Celebrity Chef Maneet Chauhan Calls Franklin Home

Mantra Artisan Ales

Celebrity Chef  and Food Network star Maneet Chauhan is really busy these days. She recently opened her first restaurant Chauhan Ale & Masala House, published her first cook book Flavors of My World: A Culinary Tour Through 25 Countries and her latest project is a craft brewery called Mantra Artisan Ales, located in the former Turtle Anarchy building in Franklin. It makes sense that her latest project is located in Franklin as she, her husband and two children call Franklin home.

You may recognize Chef Chauhan from Food Network where she appears as a celebrity judge on the show “Chopped” and she has appeared as a judge on the show “Worst Cooks in America.”

Chef Maneet Chauhan partnered with award-winning Brewmaster Derrick Morse, formerly of Cool Springs Brewery, to launch Mantra Artisan Ales.  Morse tells of a chance meeting between himself and Chauhan in parking lot which led to them signing a lease three weeks later. Morse refers to the company as truly a family operation and labor of love. Chauhan’s husband, Vivek Deora, at the helm for growth and business development, and Morse’s wife Kaleigh heading up the taproom. The strategic partnership also includes Chad Frost who has trained with and will be working alongside Brewmaster Morse.   Mantra

Once you step inside the building you can see how attention to detail has been taken to make it in the words of Kaleigh, ” a hub in the community” from the warm colors on the wall to lighting. The taproom has a modern yet warm and inviting rustic look with furniture designed by Jeff Estes of 5 String Furniture, and the family-friendly feel is welcoming for all ages.

“My husband and I have dreamed about opening a brewery for years,” said Chauhan. “Beer is the perfect complement to Indian food and while being a chef has great impact on how we are pairing spices and flavors at Mantra, it’s the genius of Derrick’s master brewing skills that is bringing our ideas to life.”

“It has been a blessing to work with such a talented team,” said Morse. “Our goal at Mantra is to produce creative and distinctive beers that set us apart from others in the industry and we are thrilled to finally share our product with craft beer lovers.”  Some flavors in the Japa you might recognize as they are using Chai spices from Savory Spice Shop in Franklin.

Mantra Artisan Ales will produce the following six beers to be year-round staples available at the taproom:

Saffron IPA, an American style IPA (6.2% ABV)
Amour Rouge, a Flanders style red ale (6.2% ABV)
Japa, a milk chai stout (6.0% ABV)
Avec Moi, a Belgian style sour ale (4.7% ABV)
Battleground Farmhouse Ale, a saison wit blend (5.1% ABV)
Nouveau, a Belgian style amber (6.2% ABV)

The Mantra taproom boasts 24 taps featuring the six core offerings supplemented by a large variety of seasonal ales as well as specialty sodas and a nitro coffee tap. Chef Chauhan will offer a hand-selected assortment of edible treats from the “Global Munchies Snack Bar.” A food menu created by Chef Chauhan to perfectly pair with Mantra beers is expected rollout in early 2016.

The opening of the taproom also marks the beginning of Mantra’s distribution rollout. Best Brands Inc., a fourth generation family-owned distribution company based in Nashville, will be distributing Mantra throughout Tennessee, taking on its first craft beer brand. Four flavors will be available on draft in 2015 at select bars and growler-filling stations in Middle Tennessee including the Saffron IPA, Japa, Battleground Farmhouse Ale, and Nouveau with the release of Amour Rouge and Avec Moi in January 2016. Additionally, the Saffron IPA, Avec Moi and Amour Rouge will be available in 12-ounce bottle six-packs at select Tennessee liquor stores in January 2016.

Mantra Artisan Ales is located at 216 Noah Drive,Franklin. Hours of operation are Wednesday-Friday from 3pm-9pm and Saturday noon-9pm.

 

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