Sound Bites: The evolution of Grind City Brewing Co.
Grind City Brewing Co. owner Hopper Seely makes a lagerita beer cocktail Aug. 12, 2024. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
Grind City Brewing Co. has made it through the IPA craze, the pandemic seltzer wave and several Dry Januarys, but back in May, the company decided to make a big shift.
This week’s “Sound Bites” guest, founder and president Hopper Seely, talked to me about the Uptown brewery’s history and plans for the future.
The company is leaving the wholesale market to focus on brewing for taproom sales and on building a full-service music and event venue, Grind City Amp.
It’s been quite the evolution since the early days of Grind City, and Seely shares it all, starting with his time at brew school in the U.K., opening the taproom in 2020 and losing their best-selling beer due to a honey-laundering scheme.
No, that’s not a typo. Grind City’s gluten-free honey lager beer really had to be taken out of regular rotation a few years ago. We get into it on the podcast.
During the conversation, Seely talked about hosting a plethora of events at the brewery, from Dogchella to a Korean barbecue fest to their own beer festivals, like a cider fest in November and a spring “Fermented Reality” festival with sours and fruity IPAs.
A note about aforementioned Dry January: Grind City offers alcohol-free beverages, including seasonal ciders and seltzers, so don’t let an NA moment discourage you from visiting the taproom and grounds, which have a view of Downtown Memphis.
And they have hosted plenty of weddings and rehearsal dinners for Grind City fans.
“If people fall in love at a spot, they will get married in that place,” Seely said, laughing.
Seely shared his favorite event so far, which involved 80 dried-out Christmas trees and the fire department. We talk about the Memphis stereotype of only buying concert tickets last-minute, what happened at their first bluegrass festival and when Grind City Amp will break ground.
On the podcast we also chat about Seely’s partnership with Nick Barbian of Barbian Entertainment and how that will play a role in Grind City Amp’s planned 16+ annual events in a venue that could hold up to 5,000 people.
Sip of the week: butterscotch ale
For the second week in a row, I’m referencing a certain broom-flying, U.K.-based child wizard in a “Sound Bites” story. The book and blockbuster-movie character’s birthday is traditionally celebrated by fans July 31. Grind City Brewing Co. hosted a week of themed events July 30-Aug. 3.
They released “The Snitch,” a limited-edition canned butterscotch ale, which is my surprising pick for this week. Though enchanted with plenty of butterscotch flavor, this ale is not overly sweet. It’s refreshing and smooth and a bit reminiscent of a cream soda.
What should I try for a future sip of the week? Email me at hwhitfield@dailymemphian.com.
Grind City Brewing Co. is located at 76 Waterworks Ave. and is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Listen below for the full, extended podcast interview. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Topics
Grind City Brewing Co. Hopper Seely Uptown sound bites podcastHolly Whitfield
Holly has more than 13 years of experience in publishing and digital content, including 10 years at the helm of the I Love Memphis Blog. She began her career at The Commercial Appeal and is author of Secret Memphis.
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