Brewery
Unclaimed profileBarrelhouse by Gypsy Circus
Knoxville, TN · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Barrelhouse by Gypsy Circus is a brewery and wild cider barrelhouse—one of only five such exclusive barrelhouses in the US—where the beverage program leans on local craft beer, house-made pommeau, and a compact wine list. Thirteen guest taps pour beers from Clinch River, Atomic City, Yee-Haw, and MoCo. The cocktail side runs to canned and frozen options, while non-alcoholic drinkers get kombucha and a non-alcoholic IPA. Gypsy Circus has been named Tennessee Cider Producer of the Year three times.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Tennessee Pommeau, a house-made collaboration with PostModern Spirits using Tennessee Brandy and fresh pressed apple juice, served in a 4oz pour. For beer, the Atomic Rhino Helles Bock or Clinch River Monster Scottish Export Ale are solid local drafts.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Beer drinkers who want a deep local tap list, fans of cider and wild fermentation, and anyone seeking a non-alcoholic option that goes beyond soda.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- It is one of only five exclusive wild cider barrelhouses in the US, focusing on Lambics and wild cider strains, and it makes its own pommeau—a brandy-and-apple-juice spirit—including a Tennessee Pommeau collaboration with PostModern Spirits.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
The cocktail program is built around canned and frozen options rather than a full craft cocktail bar. Canned choices include Negroni, Margarita, Peach Bellini, Lime Rickey, and Blackberry Sangria; frozen options cover Strawberry Margarita, Tropical Rum Punch, and Classic Margarita. Shot-style drinks round out the section.
Menu strengths
- — Dedicated Apéritif/Cocktails section with canned, frozen, and shot-style options
- — St. Agrestis Phony Negroni Cocktail in a 12oz bottle offers a non-alcoholic cocktail choice
Standout selections
- — Negroni, a canned cocktail; St. Agrestis Phony Negroni Cocktail, a non-alcoholic bottled cocktail in a 12oz bottle
- — Negroni — Canned cocktail.; Margarita — Canned cocktail.
Wine
A small, curated wine list lists five wines by the glass or split. Meiomi Pinot Noir, Joseph Carr Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Clean Slate Riesling, and Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay are each served as a 5oz glass, while Cavit Lunetta Prosecco Brut is offered as a split.
Menu strengths
- — Five wines available by the glass or split, covering red, white, and sparkling
- — Includes a Prosecco split for a smaller-format sparkling option
Standout selections
- — Meiomi Pinot Noir, served as a 5oz glass
- — Cavit Lunetta Prosecco Brut, served as a split
Beer
The beer program centers on thirteen guest taps pouring local craft beer from breweries including Clinch River, Atomic City, Yee-Haw, and MoCo. Styles range from Scottish Export Ale and New England IPA to Mexican Lager, Helles Bock, Kentucky Common, and Japanese Rice Lager. Bottle and can service includes Lit Lite Lager.
Menu strengths
- — Thirteen local craft beers on guest taps with a wide range of styles
- — Featured breweries include Clinch River Brewing, Atomic City Brewing Company, Yee-Haw Brewing Company, and MoCo Brewing Project
Standout selections
- — Clinch River Monster Scottish Export Ale, 5.5% ABV, 29 IBU, Clinch River Brewing; 16oz draft
- — Tropical Fallout IPA - New England, 9% ABV, Atomic City Brewing Company; 10oz draft
Nonalcoholic
Non-alcoholic options include Trail Pass IPA Non-Alcoholic by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. At 0.5% ABV in a 12oz can, plus a local kombucha section with Blueberry Basil Frog Juice Kombucha and Fruity Booty Frog Juice Kombucha in 16oz cans. Blueberry Juniper Hard Kombucha by Walker Brothers is listed at 5% ABV.
Menu strengths
- — Offers both non-alcoholic beer and local kombucha options
- — Trail Pass IPA Non-Alcoholic provides a 0.5% ABV beer alternative
Standout selections
- — Trail Pass IPA Non-Alcoholic, 0.5% ABV, 35 IBU, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.; 12oz can
- — Blueberry Basil Frog Juice Kombucha — 16oz can.
Spirits
The spirits program features house-made pommeau and brandy-based spirits. Cinnamon Pommeau is a cinnamon-infused applewine brandy at 20% ABV in 4oz pours, and Tennessee Pommeau is a collaboration with PostModern Spirits using Tennessee Brandy and fresh pressed apple juice. Shot-style spirits include Brandy Alexander and Irish Cream.
Menu strengths
- — House-made pommeau and brandy-based spirits offer a distinctive local product
- — Tennessee Pommeau is a collaboration with PostModern Spirits using Tennessee Brandy and fresh pressed apple juice
Standout selections
- — Cinnamon Pommeau, cinnamon-infused applewine brandy, 20% ABV, 4oz pour
- — Tennessee Pommeau, PostModern Brandy & apple juice, 20% ABV, 4oz pour
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.