E-Malt.com News article: USA, TN: Elkmont Exchange Brewery scheduled to launch in late 2017

Internationally recognized brewmaster and Knoxville native Alex Violette and lifelong friend and executive chef Ryan Davenport plan to open Elkmont Exchange Brewery and Eating House in late 2017, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported on March 8.

Elkmont Exchange will occupy a 10,000-square-foot building that formerly was home to Rentals Rentals at 745 N. Broadway.

Violette has a biochemistry degree from Maryville College and began his brewing career at Smoky Mountain Brewery shortly after graduation. Violette moved to Colorado, where he worked his way up to head brewer at Upslope Brewing Company in Boulder. He also opened the Pasteur Street Brewing Company in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Davenport grew up in Knoxville and began his career at Magnolia’s in Charleston, S.C. Davenport worked as a sous chef at Nashville’s Flyte and, in 2015, joined Violette in Ho Chi Minh City. Davenport is currently keeping his skills sharp at Emilia in Market Square.


08 March, 2017