a mobile ticket. The tour begins and ends at The Peabody Memphis.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. The provider also requires a minimum number of participants, so if that minimum is not met, you will be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

The brewery route is a sample itinerary, not a promise of an exact order. Brewery operations, availability, and scheduling can change, so keep your plans around the tour a little flexible.

Should you book the Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour?

Book it if you want a friendly introduction to Memphis craft beer without arranging rides between three breweries. The best parts are Brian’s humor and local background, the small group, the Flagon Wagon, and the contrast between Grind City, Wiseacre, and Crosstown.

I would especially recommend it to people who are not sure they love beer. Brian’s approach makes the tasting less intimidating, and you may find a style you would not have ordered on your own.

Skip it if you want a quiet taproom visit, a full meal, or total control over the flight. For everyone else, $69 buys a well-planned half-day outing with beer, snacks, transportation, and a useful look at modern Memphis.

FAQ

Where does the Memphis brewery tour start?

The tour starts at The Peabody Memphis, located at 149 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at The Peabody Memphis, the same location where it begins.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes.

Which breweries does the tour visit?

The sample route includes Grind City Brewing Co., Wiseacre Brewing Co., and Crosstown Brewing.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $69 per person.

How many beers are included?

The tour includes a flight of four beers at each of the three breweries. The exact selection and schedule may change.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included, along with bottled water.

Is food included?

Snacks are included. Pizza has also been provided on some tours, but the experience is not described as a full meal.

Is the tour limited to adults?

Yes. All participants must be at least 21 years old.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.