Microbreweries may be chic, but they’re no longer only for a high-brow crowd. Among the few microbreweries in Rutherford County is one affiliated with the MTSU fermentation science program. Cedar Glade Brews is the latest addition to our growing community of local commercial brewhouses. A couple of years ago, I met a friend of mine and one of Cedar Glade’s owners, Jonathan Harmon, at the 2020 Taste of Rutherford.
He and his friends Jerremy Weaver and Elicia Fortner had a booth and invited me to try some of their product. The trio had started the business shortly before I ran into them, and this was one of their first promotions. Previously, they had met each other at a beer festival, where they discussed their fondness for a good home brew. But a few years later, the Cedar Glade Brews proprietors are now the self-proclaimed “Purveyors of Foamy Goodness.”
And foamy goodness it is! Located at 906 Ridgely Rd. in Murfreesboro, the brewery is in a modest building which was at one time a Ford body shop. But if you could imagine an English-style pub in America, this would be it. From the cedar décor to the shelf full of board games, they have created a warm and welcoming family environment. Though the company is primarily a brewery, the establishment also has plenty of tables and chairs where friends can meet up with one another over drinks.
Weaver is currently the chief Cedar Glade brewer. (In the beginning, Skip Webb was also involved in the process but has since stepped away from the business.) I asked him what makes a brewing operation “micro.”
“Technically, we are a pico-brewery. So, we are very small, and make less than a thousand barrels a year,” Weaver said.
But being modest in size doesn’t prevent the brewers from crafting several variations.
“Currently we have 10 beers on tap. We also have four or five small-batch, or specialty brews, that are kegged and ready to tap,” he said.
Harmon added, “Our beers are familiar to what people expect. Our stout tastes like a lot of other stouts, but it’s just a little bit better, in my opinion. We give a little tweak to the recipe, but it’s true to style. If you like Guinness, you are going to love our stout beer. If you like Budweiser, you are really going to love our lager.” The Cedar Glade brand offers a variety of libations and a wide range of flavor. At the time of the interview, it was Cinco de Mayo, and the proprietors had just opened a Mexican-style beer for the occasion.
Excellence in small batches seems to be their business model. Though they have no plans for large-scale distribution of cans and bottles, they would like to see a time when they are in some of the higher-end restaurants in Murfreesboro. So, they have a plan for growth while still maintaining their local flavor.
Creating the product is an interesting process. The large fermentation vessels and other equipment, along with the cooler, take up about a third of their space. As the location was a former body shop, each vat is named after a different model of Ford automobile.
It’s not just about the product, it is also about the people.
“The craft beer industry is a family in and of its own,” Weaver said. “There is no shortage of resources waiting to share information and give feedback. We have learned a lot from others”
They try to remain community-focused but always enjoy making new friends. From time to time, the taproom will have people from other states drop in—travelers seeking out new beverages to try. That starts all sorts of conversations on the appeal of craft beer.
But it need not be Cinco de Mayo or any other special day to visit Cedar Glade Brews. The venue is also available to host events.
To find out more about Cedar Glade, hours of operation and what’s on tap, visit cedargladebrews.com. You can also check out the lineup of food trucks they rotate from day to day, positioned just outside the building.
