Here's What's Brewing at Big Machine!

blackstone brewing company’s kent taylor

If you’ve heard of Big Machine Distillery, you probably know us for having the Smoothest Tasting Vodka, Period as well as a variety of high-quality spirits, three distillery locations, and brand partnerships with some of the biggest names in motorsports and the music industry. In addition to these endeavors, we’ve recently ventured into the exciting world of beer, launching Big Machine Beer.

Under the Big Machine Beer brand, we released two products: Big Machine Light and the Nashville IPA. Both are brewed at Nashville’s oldest and most award-winning brewery, Blackstone Brewing Company. We sat down with Blackstone’s co-founder, Kent Taylor, to get the inside scoop about how he started the company and what beer fans should know about Big Machine Beer.

Kent said he first got into the brew pub business in the early 1990s after being “bitten by the beer bug.” After learning from a colleague that brew pubs were legal in the state of Tennessee, Kent saw an opportunity to start one in Nashville along with his partner, Stephanie. They opened the first brew pub in 1994 on West End Avenue in Nashville, later opening the production brewery in 2011 that people are familiar with today. Not only was Blackstone Brewing Company the first of its kind in Nashville, Kent explained that they have set themselves apart because of their “relentless commitment to quality.” 

This commitment to quality has made Blackstone such a great partner for Big Machine Vodka. After being connected with Big Machine Vodka’s Executive Vice President, Mark Borchetta, Kent set out to produce the two Big Machine Beer products that are available today. EVP Mark Borchetta first asked Kent for a light beer, as that was a popular request at Big Machine’s distillery in downtown Nashville. They then expanded into the world of IPAs, creating what’s now known as Big Machine’s “Nashville IPA.” Kent described this beer as a “pleasant and effective entree into the world of hops.”

At the moment, Big Machine Beer is available at our Big Machine Distillery & Tavern in Berry Hill as well as the Big Machine Brewery & Distillery in downtown Nashville, next to FGL House. Make sure to keep an eye on Big Machine Vodka’s Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the latest updates on Big Machine Beer – we’re just getting started!