Drink Local! Amazing Louisville Breweries You'll Kick Yourself for Missing

The kind of beer you might only have found in small, niche markets just a few years ago is becoming more commonplace, as microbreweries and craft beer distributors in the United States are on the rise. According to a recent article on CNBC.com, craft brewers experienced a 15 percent increase in retail sales and a volume increase of 13 percent in 2011, resulting in a total barrel increase of approximately 1.3 million. This means that in larger American cities such as Louisville, there are more options for beer drinkers. Here is some information about two of the most popular and innovative Louisville breweries in the area that you may not have heard of, but you'll surely want to try!

Looking for a Unique Brewery Experience? Visit Against The Grain Brewery (401 East Main St.)

Located in the southeast corner of Louisville Slugger Field at the corner of Jackson and Main Street is one of the busiest, most productive, and most celebrated breweries in Louisville. Against The Grain Brewery gets its name from the eclectic mix of art and architecture that the building offers, as the site used to be a train station, giving patrons some fantastic beer options as well as a unique venue to visit. The site holds one of the only Victorian-styled, three-story "showpiece brewhouses," where all 15 of their copper clad brewing barrels are on display to visitors. This space is also complimented by artwork provided by local artists. On their website you will find a staggering list of almost 100 original beers that the brewery has made in the past, and the website also lists those original beers that are currently on tap, so if you're in the area or thinking of making a trip to the brewery, you could actually plan on trying a few beers you've never had before. Against The Grain Brewery promises to be a brewery experience you will kick yourself for missing when you're in Louisville.

Bluegrass Brewing Company (BBC): The Popularity of Microbreweries Can't Be Denied (3929 Shelbyville Rd.)

The address listed above is actually the address of the first BBC site, founded by Pat Hagan and his father in 1993 after Hagan discovered different varieties of craft beer during his extended travels through the United States. He eventually convinced his father that a brewery was a lucrative opportunity. The company has since opened two other locations, which not only speaks to the success of the brewery, but also to the popularity of microbreweries in Louisville. The BBC location at Theatre Square on 4th St. offers its patrons the opportunity to dine and drink alfresco in the heart of the city, while their newest location at 3rd and Main St. is three floors and is across from the new KFC Yum Center Arena, so you can grab a beer before the big game.

The brewery offers original beer flavors such as Luna De Miel: Raspberry Meade, Dark Star Porter for those who like darker beer, and the Light-Hearted IPA for those looking for that distinctly bitter but refreshing pale ale taste. BBC is another Louisville brewery that is not to be missed!

Though there are only two breweries on this list, there are plenty of other breweries and microbreweries in the area that are waiting for your patronage, and that are brewing some of the most unique beer in the area. Bluegrass Brewing Company has three locations available to you and Against The Grain is one of the most unique and interesting breweries you'll find in Louisville, making a trip to a Louisville brewery a must for locals and tourists alike. 

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!