There's a new kid on the Memphis craft brew block.
Southern Prohibition Brewery is bringing its beer to Memphis, making ales available beginning this week. The Hattiesburg, Miss.-based brewer chose Memphis for its first foray into Tennessee.
"We chose Memphis because we love what the scene's doing up there," said Southern Prohibition Sales Manager Emily Curry. "We go up there and party every now and then, and it's really starting to just take off."
Starting this week, beer drinkers can find SoPro at a variety of Memphis bars and restaurants including
Mellow Mushroom,
Young Avenue Deli,
Bardog Tavern,
Sweet Grass,
Blind Bear,
Bayou Bar & Grill,
The Second Line and
Flying Saucer. It will be sold retail at
Madison Avenue Growler & Bottle Shop and
The Growler Memphis.
Southern Prohibition was founded in 2013 by Owner Quindy Chunn and Head Brewer Benjamin Green. Its Downtown Hattiesburg microbrewery has the capacity to produce 3,000 barrels a year. SoPro brews are already available throughout Mississippi and in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La.
Over the next several years, Southern Prohibition will look to grow across Tennessee and into surrounding states. Because the company is young--and believes in being involved in the communities in which it operates--that growth won't happen too quickly.
"We don't want to grow so fast that we forget where we came from," Curry said. "We definitely want to make our home in Memphis before we keep going."
The brewer is bringing five offerings to Memphis: Devil's Harvest, an American pale ale; Suzy B, a dirty blonde ale; Mississippi Fire Ant, an imperial red ale; Jack the Sipper ESB ale; and the seasonal Sinister Minister black IPA.
The company will hire a local sales representative in Memphis. The number one job requirement: must love beer, Curry said.
Southern Prohibition has a full slate of events this week to mark its entrance into Memphis, including Wednesday's SoPro Tap Takeover & Sampling at Young Avenue Deli and Thursday's SoPro Launch Party at Blind Bear. Go to
soprobrewing.com for more information and event dates.
Curry said the brewer is thrilled to be here and is ready to "show Memphis, Tennessee, what Mississippi can do."
"We can't wait to hang out with everybody and make new friends in Memphis."
By Jane A. Donahoe
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