“Geezers State of Mind:” The Story of Geezers Brewing Company
While Geezers may be one of the newest kids on the block (opening its taproom doors in late 2020), Geezers Brewing Company has been in operation since the beginning of the craft beer revival in Knoxville, Tennessee. Geezers began as a homebrew project between four friends and coworkers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. To be qualified to enter beer fests, they needed to be officially classified as a brewery, which happened in 2011. The name Geezers is playfully self-deprecating. The group, at 40+, were the “token geezers” at the beer fests they attended. But more than anything, the owners believe in maintaining a “Geezer’s State of Mind:” There is a wisdom associated with old age, an appreciation for life. A sense of gratitude is at the heart of what Geezers stands for...“You don’t have to be a Geezer to be grateful for what you've got.”
Geezers moved into their current home off 5th Ave in North Knoxville in 2016. The original 25 gallon homebrew setup is now the pilot system, but the space also hosts the much larger 15bbl production system. Former head brewer Logan Doyle, originally from North Carolina, came to Knoxville to pursue her PhD in History, but a series of circumstances led her to pursue brewing instead. A South College Brewing School graduate, Logan cut her teeth at Round 6 Brewing in Maryville before she became the head brewer at Geezers. She was hired on the spot after bringing in growlers of her own beer, and she left her mark on Geezers in a variety of ways.
For example, Logan was a former history teacher, and she married her love of beer and local lore by naming a few of the beers after her favorite aspects of Tennessee history. Excellent examples of this include “Franklin,” a Kolsch named after the former Appalachian state of Franklin that comprised East Tennessee and North Carolina. Berliner Weisse “Delaney” is named for the Delaney Brothers, Knoxville artists who became recognized for their paintings (elder brother Beuford Delaney is considered one of the greatest abstract painters of the 20th Century). Guests at Geezers are allowed to choose from a variety of simple syrups to add to the traditional Berliner Weisse, effectively adding to the art of the beer itself.
With Logan moving to Chicago, her replacement is a familiar face to those in the Knoxville craft beer world: Chase Campbell, formerly of Printshop Beer Company. A graduate of the Brewing & Distilling Center and former brewer at Smoky Mountain Brewery, Chase will be bringing years of brewing experience and passion to his new role as head brewer at Geezers.
Originally the autobody shop of the old Carmichael Car Showroom, the first Volkswagen dealership in Knoxville, Geezers leans heavily into this identity with their decor. The gears represented in the logo could very well have come from the building’s history, but instead is a nod to the owners love of cycling. The tap handles are also an amalgamation of gears and tools. The garage door, a nod to the building’s past life, opens to a cozy patio tucked up against warm brick walls. Most impressively, a rusty VW Bug erupts from over the tap handles, with a skeleton propped-up behind the wheel.
Reclaimed materials play into the grungy mechanic shop vibe. A collage of license plates touting “865 Local Art Scene” hangs adjacent to the bar. Shelving behind the bar is reclaimed wood from the original Lad & Lass Motorcycle Shop. The eclectic fusion of art and music even carries over to their flight boards, which were hand-crafted by local music artist and friend of the brewery, Steph Cabell, at Bench Wood Dog Shop.
Supporting local artists of all walks is in the DNA of Geezers. A small stage across from the bar hosts local musicians regularly, and bartender Tony Johnson (also a musician by trade) spins records from his own personal collection that would be difficult to find anywhere else. As such, weekly Vinyl Night Nirvana (Wednesdays) gives visitors a chance to enjoy a brew and records spun by Tony himself. Music emanates from custom-made speakers that were refurbished from old suitcases. Influence from The Grateful Dead can be seen in their merchandise, another nod to the “Geezers” moniker. Whereas Geezers in name may lean into the old-school, their fresh takes on traditional beer styles, a dedication to cultivating a vibrant art and music space, and a loyalty to all things local defines Geezers Brewing Company and continues to breathe new life into Knoxville’s thriving craft beer scene.
