Vinyl Tap

Is Vinyl Tap in Nashville Worth Visiting? 

Nashville is certainly known for its bars, so it takes a special kind of establishment to stand out amongst the fray. In my opinion, Vinyl Tap is undoubtedly one of those bars. What is Vinyl Tap and is it worth visiting?

Vinyl Tap is a record store and bar all in one that’s near downtown Nashville. You can do some record shopping, enjoy a beer or cocktail, and maybe see some live entertainment too. It’s quite the happening spot!

If you want to learn all about Vinyl Tap, this is the article for you. Ahead, I’ll delve into the bar’s history, menu, shopping options, the entertainment, and what’s around. By the time you’re done reading, I hope you’ll add this classic Nashville bar to your trip itinerary. 

What Is Vinyl Tap?

Todd Hennick is the founder of Vinyl Tap, which he calls “a lifelong dream” of his. 

A Nashvillian all his life (and a ninth-generation one, at that), Todd got to see live entertainment at all the trademark Nashville venues, including the Ryman, the Starwood Amphitheater, and the Municipal Auditorium.

As a complete audiophile, Todd also knew all the best spots in town for picking up vinyl records, CDs, and cassettes (yes, this was quite a long time ago!), such as the Great Escape, CATS Records, and Tower Records.

After studying electronic media at college and eventually graduating and working an unrelated job, Todd was eager to get back into his passions in a professional capacity. 

His goal was to own a record store of his very own where people could discover the joys of music as he had growing up.

In 2015, when vinyl records were having their latest resurgence, he decided that it was as good a time as ever to make the jump. 

It just so happened that craft beer was having a moment during this year as well so the stars sort of aligned, as Todd says.

By 2016, he proudly opened Vinyl Tap, a place that combines his two loves, music and spirits. 

What Kind of Vinyl Records Are Available at Vinyl Tap?

Are you a fan of vinyl records? I assume yes if you’re interested in heading over to Vinyl Tap. 

Well, you already know how much founder Todd Hennick loves music, so trust me, you’re in good hands here. 

As the Vinyl Tap website says, “Vinyl Tap was created for music fans of all stripes. It’s a hang for lifelong collectors or those just discovering the warmth of vinyl.”

You can find an extensive collection of music here, everything from box sets to 45s and LPs, all of the vinyl variety, of course. 

Every Thursday, Vinyl Tap gets the latest new releases in stock. The Vinyl Tap crew puts together a Spotify playlist ahead of new release Thursday so you can preview what the latest releases are.

The store sells music that crosses the genre bridge seamlessly, so no matter what type of music you like to listen to, you can probably find it at Vinyl Tap.

That includes, as the site says, “that missing collection staple, hard-to-find Brazilian import, or song you heard in that commercial.”

While it’s always best to visit Vinyl Tap in person and do your shopping, if you can’t make it, you can always browse available records on the Vinyl Tap website. 

You can reserve upcoming releases available for preorder or shop current music from the comfort of your hotel room or couch.

Every year, Vinyl Tap hosts Record Store Day at the bar so you can shop limited-edition vinyl records and support record stores as a whole. 

Do you have some old vinyl records that you’ve been hoping to offload? Vinyl Tap will take them if they’re in sellable condition. You can use that money to buy a drink or maybe a round! 

What Is the Bar Menu at Vinyl Tap?

Are you feeling kind of thirsty after perusing the aisles of records at Vinyl Tap? No worries, as you have plenty of ways to quench your thirst here.

Let’s take a look at what’s brewing.

Beer

The extensive selection of beer available at Vinyl Tap suits all tastes. From wheat beer to lager, red ale, and even non-alcoholic beer, you can sip to your heart’s content.

Bottles and Cans

  • Saison De Bois from Yazoo Brewing Company in Nashville
  • White Thai wheat beer from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, which has notes of lemongrass and ginger thanks to its Southeast Asian influence 
  • Thiols from Berkeley, an IPA from Urban South Brewery in Houston, Texas
  • Florida Weisse, a non-alcoholic beer with notes of cranberry, pink guava, and passionfruit from Waunakee, Wisconsin
  • Helix Rising, a 2022 IPA from TrimTab Brewing Co. in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Amber Ale, a medium-bodied red ale from The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery in Farmville, North Carolina
  • Obtain Intellect: PBA, a sour ale with flavors of apricot, blackberry, and peach from The Brewing Projekt in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
  • Mejor Vida!, a Mexica lager from The Brewing Projekt
  • B.A. Belgian-Style Quad Vintage 2020 from Tennessee Brew Works in Nashville
  • Stiegl-Radler Grapefruit shandy with real grapefruit juice from Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg in Salzburg
  • Reissdorf Kolsch from Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen
  • Suburban Beverage, a sour ale from Perennial Artisan Ales in St. Louis, Missouri 
  • Pabst Blue Ribbon lager from Pabst Brewing Company in San Antonio, Texas
  • Montucky Cold Snack, an American lager from Montucky Cold Snacks in Bozeman, Montana
  • Mountain Water Citrus Splash from Hi-Wire Brewing in Asheville, North Carolina
  • Turn West, an American IPA from DuClaw Brewing Company in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Deadhead IPA Series: Looks Like Haze, a New England IPA from DESTIHL Brewery in Normal, Illinois
  • Vision Board Mixed Berry Sour from Crosstown Brewing Company in Memphis
  • Punk IPA non-alcoholic beer from BrewDog in Ellon, Aberdeenshire
  • Stuff of Legend, an imperial stout from Boulevard Brewing Co. in Kansas City, Missouri
  • Oberon Ale, an American pale wheat beer from Bell’s Brewery in Comstock, Michigan
  • Aged Plumbus, a sour saison ale with Byron Gold plums and Ozark Premier from Barrique Brewing and Blending in Nashville
  • Escorpion Negro, a dark ale from Baja Brewing Company in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur
  • Walden’s Ridge, a New England IPA from Albright Grove Brewing Company in Knoxville, Tennessee
  • Zombie Dust, an American pale ale from 3 Floyds Brewing in Munster, Indiana
  • Battle Priest, an American wild ale with fermented Brettanomyces from 3 Floyds Brewing

Cold Drafts

  • Paper Crowns, a New England IPA with citra cyo hops from Xul Beer Co in Knoxville
  • Pernicious, an American IPA from Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville, North Carolina
  • Schnickelfritz, a German wheat beer from Urban Chestnut Brewing Company in Saint Louis, Missouri
  • Yacht to Know Better Sour Ale, a sour fruited ale akin to the classic tequila sunrise from The Black Abbey Brewing Company in Nashville
  • Forty Four Porter, an American porter with coffee-roasted malt from The Black Abbey Brewing Company
  • Irma Gersh, a grainy German pilsner from TennFold Brewing in Nashville
  • Banana Orange Soursop Hill, a sour, fruited beer with soursop, orange, and banana purees from Southern Grit Brewing Company in Nashville
  • Truth, an American IPA from Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Gold Record Kolsch from Rhinegeist Brewery
  • Prism: Ekuanot Cryo + Cashmere, a farmhouse ale and saison from Perennial Artisan Ales in St. Louis, Missouri
  • The Inevitable End, an American IPA with Amarillo, Columbus, Centennial, and Simcoe from Orpheus Brewing in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Space Jorts, an imperial IPA with dry-hopped Simcoe, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Chinook from New Heights Brewing Company in Nashville
  • Big Softy, an American pale wheat beer from Monday Night Brewing in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Hitachina Nest Espresso Stout, a coffee stout from Kiuchi Brewery in Naka-shi, Ibaraki
  • Tectonic, an IPA from Hutton & Smith Brewing Company in Chattanooga
  • Commotion, an American pale ale from Great Raft Brewing in Shreveport, Louisiana
  • Tennessee Sipper, a golden ale from East Nashville Beer Works in Nashville
  • Coors Banquet, an American lager from Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado
  • Rosewood, a dry cider from Brightwood Craft Cider in Nashville
  • Homestyle, a New England hazy IPA with Mosaic from Bearded Iris Brewing in Nashville
  • Beautiful Garden, a French-inspired pilsner from Barrique Brewing and Blending in Nashville
  • Sour Pash, a sour fruited tart beer from Avondale Brewing Co. in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Polotmavy Lezak 12, an amber lager from 2nd Shift Brewing in Saint Louis, Missouri 

Cocktails

If you’re more of a cocktail person, that’s fine too. Let’s take a look at the unique brand of cocktails you can order at Vinyl Tap!

  • Rum’s the Word – sweet vermouth, peach vanilla sage liqueur, Hard Truth rye, and Diplomatico rum
  • Barbados Slim – lime, velvet falernum, Hayman’s London dry gin, and Peyrat cognac
  • Grandma’s Lil’ Fruitcake – Amargo Chuncho, Rainwater Madeira, Villon cognac, and Slivovitz plum brandy
  • Hurdy Gurdy Man – lemon, Lo-Fi dry vermouth, J. Riddle peated bourbon, and Bombay bramble gin
  • The King’s Clambake – lime, passionfruit, Campesino aged rum, and Clement rhum agricole
  • Hepcat – absinthe, orange, and Letherbee autumnal barrel-aged gin
  • ’93 Bronco – orange, rosemary, Amaro Nardini, and Nelson’s greenbrier whiskey
  • Norwegian Wood – pine liqueur, genepy, Dolin Blanc, and Castle and Key harvest gin
  • The Queen’s Gambit – BFB saison, lemon, and Letherbee autumnal 2021 pimm’s 
  • Man on the Moonshine – Brightwood cider, cranberry, allspice, dry curacao, and Saint Luna 

Does Vinyl Tap Have Live Events?

If you want to take in the rich live music scene that Nashville has, Vinyl Tap is one must-visit spot for that. 

You can enjoy Nashville classics (special celebrity guests do sometimes make an appearance at Vinyl Tap events) or listen to up-and-coming talent around Nashville and beyond. 

Most events are Thursday through Sunday with the odd Tuesday live event sprinkled in every now and again.

You can check out the full events calendar on Vinyl Tap’s website. Keep in mind that the calendar is continually updated, so there’s always a reason to come back!

Since alcohol is served during Vinyl Tap’s events, they’re always limited to 21 and over. You often don’t have to pay a cover, but tipping is always appreciated! 

What Is the Address for Vinyl Tap? What Are the Hours?

Vinyl Tap is located on 2038 Greenwood Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37206. 

The hours are Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday to Thursday from noon to midnight, Friday to Saturday from noon to 1 a.m., and Sunday from noon to 11 p.m. 

Vinyl Tap is an all-ages establishment, but you must have a photo ID and be 21 or older to buy or drink alcohol on the premises. 

What’s There to Do Around Vinyl Tap? 

Are you traveling to Nashville, and you’d like to make a trip to Vinyl Tap a part of your larger itinerary? You can end the day with a trip to the bar after visiting these other fine Nashville landmarks. 

Grand Ole Opry

No trip to Nashville is complete without a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. Since the mid-1920s, the Opry has been a country music stage destination for music lovers to congregate.

You can buy tickets to shows or even schedule an Opry House tour to learn more about the storied history of one of the most beloved and popular buildings in all of Tennessee, let alone Nashville! 

Cooter’s Nashville

For a fun afternoon trip, set aside some time to check out Cooter’s Nashville. 

This museum is dedicated to all things The Dukes of Hazzard. You can see relics and memorabilia used on the show, especially all the nice cars. 

Plus, you can reserve a photo op with any of the show’s vehicles for an affordable price!

Shelby Park

Take a stroll, breathe in the crisp air, and get some vitamin D at Shelby Park. 

The park is east of downtown Nashville and offers lovely views of the Cumberland River. With a community center, two golf courses, several baseball fields, a dog park, and playgrounds, the park is a nice place to relax and recharge. 

I Believe in Nashville Mural

If you’re looking for the perfect photo op for your trip, that undoubtedly has to be the I Believe in Nashville mural on 2702 12th Avenue South. The patriotic mural was painted by Adrien Saporiti. 

Lane Motor Museum 

It’s also very easy to get to the Lane Motor Museum from Vinyl Tap. This car museum showcases the best of the best in European motorcycles and cars. 

The selection of vehicles on display is so massive, enough so that no other museum in the United States has more European motorcycles and cars than Lane Motor. You can easily spend the whole day here looking at fine European vehicular craftmanship. 

Should You Visit Vinyl Tap?

Is Vinyl Tap worth adding to your Nashville trip itinerary? In my humble opinion, most definitely!

When you have a lull in your trip planning or you’re looking for some after-hours entertainment, Vinyl Tap is the perfect place to visit. You can enjoy a fine selection of beers, wines, and cocktails and shop the latest vinyl records as well.

Plus, you can check out live music in a cozy, ambient space that also happens to be a beloved Nashville attraction. 

If you have kids and this is a family vacation, then you might want to hold off on stopping by Vinyl Tap, as there’s not a lot for the kiddos, admittedly. For a couple’s trip or a bachelor or bachelorette party, Vinyl Tap is a great little Nashvillian spot. 

Final Thoughts

Vinyl Tap is a Nashville bar/record store with weekly live entertainment. Visiting is a great way to connect to the Nashville music scene while tasting some delicious beverages made by local breweries. Don’t miss the chance to visit!