Clinton’s first brewery could open by summer
Construction is nearing completion on upgrades to the building at 341 Market St. that will soon be the location of Clinton’s first brewery. This is the scene in the back of the building along Commerce Street as work focuses on the building’s basement. This area will eventually be used as an outdoor space for brewery customers. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
Brian Hatmaker, who owns two Orange Hat Brewery locations in Knoxville, said Monday that he hopes to open the new Clinton brewery and restaurant by “late spring or early summer.”
“It’s going to be a full restaurant and bar,” said Hatmaker, who also serves on the Clinton City Council. “We’re going to have pub-style food with an Appalachian twist: burgers, wings, and even fried bologna sandwiches.
He said the beermaking equipment has already been delivered and will be installed soon.
“It’s going to be a good thing for the community,” he said. “The building’s owners, Ken and Jamie White, have been really great to us.”
Hatmaker hopes to have the brewery ready to open just after the city reopens Market Street to traffic after the current downtown renovation project winds up.
“Downtown is going to look great, and the new sidewalks will really help,” Hatmaker said.
Construction equipment has been set up in the lot at the back of the brewery building for the past several weeks as work has been underway on a complete renovation to accommodate the brewing and restaurant equipment.
Because the building has a basement, the main floor had to be rebuilt to carry the weight of the brewing equipment, Hatmaker said.
He said he chose the Granny’s Attic building because “we wanted an outside presence, where we can have concerts, cornhole tournaments and other events and games we can fit in the area.”
Rodney Ramin, his partner in Orange Hat Brewery, will be teaming up with him for the Clinton brewery as well, he said earlier.
“I love the concept and I think it’s something the whole community can be proud of,” Hatmaker said.
The Clinton brewery won’t use the Orange Hat name, though, Hatmaker said.
“We have an idea for the name, but we’re not ready to announce it yet,” he said Monday.
He said earlier that he wanted to “come up with a name that’s tied in with Clinton.”
To make way for the brewery, Granny’s Attic moved across the street and a bit to the east into the former space of E. Claire’s Coffee House at 370 Market St.
