A Taste of My Hometown

Thanksgiving week has come and gone, and I was fortunate to have spent it in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky with a huge portion of my extended family. In addition to spending quality time with family and relatives who I don't get to see too often, I had the opportunity to check out a bit of the Louisville craft beer scene. Louisville is known for being a bourbon town, much like Denver is a major hot spot for craft beer tourists. That's not to say Louisville doesn't have any good beer. While the craft beer scene is relatively small, it's definitely growing, and there's some excellent local beer to be found.

After our whole group had dinner at the Irish Rover Friday evening, a handful of us headed to Apocalypse Brew Works in the Clifton neighborhood. What we found walking up to the brewery is proof that craft beer culture is alive and well in Louisville: a food truck in the parking lot, a small but festive taproom, a nice selection of beers on tap, and plenty of craft beer lovers having a good time. Apocalypse opened in May of 2012 and, according to its website, the brewers have more than 40 combined years of brewing experience. The brewery's theme, which is deciphered by viewing the taproom decor and some of the beer names, goes along with its name. The taproom is even called the Fallout Shelter, and the brewery calls its fans the Survivors. It's a pet friendly environment, and we saw several well-behaved dogs enjoying themselves.

Everyone in our group really liked the beers they chose. My dad had the KY Hop-Brown ale, my wife Kris had the Pestilence Porter, my brother Jon had the Hoptoberfest, and my brother-in-law Monty and I both had the Hoptrocution double IPA. I was very impressed with how well-balanced and smooth the Hoptrocution tasted. At 10% ABV and 160 IBUs, this is a massive hop-forward beer, and honestly one of the best double IPAs I've had in a while. There's a sturdy malt presence that adds a sweetness to the initial flavors. The hop elements are mostly citrusy, which I usually prefer, and the finish is very smooth and not as aggressive as some double IPAs. I also had the Sunspot Stout, which was very good. Full-bodied but not overly creamy, this roasty beer is big on coffee and chocolate flavors. The many years of brewing experience definitely shows through in the quality of the beer.

As a Denver area resident, I really appreciate seeing a small brewery like Apocalypse thriving in a city not yet widely known for its craft beer scene. With its historic neighborhoods, growing young professional population, and fairly central geographic location, I think Louisville has the potential to be one of the next big brewing cities in the Midwest. For now, I'll be content with finding great new breweries when I head back to my hometown and make sure I spread the word about them!