hard truth distilling co.
From a Bold Vision to Reality
~ story and photos by Chrissy Alspaugh
Jeff McCabe, co-founder.
A
small dream that turned into a bold vision is becoming reality for Hard Truth Distilling Co.
Once a humble craft brew pub in downtown Nashville, the company is now more than halfway toward its ultimate goal: distribution in all 50 states.
Becoming a powerhouse in the spirits industry in 15 short years wasn’ t luck or accident. It was three founders whose minds were fixed from the beginning on creating a national brand.
“ You always have to have one foot on the ground and one foot in the clouds,” said Jeff McCabe, co-founder.
When Big Woods Brewing Company opened in 2009, their firm footing was Tim O’ Bryan’ s homebrew beer recipe that sold out daily, said McCabe, Tim’ s father-in-law. The pair partnered with Ed Ryan to launch the brewpub.
A rhythm began for the next several years— expanding brewing operations, still struggling to keep pace with demand, and repeat. Big Woods Pizza opened a block away from the original pub in 2011. In 2012, the company opened a facility
16 Our Brown County • Jan./ Feb. 2025