Kentucky, along with its friends in the Ohio River Valley, has long been a place where passion projects don’t just come alive…they thrive, and last for years, etching new lines on both maps and cultural memory. 

Bourbon.

Horse Racing.

Big Ideas.

And now?

Breweries. 

A locally made craft beer is like buying bread from a bakery. And we don’t just mean they both use yeast. You can scoop up your usual plastic-wrapped slices at Kroger, but a hand-kneaded, crusty loaf baked early that morning? Simple. True. Sublime. Beer is similar. We love an easy six-pack from one of our favorite brands…dependable, familiar, safe. But we’re also big fans of what’s emerged over the last decade from the Ohio River Valley brewery scene. Delicious, artisan beers made with thought, creativity, and some seriously good hops. Today we highlight a few of the local legends — those breweries carving out a place for great tasting beers, often housed in welcoming spaces that invite conversation, laughs, and the feeling you’re drinking among friends…as it should be. 

So, cheers to the big believers, those that married grit and grace with hops and malt to bring us an exciting, lively beer scene in Kentucky and our nearby neighbors.

Country Boy

There’s a “yes we can” joke in here somewhere, but we’ll let it be and go straight to the story: Country Boy is now the largest production brewery in the state of Kentucky after expanding to Georgetown in 2017, which allows it to use its 22,500 square feet of space to can even more of its beers. Pretty impressive, but not surprising for this 12-year-old brewery founded by four native Kentuckians. Their process is, well, not overly processed. Country Boy takes pride in its ingredients and its minimally processed product, tweaking recipes to release exciting seasonal hits alongside its signature sips. The Louisville and Lexington locations also house a solid menu of different styles. Here’s two of their originals, and we happily raise a can of either when we want something unique, yet trustworthy. 

Cougar Bait 

If a clean, lightly crisp American Blonde Ale is your jam, this take on the genre is worth tasting. A nip of honey, otherwise this mellow, easy beer is true to its subtle maltiness. Grab it if you want a solid beer for a fishing trip, or for something new to take to a buddy’s house that will probably appeal to all beer-drinking tastes.

Shotgun Wedding 

It’s a little sweet, with a layer of nuttiness that gives it depth and a refreshing kick. This Vanilla Brown Ale is made by aging brown ale over vanilla beans, and what it gives you is a mellow beer that’s super drinkable. Enough warmth and depth to be a go-to in cooler months, great for tailgating season.

Gravely

Gravely is what happens when great music inspires people to do great things…like brew excellent beers. We’ve spent way too much time surfing through Gravely’s beer list, because next to every vivid description of taste and ABV and colors is the song that inspired the beer. That’s right — you can even listen to their full Spotify playlist of all the music that moved them to brew. The Baxter Avenue spot in Louisville also hosts a medley of musical events, if you like your brews with a good beat.

Celebrated Summer 

She’s golden, effervescent, and smells like oranges…this isn’t your summer crush, but it can be your new favorite summer ale. A bright Saison, this beauty is made to be a chilly refreshment on the warmest of days, and pairs well with everything from burgers to barbecue. Ah, summer lovin’.

Sprockets German Pilsner

Bold meets bright in this German-style lager that still sits light and dry on the mouth. Plenty of hops, plenty of flavor, but not too heavy…we feel like this is the Pilsner we’ve all wanted and didn’t know how to brew. Gravely sells this in six-pack cans, which means you can kick back, relax, and enjoy the taste of Oktoberfest from your back patio. 

Mile Wide Beer Co.

A brewer, a “workhorse”, and a marketing man. It’s not a nursery rhyme, it’s the origin story of this Barrett Ave brewery and taproom in Louisville that handcrafts winner after winner. From Southern Pecan Coffee Stout (yes, please) to American Amber Ales and Kolsch Ales…Mile Wide knows what you want to drink, and it gets the job done admirably. 

Nomah!

An enviable blend of Citra and Mosaic hops means this hazy IPA is made in a classic New England style, but with enough Mile Wide flair (and flavor) to make it their own. Bright, citrusy, waves of grapefruit meld with an earthy, and pleasantly pungent kick of hops that adds the right kind of bitterness…all winding down easily for a smooth, drinkable beer that just makes us keep sipping and smiling, sipping and smiling. Drink it at the bar, or pick up a six-pack for a camping trip. It’s the kind of beer that makes you more comfortable in your seat, and appreciative of the little details in beer and life.

Solid Parody

If you haven’t tried a Baltic porter before, let Solid Parody introduce you to a toasty, malty, almost bittersweet-chocolate laced beer. This is a dark beer that whips up some earthy malt, and makes it accessible on the palate, so you just…enjoy drinking it. A lot. Available in cans so you can sip this beer at home — pair it with a meat and cheese tray at your next game night, or crack it open with anything chocolate. Yup.

West Sixth 

It’s been more than a decade since the makers of West Sixth set up shop in “the Bread Box”, a 100-year-old former bread-making building in Lexington. Success is sweet, and West Sixth now has four locations in Louisville, Lexington, Frankfort, and Newport. This IPA-focused brewery churns out a lineup of dependable sips along with seasonal hits…they call each new iteration in the Static line a “channel”.

We know breweries can be fun hangouts, but West Sixth takes it to a new level with their concerted effort to offer a variety of unique events. Check out “Suds & Science” — one Monday a month they host an expert to speak on a science-related topic, while you get to enjoy cold beer (the schedule is on their Facebook page). If only chemistry class had been that fun…

They also understand a brewery can be part of the community, and their Sixth for a Cause Foundation supports a number of efforts like “Pay it Forward Cocoa Porter” where they donate fifty cents of every six-pack sold to a different cause each month…all locally situated within one of their five sales regions. Great beer that gives back? Cheers to that!

IPA Ch. 3

This beer is just darn good. We get pine, mango, and a whiff of pineapple - with warm, toasty malt notes of baked bread and a hint of caramel. Who knew these could meld so well into a can we just keep coming back to again, and again…and again…

IPA 

Good news — this is a year-round constant for West Sixth, so you can find it in any and all seasons. Complex and a little sticky in the good IPA way, this malt-forward option is meant for salty snacks and a hint of spice. West Sixth says this is a great beer for Mexican food, and we couldn’t agree more. Taco Tuesday has been West Sixth’d. 

Against the Grain

They’re fun, funky, and true to their name. And we’re not even talking about the beers — the founders of Against the Grain, fondly called ATG, reflect the same spirit and creativity we find in their imaginative and downright delicious beers. With locations at Slugger Field and in Louisville’s Portland neighborhood, ATG is pouring exciting brews with laugh-out-loud (and notably spot-on) titles. We bring you…

Pool Boi Light 

We applaud the name choice, because they nailed it. This might be a front-runner for the best beer to drink at the pool…it’s light, blackberry-infused, a little zippy and a lot delicious. Drink it ice cold and often. 

A Beer

Super Premium American lager. Versatile, classic, refreshing as heck. There’s a lot to love about this perennial favorite. It pairs great with everything from hot dogs to Thai takeout. A solid staple for your fridge, the cooler on your boat, and sipping poolside.

Whether you’re heading to the breweries for tours, tap pours, or trivia, or buying online from a store like ours, all of us at Cox’s & Evergreen tip our hats to the local brewers who work hard, craft great beers, and make us thirsty for their next idea. Cheers!