Cheers to Craft Brewing and Distilling in Knoxville

Thunder Road Pilsner. State Street Stout. Woodruff IPA. Craft beers are enjoyed by an enthusiastic following, and area brewers - like The Downtown Grill and Brewery and The Smoky Mountain Brewing Company - are proud to showcase their Knoxville ties with locally-named concoctions.

While accommodations were previously undefined in local ordinances, new brewers and distillers can find a legal home in Knoxville through recently approved zoning regulations.

With rapid growth nationally and locally in craft beer, wine, and spirit production, City of Knoxville administration saw a need to clarify and authorize suitable locations for such operations. So, city officials asked MPC to make changes in the zoning ordinance to allow craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries in commercial and industrial zones. Adopted by City Council in January, the updated ordinance acknowledged existing operations and made them legal. And future brewers and distillers are now cleared to invest in Knoxville.

By definition, craft breweries and distilleries are small and are allowed in most commercial and industrial zones. They may occupy no more than 15,000 square feet in a commercial zone or 20,000 square feet in an industrial zone. In addition to production facilities, establishments may include office, retail, eating, drinking, and event space.

While craft breweries and distilleries may be small in size, their economic impact is enormous. The Brewer's Association reports that small, independent American brewers contributed $33.9 billion to the U.S. economy in 2012.

Brewing and distilling is a growing industry across the nation, and Knoxville is attracting its share of that economy. The 2013 edition of Knoxville's annual Brewers Jam drew 57 unique brewers, nearly a third of which were new to the industry.