AT&T Field
Team: Chattanooga Lookouts
Affiliate: Cincinnati Reds (Double A)
Ballpark Basics: A ballpark celebrating its last year before the team moves to new digs!
Key Stats:
Parking: Aside from some limited handicapped parking there is no on-site parking option for this downtown park. There are options for street parking, and nearby parking garages with gameday rates that start at $5.
Seats in the Shade: Very limited shade for day games can be found in the highest rows near the luxury boxes. Hopefully this will be improved when the new stadium opens.
AT&T Field sits high atop a hill overlooking the Tennessee River. A hill so steep that they actually have an escalator to help people traverse it. Once to the top, however, the view is worth it. Chattanooga is known for their hills, or should we say mountains, with the team being named after nearby Lookout Mountain.
The main gate opens up to the main concourse that sits behind the seating bowl. You need to climb yet another set of steps to reach the seating bowl. A walkway divides the seating into two sections. The lower section has seats with seatbacks while the upper section has a mix of seats with seatback and bleacher seating with suites sitting above the upper section. An interesting part of the seating bowl is how it surrounds the field. It runs all the way down the right field line but then stops short at third base on the left field side.
Best Spot for Beer: The nice thing about the seating bowl ending at third base is that it allows space for public areas. Right past the seating you will find the Beer Hut with the best selection in the ballpark with multiple can options. On the concourse near the Beer Hut is also a stand with multiple taps from local breweries. There is a Beer Garden in the left field corner of the concourse to cap off this section of AT&T Field.
The Chattanooga Lookouts have been around in one form or another since 1909 and have a long and storied history (and one of the best logos in baseball). With all of this history it was we were surprised at the lack of history throughout the park. No banners or murals to highlight important moments in team history or former players. There were very limited highlights of the team or its history throughout the park. Two cool aspects not in the park that highlight the team’s history in the city are the Lookouts Trolly that travels throughout downtown and an old mural (that looks like it was recently touched up) in downtown Chattanooga.
While AT&T Field may not have the historic significance of its predecessor, Engel Stadium, where Lou Gerig and Babe Ruth once played, we enjoyed our visit. The ballpark is walkable (or trollyable) from downtown and has great views. With this being the final season to enjoy a game it is worth the trip if you are in the area.
Chattanooga, Tennessee might not be on your list of mid-sized cities to visit, but that’s your fault for overlooking it. Surprisingly bustling, Chattanooga is home to a variety of vibrant neighborhoods, one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges**, and no shortage of breweries. We ended up in Chattanooga on a last minute re-route of a trip and ended up wishing we’d had more time to explore. Same goes for the breweries, there’s a lot more on our to-do list, but here were two of our faves.
Hutton & Smith
Brew Basic: What appears to be a smaller taproom actually has a lot to offer.
Key Stats:
Good for Groups: It’s actually a pretty small place, better to stick with a small group; but there is a room rental option if the opportunity presents.
Food: No kitchen on site, which is why your dog can be.
Dogs: They actually call themselves a “cat bar” but yes, you can bring your dog.
Gives off a curated man cave vibe. Housed in a brick garage with ropes, axes and hatchets as main points of decor, large steel tanks, and a big leather couch as a seating option. It gives “hanging out in your best friend’s garage”. There’s a red brick L shaped bar back, which houses the swag shop on the shorter side. Stools lining the bar are the same light wood as the tables and bartop, and mug club glasses on the ceiling. Chalkboard slates highlight the current tap choices and a myriad of other notes and upcoming events.
While the taproom may not be the largest space, it keeps it cozy and friendly. Due to a second larger brewhouse they also have they actually have a pretty solid distribution and can be found in Tennessee, Alabama and parts of Georgia. They’ll customize their cans for your special event and if you’re just getting started and in need of a canning line, you can work with them to use theirs.
Brew Breakdown:
They offer tasters, growlers, and six-packs, and if you time it right -or just check their Instagram- you can often find $3.50 pints. We did, and ended up going three for three (dollars)…
Resurgence IPA (6.7% ABV) Opaque like orange juice, but not as yellow. Ring of lacing circles the glass and the aroma is pineapple, hops and orange. The smell is light but the mouthfeel is thick and overall this beer is chewy. The taste has a tropical front, but ends more hazy, in line with the chewiness.
The Promenade (6.7% ABV) Similar ABV to the Resurgence IPA, and similar dark pineapple/orange juice color that takes you back to the days of drinking 5Alive. Though less opaque than the first, it is still a hazy pour. More citrusy than tropical in taste, and the smell too is stronger, and much more bitter. Overall, this bitterness doesn’t come through in the palate until the aftertaste, which dissipates quickly and the citrus remains.
Nitro Vadose Zone Vanilla Stout (5.5% ABV) Brown chocolate color and smells like milk sugars. The taste is a compilation of nutty flavors that ends on a vanilla wave.
431 East Martin Luther King Blvd #120
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Five Wits
Brew Basic: Five Wits does it all pours, pub and pickleball.
Key Stats:
Good for Groups: Of course
Food: Five Wits Table & Tap and Taco El Vez are available for lunch and dinner, and there’s even Eggman Bagelry if you’re more of a morning person.
Dogs: Yes, on the covered outdoor patio.
A large building with a curated “modern rustic” feel. There are concrete floors and many rooms inside that are each their own space. The main entrance to the brewery space is inside but has large windows, brick and a colorful mural all facing out to some of the other spaces. The walls are reclaimed wood, mostly natural in color but with pops of blues and oranges. Large wagon wheel size circles serve as chandeliers throughout and the lights above the bar hang from rope circled around an exposed wood beam. Garage style windows open to a half wall and there’s a large porch too.
Available for parties and host to concerts, Five Wits has one restaurant serving breakfast, another for lunch and dinner and pickleball courts available for reservation. With all that going on, they still find time to keep a large brewery running and had at least 13 taps that we were able to count. They offer flights so we tried a few:
Brew Breakdown:
Hop Splash Pale Ale (5.2% ABV) – A standard pale ale with a dry Chinook backbone. Light yellow with a floral bouquet. The hops that build through mid sip make it a little sharp but it ends floral and a slightly fruity; remaining smooth while strongly hopped. A solidly flavored beer but thinner and less interesting when compared to the others on our list.
Hazy Trails Hazy IPA (5.2% ABV) – Cloudy, and the only one we tried with long lasting frothiness. The taste started soft but got chewier as the beer warmed. Fairly juicy, it has a sweet citrusy aroma and there is a pineapple-banana palate with hop notes from start to finish.
Lil’ Dunkling (5.6% ABV) – German Dunkel with a ruby brown color and a full bouquet with bready maple and spiced notes. Lil’ Dunkling tastes malty, ends peppery and has enough spice that it could be a Christmas beer. Very flavorful but balanced and moderately carbonated.
Freida Kettle Sour (6.2% ABV) – Iced tea in color, this strawberry-pineapple sour smells like strawberries, starts sour and ends still puckery but with a very fruit forward finish. Though thin in viscosity, Freida is still more in the smoothie style of fruited sours; juicy without any hop bitterness or haze.
1501 Long Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408