Brewery Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour of Nashville

Nashville’s best beer day may begin away from Broadway. This hop-on, hop-off trolley links six breweries and taprooms, letting you set the pace instead of squeezing through one fixed tasting menu. You can ride with Trevor, Randy, or Mel, guides known for good music, local tips, and keeping a group together.

I like two things right away: you do not need a designated driver, and you can skip stops that do not fit your mood. The vintage trolley is climate-controlled, too, which matters during a long afternoon. The catch is that this is a brewery-hopping day, not a lesson in how beer is brewed, and six stops can be more than most people need.

Key points to know before you book

• Six brewery stops in about six hours: You choose how many to visit and how long to stay.
• A practical meeting point: Meet at noon on the 5th Avenue side of the Omni Nashville Hotel.
• East Nashville beyond Broadway: The route takes you to local beer spots away from the main tourist strip.
• Food is part of the appeal: TailGate is known for pizza, and StokeHaus barbecue has also been a favorite stop.
• Guides shape the day: Trevor, Randy, and Mel are praised for humor, music, suggestions, and safe driving.
• Plan your drinking pace: Water, food, and restraint matter, especially if you attempt all six locations.

Six stops, one flexible brewery day

The route works best if you think of it as a moving neighborhood bar crawl rather than a formal brewery class. The trolley carries you from place to place, but each stop is its own experience. You buy your own drinks and food, then return to the trolley when you are ready to continue.

The day begins at 12:00 p.m. beside the Omni Nashville Hotel on the 5th Avenue side of the building. That central start makes it easy to reach from downtown, while the rest of the route shifts toward East Nashville and other stops away from Broadway.

The full day lasts about six hours. That gives you enough time to visit all six brewery locations, though you do not have to do so. Some people find four stops plenty, and that is a sensible choice if you want to sample flights, eat properly, and still remember the music on the ride home.

Honeytree Meadery: a change from the beer routine

Honeytree Meadery gives the route an early change of pace. Mead is made from honey rather than the grain base used for beer, so this stop can broaden the tasting experience without asking you to drink the same style six times.

The practical point is simple: do not assume every stop will feel like a standard brewery taproom. Honeytree adds variety, but it may not appeal if your only goal is hop-heavy beer. One person in a family group skipped the meadery while others enjoyed it, which tells you this is an optional stop rather than a must for every palate.

TailGate Brewery East Nashville: make time for pizza

TailGate is one of the smartest places to plan a meal. Pizza is repeatedly singled out as a reason to stop, and it gives you a chance to put food in your stomach before the afternoon gains speed.

That matters more than it may sound. A six-hour brewery route can turn into a tiring exercise if you treat every location as a quick drink and forget to eat. I would use TailGate as an early food stop, especially if your group wants a substantial meal rather than snacks.

The brewery also makes sense for a group with mixed tastes. You can focus on beer, while someone else can give more attention to food. Since the trolley keeps the driving burden off your group, you can enjoy the stop without rushing back behind the wheel.

Southern Grist, East Nashville: another beer-focused stop

Southern Grist gives the route another proper brewery visit in East Nashville. The appeal here is the chance to compare a second beer program with TailGate rather than spending the entire afternoon in one taproom.

I would not promise a detailed brewing demonstration. The experience is built around visiting several locations, ordering what you want, and moving on when you choose. If you want information about brewing methods, ask the staff at each stop, but book this tour for access and flexibility, not for a behind-the-scenes production lesson.

This is also where your guide’s suggestions can help. Trevor, in particular, is praised for explaining the stops and recommending what to try. The advice can be useful when a tap list feels too large or your group cannot agree on a style.

East Nashville Beer Works: a local stop with room to settle in

East Nashville Beer Works keeps the route focused on the neighborhood rather than downtown’s main entertainment strip. The route’s value lies partly in seeing parts of Nashville you might not reach on a typical Broadway-centered visit.

You can use this stop as a slower break if your group is starting to tire. The schedule is flexible enough to skip a location, and that choice is not a failure. It is one of the tour’s best features. Six stops create options, not a requirement to collect six drinks.

The social side also matters. You may share the trolley with people celebrating birthdays, traveling with friends, or simply looking for a relaxed way to taste local beer. The vehicle becomes part of the outing, with music and conversation between stops.

Bearded Iris Brewing: compare another local beer identity

Bearded Iris adds another brewery name to the route and helps create the variety that makes this more than a single taproom visit. Flights are available at many stops, and ordering a flight can be a better strategy than committing to a full pour each time.

I would pace yourself here. The tour may be easy to enjoy at four stops, while attempting six can become tiring. One group stopped after four because the drinks became too much, even though the day itself was going well. That is useful advice: a successful brewery tour is not measured by how many glasses you finish.

The trolley also lets you keep your attention on the group. You do not have to study parking, route directions, or traffic between each brewery. That is the real value of the $36 price.

Monday Night Brewing, Preservation Co.: know your return plan

Monday Night Brewing, Preservation Co. is the final listed stop. If you remain here until the end, you may need to arrange an Uber back, so check your plans before settling in for the last round.

That detail does not ruin the experience, but it affects the total cost. The $36 ticket covers the trolley service, while drinks, food, and any ride after the final stop are separate expenses. If you are staying downtown, include that final transfer when comparing the tour with a private car or a rideshare-based brewery crawl.

The last stop can also be a good place to stay if your group wants to end the day slowly. Just do not assume the trolley will deliver you back to the Omni after you finish there. The route is designed around hopping between stops, not necessarily returning you to the starting point.

What the trolley adds to the day

The vintage trolley is climate-controlled, which helps keep a long afternoon comfortable. It also gives the outing a sense of occasion without turning it into a formal sightseeing tour.

Drivers do more than steer. Trevor is praised for music, suggestions, and keeping the group comfortable. Randy is appreciated for recommendations, while Mel is described as energetic, funny, and flexible with different group moods. Your guide can shape the atmosphere, but the exact personality will depend on who drives your departure.

The ride is also a social space. You may meet people outside your own group, and that can be a genuine part of the fun. If you prefer a quiet, private tasting with no interaction beyond your companions, this may feel too communal.

The trolley is reported as clean and comfortable, with pickup and drop-off times posted clearly on the back of the driver’s seat. That is a small but useful detail. You can enjoy a drink without repeatedly checking your phone for the next departure.

Is six stops too many?

For most people, I would treat six as the maximum menu, not the ideal target. Four stops can give you a full afternoon, especially if you order flights or eat at two locations. Three can work if you want a gentler pace and more time at each brewery.

A sensible plan looks like this:

• Start with food at TailGate or another substantial stop.
• Order smaller pours or flights when available.
• Drink water throughout the day.
• Skip a location if your group is tired.
• Keep the final return ride in mind.

The tour operator itself is not supplying a drinking contest, and you should not treat it like one. The strongest practical advice from the experience is to wear comfortable clothes, eat enough, drink water, and avoid getting overly intoxicated.

What the $36 ticket is really buying

At $36 per person, the ticket is a fair value if you want to visit several breweries without driving. Six separate rides between taprooms, parking concerns, and a designated driver can quickly cost more than the ticket, particularly for a group.

The price is less compelling if you plan to visit only one brewery or if you already have a sober driver. It also does not include beer, mead, food, or a rideshare from the final stop. Your total spending will depend on how many locations you visit and how much you order.

I see the main value in access and ease, not admission. You are paying to connect several places in one afternoon and to let someone else handle the road. The guide’s local recommendations and the social trolley setting add value, but the drinks remain your responsibility.

Who should book this brewery trolley?

This suits friends, couples, and families with adults who want a relaxed bar-hopping day. It is especially useful for anyone staying near downtown who wants to get beyond Broadway without arranging several rides.

Beer fans will enjoy the range of brewery names and the option to sample flights. Mead fans get a different style at Honeytree. Food-focused groups have reasons to stop at TailGate and other locations, including barbecue at StokeHaus.

I would be more cautious if you want a technical brewery tour. The route does not promise instruction about brewing processes, and the format is built around visiting taprooms. You also need to be comfortable spending much of the day with other people on the trolley.

The experience is available in English, uses mobile tickets, allows service animals, and is near public transportation. Most people can participate. It requires good weather, and a cancellation caused by poor weather offers either another date or a full refund.

Booking, timing, and cancellation

You receive confirmation when you book, and the start time is noon. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancel within 24 hours, or request a change during that period, and you will not receive a refund.

Because the experience is often booked about 24 days ahead, I would reserve early if your Nashville dates are fixed. The 97 percent recommendation rate and 4.9 rating from 326 ratings point to a strong overall record, but the format still matters more than the numbers. Know that you are booking a flexible brewery crawl, not a guided production tour.

Should you book the Nashville brewery trolley?

Book it if you want to sample several local beer spots, avoid driving, and enjoy a social afternoon with a guide who can suggest where to eat and what to try. The ability to skip stops is a major advantage, and four well-paced locations may be better than racing through all six.

Skip it if your priority is a behind-the-scenes look at brewing, a private group setting, or a single carefully chosen brewery. For everyone else, $36 is a reasonable way to reach East Nashville breweries, try beer and mead, eat along the route, and let someone else manage the transportation. Just bring water, leave room for food, and arrange your ride home if you finish at Monday Night Brewing.

FAQ

Where does the Brewery Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour start?

It starts at the Omni Nashville Hotel on the 5th Avenue side of the building.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour begins at 12:00 p.m.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours.

How many brewery locations does the route include?

The route includes six brewery or taproom locations, plus the Omni Nashville Hotel starting point.

Can I skip stops or get off and reboard?

Yes. You can get off and get back on as often as you like throughout the day, allowing you to choose which locations suit you.

Does the tour include a brewing-process lesson?

No. The experience focuses on visiting six different locations and purchasing drinks. It is not presented as a guided tour of the brewing process.

What happens if I cancel?

You receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.