Memphis Brew Bus Tour with Three Local Breweries & Tastings

Memphis pours more than barbecue sauce. This three-brewery bus tour gives you an easy way to sample the city’s craft beer scene without arranging rides between stops. I like the private transportation and the chance to compare different breweries in one afternoon. I also like that tastings, snacks, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks are included.

The main drawback is timing. The tour is scheduled for about three and a half hours, but one outing ran close to four hours, which left little room for dinner or an evening show. Beer choices and brewery arrangements can also vary, so you should keep your later plans flexible.

Key points at a glance

• Three Memphis breweries in one afternoon: You get a broad look at the local brewing scene instead of committing to one taproom.
• Private transportation from downtown: Meet at 552 S Main Street and let someone else handle the driving.
• Tastings are included: The price covers alcoholic beverages, snacks, bottled water, taxes, and guide services.
• A small group setting: The maximum group size is 20 people, large enough for company but still manageable.
• Fruit-forward and sour beers may be available: The final stop has been praised for offering a wide range, including sours.
• Ghost River may be a highlight: One participant singled out Ghost River as a favorite, though the exact brewery lineup is not guaranteed.

Why this Memphis beer tour works well

I see this as a social afternoon with beer at its center, not a formal brewery school. You ride between three local breweries, sample several beers, and get a guide’s view of Memphis brewing along the way. That makes it useful for someone who wants a taste of the city’s beer culture without spending a full day planning taprooms and transportation.

The price is $64.75 per person, which is fair if you make good use of the included drinks and transport. You are not paying only for a ride. The package also includes a driver, a local guide, snacks, water, tastings, and the convenience of returning to the same downtown location.

I especially like the no-driving setup. Memphis is spread out, and sampling beer at three places can turn a simple afternoon into a transportation puzzle. Here, you can focus on the tasting and the company while the driver handles the road.

The tour has earned a 4.9 rating from 21 posted ratings, with 100 percent recommending it. That is a small sample, so I would not treat it as scientific proof. Still, the strongest pattern is clear: people praise the friendly staff, ample tastings, clean bus, good beer, and relaxed mood.

Meeting at 552 South Main Street

The tour starts at 2:00 p.m. at 552 S Main Street, in downtown Memphis. You return to this same point at the end, which is helpful if you are staying downtown or using nearby public transportation.

I would arrive a little early. The supplied details do not give a separate check-in process or late-arrival policy, so you should not count on the bus waiting if you are delayed. Keep your booking confirmation available on your phone, since the tour uses mobile tickets and confirmation is sent at booking.

The afternoon departure is well chosen for a brewery crawl. It gives you time to have lunch first, then visit three breweries without starting early in the morning. You should still think about the evening. The planned duration is approximately three hours and 30 minutes, but one outing lasted almost four hours.

That extra time may be welcome if you want a relaxed afternoon. It is less helpful if you have tickets for a show or a dinner reservation immediately afterward. I would leave a generous buffer before any fixed evening plan.

The first brewery: settle into the afternoon

The first stop introduces you to the tour’s basic rhythm: arrive by bus, sample local beer, learn a little about the brewery, and then return to the vehicle for the next stop. The exact brewery is not specified in the tour details, so you should not expect a fixed list of stops unless the operator confirms one before departure.

This first visit may be more tasting-focused than tour-focused. On one occasion, the first brewery was not expecting the group and did not provide a brewery guide. That did not ruin the afternoon, but it did make the stop feel less polished.

I would treat this as a useful reminder that small-brewery visits can have a local, working-business feel. The experience is not necessarily a backstage production tour at every stop. You may get a formal explanation at one brewery and a more casual tasting-room visit at another.

The upside is that you can begin sampling without a long lecture. If you are new to craft beer, ask the guide or brewery staff what makes each pour different. If you already know your favorite styles, this is a good time to compare them with something outside your usual order.

The middle stop: compare Memphis brewing styles

The second brewery is where the three-stop format begins to pay off. Instead of judging one taproom in isolation, you can compare its beer with the first stop while your palate is still fresh.

The available information does not identify the second brewery or promise a particular set of beers. That means you should think in terms of variety rather than a guaranteed tasting menu. The selection can change, and some beers may appeal more to you than others.

This is also where the guide adds value. A good guide can connect the beer to Memphis and help you understand why one brewery favors a certain style or flavor. Damon was praised by name for making one tour fun and helping the group meet local brewers. He may not be your guide, but his example shows the kind of friendly, personal tone this experience aims for.

The bus matters here. You can enjoy a beer at the second stop without worrying about who has to remain sober or how to find the next address. That simple arrangement makes the afternoon feel more social. Several people have used the tour for birthdays, anniversaries, family outings, and time with coworkers, which tells me the format works for groups with mixed levels of beer enthusiasm.

The final brewery: more choice, including sours

The last stop may be the strongest part of the afternoon for people who like variety. One outing ended at a brewery with a large selection that included several sour beers. Another person specifically praised Ghost River as a top stop.

I cannot promise that Ghost River will be included on every departure, and the tour does not publish a fixed sequence in the information provided. Still, those details point to an important strength: this is not limited to heavy, bitter beer.

If you usually avoid beer, ask about fruit-forward or sour options. One participant who was not a big beer drinker still enjoyed the afternoon because of those choices. That makes the tour more approachable than a crawl built only around strong ales or traditional lagers.

The final stop also gives you a chance to identify a favorite brewery or style. You may prefer the crisp beer from one stop, the more unusual pour from another, or the wider range at the end. Since the tour includes tastings rather than just brewery visits, you get several chances to make that comparison.

One practical point: ample samples sound generous, but they can add up. Drink the provided water, use the snacks, and pace yourself. The aim is to enjoy three breweries, not to turn the last stop into a contest.

What is included for $64.75

The price includes:

• Three brewery visits
• Alcoholic beverages and tastings
• Private transportation
• A driver and local guide
• Snacks
• Bottled water
• All taxes, fees, and handling charges

That package gives the tour solid value for a visitor who would otherwise need rides between breweries. A lower-priced self-guided plan might be possible, but it would not include the same convenience, guiding, or built-in social setting.

The value is strongest if you are interested in trying several beers rather than buying one drink at one taproom. It is also stronger if you would need a taxi or rideshare between stops. The price is less compelling if you do not drink alcohol or if you would prefer to spend a long time at one brewery.

I would not book this expecting a full meal. Snacks are included, but the tour is not advertised as a food tour. Have lunch before the 2:00 p.m. start, and plan dinner afterward.

Transportation, group size, and comfort

The maximum group size is 20 people. That is not an intimate private tour, but it is still small enough for a guide to keep the group together. The bus was described as clean, and the driver received positive comments.

You also avoid the awkward part of a brewery crawl: deciding who drives. Since the same vehicle carries you between stops and returns you downtown, the afternoon is simple from a logistics point of view.

The tour is offered in English. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The meeting point is near public transportation. The supplied details do not describe the vehicle’s exact accessibility features, so you should ask the operator directly if you need a lift, particular seating, or other assistance.

The social side of the afternoon

The beer is the main reason to book, but the social setting is nearly as important. The format naturally brings together solo participants, couples, families, friends, and coworkers who share an interest in tasting local beer.

I like that the tour can work for different occasions. It has been used for a 21st birthday, a wedding anniversary, and a casual afternoon with friends. A solo participant also praised the guide’s help in navigating the Memphis brewery scene.

That said, this is not the best choice if you want quiet time or a private tasting for your own group. You may share the bus and brewery stops with people you have never met. For many people, that is part of the fun. If you prefer a private experience, check whether Historical Haunts offers a separate option.

The minimum drinking age is 21, and the minimum age for the tour is also 21. Bring valid identification if the operator or brewery requests it. The information provided does not describe nonalcoholic substitutions, so ask before booking if you do not drink.

Timing and the risk of running late

The advertised length is about three hours and 30 minutes. Most people will find that manageable, but you should not schedule an important event immediately afterward.

One tour lasted almost four hours. The delay meant rushing to dinner and an evening show. That issue appears to be an exception rather than the main pattern, but it is still practical information. Brewery service can take longer than expected, a group may linger, or a stop may need extra time to get ready.

I would leave at least an hour, and preferably more, between the expected return and a fixed reservation or performance. If your evening is wide open, the extra time is far less of a concern.

Who should book this Memphis experience?

I would recommend the tour to:

• First-time Memphis visitors who want a local activity beyond the usual sightseeing
• Beer drinkers who want to compare three breweries in one outing
• People who do not want to drive after drinking
• Couples celebrating an anniversary
• Families with all members aged 21 or older
• Friends and coworkers looking for an easy group activity
• Curious non-beer drinkers who may enjoy sours or fruit-forward beers

I would be more cautious if you need a precise schedule, a formal brewery tour at every stop, or a guaranteed list of breweries. The first stop was not always prepared with a guide, and the lineup is not specified in the available details.

The tour is also a poor match for anyone under 21, since the minimum age is firm. If you want a food-heavy Memphis experience, choose something else or add a separate meal before or after the bus ride.

Booking and cancellation details

Confirmation arrives when you book, and you can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 2:00 p.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted.

The activity requires a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels because that number is not reached, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The tour is often booked about 23 days ahead on average. That is not a rule, but it suggests that planning ahead is sensible, especially if your Memphis visit is short.

Should you book the Memphis Brew Bus Tour?

I would book it if you want three local brewery tastings, included transportation, and a friendly afternoon without driving. The strongest features are the variety of beer, the relaxed guide-led format, the clean bus, and the chance to try sours or fruit-forward beers if traditional beer is not your favorite.

I would not book it as a tightly timed evening activity. Leave room for the tour to run long, and remember that the exact brewery lineup and level of formal guiding can vary.

At $64.75, the tour is good value for a drinker who plans to sample at all three stops. It is especially useful for visitors who want a simple introduction to Memphis brewing rather than a self-guided search across town.

FAQ

Where does the Memphis Brew Bus Tour begin?

It begins at 552 S Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 2:00 p.m.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the same meeting point at 552 S Main Street.

How long does the tour last?

The planned duration is approximately three hours and 30 minutes. One outing lasted almost four hours, so leave extra time afterward.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $64.75 per person.

How many breweries does the tour visit?

The tour visits three local Memphis craft breweries.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Alcoholic beverages and tastings are included, along with snacks and bottled water.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The tour includes private transportation, a driver, and a local guide.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 21, and the minimum drinking age is also 21.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.