Knoxville Brewery Elst Brewing Company Announces Closure

Closed brewery taproom interior

Knoxville Brewery Elst Brewing Company to Close After Five-Year Run

Days are numbered for this Knoxville brewery. But is something cooking behind the scenes? A five-year anniversary party is scheduled Aug. 3 and 4 at Elst Brewing Company. The following day, the Knoxville brewery is scheduled to close.

The Future of Elst Brewing Company

Elst Brewing Company, just west of the Oakwood neighborhood in North Knoxville, will close almost immediately after celebrating its five-year anniversary in August. The future of the brewery is up in the air amid mixed messaging about whether the building, brand or both will have new ownership.

New Ownership Announcement

On July 6, the brewery and taproom announced new ownership on Instagram. Elst will continue to operate its taproom until Aug. 5. Elst is planning several events leading up to the transition, including a five-year anniversary party Aug. 3 and 4. “After five wonderful years of serving this incredible community, we have decided to sell our building and transition to new ownership,” the post reads.

Uncertain Ownership and Brand Transition

It’s unclear whether the owners of the brewery − founded by Shane Todd, Chris Hall, Dan Leonard and Chris Sexton − will be involved in the new concept or whether Elst will continue to exist elsewhere. If Elst were to continue, we don’t know whether the “transition to new ownership” also applies to the brand. A section of the post refers to the new owners as “our new hosts.”

Building Sale and Founder’s History

The brewery building was listed on Commercial Exchange for $1.3 million. A sale was still pending. Elst founders purchased the building in 2017 and began renovating the space to operate the brewery. Their brewing operation began before the Elstwhere Taproom opened in 2019.

Final Words from Elst Brewing Company

“Your support, love, and presence have made Elst a truly special place,” the brewery said in its Instagram post. “However, we have come to the conclusion that now is the right time for us personally to hand over the keys to a group that will bring new effort and energy to the neighborhood.”