Blackhorse Pub & Brewery

What Blackhorse Pub & Brewery does

Blackhorse Pub & Brewery is a family-owned craft brewery and pub operator founded in 1992, headquartered in Clarksville, Tennessee with a secondary pub and beer garden location in Alcoa (near Maryville). The company operates two full-service pubs, a Clarksville taproom, and a production brewery facility — the latter upgraded in 2024 from an 8-barrel to a 10-barrel system with new grain silos and solar panels. Its product portfolio spans roughly 15–20 beers across year-round, seasonal, and specialty categories, with notable award-winning SKUs including Kentucky Common Historical Lager (bronze at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival, silver at the US Beer Open Championship).

The business operates a multi-channel revenue model: (1) on-site food and beverage sales across its three direct-to-consumer locations; (2) packaged beer retail sales (6-packs, growlers) distributed through Kroger and convenience stores in the Nashville and Knoxville Tennessee markets via a Beer Finder tool; (3) branded merchandise and gift cards sold online and on-site; and (4) a one-time $75 Lifetime Mug Club membership providing exclusive discounts and pricing benefits. Customer engagement is driven by an active events program — weekly trivia nights, live music in the beer garden two nights per week, seasonal/holiday events — and the Blackhorse Gives Back (BGB) charitable donation program supporting Knoxville, Maryville, and Clarksville communities.

Ownership remains entirely within the founding family (Co-Founders Sherri Robinson and Jeff Robinson), with no disclosed parent company, venture backing, or institutional investment. The company is privately held, has 251–500 employees, and operates exclusively within the United States (Tennessee). Headcount figures of 251–500 and "on track to produce and sell more beer in 2024 than any prior year" suggest a meaningful regional operation, though no revenue, funding, or financial figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Blackhorse Pub & Brewery

Legal name

Blackhorse Pub and Brewery

Website

https://blackhorsebrews.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Blackhorse Pub & Brewery is a family-owned Tennessee craft brewery and pub operator founded in 1992, running two full-service pubs, a taproom, and a production brewery serving on-site diners, packaged retail (Kroger, convenience stores), and a Mug Club membership community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewery & Pub

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Brewery pub service
• Packaged beer distribution
• Craft beer taproom
• Branded beer merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Alcoa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. On-site food and beverage sales: Revenue from two pub/restaurant locations and one taproom selling freshly brewed craft beers, cocktails, wine, and pub food (burgers, wraps, tenders, sandwiches, etc.). On-site dining and bar sales are the primary revenue stream.
2. Packaged beer retail sales: Packaged beer sold at pub locations for take-home (6-packs, 64-oz growlers, howlers) and distributed through regional grocery and convenience stores including Kroger in the Nashville and Knoxville areas via a Beer Finder tool.
3. Merchandise and gift cards: Sale of branded merchandise including hats, hoodies, t-shirts, glassware, and gift cards through an online shop and at pub locations.
4. Lifetime Mug Club membership: One-time $75 Lifetime Mug Club membership offering a free t-shirt, exclusive discounts, members-only events, and the ability to purchase a mug of beer for the price of a pint at any location.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Blackhorse Pub & Brewery operates a multi-location craft brewery and pub business in Tennessee, brewing and serving approximately 20 handcrafted beers across year-round, seasonal, and specialty styles from its upgraded 10-barrel production facility in Clarksville. The company runs two full-service pub and brewery locations (Clarksville and Alcoa) and a Clarksville Taproom, offering on-site dining with a full pub food menu, freshly brewed draft beer, beer flights, packaged beer for take-home, branded merchandise, gift cards, and a Lifetime Mug Club membership. Packaged beer is also distributed through Tennessee retailers including Kroger across the Nashville and Knoxville areas.

Product overview

Blackhorse Pub & Brewery operates as a multi-location craft brewery and pub chain with two primary locations in Tennessee (Alcoa and Clarksville), plus a production brewery facility. The core product portfolio includes approximately 15-20 beer offerings across three categories: year-round core beers (Vanilla Cream Ale, Blackhorse IPA, McGee's Pale Ale, Coalminer's Stout, Blackhorse Blonde Ale, Side Hustle Sour), seasonal beers (Stargazer Hazy IPA, Hefeweizen, Nut Brown Ale, Peach Saison, Wicked Harvest, Oktoberfest, Verano Mexican Lager), and specialty beers (Bad Apple Cider, Barnstormer Red Ale, Kentucky Common, Warhorse, Summit, Pow Pow NE IPA, Paddle Out West Coast IPA, Munich Dunkel, Fest Bier, Coffee Milk Stout). Beyond beer, the company operates full-service pubs with food menus, a merchandise shop (apparel, glassware, hats), a Lifetime Mug Club membership program, a charitable donation program (Blackhorse Gives Back), and hosts events including live music and trivia nights. The company installed a 10-barrel brewing system in 2024 and maintains solar-powered operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Summit: A light-bodied, easy-drinking lager inspired by the outdoors, with smooth crisp taste and clean finish, 4.2% ABV

Products and services

• Blackhorse IPA Year-round American India Pale Ale featuring citrus notes with hints of fresh pine and grapefruit, balanced with bold hops and rich malts; sold on draft and in packaged form at Blackhorse locations and through regional retail.
• Vanilla Cream Ale Year-round American ale combining fresh vanilla bean flavors with a smooth cream soda texture for a refreshing, slightly sweet drink.
• McGee's Pale Ale Year-round American Pale Ale with balanced malt and hop character.
• Coalminer's Stout Year-round oatmeal stout featuring caramel and chocolate flavors with a balance of roasted richness and creamy texture at 5.5% ABV.
• Blackhorse Blonde Ale Year-round American ale with light, crispy character, soft malt profile, and delicate hop aroma.
• Side Hustle Sour Year-round blackcurrant sour ale featuring cranberry, grape, and citrus notes with balanced tartness at 5.6% ABV.
• Stargazer Hazy IPA Seasonal hazy India Pale Ale at 9% ABV with heavy orange citrus burst, Galaxy/Centennial/Zythos hops, and a smooth low-bitter finish.
• Peach Saison Seasonal fruit saison at 6.5% ABV with tart peach flavor, earthy undertones, Pilsen malt, flaked oats, and Czech Saaz hops.
• Kentucky Common Historical Lager Historical lager style that earned bronze at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival and silver at the US Beer Open Championship; part of Blackhorse's specialty beer lineup.
• Warhorse Bourbon Barrel-Aged Scottish Ale Bourbon barrel-aged Scottish ale with full-bodied, malty depth, chocolate and caramel notes.
• Bad Apple Cider Crisp, golden, highly effervescent cider with balanced apple flavor; offered as a non-beer specialty at Blackhorse locations.
• Blackhorse Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including hats, beanies, t-shirts, hoodies, pint glasses, tumblers, growlers, and howlers, sold through the online shop and pub locations at price points from approximately $24.99 to $48.99.
• Lifetime Mug Club Membership One-time $75 Lifetime Mug Club membership offering a free t-shirt, exclusive discounts, members-only events, and the ability to purchase a mug of beer for the price of a pint at any Blackhorse location.
• Beer Flights Flight tasting experience of four 5oz samplings for $7.50, allowing on-site customers to sample and explore the beer selection.
• Pub Food Menu Full pub food menu (burgers, wraps, tenders, sandwiches, and outdoor taco/beer box) served at the Clarksville and Alcoa pub and brewery locations for on-site dining.
• Blackhorse Gift Cards Variable-denomination gift cards redeemable at Blackhorse locations and through the online shop for beer, food, and merchandise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 newsletter subscribers ('adventurers')
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Anheuser-Busch: Largest U.S. brewer whose craft acquisitions and macro brands dominate the on-premise and off-premise channels where Blackhorse competes. Sets pricing and shelf allocation dynamics.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Large established U.S. craft brewery with national distribution and broad portfolio. Competes with Blackhorse at the packaged retail level through grocery and convenience store channels.
• New Belgium Brewing: Major U.S. craft brewery owned by a strategic (Lion/Kirin) with national distribution. Competes for the same craft beer consumer and Kroger shelf space across Tennessee.

Direct peers

• TailGate Brewery: Tennessee-based brewpub chain operating multiple locations with food, beer, and events. Directly comparable multi-location pub/brewery model serving similar Tennessee consumers.
• Mantra Artisan Ales: Tennessee craft brewery producing and distributing artisan beers in the same regional market. Similar craft focus, distribution through Tennessee retail, and on-premise offerings.
• Jackalope Brewing Company: Tennessee craft brewery with taproom and packaged distribution competing in the same Nashville craft beer market and overlapping consumer base as Blackhorse.
• Fat Bottom Brewing: Nashville craft brewery operating a brewpub and producing year-round and seasonal beers distributed regionally. Closely comparable business model combining on-premise hospitality with packaged retail distribution.
• Yazoo Brewing Company: Nashville-based craft brewery with comparable Tennessee regional footprint, on-site taproom operations, and packaged retail distribution. Directly competes with Blackhorse for Tennessee consumer occasions and Kroger shelf space.

Regional players

• Ole Smoky Distillery: Tennessee craft spirits producer with on-site tasting venues and packaged retail distribution in grocery and convenience channels. Comparable regional Tennessee craft alcohol brand with tourism-driven taproom sales.

Others

• Yelloh (formerly Schwan's): National frozen food/home delivery company. Indirectly comparable as a consumer packaged goods distribution and brand operator, but not a direct craft beer competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blackhorsebrews
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackhorseAlcoa
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackhorsebrews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blackhorse Pub & Brewery