About Smoky Mountain Brewery (Maryville)
Most visitors think of Smoky Mountain Brewery as a Parkway stop in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, but the company also runs a brewpub in Maryville at 743 Watkins Road. If you enter the Smokies from the west side or you are staying near Townsend, it saves you the drive into the busiest part of Sevier County.
Why go
Maryville is the Blount County seat, and it is on the route many travelers use to reach Townsend, the quieter gateway to the national park. A brewpub here makes a natural last stop on the way home, or a first stop when you roll into the area and want something simple before you head to the cabin.
The beer is the same lineup the company brews for its other locations. According to the brewery's beer page, the regulars include Mountain Light (a low-carb American light lager), Cherokee Red Ale (a medium-bodied amber), Appalachian Pale Ale (a hoppy golden ale), a Helles, Black Bear Ale (an English-style brown ale), a West Coast IPA and Thunder Road, a honey-colored lager. Dark ales and a Brewmaster Special rotate, and seasonals include Winter Warmer and Harvest Fest, an amber lager in the style of Munich Oktoberfest beer.
Food
The company's food page links the full menu and also lists Pizza Packs and Party Platters. That makes this a practical place to pick up a meal for a group on your way into the hills. Order through the website if you want to skip the wait.
Hours and contact
The Maryville location page lists 11am to midnight every day. The kitchen closes at 11pm Sunday through Thursday and at midnight Friday and Saturday. Holiday hours are listed for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, and the site notes that hours are subject to change. You can reach the restaurant at (865) 238-1900.
The location page does not list a kids menu, tours or beer flights, so ask when you call if any of those matter to you.
Tips for this stop
- Use it as a gateway meal. If you are driving to Townsend or Cades Cove from the Knoxville side, you will likely pass through Maryville.
- If you want to compare, the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge brewpubs serve the same house beers, so a Maryville visit does not mean missing out on a different lineup.
- Another Maryville-area option is Peaceful Side Social, which has a family-friendly beer garden in Townsend.
- Check the website before you go if you are traveling over a holiday, since hours change.
- If you are heading into the park afterward, fill your gas tank and grab water first.