AS YOU push open the door of Ole Shed Brewing Company, you’re not just entering a brewery but stepping into the heart of small-town camaraderie and the embodiment of Southern hospitality. The inviting scent of malt and hops welcomes you into a space that feels like a rustic, small-town bar establishment. This experience is bound to leave you wanting to make it a regular part of your weekend outings with friends and loved ones or as a solo retreat. The brewery’s kind staff members strive to cater to every customer’s palate, offering a diverse range of beers, from fruit-flavored seltzers and light brews like Honey Do Golden Ale to the bold flavors of whiskey barrel-aged creations, sure to captivate even the most adventurous craft beer enthusiasts.
“Ole Shed has always and will always embrace our small-town roots. Our goal is for every customer to be greeted with hospitality, kindness, and gratitude rarely found in today’s fast-paced world. We are a true hometown brewery the community can be proud of,” said Mike Thornburg, the brewery’s owner.
The space radiates the charm of its namesake. The “Ole Shed” itself, with its rustic allure and comforting ambiance, transports you to a place that feels more like a friend’s backyard gathering than a brewery.
Born and raised on a farm in Indiana, Thornburg’s love for hard work and dedication led him to become the co-owner of the community treasure we know as Ole Shed Brewing Company.
“Back then,” he reminisced, “we learned the value of a good day’s work and the importance of community.”
These values laid the foundation of his approach to brewing some of the best craft beer you’ll ever taste. Thornburg’s corporate job brought him and his family to Tennessee. Here, he traded the familiarity of farm life for a corporate job. But his yearning for something more, something closer to his agricultural roots, never left him.
In 1994, he found himself brewing beers in the humble space of his backyard shed. There, alongside his neighbor and friend, Mike Ramsey, they sowed the seeds of Ole Shed Brewing Company.
“In 2011, our hobby turned into a business idea. After a beverage distributor tasted our beer, my partner and I decided to establish our brewery and had to quickly come up with a business name,” Thornburg said.
“We talked to my son, Josh, and he told us it was a no-brainer that our brewery should be named ‘Ole Shed Brewing Company.’ In 2011, with the help of our families, my partner and I became owners of Ole Shed in our hometown of Tullahoma, Tennessee.”
Today, Ole Shed stands proudly as the first and only brewery in Tullahoma, with plenty of space for activities. Folks can bask in a warm and welcoming space and enjoy live music and exceptional beer inside the taproom, the Ole Shed, or under the tent in the lush beer garden. The beer garden is complete with shaded tents and picnic tables, offering a relaxed escape under the sky.
Ole Shed Brewing uses a 15-barrel brewhouse, churning out 465 gallons of beer per brew day. The fun starts with the grain bill — a blend of malted and roasted barley, topped off with wheat and rye grains.
After a one-hour mash at 152 degrees, the resulting wort (unfermented beer) journeys to the boil kettle, where Thornburg adds hops in stages to balance the beer. Following a vigorous boil, the cooled wort is transferred to fermenters where yeast works its magic, and sugars create ethel alcohol over three weeks. The finished beer then awaits packaging and distribution, ready for craft beer connoisseurs to enjoy.
With Ole Shed comes the spirit of small-town hospitality. Aside from providing the best bar experience in town, the brewery goes the extra mile by actively contributing to the community through donations to local first responders, Toys for Tots, and various civic groups in Tullahoma and surrounding areas.
Looking ahead, Ole Shed prepares to expand even more. The company is currently looking at a new location in the Tullahoma Industrial Park, promising increased production capacity, more seating, and even more space for community events. But through all the changes, one thing remains constant: Thornburg’s commitment to his community and his deeply rooted passion for brewing.
So, the next time you find yourself in Tullahoma, do yourself a favor and head to Ole Shed. You might find yourself not only enjoying a delicious craft beer but also experiencing the warmth and hospitality of a true small-town gem and the story of a man who turned his passion into a community cornerstone. GN
