Michael Waltrip Brewing Opens Signature Bar With Pins & Friends in Bristol

Michael Waltrip Brewing Company is taking a downtown Bristol foothold with a Michael Waltrip Signature Bar inside Pins & Friends Duckpin Bowling at 700 State St., Bristol, TN 37620, the brewery announced on social media and in a news release. The partnership will put MWB beers and branded merchandise into the established entertainment venue and aims to host major race watch parties, season promotions and on-site merchandise sales.

Bryan Sperber, CEO and president of Michael Waltrip Brewing Company, told WCYB that the Bristol move began after "a phone call from a friend of Michael's about the opportunity to come to Bristol." Sperber said he, Waltrip and another partner visited the building, "fell in love with this brewery" and with the community. WCYB also reported MWB traces its start to brewing in Boise, Idaho a few years ago.

Pintsforksfriends describes the space as a Michael Waltrip Signature Floor or Signature Bar that will pair memorabilia and reimagined images from Waltrip's racing career with a full food menu and MWB's "award-winning brews." The outlet names Talladega Light Lager as the flagship and Bristol Sunshine Tangerine Ale as a refreshingly bold option that will be part of the offering. Pintsforksfriends also ties the Signature Floor concept to BPH Hospitality, which operates Hank Williams Jr.'s Boogie Bar and other Nashville concepts, and says BPH has scheduled a March 12 premiere for a third-floor Signature Floor at one venue.

Operational details in WCYB's coverage list public hours for the Bristol site as weekdays 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and weekends 11:00 a.m. to midnight. WCYB further reports that beer made in Bristol will be distributed in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, "with plans to expands." Supertalk929 highlights planned race-watch programming and special promotions during the season and describes the Bristol concept as a condensed version of Michael Waltrip Brewing that still gives the Daytona 500 winner prime space on State Street.

Public reporting on timing and the company's Moore Street footprint contains conflicting accounts. Supertalk929 says MWB exited a Moore Street location after a lease expired and plans a grand opening during the week of the Food City 500 in April. WCYB, by contrast, states the Moore Street location is now open to the public and lists a grand opening celebration set for September 15 during Bristol's Race Week. WJHL confirms MWB's partnership with Pins & Friends at 700 State St. but supplied no opening date in its news release excerpt.

For media inquiries Pintsforksfriends directs reporters to LinkedIn for Bryan Sperber and to the Michael Waltrip Brewing Company website for further contact and updates. The Pins & Friends partnership secures a visible downtown Bristol address for Michael Waltrip Brewing at 700 State St., positioning the brand for a racing-season push that includes watch parties, memorabilia displays and named MWB pours on draft.