Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Craft Beer! Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Craft Beer! Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Craft Beer! It doesn’t really sound like the Chevrolet commercial, but it’s so American that it hurts! People across the country are finding that craft beer goes with baseball as well as any other beer. Baseball is slowly distributing craft beer around the country and it is an awesome trend. In Louisville, however, they have gone one step farther and brought the entire brewpub to the ballpark. God Bless Craft Beer! (and baseball. Oh, and hot dogs.. I think Apple Pie has already been blessed or I would add that one too..)
I’m not sure If I told you, but I like beer and brewpubs. Now let’s keep that between the two of us because I wouldn’t want people to think that I have an obsession. It’s not like I can’t control this obsession, but I really can’t. Some people buy shoes, some eat chicken wings, some are entrenched by the television when football season comes around and some people click their tongue and turn 3 times in a circle.(Wait a minute… that last one might not be an obsession.) I, on the other hand, am a kid in a candy store when it comes to traveling to brewpubs. Thanks to the ingenious people that developed beermapping.com, I have become a brewpub junkie. (Maybe that’s what this site should have been called.) Social Media does not help my cause either. I check my twitter account everyday for a new brewpub or the release of an exciting beer. There are many beer bloggers and tons of beer reviewers that are my enablers. (I guess now is the time to really thank them!) Thank You to everyone that keeps this mad world turning in the right direction.
I wouldn’t say that I know everything about beer and I don’t to pretend to. (Well, not yet anyway. I’m still in the process of getting rid of my invisible friend, Lake Bliskin. Now that guy can drink! and he wears a patch. How Cool!) Anyway, I just love brewpubs. Now, I do know things about the hospitality business and what it takes to make them successful, but I won’t even get into that. What I will get into is this place they call Browning’s in Louisville.
Sweeeeeeeeet!!! I wish I would have visited this place during a ball game to get the real feel. However, I did have time to move around and check it out without the place being packed. (and I got parking spot right out front without being handicapped.)
The patio outside is setup with a place for the band which looked like they were setting up when we were leaving. By the way, I forgot to mention that this place is right off the highway. That’s another bonus. Anyway, we walked in the front door and I really liked the setup of this place. A large table for 10-12 people right by the front, the bar to the left and seating to the right. (Here I am, back in the middle with you.) I walked straight through the center of the bar and out the other doors and low and behold there was the entrance to the ballpark. Now, I’m not a genius by any means, but someone sure can design ballparks and brewpubs.
We sat down at the bar and ordered the sampler. (Who is getting tired of this line? Maybe I should find a new one, but then again this really happened! No seriously, we sat down and then we ordered a sampler. Again!) I found the beer to be very smooth and well balanced. There wasn’t a big beer in the bunch. But there were plenty of session beers. We ordered the chips to go along with the beers on a recommendation from our bartender. She told us that the chips went well with one of the beers and she was correct. (She didn’t even check the Hoyle handbook for chip + beer pairing. Awesome!) I think my favorite beer was the stout. I am usually a hop-head, but this stout was on the money.
Back to the Bar: It’s very open and the first thing you notice are the brewing kettles that are positioned above the bar. It is a great way to decorate and it created space and brewing efficiencies. I also enjoyed the artwork. It really brought the place together. I found the staff to be friendly, but no overbearing and the place was very clean. (Ok, now i sound like a pompous ass.) In other words, I liked it.
Check it out when your in town. It’s a quick stop and when there isn’t a game you should be able to find a good seat and taste some delicious beer. Cheers!