Here at Blackhorse Pub and Brewery, we’ve been busy making improvements this past year to keep the good times rolling. Let’s take a moment to look back at the accomplishments we’ve made as a team in 2024. We hope we’ve made Blackhorse your favorite spot to connect, drink, and eat, and that you’re looking forward to sharing more of your time with us in 2025!
Brewing Innovation and New Releases
We brewed up big changes at Blackhorse Brewery this past year. We added new equipment to improve our efficiency and increase our productivity. New silos were installed to store both raw and spent grain, and a custom-made mash tun from Specific Mechanical was added to enhance our brewing process.
Back at our Clarksville location—the original brew pub that’s been a mainstay of downtown Clarksville for over 32 years—we moved our brewing operations to our warehouse and upgraded from an eight-barrel system to a 10-barrel system. This move will allow us to improve production capacity while also creating room for a new entrance to the brewpub, improving handicap accessibility. It will be bittersweet to no longer see our brewhouse in the front windows of the pub, but we know this move is for the best.
Our brewery team rolled out six exciting new brews this year: Pow Pow New England Style IPA, Paddle Out West Coast IPA, Munich Dunkel, Verano Mexican-Style Lager, and a fall lager for Oktoberfest aptly named Fest Bier. We also debuted the Kentucky Common Historical Lager, which earned a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival and a silver medal at the US Beer Open Championship. A huge shoutout to our entire brew team and to our award-winning brewer, Shawn Vail, for making this year one of our best yet. We are on track to produce and sell more beer this year than we have in any year to date!
A Greater Focus on Sustainability
In 2024, we strengthened our commitment to sustainability by making significant eco-friendly upgrades. Our warehouse and brewery building in Clarksville received solar panels on the roof to generate clean energy. In addition, the nearly 100-year-old, 25,000-square-foot brewery building in Alcoa also received a new energy-saving roof decked out with solar panels. At Blackhorse Pub and Brewery, we are proud of these upgrades and of our commitment to sustainability.
Awards Galore
This year, Blackhorse Brewery’s commitment to craft beer excellence earned several awards at national and regional competitions.
Kentucky Common – Historical Beer
- Silver Medal, 2024 US Beer Open Championship
- Bronze Medal, 2024 Great American Beer Festival
- Silver Medal, 2024 TN Championships of Beer
Other Awards
- Blackhorse IPA – American IPA, Silver Medal, 2024 TN Championships of Beer
- Nightstalker – Imperial Stout, Silver Medal, 2024 TN Championships of Beer
- Verano Mexican Lager – Contemporary Lager, Bronze Medal, 2024 TN Championships of Beer
Creating Community Spaces and Memorable Events
This past year, we’ve gone above and beyond to become one of the greatest craft beer bars around! Not to be outdone by the brewery, major investments were also made in our beer garden. We replaced the gravel with turf for a more enjoyable atmosphere, planted new trees, and strung lights to make the space even more inviting. An outdoor taco and beer box was added, complete with a full bar to complement live music nights. We also introduced a cornhole area with custom-designed boards and built new restrooms—because no one likes waiting in line!
In Clarksville, we celebrated our 32nd anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day with a bagpiper and a lively taproom party. We also added new events, including monthly burlesque shows and opening the taproom on Saturdays and Sundays for college football and NFL viewing, creating even more reasons to gather with friends and family at Blackhorse Pub & Brewery.
From One Great Year to the Next!
As we close out 2024, we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and grateful for the continued support of our amazing community. Whether you’ve visited us for a pint of Blackhorse Brewery IPA, stopped in with friends for a bite to eat and a drink, or cheered us on as we celebrated our awards, thank you for being part of our journey.
Here’s to an even better 2025 at Blackhorse, where you’ll always find the best craft beer and great company!
