Xul Beer Company, which recently finalized the acquisition of Fanatic Brewing’s production facility, has added another prestigious honor to its growing list of accolades. The brewery, which has been expanding its operations in Knoxville, earned recognition in two categories in USA TODAY’s 10BEST People’s Choice poll.
Xul’s Kill the Lights Fest secured third place in the competition for best beer festivals, trailing behind Georgia’s Suwanee Beer Fest and Pittsburgh’s Barrel & Flow Fest. The festival, which launched in 2022, quickly gained a reputation among beer enthusiasts. Last year, it finished fourth in the same poll, just behind the renowned Great American Beer Festival in Colorado.
Xul’s Don’t Answer the Phone IPA, featured as part of the brewery’s “Attack of the Killer 4-Pack” Halloween series, won top honors for best beer label, outlasting 19 other finalists. Co-owner Brad West expressed gratitude to the public for their support, acknowledging the strong local following the brewery has cultivated. He credited the label’s designer, Justin Kamerer, for the IPA’s success, calling him “incredibly talented.”
Founded four years ago, Xul’s flagship taproom is located at 213 E. Fifth St., with additional locations in Hardin Valley and the newly acquired Fanatic Brewing facility at 2735 N. Central St. While there are no immediate plans to open a taproom at the new facility, it is expected to significantly increase production capacity. West hopes to double the brewery’s output, aiming to reach 10,000 barrels in the next year, up from 5,000 barrels in 2024.
In other exciting developments, Xul is preparing for its annual PB&J Mixtape Day on March 29, where six variants of its popular PB&J sour beer will be featured. The event will also include food trucks and guest beers. Last year’s event drew 650 attendees before opening, demonstrating the brewery’s growing fanbase.
Xul is also moving all of its sour production, including the PB&J Mixtape, to the Fanatic facility in the coming months. This expansion is expected to help meet increasing demand, as the brewery has faced challenges in keeping up with sales.
“We just can’t make nearly enough to satisfy it all right now,” said West. “That’s what this expansion is all about.”
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