Brewery Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour of Nashville

Nashville’s best beer stops are scattered beyond Broadway, and this tour gives you a safe, easy way to connect them. You can hop off at six breweries and a meadery, then rejoin the trolley without arranging taxis or assigning a designated driver. Trevor, Mel, and Randy have earned praise for good music, useful suggestions, and keeping the day light.

I like the freedom to skip a stop or settle in for food, especially at TailGate Brewery, where the pizza gets frequent praise. I also like the mix of beer and mead, plus the chance to see parts of East Nashville you might otherwise miss. The catch is that this is a brewery-hopping service, not a behind-the-scenes lesson in how beer is made, and six stops can be a lot of drinking in one afternoon.

Key points for planning your brew hop

• Six brewery and mead stops: Visit Honeytree Meadery, TailGate Brewery East Nashville, Southern Grist, East Nashville Beer Works, Bearded Iris Brewing, and Monday Night Brewing.
• Flexible all-day format: Get off and back on as often as you like during the roughly six-hour run.
• A safer way to drink: The trolley handles the driving between stops, so you do not need to appoint a designated driver.
• A real East Nashville outing: The route takes you away from the Broadway bar scene and into local brewery neighborhoods.
• Strong driver-host factor: Trevor, Mel, and Randy are praised for music, humor, brewery suggestions, and keeping groups organized.
• Plan your pace: Four stops may be plenty for some people, and the final stop may require an Uber if you finish there.

A brewery tour that is really a brewery shuttle

The key thing to understand is the format. This is not a guided production tour where you walk through a brewhouse, see tanks, and learn the technical steps behind each pint. It is a hop-on, hop-off trolley route linking six drinking spots, with time to order your own beer, mead, cocktails, seltzers, or food.

That distinction matters. If you want brewing education, this may feel too loose. If you want to sample several Nashville breweries without driving across town, the arrangement makes good sense. You choose how long to stay, which places to visit, and how much of the route to complete.

The trolley begins at the 5th Avenue side of the Omni Nashville Hotel at noon. From there, the outing lasts about six hours. Exact riding time between stops is not given, so treat the day as a flexible circuit rather than a tightly timed sightseeing tour.

The vintage trolley is climate-controlled, which is welcome in Nashville’s changing weather. It also gives the day a social feel. You may share the ride with other small groups, and the driver helps set the tone with music, conversation, and suggestions.

Why the $36 price can work well

At $36 per person, the value depends on how much of the route you use. You are paying for the trolley connection and the freedom to drink without driving, not for beer samples or a meal. You should budget separately for every drink, flight, and plate of food.

The price looks reasonable if you visit several stops. A rideshare between six breweries could quickly become expensive and inconvenient, especially if your group is splitting up or trying to return downtown. Here, the transportation is built into the experience, and you can decide to stop after two, four, or all six locations.

The value is also social. Drivers such as Trevor and Mel do more than steer the trolley. They offer suggestions about each stop, play music, and help people decide where to spend their time. Randy is also praised for recommendations. That kind of practical guidance is useful when you do not know East Nashville.

Still, do not book this expecting a discount beer crawl. You pay for drinks at each location, and your total can rise quickly if you order full pints everywhere. Flights are a smart choice. One particularly useful tip from the day is to pace yourself, eat well, and drink water.

Stop 1: Omni Nashville Hotel, the easy downtown start

The meeting point is on the 5th Avenue side of the Omni Nashville Hotel. This is a convenient launch point if you are staying downtown or already visiting the area.

The tour begins at noon, so you have time for breakfast or an early lunch first. I would eat something before boarding, since the route includes plenty of drinking and the meal stops are not guaranteed to match your timing.

The Omni is a practical starting place rather than a brewery stop. Make sure you arrive with enough time to find the correct side of the building. Once aboard, listen for the driver’s advice about the route and pickup timing.

Stop 2: Honeytree Meadery adds a different drink

Honeytree Meadery gives the route some variety. Mead is made from honey rather than grain, so this stop breaks up a day that might otherwise be all pale ales, stouts, lagers, and IPAs.

You might enjoy this stop most if you want to try something outside your usual beer order. It also gives you a chance to reset your palate before returning to brewery taps. Not everyone in your group needs to be a mead fan, though. One family group skipped the meadery while others enjoyed it, which tells you that the stop is optional in spirit even though it is part of the route.

This is a good example of the tour’s flexibility. You can get off, look around, order a drink, and rejoin the trolley, or remain on board and save room for the breweries ahead.

Stop 3: TailGate Brewery East Nashville, the food stop

TailGate Brewery appears to be one of the most useful stops if you need a proper meal. The pizza receives repeated praise, and several people single it out as the place to eat.

That makes TailGate a sensible early stop. A meal helps you pace the afternoon, especially if you plan to visit more than three locations. You can also use the stop to sample a flight instead of committing to one large pour.

The brewery is part of the East Nashville section of the route, so it helps connect the outing to a neighborhood beyond central Broadway. You are not simply moving between downtown bars. You are seeing a different side of Nashville’s drinking culture.

Stop 4: Southern Grist, part of the East Nashville cluster

Southern Grist is one of the stops in East Nashville, where the route groups several breweries within the same broad area. That grouping keeps the trolley useful: you can visit multiple places without having to solve each transfer yourself.

Your driver may suggest which stop suits your mood, but your choice remains open. If you are enjoying a flight at an earlier brewery, stay longer. If the room is not your style, move on at the next pickup.

The practical drawback is that the route is not a private tasting. You will need to choose and pay for your own drinks, and the amount of attention you receive at each brewery can vary. The trolley connects the stops, but it does not turn each one into a formal guided lesson.

Stop 5: East Nashville Beer Works, a flexible mid-route choice

East Nashville Beer Works adds another brewery option in the same general part of town. By this point, you may have already tasted enough to know how ambitious you want to be.

I would treat the route as a menu, not a challenge. The full circuit includes six beverage stops, but visiting all six is not required. Several riders found four stops sufficient, while others enjoyed completing the whole run.

This is also where food planning becomes important. The tour includes places with food options, but you should not assume you will want a full meal at every stop. Eat early, carry water, and take advantage of food when it fits your schedule.

Stop 6: Bearded Iris Brewing, another chance to slow down

Bearded Iris Brewing is the fifth beverage stop after the opening point and one of the places where you can decide to settle in rather than chase the next trolley.

The route works best when you accept that each stop has a different rhythm. You might order a quick flight at one brewery, have a meal at another, and spend more time chatting at a third. The trolley lets you build the day around your group instead of forcing the same pace on everyone.

The social side is part of the appeal. The ride brings together people who may not know one another, and the driver helps keep the group connected. If you prefer a quiet, private tasting with a fixed appointment, this will feel more casual than polished.

Stop 7: Monday Night Brewing, the final listed brewery

Monday Night Brewing is the final listed stop. Ending here can work well if you want to complete the route, but you need to think about your return trip.

A useful practical point is that staying at the last pub may mean arranging an Uber back. The trolley route gets you to the final brewery, but the supplied information does not promise a return to the Omni after you finish there. Ask the driver about the day’s final pickup before settling in for the last drink.

If you are tired by this stage, skipping the final stop is perfectly reasonable. The tour is more enjoyable when you pay attention to your own pace instead of trying to collect all six locations.

The drivers shape the whole afternoon

The strongest part of this experience may be the driver-host role. Trevor receives especially warm praise for his brewery suggestions, music, humor, timing, and ability to handle groups with ease. Mel is described as energetic, flexible, and entertaining, while Randy is valued for his recommendations.

That matters because the tour is not built around a formal guide giving a long speech at every stop. The driver is your main source of local context and route advice. You can ask which brewery suits your group, where to eat, and how to make the most of the remaining time.

Pickup information is posted on the back of the driver’s seat, which helps you keep track of the schedule. Still, you should listen carefully and return to the trolley on time. A missed pickup could disrupt your plan and leave you arranging your own ride.

How many stops should you make?

Six stops are possible, but six drinks are not a requirement. The best number depends on your group, your order sizes, and how much food you eat.

For many people, four stops will make a satisfying day. You get a broad taste of the route without turning the afternoon into a drinking contest. Flights are especially useful because they let you sample several beers at one location.

If you want all six stops, start slowly. Eat before the tour, drink water, and avoid ordering a full pour at every location. The trolley makes transportation easy, but it does not remove the effects of alcohol.

Families can participate, and most people can take part, but the core appeal is clearly for adults who enjoy brewery visits. Service animals are allowed, and the starting point is near public transportation.

Who should book this Nashville tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want to sample Nashville breweries outside the Broadway area and do not want to drive. It is also a good fit for friends celebrating a birthday, couples looking for a relaxed afternoon activity, and solo visitors who enjoy meeting people on a shared ride.

It works particularly well for groups with different interests. One person can focus on beer, another can try mead, and the group can stop for pizza or other food along the way. The ability to skip a location keeps the day from becoming a forced march.

I would be more cautious if you want a technical brewing lesson, a private vehicle, or a fixed tasting menu. The breweries are yours to explore, but the experience does not promise instruction on brewing methods or included samples.

The tour is rated 4.9 from 326 reviews, with 97 percent of customers recommending it. Those numbers fit the experience’s main strengths: friendly drivers, a clean and comfortable trolley, flexible stops, and a safe way to drink across town. They do not change the basic limitation that your drinks and food cost extra.

Booking details and weather rules

You receive confirmation at booking, and the ticket is mobile, so you do not need a printed voucher. The tour is offered in English and begins at noon.

Free cancellation applies if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted. The experience requires good weather, so a weather cancellation brings the choice of another date or a full refund.

Should you book the Brewery Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour?

Book it if your ideal Nashville afternoon includes local breweries, flexible timing, food stops, and a driver who keeps the group moving safely. At $36, it is a fair transportation fee for a roughly six-hour route, especially if you would otherwise pay for several rideshares.

Go in with the right expectations. This is not a formal brewery education tour. It is a social trolley outing that lets you sample six locations at your own pace. Start with food, use flights, drink water, and do not feel obliged to complete every stop.

For most beer fans, four stops will likely offer the best balance. If you want the full circuit, confirm the final pickup plan before staying at Monday Night Brewing. With those points in mind, this is a smart way to get beyond Broadway and see a more local side of Nashville without putting anyone in your group behind the wheel.

FAQ

How much does the Brewery Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour of Nashville cost?

The price is $36 per person. Drinks and food at the brewery stops are not included in that price.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours and begins at 12:00 pm.

Where does the trolley start?

The starting point is the Omni Nashville Hotel, on the 5th Avenue side of the building.

How many brewery stops are included?

The route includes six beverage stops: Honeytree Meadery, TailGate Brewery East Nashville, Southern Grist in East Nashville, East Nashville Beer Works, Bearded Iris Brewing, and Monday Night Brewing Preservation Co.

Can I skip a stop?

Yes. You can get off and rejoin the trolley as often as you like during the tour.

Is this a guided tour of the brewing process?

No. It is a hop-on, hop-off trolley connecting Nashville breweries and a meadery. You visit the locations and purchase your own drinks, rather than taking a formal tour of the brewing process.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English, and confirmation is provided at the time of booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.