Farm Roots Run Deep

The year 2022 marks the 10-year anniversary of Blackberry Farm Brewery. From a small farm-based operation, to a thriving brewing, taproom and kitchen facility, the evolution of the brewery is marked with celebrations, successes and, equally important, the experience of losing its way. Ten years into production and ongoing transformation, Blackberry Farm Brewery remains a space for story, community and connection.

When Blackberry Farm Brewery started its operation brewing saison in 2012, there was really no one else in the Southeast making it. Today, it has made quite a comeback on the craft brewing scene.

Saison tells the story of beer in way that nothing else can. Other types of beer require a lot of precision. But brewing a saison is more like an art than a science; the recipe is your design. Add spice, add flowers, ferment at different temperatures – create. The yeast will tell the brewer when it’s ready.

It’s important to know the science, of course, but Blackberry Farm Brewery intentionally started it all with a beer that was very artisanal and rooted in history. Saisons were born out of necessity. When farms had leftover ingredients, they needed a way to preserve them. Creating beer not only turned their surplus into a commerce opportunity, it created sustenance. The style is rooted in agriculture, preservation and functionality. Likewise, it is rooted in ritual. Presented in the classic cork-and-cage bottle, it’s a beverage that offers an invitation to slow down, enjoy and share. That art of living a more connected lifestyle was slipping away in a lot of modern interactions, and that is exactly what Blackberry Farm Brewery wanted to revive.

When Brewery Manager Roy Milner and Blackberry Farm’s late Proprietor Sam Beall decided to lay the brewery’s foundation in saison, it was against the general advice they’d been given and with the agreement that quality would always be the focus. The goal was clear. Let quality and good decisions guide every move, and create the best saison in the world.

Blackberry Farm Brewery Classic Saison won the World Beer Cup gold medal in 2016. That recognition honored the commitment to high standards and put the brewery on a global stage. That level of excitement and energy is infectious and inspiring, and it can also easily propel you down an unexpected path.

Brewing is an artistic craft, and artists are naturally inclined to explore, experiment and stretch their creative abilities. The exploration started by collaborating with other breweries and riffing on the saison style. That evolved into brewing lots of other types of beers, experimenting with styles and enjoying the flavor range that beer has to offer. Not only were they brewing different varieties of beer, they were branching out in packaging, veering away from their standard label art with unique illustrations and designs, and venturing away from exclusively producing the traditional cork-and-cage bottles. The core vision was never lost; the beers were well-received and readily enjoyed. But the brand was losing a sense of continuity.

It’s arguably a risk to embrace a full rebrand in the infancy of a company and hope that the consumers will stay on the journey with you. It’s also a risk that can pay off. The brewery wanted to give its audience a brand they could resonate with, that was evident in everything they produced. It was time to use the phase of exploration as a catalyst to be a stronger, more connected brand and return to their roots.

Three major markers from this time are important contributors to the brewery’s continued success. The brewery launched cans, embraced the production of hops-forward beers – enter IPAs – and opened the Taproom. Combine that with the refreshed branding look, and the brewery emerged more dynamic and with a stronger identity than ever, proving farm roots truly do run deep.

Now, it was more important than ever to not lose the connection with the drinker. There wasn’t an opportunity to create an immersive experience in the beer program without staying at Blackberry Farm, and opening a taproom offered a chance to invite the community to experience not only the beer, but the hospitality behind it. The building that now houses the Taproom was intended to be used for production and storage. But as they searched for the right location to create an authentic connection with the community, every place felt like a compromise. So, they invited guests to enjoy the beer right in the heart of their operations.

After two years of being isolated from interaction, the brewery team wants the Taproom to be an invitation to return to time together. When you sit down to enjoy a beer, there’s a good chance that the contractor who built the space is sitting on the bar seat next to you. The table beside you is likely a group from the gym next door or friends just out of a pottery class across the street. The Taproom is a neighborhood of craft beer enthusiasts, families, out-of-town visitors, local chefs, artisans and more.

As Blackberry Farm Brewery celebrates 10 years, an intentional emphasis on connection and community is driving its evolution. Every step that seemingly navigated away from the original vision ultimately made future opportunities possible. A taproom was never part of the original plan, and they certainly never dreamed that space would later have its own kitchen. But reflecting on the hospitality force that drives all of Blackberry, it’s evident it was always meant to be. As the East Tennessee community grows over the next 10 years, Blackberry Farm Brewery will be growing right along with it, embracing the journey and whatever it brings.