Knoxville, TN

Blanketed by the legendary Great Smoky Mountains, there are few American cities with more interesting branding than Knoxville, Tennessee. The University of Tennessee’s main campus is found in Knoxville, keeping the city young and vibrant at heart. Knoxville was also home to the 1982 World’s Fair, which left behind the iconic Sunsphere landmark.

In fact, the 1982 World’s Fair produced a beer that eventually sold six million cans. Perhaps inspired by the event, craft beer began to take off in Knoxville that decade, with the area’s first homebrew clubs popping up. That independent brewing spirit continues today in Knoxville breweries. The local beer scene has embraced the city’s youthful identity with innovative beers and collaborative efforts with other breweries from around the world. Knoxville breweries now seem to have a knack for sticking out for the crowd.