There's more to drink at the Derby—and around Louisville—than mint juleps.
We all know that Louisville, Kentucky is the land of bourbon, and the mint julep is the drink of choice for the Kentucky Derby, which its having its 150th anniversary on May 4 at Churchill Downs. But the city is also known for some great breweries. In fact, it was once a great beer city known for a special type of beer called Kentucky Common, a dark ale style that’s rarely brewed today. (If you are looking for Kentucky Common in Louisville, Apocalypse Brew Works in Louisville occasionally makes one of the original recipes and will have it on draught, and Dreaming Creek Brewery from Richmond, Kentucky makes a Kentucky Common that can be found at local Total Wine retailers.)
If you’re visiting Louisville for the Run for the Roses or any time throughout the year, check out these breweries and beer bars that celebrate great craft beer.
Against the Grain's Public Houses have two locations- one downtown and one near the Original ... [+]
Against The Grain Brewery
One of the most well-known breweries in Louisville is Against the Grain (AtG for short). With wacky labels and some in your face names like “Citra Ass Down,” AtG has two tasting rooms in Louisville: one near the Original Highlands area and one downtown. Their beer is widely available throughout Louisville and out of state as well.
Mile Wide Beer Co.
Mile Wide sells a huge variety of beers to suit all tastes from dark lagers to sours to a plethora of hoppy options so there’s something for everyone. Started by three friends and housed in an old biscuit factory, Mile Wide’s tasting room also has board games and classic arcade games plus pinball machines to keep the good times rolling. The brewery is conveniently located between downtown and the Original Highlands neighborhood.
While Monnik Beer Co's focus is on European styles, they also brew a bunch of hoppy options. There ... [+]
Monnik Beer Co.
Monnik Beer Co., located in the Schnitzelburg neighborhood, makes some excellent European-inspired beers. A brewing friend of mine raved about their saison and Italian pilsner. Monnik is the Dutch word for “monk,” and they also have an on-site restaurant.
Shippingport Brewing Company
Shippingport is an all women-owned brewery that opened in 2021 in the Portland section of Louisville. A community-focused brewery with over 100 five-star reviews on Google, the taproom beer list has a variety of beer styles from German style kolsch to West Coast pilsner (and even hard kombucha!). Shippingport also makes sandwiches on site.
Atrium's Prospect, KY taproom is their second tasting room and is a great place to visit if you want ... [+]
Atrium Brewing
Atrium Brewing has a lively tasting room in the Germantown section of Louisville and makes great hazy IPAs, hype fruited sours and crispy lagers. Atrium opened in September of 2020 and since has expanded to build a second tasting room outside the city in Prospect, Kentucky.
Holy Grale
Not a brewery, but Holy Grale has an “insane” beer list and good food to match that focuses on sourcing local ingredients. It’s also one mile up the road from AtG’s Original Highlands public house. Founded in 2011 in an old Unitarian church, Holy Grale has lovely outdoor seating, a dining area in the old choir loft—and down the street, has a B&B with a café on the bottom floor that opened in 2014.
Sergio’s World Beers
If you are looking for one of the best eclectic beer lists in town, head over to Sergio’s World Beers in the Butchertown section of town. Currently on draught they have a list chock full of European classics from breweries like Cantillon, Chimay and Fantome. The food menu puts world food on display with dishes from Chile, Brazil, Greece, Germany and more.
There’s good beer everywhere nowadays and Louisville has a lot to offer. Check out the Louisville Ale Trail website for a complete list. Remember to drink responsibly and to always imbibe with people who you care about. Cheers!
