Calhoun's Microbrewery (Knoxville, TN)

Made this a quick stop while waiting for a friend to get off work.  Of course, I pick a BBQ rib joint to hang out--vegetarian. No veggie choices, SURPRISE, but what I pieced together from side menus was good.

As for the beer, Calhoun's is a part of a chain of associated restaurants, and the beer tastes chain-ish. The Summer Wheat was light and thin, but the Cherokee Red Ale was a malty Irish Amber with a mild hop bite that was more than drinkable in spite of the racist name.  Otherwise, not much except the Tuckaleechee Porter.

Not a place I'd ever return to unless I had a group of carnivore friends looking for a meat fix that happens to come with slightly better than mainstream beer.

Downtown Grill & Brewery (Knoxville, TN)

Hit downtown for lunch and found the Downtown Grill & Brewery full of locals for a noon meal on a Monday. Very lively and full at midday. Sat at the bar and got really good service, and a rack of samples.  My lunch was good.  Some veggie options, and I ordered the Cheese Quesadilla with Portabella mushroom. Sad I didn't return for another one after eating at La Costa, a supposedly upscale restaurant, the next day.

An odd bar with a large uncomfortable lip, but the drinking made up for it.  All where solid to drink, including the lightest, the Downtown Blonde Ale which was a kolsch. The Downtown Nut Brown and the New World Porter were the strongest of the group. Woodruff Brewing Co seems to be the name of the brewery, which serves some beers locally in other bars under the Woodruff name.  At La Costa, I had the Oro--which was so bad I nearly didn't finish it and was glad when the second Woodruff beer there was out.  I don't think it was the brewer on this one--I think La Costa is a wine beer that doesn't clean its lines and doesn't move enough beer--very poorly handled beer, especially considering that the Downtown brews were all clear and consistent in their quality.

Brew kettle is smack dab in the middle of the two story restaurant, but was unfortunately not up and running yet at noon on Monday. Really puts the beer dead center in the bar, and emphasizes the brew pub difference. I like places that do this and make it front and center for beer education. Sounds like they may be at capacity since they don't really have many seasonals, just the regulars plus contract. The Alt was the seasonal and the bartender said it was well liked locally (I thought it was ok).

Good stop in Knoxville, and if I find myself in Kville again, it'll be the first place I hit.

Preservation Pub (Knoxville, TN)

I was planning to drink Preservation Pub a bit longer--a really good extensive beer selection in bottles and several drafts including Stone, Rogue, local beer, plus good standards.  Hole in the wall beer bar in the downtown Knoxville area on the Market Square. Nice pub, but no food except free pizza from a local place they have sent over and all you need to do is add to the tip for the delivery guy.

I had a Highland St. Terese's Pale Ale, which was the best of the Highland beers I had had during the week, though the other Highland brews were very good as well.  Went for dinner across the square, and didn't make it back is all--tired.  Nothing to do with the bar.  I would gladly return.