Leaf & Ale – Selling craft beer since ’97!

“The finer things in life don’t necessarily need to be expensive,” is what Mike Nelson replied when we asked for the inspiration behind Leaf & Ale. As you look across the store, you’ll find top notch cigars, pipe tobacco, coffee and multiple coolers with craft and import beer – some of life’s finer things and he’s right, they aren’t expensive. If you’re a Knoxville native or have been here a while, you’re probably familiar with Leaf & Ale. For a long time, this was one of a handful of places in Knox-vegas where you could find craft and import beer. For those of us who enjoy a good cigar every once in a while it’s one of those places that immediately comes to mind.

Mike was a sales manager for New Knoxville Brewing Company under its first iteration back in 1996. A little more than a year later he went out on his own as he saw an opportunity in Knoxville for a store that specialized in a good selection of craft and import beer. At the time, The Fresh Market was one of the best places to find beer of such caliber. While at a beer festival in Cincinnati during his time with New Knoxville he won some cigars and it was then that he saw beer and cigars were a good fit. In September of 1997 Leaf and Ale was born.

As you walk into the store the scent of tobacco immediately meets your nose and the coolers of beer are in front and to your left. Now Mike will tell you straight up that he likes beer, plain and simple. Judging by the amount of selection we believe this is more than a “like”. While you can’t drink your beer onsite you do have the ability to walk in the well-stocked humidor and grab a cigar or pick some pipe tobacco from over 20 different flavors, head over to the fridge, grab a sixer and get the weekend started or Tuesday if that’s your thing. If you so desire, on the far right is a seating area with high back leather chairs, a TV and usually one or two gentlemen who will be glad to start a conversation over a smoke or two.

If you haven’t tried out Leaf & Ale, I’d encourage you to do so. Mike is always looking for good beer to add to his already wide selection and he not only knows his beer, but is a tobacco-expert. He’s also well versed in the beer history of fabulous Knox-vegas. Great guy, great shop. Snob approved.

Don’t know where it is – no problem – think Kingston Pike and Cedar Bluff – just barely west of the intersection. Here’s a map if you need it.

Cheers!