Memphis craft beer, with real stories. This guided tour takes you past the obvious stops and into three artisan breweries, with an expert guide sharing how brewing grew into part of Memphis identity. I especially like the hassle-free transportation, so you can actually enjoy the tastings without doing math on parking and rides.

Two other things I like a lot: you get a proper tasting format (a flight of four beers at each stop), and you also get context for what you are drinking. That combo makes it work even if you are not a total beer nerd, because the guide connects the dots between history, style, and flavor.

One possible drawback to think about first: it is not a choose-your-own menu. You are given flight samples, and that fixed structure may not satisfy people who want full control over exactly which beers they try.

Key highlights worth planning for

• Three distinct Memphis breweries: Grind City, Wiseacre, and Crosstown, each with a different vibe and origin story
• Expert local beer guide who adds history and brewing context, not just facts on a sign
• 12 beer samples total on the itinerary setup (four per stop), plus snacks and bottled water
• Small-group cap of 14 for a more personal feel and easier conversation
• Reused-building details at Grind City and community-building around Crosstown, so it is not just tasting
• All the driving is handled, with air-conditioned transport back to the start

Memphis Brewery Tour: Why This Stops-First Plan Works

If you want to understand Memphis beyond its famous landmarks, this is a smart way to do it. Beer is local culture you can taste, and this tour leans into that idea by sending you to breweries that are tied to place and community.

I like that the pacing is built for a half-day stretch. You are out for about 3 hours 30 minutes, with enough time at each stop to taste, talk, and absorb the setting without feeling rushed.

Also, the tour is adult-focused. You must be 21 and up, and the whole plan centers on alcoholic beverages, so it is best if you are comfortable with a beer-forward outing.

Price and Value: What $69 Includes (and Why It Feels Fair)

At $69 per person, the value is strongest because so many typical extras are already baked in. You are paying for more than transportation, you are paying for entry at each brewery and a guided tasting experience that is structured around flights.

Here is what you are getting for the price:

• Alcoholic beverages as part of the flight tastings
• A flight of four beers at each of 3 breweries (so, 12 samples across the day)
• Snacks plus bottled water
• An expert local beer guide
• Admission tickets included for each stop
• Air-conditioned vehicle and private transportation, with you returning to the meeting point

When you break it down like that, $69 starts to feel less like a random craft-beer crawl and more like a guided experience with a payoff. The real win is that you get the “why” behind the beer, not just the “what.”

If you are deciding between DIY brewery visits and a guided format, this tour wins on time and sanity. You do not have to coordinate drivers, parking, or route changes between three different neighborhoods.

Guide, Group Size, and the Flagon Wagon Comfort Factor

This tour runs with a small maximum group of 14 travelers. That matters more than people think. With a compact group size, you are more likely to get real back-and-forth conversation instead of a quick lecture and a lineup shuffle.

The guide you are likely to meet is Brian, and the vibe described is part educator, part hype-man. In real terms, that means you should expect beer trivia, lively storytelling, and questions that get answered rather than brushed off.

You also ride in an air-conditioned vehicle with private transportation. Some departures are described with a comfortable ride setup, even getting name recognition as the Flagon Wagon. Translation: you can focus on the beers and the breweries, not the ride stress.

Stop 1: Grind City Brewing Co. and the Mississippi-Edge Reuse Story

Grind City is the kind of brewery that makes you slow down before you even sip. It is located on a bluff of the Mississippi, in what used to be a Tri-State veneer and furniture factory. Instead of treating the building like a backdrop, Grind City leans on its past.

The most memorable detail is how much of the interior is built from re-used materials. Scrap wood and furniture elements have been repurposed for the tables, walls, bar tops, and flight boards. If you like places where the design has a reason, this stop delivers.

You also get a community angle. Grind City works with local charities including St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Angel Street, Folds of Honor, and the Streetdog Foundation. That is not just a logo list. The story framing helps you understand why these breweries feel woven into Memphis life rather than dropped in from somewhere else.

Time on this stop is about 45 minutes, which is a good length for tasting four beers and still having time to ask questions. The possible drawback is simple: because it is hands-on and story-heavy, beer beginners might want a moment to breathe between tastings to reset their palate.

Stop 2: Wiseacre Brewing Co. for Flavor, Education, and Memphis Energy

Wiseacre brings a different feel to the route. This brewery is described as built for top quality, uniquely flavorful beer, with an audience of people who want education plus good times.

The origin story is part of the flavor. Brothers Davin and Kellan Bartosch dreamed up Wiseacre and built it around an ongoing quest to bring in strong experience from around the globe. The emphasis on education matters because it tends to show up in the way your guide explains style choices and brewing decisions.

Wiseacre’s personality is also tied to Memphis. It is framed as a groovy hometown project, and the big message is that beer here is meant to be talked about, not locked behind mystery.

Expect about 50 minutes at this stop. That gives enough time to taste a four-beer flight and compare how the brewery’s style fits the wider Memphis craft scene.

If you are deciding whether to keep going after the first stop, this is a good middle act. Grind City is heavy on place and reuse, Wiseacre shifts toward flavor and approachability, so you do not get the feeling you are repeating the same story three times.

Stop 3: Crosstown Brewing and the Old Sears Building Comeback

Crosstown Brewing has a way of pulling you into the neighborhood. It was founded in 2018 by homebrewers Will Goodwin and Clark Ortkiese, and it is built around beer and community.

The setting is a big part of the appeal. The brewery sits next to the old Sears Crosstown building, built in 1927, which sat empty for years before falling into disrepair. In 2017, that area was renovated and reopened as the Crosstown Concourse, a vertical urban village that includes a grocery store, restaurants, retail, offices, a YMCA, a high school, and a post office.

So when you show up at the brewery, you are not just entering a tasting room. You are stepping into a larger community project.

Time here is about 50 minutes. At this point, you have enough samples under your belt that your taste buds can start doing the comparing your guide wants you to notice. That is also when conversation tends to get looser, because people relax when they realize they are in good hands.

A small consideration: because this stop is tied to a mixed-use complex, you may find it less “industrial-chic museum” and more “community hub in action.” If you prefer one atmosphere over another, it can help to know that shift.

How the Tasting Works: Four Beers Per Stop, Plus Snacks and Water

The tour is designed around a consistent pattern: a flight of four beers at each brewery. That structure makes the whole experience easier to follow. You are not switching formats every 10 minutes, and you can compare how different breweries approach taste, fermentation style, and balance.

Included snacks and bottled water are not just extras. They are practical tools that help you keep enjoying the tasting instead of feeling overloaded. If you are sensitive to alcohol, slow your pace, take water between tastings, and let the guide know what you like.

The other big practical advantage is that the guide can help tailor your experience. Several departures describe accommodation for different preferences, including groups who discussed what they liked or did not like before the tastings got finalized. So if you want to steer away from styles you dislike, this is the kind of tour where you can try.

There is also at least one example of a small food add-on like pizza with the snack setup. Since that is not guaranteed in the standard inclusions, just treat it as a pleasant possibility rather than a promise.

What You Learn on This Tour (Beyond Beer Names)

This is not a list-reading tour. The guide frames each stop with brewing history and local context, which is how you actually get value from tasting.

At Grind City, the lesson is reuse and place, the idea that the building’s past becomes part of the brand story. At Wiseacre, the takeaway is how craft breweries build quality around experimentation and an education-first attitude. At Crosstown, the story is about community revival and how a neighborhood can shape a brewery’s mission.

I also like that your guide is described as engaging and willing to keep the group active. If you like questions, you will likely have room to ask about brewing process and what makes each beer style different.

And because this is a small-group tour, conversations can turn more personal than you might expect. That is how some groups end up learning from the people actually making the beer, depending on timing.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Might Want Something Else)

This tour fits best if you want:

• A guided beer experience with context and storytelling
• A small group where you can talk instead of just listen
• A route that hits three different types of brewery locations rather than three copy-paste taprooms
• A chance to try beers you would not pick on your own

It may not be ideal if:

• You want to fully choose every beer, since the flights are a structured format
• You prefer non-alcoholic experiences, since the tour is explicitly for 21 and up and centered on alcoholic tastings
• You are extremely sensitive to alcohol, because even with water and snacks, you are sampling 12 beers across the day

It is also a good match for couples and friend groups. The reviews highlight that the guide makes the tour feel relaxed and fun, including when group size is small.

Booking Timing, Meeting Point, and What to Expect Day-of

The tour uses a mobile ticket, and you meet at The Peabody Memphis, 149 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103. The tour ends back at the same meeting point, which makes your planning easier if you have dinner reservations after.

Plan ahead. On average, this experience is booked about 42 days in advance, so you do not want to wait until the last minute, especially in busier seasons.

As for day-of expectations, you should treat it like a guided evening plan in a half-day wrapper. You will spend meaningful time at each stop, taste multiple beers, and get transport between sites in an air-conditioned vehicle.

If you are trying to pair this with other Memphis sights, aim to schedule it earlier in your evening. After three brewery stops and repeated tastings, you will want a simple plan for the rest of your day.

Should You Book the Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour?

Yes, if you want a true Memphis beer education with practical logistics handled for you. The biggest reasons to book are the expert guide, the small-group size, and the fact that the experience is structured for tasting (four beers per stop) rather than random wandering.

It is also a strong value play because the price includes not only transportation and snacks, but also admission tickets at each brewery. If you care about making your time count in Memphis, this is the kind of tour that saves you from decision fatigue.

If you are the kind of person who needs total choice over every pour, you might find the set flights restrictive. But if you are open to tasting what the breweries offer and learning why it matters, this tour is an easy recommendation.

FAQ

How long is the Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour?

The tour is about 3 hours 30 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

It costs $69.00 per person.

What does the tour include?

You get alcoholic beverages, snacks, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle with private transportation, and an expert local beer guide.

How many breweries are visited?

The tour visits three artisan breweries.

What are the age requirements?

You must be 21 and up.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at The Peabody Memphis, 149 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, and ends back at the same meeting point.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Free cancellation is available if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.