Blackstone Brewing Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | December 31, 1994 |
| Founder | Kent Taylor, Stephanie Weins |
| Headquarters | Nashville , United States |
| Products | Beer |
The Blackstone Brewing Company is a craft brewery situated in Nashville, Tennessee. Established in 1994 by founders Kent Taylor and Stephanie Weins, it holds the distinction of being Nashville's longest-standing craft brewery. The initial brewpub, known as Blackstone Restaurant and Brewery, operated from its launch on New Year's Eve 1994 until its closure in 2016.
In 2011, Blackstone broadened its operations by constructing a production brewery nearby and later inaugurated a public taproom in 2016 to foster business expansion and strengthen its market footprint. Additionally, the company crafts traditional European-style lagers for the Nashville Brewing Company, thereby diversifying its range of offerings.
Blackstone Brewing Company maintains a significant competitive edge within the local market, having secured more accolades than any other brewery in Nashville. Among these honors are numerous medals from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, highlighting its prominence in product excellence and influence in the alcoholic beverage sector.
Brewpub (1994–2016)
Blackstone Restaurant and Brewery commenced operations on December 31, 1994, as a partnership between Kent Taylor and Stephanie Weins. While Weins handled day-to-day management, Taylor, a certified public accountant, was responsible for financial oversight. The brewpub’s menu featured wood-fired pizzas, fish and chips, burgers, and upscale pub fare. Above the entrance hung a lintel inscribed with "Licensed to Brew Ales, Porters & Stouts." Taylor created the initial flagship beers based on his homebrewing experiments. The team brought on Dave Miller, a distinguished brewmaster and author from St. Louis, to produce beer using a 15-barrel system manufactured by Century.
One of Blackstone’s flagship brews, St. Charles Porter—named after Taylor’s son Charles—earned Gold at the 1996 World Beer Cup and accumulated eight awards at the Great American Beer Festival, becoming one of the most decorated brown porters nationwide. Other acclaimed brews included Chaser Pale, a Kölsch named for Weins’ son Chase, and Nut Brown Ale; both garnered multiple national accolades.
Following Stephanie Weins’ passing due to lung cancer in February 2014, "Stephanie's Fight," a nonprofit dedicated to lung cancer research, was founded. That same year, Blackstone introduced "Stephanie's Dubbel," a Belgian Dubbel ale with all proceeds benefiting the charity. Approximately eighteen months later, the brewpub ceased operations as the company consolidated activities into the production brewery to prioritize growth initiatives.
Production brewery (2011–present)
In 2011, Taylor and Weins launched a substantial production brewery situated about one mile from their original brewpub location. This facility is equipped with a 30-barrel brewhouse supplied by ROLEC GmbH of Germany and features a bottling line from KRONES AG, also based in Germany. In 2015, Blackstone became Tennessee’s pioneer brewery to implement an Alfa Laval Brew 250 centrifuge for enhanced beer filtration technology, improving overall product quality.
After Dave Miller retired as brewmaster, Chase Wilkerson—son of Stephanie Weins—assumed responsibility for daily brewing operations. Currently, Blackstone Brewing Company distributes its beers throughout Tennessee, increasing its regional market presence. In 2016, the Blackstone Taphouse opened adjacent to the production facility as a replacement for the original brewpub. This venue includes a permanent food truck named the B-Stone Bus that serves popular dishes from the former brewpub menu, preserving brand heritage while engaging customers effectively.
Historical significance of location
The sites occupied by Blackstone Restaurant and Brewery as well as Blackstone Brewing Company are the original grounds of Nashville's inaugural brewery, the Nashville Porter and Ale Brewery, established by T.M. Burland in 1815. This landmark location utilized water drawn from the nearby Cockrill Spring. In 2019, a historical plaque was installed through the efforts of beer historian and Nashville Brewing Company proprietor Scott Mertie, honoring this heritage and highlighting Weins' contributions to Blackstone Brewing Co.
Beers
Blackstone's primary lineup features signature brews such as Chaser Pale (Kolsch), Nut Brown Ale, and St. Charles Porter. Additionally, the brewery produces a variety of India Pale Ales, stouts, the Sour Ex-Girlfriend series of sour beers, along with seasonal and specialty offerings.
In 2016, founders Taylor and Wilkerson collaborated with Scott Mertie to resurrect authentic European-style lagers under the Nashville Brewing Company label. These distinguished lagers are crafted in Blackstone’s German brewhouse using traditional production techniques dating back to the original 1859–1890 era, catering to consumers interested in genuine late 19th-century immigrant lager styles.
Major awards
Blackstone Brewing Company has received multiple honors at prestigious competitions such as the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. Its St. Charles Porter holds the distinction of being the most decorated Brown Porter in the United States, while Nut Brown Ale and Chaser Pale have also garnered significant industry accolades, underscoring Blackstone’s strong position within the craft brewing sector.