Drop a pin on the virtual map and the top on that convertible. Mississippi is now home to a multitude of state-of-the-art craft breweries in every region of the state. We visited three innovative taprooms in towns from north Mississippi to the Coast for a taste of modern craft brewing served with a side of our state’s signature hospitality. What we discovered is that you don’t have to be a hophead or speak beer-enthusiast lingo to experience what’s brewing or on tap, which may include espressos and cocktails, too!
📍Oxford
Circle and Square
College Town Cool
Half a mile in either direction, there’s the Circle on the Ole Miss campus and The Square downtown, hence the clever name of this modern college town brewpub, Circle & Square, Oxford’s first microbrewery. Coffee shop by morning and bustling taproom eatery day into night, Circle & Square has thought of everything—even the entire family. From shots of espresso with whole-roasted beans by Laurel’s Manuscript Coffee pulling with breakfast burritos by 7 a.m. to kids playing board games and noshing on Griddle Dogs by lunchtime, there’s much more beyond the craft beer. The mantra here is Sip Cold Beer, a nod to our great state, with a rotating lineup of beers made on-premise, from the Delta Drift, a West Coast IPA, to the Hot & Hazy in the India Pale Ale style. Oxford Canteen is behind the delicious, elevated barroom bites and hot, hearty sandwiches, and Bar Muse has created craft cocktails on tap, too! Margaritas meet cool branded merch for sale in a modern taproom experience. It’s just smart, local, and fun. Take home pint-size cans of Circle & Square from the cooler before you close that tab to enjoy Oxford-brewed craft beers by the pool all summer.
100 Depot St., Oxford
Open daily, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
662.205.0128 or circleandsquare.beer
📍Jackson
Fertile GroundBeer Co.
Hipster Hotspot
Tucked back in Belhaven Town Center, a charming new development just beyond The Manship restaurant off State Street, lies Fertile Ground Beer Co., the Capital City’s innovative brewery and contemporary taproom. The entrepreneurial spirit and mission to cultivate community through craft beer is palpable at Fertile Ground, which just celebrated two years as Jackson’s only brewery. There’s a vibe here that’s altogether artsy neighborhood meets thoughtful development. Think block parties, weekly 5K jogs with fellow Jacksonian neighbors, and food trucks slinging hot pizzas and bites on the regular. Fertile Ground is a gathering place and after-hours meeting hub. Dog friendly, you’ll meet summer road trippers pit-stopping on the patio and locals alike coming out for a pull of what’s on tap in the rotating lineup. Inside, there’s a full spectrum of crafted beers, from a German-style pilsner and a Mexican lager to crispy ales, hoppy IPAs, and interesting sours. “Roll away the dew” with the Forgotten Space, a dry-hopped IPA, or sip a classic Irish ale that pays homage to Jackson’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade. Membership in the Terra Firma Society provides discounts and members-only access to exclusive beer releases. Fertile Ground cultivates community, and that’s enough reason to raise your pint glass.
800 Manship, Suite 101, Jackson
Open Monday to Thursday, 3-9 p.m.; Friday, 1-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 12-7 p.m.
fertilegroundbeer.com
📍Gulfport
Chandeleur Island Brewing Co.
Boat-ready Brews and Burgers
Headed to a Gulf Coast beach on summer vacay? Detour into downtown Gulfport for lunch at the Chandy Taproom to get up close and personal with Chandeleur Island Brewing, one of Mississippi’s most high-profile breweries. Belly up to the rustic bar with laid-back Coastal vibes and order a flight to taste six of Chandeleur’s latest and greatest, from hazy IPAs to one of their unique sours. It’s a full-service restaurant with locals rolling in off the waters from a morning of catching speckled trout, a live music scene on weekends, and events aplenty. Share the Deviled Eggs, Korean Bites, or the Charcuterie Board, all with recommended beer pairings. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on the Freemason Burger. With double patties and American cheese, it’s exceptionally juicy and a manageable size served with pork skins or tots. Beyond the crafted beers, Chandeleur (pronounced like the light fixture) has added an entire cocktail menu, starting with a Chandy’s Shandy made with Mississippi-distilled Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka. There are more crafted cocktail options from the housemade Shoalwater Bay Margarita, a Basil Hayden Manhattan, and the Coast Roast, a local variation on the Espresso Martini. Brewery tours are available most Saturdays by request and via a reservation.
Chandeleur Island Brewing Company, 2711 14th St., Gulfport
Open daily Monday to Thursday, 1-9 p.m.; Friday, 12-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
228.701.9985, chandeleurbrew.com
