TailGate Brewery, Tennessee’s fastest-growing independent brewery, is significantly expanding its production infrastructure and hospitality operations by expanding operations to Yazoo Brewing Company‘s Madison production facility and taproom. The move will establish the 6.5-acre campus and 40-barrel brewhouse as TailGate’s primary production brewery, positioning the independently owned Nashville company for continued growth across wholesale distribution, contract brewing and its network of Tennessee taprooms.
TailGate will integrate the Madison facility and its brewing equipment into its existing production operations while maintaining brewing activity at both Madison and its West Nashville headquarters. The Madison facility will also continue producing Yazoo beer, which joined the R.S. Lipman Brewing portfolio in 2025, along with other existing contract-brewing business.
The expansion follows a period of significant organic growth for TailGate. Earlier this year, the brewery reported that its distribution business was on track for 40% year-over-year growth in 2026, driven by gains in chain retail and on-premise accounts, a refreshed core beer lineup and increased packaged beer production.
“Linus and Yazoo are legends in both the national and Tennessee craft beer communities. They have certainly been an inspiration to us,” said Wesley Keegan, TailGate Brewery’s sole owner and original founder. “We’re proud not only to expand TailGate Brewery, but also to continue making Yazoo beer here, and for my friend Linus to join our team!”
In its August 2026 mid-year business update, TailGate reported that approximately 70% of its distribution volume was moving through on-premise accounts, while off-premise packaged beer sales increased 25% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter of 2026.
The brewery’s growth has been supported by strategic changes to its core portfolio. Wizards’ Order IPA doubled in volume compared with its predecessor core IPA, while Lager Projekt, a Munich-style helles lager, also doubled in volume through a specialized draft program emphasizing proper glassware and side-pull service.
TailGate has continued to expand its chain retail presence, including new placements at major Tennessee retailers, while investing in sales infrastructure and statewide distribution.
Founded by Linus and Lila Hall in 2003, Yazoo helped establish Nashville’s modern craft beer industry as the city’s first production brewery since Prohibition. After operating in Marathon Village and The Gulch, Yazoo opened its Madison facility in 2019.
The transition will preserve brewing activity at the Madison campus and create opportunities for Yazoo’s existing workforce. TailGate has offered every Yazoo employee the opportunity to join its team, and founder Linus Hall will remain involved with brewery operations. TailGate targets best-in-class wages, provides 100% company-paid health benefits to all team members and has repeatedly been recognized as a Top Workplace by The Tennessean.
“It’s been a wonderful ride the last 23 years, but it’s time for me and Lila to start a new chapter,” said Hall. “We’re both happy Yazoo will continue to be brewed by the same people we’ve worked with for years, and that they will all have opportunities to grow with TailGate. TailGate has built something special of its own, and I’m looking forward to working together to make this brewery an even better place to work, and a place where Nashvillians gather for a great beer.”
In addition to production capacity, the existing Yazoo taproom and expansive patio will become TailGate Brewery’s ninth Tennessee taproom, bringing the company’s signature scratch-made pizza and wide-ranging craft beverage lineup to the historic Nashville brewing location.
“HQ remains HQ,” continued Keegan. “It will remain a producing brewery, and the taproom isn’t going anywhere. We’ve just outgrown our capacity, and need more room for (brewing) activities!”
Founded in Nashville in 2014, TailGate has built its business around a combination of independently owned brewing operations, exclusively-Tennessee statewide distribution, neighborhood taprooms and scratch-made food. Its portfolio includes traditional German lagers, IPAs, fruited sours, wild ales, ciders and limited-release beers, alongside growing non-alcoholic offerings such as canned Nashville Sweet Tea and Coolship Coffee Cold Brew also in cans.
“As with all deals like this, there are a million little details,” added Keegan. “None of it works without the support from our neighbors and community. All 250+ of us here at TailGate Brewery are grateful to keep growing in Tennessee.”
Additional details about the transition, production operations and the new TailGate Brewery Madison taproom will be announced in the coming months.
