This guide covers 21 breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries in Chattanooga proper and within about an hour’s drive — including the North Georgia mountain wine corridor around Blue Ridge and Ellijay.
Chattanooga’s brewing scene has grown considerably over the last decade and now holds its own for a mid-size city. The North Georgia day-trip angle is a different kind of outing: the Cartecay River valley has a genuine wine trail worth building an afternoon around.
Missing a spot? Send an email with the name and a note on why it belongs.
Map View of the Locations Featured Below
Experience:
1. Chattanooga Brewing Company .
One of the oldest craft breweries in the city, located downtown near the Market Street corridor. Year-round and seasonal taps rotate through a range of styles, with a taproom and outdoor space that draws both regulars and visitors. A solid first stop before a riverfront walk.
2. Oddstory Brewing .
Craft brewery with a rotating tap list and a taproom focused on the beer itself. Popular with locals for the selection and laid-back environment. Check their socials for seasonal releases and taproom events.
3. Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery .
Downtown distillery and tasting experience from one of Chattanooga's most recognized spirits producers. Tours and flights walk you through the production process and the whiskey lineup. The experience center is worth a stop even if whiskey isn't your usual drink.
4. Hutton & Smith Brewing .
Southside brewery with a well-regarded taproom and a loyal local following. The lineup covers a wide range of styles and they keep a consistent rotation going. Food options vary by the day so check before heading over hungry.
5. Wanderlinger Brewing .
East Main brewery and taproom with an outdoor beer garden that draws a crowd on good weather days. Known for a mix of approachable and more adventurous styles. Live music pops up on weekends.
6. Mercier Orchards Hard Cider .
Blue Ridge institution that's been running since 1943 as an apple orchard. The hard cider operation is the grown-up extension of that history. Tasting room pours a lineup of dry and sweet ciders, and the orchard setting is worth the drive on its own. Kid-friendly grounds, pick-your-own available seasonally.
7. Blue Ridge Brewing Company .
Brewpub in downtown Blue Ridge with house-made beers and a food menu. A natural anchor for a Blue Ridge day trip: get here early before the weekend crowds fill the downtown strip.
8. Fannin Brewing Company .
Local brewery in the Blue Ridge area with a taproom and a rotating selection of craft beers. Worth pairing with a Mercier Orchards visit on the same trip.
9. Cartecay Vineyards .
Winery in the Cartecay River Valley near Ellijay. The setting — rolling hills, vineyard rows, mountain backdrop — is the main draw. Tastings available, outdoor seating on the grounds. One of the more established stops on the North Georgia wine trail.
10. Engelheim Vineyards .
Family-run vineyard and winery in the North Georgia mountains. Tastings, vineyard walks, and a quieter experience than some of the more visitor-heavy spots on the Blue Ridge corridor. Call ahead for hours and availability.
11. Dalton Brewing Company .
Craft brewery in downtown Dalton, about 30 minutes south of Chattanooga. Opened 2018 and holds its own for a city that size. Worth adding to a Dalton errand day or a southward drive.
12. Mash & Hops .
Cleveland's craft beer garden with 24 taps rotating through a broad selection of styles. Downtown Cleveland location makes it an easy stop heading north on 75. Outdoor seating and a relaxed setup that fits an afternoon as well as an evening.
13. Morris Vineyard .
Family-run winery in Charleston, about 25 minutes north of Chattanooga — closer than most of the day-trip spots in this guide. Handcrafted wines, free tastings, and a quiet rural setting that earns a separate trip. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
14. Lookout Winery & Venue .
Winery on US-41 in Guild, just west of Raccoon Mountain with views of the Tennessee River. Sixteen wines on pour, wood-fired pizza, and an outdoor setting that makes it easy to stay longer than planned. Natural pairing after a Raccoon Mountain bike or hike day.
15. The Georgia Winery .
Muscadine winery six miles south of Chattanooga at I-75 Exit 350 in Ringgold — the closest winery to the city in this guide. Over 20 varieties, complimentary tastings, and Saturday tours at 1:30 and 3:30 pm. Easy add-on to any southbound day.
16. The Tap House — Empyreal Brewing .
St. Elmo brewpub with house beers from Empyreal Brewing plus 30+ rotating guest taps covering craft beer, cider, and non-alcoholic options. Full food menu and a neighborhood location that pairs well with a Lookout Mountain or Incline afternoon.
17. Five Wits Brewing .
Southside brewery on Long Street with a taproom pouring their own beers. A neighborhood staple in the Choo Choo corridor that keeps a low profile relative to some of the louder spots on the strip.
18. Mad Knight Brewing .
St. Elmo brewery on Tennessee Ave brewing their own beers with a taproom setup. Shares the neighborhood with The Tap House, so both are worth hitting on the same afternoon if you're already down at the base of Lookout Mountain.
19. TailGate Brewery .
Nashville-based regional brewery with a 7-barrel brewhouse on-site at the old Terminal Brewhouse space on Market Street. Full food menu and a large footprint that handles groups well. Not an independent, but they're brewing here.
20. Brewhaus .
North Shore craft beer bar on Frazier Ave with a rotating tap selection and a spot to land after Coolidge Park or the Walnut Street Bridge. They don't brew — it's a well-run multi-tap bar — but the selection and location earn it a place on the list.
21. Top of the Rock .
Brewpub at Jasper Highlands, about 35 minutes northwest of Chattanooga on the plateau above the Tennessee River Gorge. House-brewed beers and a full restaurant with the kind of views that make the drive worth it on its own. More of a destination than a quick stop.
This guide will grow as Chattanooga’s brewing scene does. If a spot is missing or something’s changed, send a note — a name and a quick reason it belongs is all we need.