The 26 Best Louisville Breweries: Ultimate Local’s Guide
Bourbon, who? Just kidding, we love it, we do — but in all seriousness the Louisville brewery scene should not be overlooked. Kentucky farmers are really good at growing grain (hence all the bourbon), so it was inevitable that this rich delicious grain mixture would be brewed into delicious, malt-forward beer.
Drinking Kentucky beer is like tasting the rolling hills. Too poetic? Maybe. But it’s true, Kentucky agriculture and brewing just go hand in hand! Look out for beers that have Kentucky Proud trademark that are made with all ingredients from Kentucky.
In addition to this guide, check out the Louisville Ale Trail and beer festivals like Tailspin and Brew at the zoo to be able to taste it all, and you can always scope out the tap list at any brewery by searching on Untappd. Just make sure you’ve got a few rideshare apps downloaded in advance, and always drink responsibly!
And don’t be surprised if you think you’re seeing double — Louisville Breweries LOVE to collaborate with each other — so you’ll see a lot of familiar places on varying draft lists. So without further ado, here are the best Louisville breweries!
Looking for more places to eat & drink in Louisville? Check out a few of our other posts:
- The 16 Best Bars in Louisville, Kentucky
- The Best Gay Bars in Louisville, Kentucky
- 11 Fantastic Happy Hours in Louisville, Kentucky
- The 19 Best Restaurants for Brunch in Louisville
The Best Louisville Breweries
Breweries in the Highlands
This area, centering around the thoroughfares of Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue, is such a great place to start when visiting Louisville. These two streets are like a geographical anchor for navigating, and perfect for exploring on foot.
The main corridor of the Highlands is Bardstown Road. This stretch of the corridor is very long and packed with bars, restaurants, and shops of all kinds. So if you’ve come to town without an agenda, drop yourself off and wander around! Most of the businesses are locally owned, and there are a lot of bars to enjoy. And, of course, lots of fantastic Louisville breweries!
- Psst: For more tips on exploring the Highlands, head over to our Highlands neighborhood guide!
Awry Brewing
Formerly where Chimera Brewing and V-Grits were located, Awry Brewing has moved into the incredible space all prepped for beer production!
Awry’s philosophy is that something is always bound to go, well, awry, and while sometimes life may feel like one step forward, two steps back, you always have to keep moving forward!
Beer-wise, it’s a smaller production, but they have options like a West Coast IPA called Don’t Haze Me Bro, a Sour called Loud and Obnoxious, and a Coffee Amber called Ground for Termination.
They also have a small food menu, including chicken tenders, cheese curds, and a fried PB&J, all perfect beer companions!
So when things go awry, check out Awry Brewing!
Great Flood Brewing Company
Great Flood Brewing Company is named after the Great Flood of 1937, the worst flood in Louisville history! The brewery is settled directly on Bardstown Road in the Douglas Loop section of the Highlands, with a parking lot in the back.
As you enter from the back, you will immediately smell whatever delicious beer is currently in production. Continue down the hall to the main bar, and you’ll soon be surrounded by huge photographs of the historic flood, illuminated by an equally huge driftwood light installation.
Despite its historic theme, the soft wooden glow and large wooden high top tables feel like a modern day tavern.
Because of the large projector that is always playing whatever is in season, this is the ideal brewery to visit during a sports game. Sports not your thing? No problem, just grab a malty Find-A-Way IPA and check out their rotating gallery of wall art (it’s all for sale!).
The taproom does not have a restaurant onsite (though their Middletown location does), but you’re welcome to bring in outside food. Also, feel free to bring a furry friend: this location is dog friendly.
Breweries in Phoenix Hill
Phoenix Hill is a neighborhood just north of the Highlands and south of NuLu, mostly concentrated in a little triangle between East Broadway and Baxter Avenue. Yet in this small (and previously mostly undeveloped/industrial) area, there are several fantastic Louisville breweries!
Falls City Beer
Falls City Beer brand revival comes from 1905 and has recently opened a taproom along Liberty street (note that their parking lot is off of S Campbell street). Falls City’s taproom is a wide open concrete space both inside and out back, perfect for larger groups.
Their beer models crisp, straightforward flavors, perfect for when you just want the simple things in life. For a classic old school IPA go with the Hipster Repellant IPA. It’s an earthy west coast style hopped with citra, simcoe, and amarillo, and you can’t get more classic than that.
Falls City is dog friendly (both inside and on the patio)and kid friendly, and the brewery offers board games, ring games, and crayons for at least several minutes of blissful child occupation.
One thing you won’t find at Falls City is a restaurant, but the brewery encourages visitors to bring in their own food. Order some California-style Mexican from Bandido Taqueria Mexicana nearby: their burritos, elotes, and street tacos are legit, but if you want that ~authentic California flavor you gotta go with a California burrito filled with carne asada and french fries.
Mile Wide Beer Company
Beneath the concrete silos of Barrett Avenue, Mile Wide Beer Company has the strongest IPA game in the city. The brewery offers an easy sipping session IPA, multiple piney west coast and fruity NE variations, single hop IPAs and my current favorite the Gish, a black IPA, that’s both roasty and hoppy.
The head brewer is a graduate of the World Brewing academy and Master Brewer programs, so Mile Wide doesn’t stop at IPAs. The brewery is always flowing with sour and bourbon barrel aged dark beer as well.
The entire operation is showcased with a wall of windows that let you see the whole brewing process, and current aging barrels noting the bourbon type and release date.
A restaurant located inside Mile Wide, Mac’s Pizza, serves up Neopolitan style pizzas, small bites, and salads. Try the Potato Rosemary pizza, made with roasted potato, bacon, mozzarella, parmesan, and rosemary. And of course, save room for a Nutella pizza for dessert!
Gravely Brewing Co
Gravely Brewing Co. is one of the most unique taprooms in the city. They pride themselves on being a place where beer, music, and food can meet.
Behind the bar sits the “wall of sound” stack of old speakers and record players, but the real view – and the main draw, other than the beer – is outside on a gorgeous patio that overlooks the city.
Climb the stairs to their upper patio, and you can see the city skyline, which is especially epic during one of Louisville’s incredible sunsets. It’s hand down one of the most gorgeous places to drink in Louisville!
Get yourself a pint of the crispy german pilsner, Sprockets, and enjoy all the sounds and views.
In addition to great beer and phenomenal views, Gravely also hosts the Mayan Street Food food truck. Pair your beer and views with the beer-battered fish tacos and guacamole, or a plate of spicy beer cheese and nachos to share!
Hi-Wire Brewing
As a beer nerd, I’ve been drinking Asheville’s Hi-Wire beer for years. They’ve always brewed beer that’s clean and sharp. It wasn’t until Hi-Wire opened their first taphouse outside of their native state of North Carolina in Louisville right here on Baxter Ave that I discovered Hi-Wire’s mouth-watering sour beers.
I am a sucker for a good saison, and I just absolutely melt over their complex Sour Saison that’s aged for 14 months in oak barrels and has notes of orange, tangerine and tres leches. I also love the Lifts All Ships Raspberry & Blackberry Sour Ale, with notes of wine berry, hard candy, and effervescent blackberry.
Hi-Wire may not be local to Kentucky, but their taproom backdrop displays neon murals of hometown heroes Muhammad Ali and Hunter S. Thompson alongside Asheville local Gladys Knight. (Fun fact: Hi-Wire is the first first out-of-state brewery to open up facilities in Kentucky.)
The green and pink neon lights make this brewery extremely easy to find, but if you can’t find a parking spot on the street, just enter the apartment complex garage- parking for the brewery is complimentary.
Hi-Wire does not have food onsite, but they are next door to Goodfellas Pizzeria: pick up a New York-style slice and bring it over to Hi-Wire to enjoy between games of foosball and ping pong. And bring your dog: they’re dog friendly!
Breweries in Butchertown
Bordering Clifton, NuLu, and the waterfront, Butchertown is currently experiencing an uber-cool industrial renaissance. In this neighborhood you’ll find colorful murals, Copper & Kings Brandy Company, Hi-Five Doughnuts, Work the Metal, some of the best restaurants in town, art galleries and performance spaces, and some seriously hip shops.
But consider this your warning: Butchertown’s namesake is, er, accurate, and the neighborhood still has a large working pork factory that at times will leak a particularly awful smell. The neighborhood doesn’t always smell, but when the winds start blowing, you’re gonna want to take a raincheck on that patio section.
But don’t let the threat of a smell scare you away, because Butchertown is one of the coolest up-and-coming neighborhoods in Louisville and home to a couple of the best breweries in Louisville!
Apocalypse Brew Works
Who says sustainability and doomsday prepping can’t go hand in hand? Tucked away on Mellwood Ave, Apocalypse Brew Works is a small batch brewery that brews with solar heated water and recycles their spent grain for cattle feed. Mmm, beer-fed beef. Their taphouse, The Fallout Shelter, is also built out of repurposed materials.
I’m also a major fan of head brewer and co-owner Leah Dienes. After getting her start racking up medals at the Kentucky State Fair, Leah has since grown to be a a total beer industry bada$$ that judges prestigious beer competitions across the country.
It’s just too hard to choose the best thing about Apocalypse, but if we absolutely have to, it might have to be a pint of the thirst quenching Cream-ation Cream Ale on the outside patio on a hot summer day.
There’s no on-site restaurant (although food trucks do occasionally pop in, especially during warm weather) but you’re within walking distance of Clifton and the multitude of restaurants lining walkable Frankfort Avenue.
Oh, and bring your dog and the whole family: Apocalypse is both dog and kid friendly!
TEN20 Craft Brewery
Ten20 Craft Brewery is newer to the Louisville scene but it has become a quick staple and a go-to spot to grab a beer before a Louisville FC game.
If you want a brewery with some space to move around this is the place to hang out at – they have a 22,000-square-foot facility that includes a beer garden, indoor taproom, and event spaces. The open layout and industrial vibe just overall creates a cool vibe.
Beer-wise, the Flying Pig Wheat Beer, Pumpkin Spiced Lager, and Storyteller IPA are all at the top of my list – so grab a beer and head out onto their huge patio and enjoy the day!
They also have a location in Anchorage and a new one in the Highlands.
Butchertown Brewing Company
Located inside the Mellwood Art Center, Butchertown Brewing Co is brand new on the Louisville brewery scene. They are a pretty small operation with very limited hours at the moment (weekends only!) so they really put the micro in microbrewing.
But Butchertown Brewing must be great at making friends, because they have a lot of collaborations with other local brewers. Like the Kentuckiana Fluffer, a dessert stout with nutella, marshmallow fluff, and waffle cones brewed with Our Lady of Perpetual Hops Brewery from across the river in Southern Indiana.
The offerings are limited at the moment, but as long as they keep turning out delicious dessert beers, we’ll keep coming back to see what’s new!
Breweries in Downtown & NuLu
The Downtown and NuLu area are right next to each other spanning Market and Main streets.
Downtown Louisville is filled with historic brick facades, towering skyscrapers and high-rises (don’t worry, there aren’t THAT many), hotels, theatres, and museums. Bordering the waterfront and the Ohio River, Downtown includes both Museum Row and Whiskey Row and is home to multiple bourbon distilleries.
Down the street from Downtown is an extremely hip neighborhood with an extremely hip name to match: NuLu, aka “New Louisville.” Here you’ll find colorful murals, delicious food, locally-owned shops selling artistan-crafted wares, a marketplace, eclectic galleries, and even more bourbon distilleries.
One benefit to brewery-hopping (or distillery hopping) in these neighborhoods is that you won’t need a car: the free LouLift bus runs up and down Market and Main streets until 6pm every day except Sunday.
Against the Grain Brewery and Smokehouse
Against the Grain, or A-T-G as the locals call it, is a powerhouse in the Louisville brewery scene. And as much as I prefer my beer on tap, ATG cans are my favorite for their artwork.
As the brewery would say “You deserve quality beer with an irreverent, crude name, but also the merit of liquid to laugh in the face of naysayers who have a hard time saying ‘fart’, ‘boob’, and, of course, ‘nipple.’”
But don’t let a fart joke deter you, this beer is seriously good.
Their most popular beer, Citra Ass Down double IPA, showcases all the hazy hop goodness. However, if dark beer is your thing you HAVE to try the 35K milk stout in all its rich indulgence – and keep an eye out for the amped up version the 70K milk stout that’s double the roast, double the chocolate and aged in bourbon barrels.
Now remember when we said Against the Grain was a Louisville beer powerhouse? We weren’t kidding, they have a lot of affiliated locations. The beer is pretty much the same at all locations, but the food menus vary greatly by each location:
- Smokehouse (Downtown): Attached to the Louisville Slugger baseball stadium, this is the OG location that started it all. The brewery tours are suspended for now (boo Covid), but there is still so much to enjoy in this former train station. The Smokehouse has the largest BBQ centered menu out of all their other locations and includes lots of indoor and outdoor seating.
- Public House (Highlands): You will find the same beers on tap at the public house, but the food menu will look very different. Think classic bar food with a few burgers. The Public House is more chill in comparison to the main Smokehouse restaurant, and a great option if you’d just like to sit with a beer and people watch on Bardstown Road.
- Whirling Tiger (Butchertown): CLOSED MON & TUES. The Whirling Tiger does not serve food because it’s more nightlife focused, but they do have specialty cocktails and live music (updated on their Instagram).
- Sandwich Emporium (Downtown- Upstairs)– Only open for breakfast and lunch, the Sandwich Emporium is like a downtown deli, perfect spot for a reuben and a lager (it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, right?).
- Flamingo Lounge (Downtown- Downstairs)– CLOSED MON & TUES. The Flamingo Lounge does not serve food. They’re kinda like a neon pink lit, underground brick, live music venue that serves craft beer and craft cocktails.
Bluegrass Brewing Company
Bluegrass Brewing Co., or BBC as the locals like to call it (even though we are all fully aware of the British Broadcasting Company) is located directly across the street from the KFC Yum! Center in the heart of downtown. (Yes: we hate the name of the Yum! center too.)
The restaurant and brewery is below street level, in what feels like a dark moody cellar. The high top tables against the textured stone walls make drinking their flagship honey and raspberry-based meade, Luna de Miel, more enjoyable, but let me warn you, this place can get BUSY. Especially if there is a game or an event going on at the Yum! Center!
So double check there aren’t any events going on at the KFC Yum! Center, or call to make a reservation in advance.
Akasha Brewing Company
Akasha Brewing Company in NuLu has all the classic brewery vibes: industrial setting, chalk board menu, brewery cat that you can totes cuddle while you sip, board game shelves, and cornhole – just classic, classic, classic.
But what really sets Akasha apart is their lightly malted Fehr’s XL lager. This (dare I say classic) beer recipe is from the Louisville-based Frank Fehr Brewing Company from 1872!
The original Fehr’s XL lager won The Southern Exposition from 1883-1888 and was extremely popular in the city. So Akasha purchased the recipe to bring back the Louisville classic.
There’s no restaurant onsite, so I recommend picking up BBQ from Feast BBQ or a burger from Grind Burger Kitchen. Feel free to bring your dog and your kids, too!
West Sixth Brewing NuLu
Originally from Lexington, West Sixth Brewing NuLu is the fourth taphouse expansion in the Kentucky area, and it is an absolute gem of outdoor/indoor mix space decked with cafe lights on a shared courtyard style patio with neighboring NuLu Marketplace businesses.
West Sixth is where you need to be when beautiful weather is at its peak. Although this location does not brew any flagship styles, the NuLu location does have a three barrel system that they use to brew special small batches for the NuLu location only, like the hazy pale Figgy Startdust Belgian Quad with malty notes of toffee and raisin.
Just look for the “NuLu Brewed” mark on the tap list to try the exclusive styles. And for the full experience, you can book a guided tasting tour every Saturday at 1pm.
Dogs and outside food are welcome. I recommend picking something up in the NuLu Marketplace to enjoy outside on the patio!
Breweries in Shelby Park & Smoketown
Shelby Park is sandwiched between the Old Louisville and Germantown neighborhoods. The area – including its next-door neighbor, Smoketown – has been targeted for revitalization for almost a decade, with several projects starting in the last couple of years.
The area has seen new businesses and lots of home restorations, but that development has come at the cost of pricing out the lower income residents. And although there are non-profit organizations working to counter the effects by restoring houses and selling below market rate, there is more to be done to avoid gentrification.
Shelby Park is beautiful with parks, historic shotgun style houses, some of the city’s best murals, and a cost of living that has afforded many young entrepreneurs to open their own small businesses in the neighborhood. So please be respectful and remember to double check the businesses you are patronizing are locally based!
Wild Hops Brewery
Wild Hops Brewery is front and center inside the Logan Street Market, a mixed use warehouse of local booths and food vendors.
Here, you can grab a pint to enjoy while you order from the marketplace food court. Which brings us back to all the teenage food court hangouts at the mall, but instead of an Orange Julius, I’ll have a Lady of the Stairs stout.
This beer was named after a local legend set during the 1918 flu pandemic (relatable, amirite?!), where a young woman was heartbroken after her lover didn’t show the night they planned to elope while she was waiting on the steps of an Old Louisville church.
He had contracted the fatal flu, and legend says you can sometimes see the woman weeping, weaving in and out of the columns, as she waits on the steps for her lover’s return.
In addition to haunted beer, Wild Hops serves up seasonal cocktails and bourbon.
Atrium Brewing
What happens when you combine a former Akasha brewer with a talented former homebrewer? Some freakishly delicious beer, that’s what!
With so many different styles with so many creative innovations, Atrium Brewing is one place you’re gonna want to get a flight to try as many as you can. Their Neuer Köln kolsch is malty, clean and crushable, but where Atrium really stands apart is their use of fruit in unexpected ways.
Goses, pastry beers, milkshake IPAs – these guys really know how to infuse fruit to make a delicious treat! Try the Dreamsicle Fluph Boy Pastry Sour with notes of creamy orange and mango, or the Tropical Acid_Math Berliner Weisse with notes of passionfruit, tangerine, and pink guava.
The only thing not to love about this place is that the one way street parking that can be a little tricky, but the double decker patio and delicious fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and beer cheese from Daryk’s Food Truck more than make up for it!
Dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio.
Noble Funk Brewing Company
Noble Funk Brewing Company in Smoketown is brand new to Louisville. The taproom is a former grocery store, decked with greenery walls and a massive amount of lounge seating. The brewery also includes a large stone oven for craft pizza and calzone specials.
Some of the current beers at Noble Funk include the blonde ale Golden Oldie, Mr. American IPA hopped with cascade and centennial hops, and the 502 Brew hefeweizen. So go and try one, or try all three!
More Louisville Breweries
Although some neighborhoods have several breweries concentrated in a smaller area, there are actually Louisville breweries spread out all over town. Y’all: our beer scene is legit! Be sure to hit up these breweries in Louisville:
Holsopple Brewing
Holsopple Brewing is situated a little further outside the inner circle of Louisville in Lyndon, but if you’re in the neighborhood it’s definitely worth a stop.
Co-owner Kristy Holsopple is an actual scientist for Brown-Forman with a background in microbiology quality control… so yeah, that’s pretty impressive. Husband and co-owner, Sam, is head brewer and also has a background in bourbon for Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Makes you wonder what their chemistry is like, amirite?? :insert smirk here:
But in all seriousness, what started as a hobby to their distillery day jobs, has transformed into some really delicious beer. They brew a variety of styles, but the creamy yet hoppy milkshake IPAs are where it’s at! Try the Shaken Nature Mango Milkshake IPA if you want something milky and fruity; so so good. If you haven’t had a milkshake IPA before, Holsopple Brewing is where you should start.
Monnik Beer Company
With a name that translates to “Monk” from dutch and a location in the center of Schnitzelburg, Monnik Beer Company opened their doors to bring all the warm European flavors to the community.
Their onsite restaurant’s kitchen and beer work harmoniously to pair with one another. Pair a pork schnitzel with the somewhat funky Eagle Skull saison, bitterballen with the toasty caramel flavor of the King George brown ale, and bratwurst with the earthy and herbal Churchill Best English pale ale.
When it comes to pairing the fresh brews to the delicious food menu, the limit does not exist (I mean in actual numbers it does exist, but it’s like a lot of possibilities, okay?).
Old Louisville Brewery
Located across the street from the famous 610 Magnolia restaurant, Old Louisville Brewery is one of the best representations of the beautiful surrounding neighborhood. Old Louisville is almost exclusively Victorian-era architecture (and home to the largest Victorian preserved neighborhood in the country).
Worn, tall dark wooden booths and patchy layered walls expose all the history of the building. This converted Victorian is old, cozy and if we’re being honest, a little witchy (in the best way). A perfect place for, shall I say, a brew?!
If you are visiting in the fall, you’re gonna want to grab a glass of their Kentucky Common, an almost extinct beer style made from bourbon mash grain. Claim the window bench to absorb all the witchy vibes, and feel free to bring your familiar (as long as your familiar is a dog).
If you find yourself here at a less-spooky time of the year, try their First Street Series W/ Triple Pearl Hops which is a bit bitter and has notes of melon, sweet citrus and spices.
There’s no food here, but you can conjure something up at home and bring it with you.
3rd Turn Brewing
Whenever the weather starts to get the least bit of a chill in the air, I CRAVE 3rd Turn Brewing’s nutty Double Haze Porter. I think about that beer all the time.
The last time I was there sipping on my fav, I was chatting with the brewer about how delicious the hazelnut porter was and he replied “Yeah that was the beer I homebrewed that convinced my wife I could open a brewery.”
I guess some women just have it all.
3rd Turn’s original location is near the charming town square of Jeffersontown’s Gaslight District, in a former church with rafter high ceilings. The dog-friendly brewery – and its location in Crestwood, which also has a full restaurant – may be towards the edge of Louisville city limits, but it is really worth the 25 min drive from downtown!
Shippingport Brewing Company
Okay I need to get this off of my chest first: I have a serious girl crush on Amelia Pillow. She’s the owner and brewer of Shippingport Brewing Company in Louisville’s Portland neighborhood, and she’s a complete bada$$.
Before she opened her own brewery in 2020, she was the head brewer at Louisville powerhouse brewery Against the Grain. She’s trained in breweries in Portland, OR, where she gave herself a demotion and pay cut so she could stay in the brewery!
She is the real deal when it comes to hands on brewing. So when she finally was able to open her own brewery, there was a bit of a cult following to check it out.
Amelia has really made her unmatched beer accessible to all. Her taproom, Sally Forth, is thoughtfully designed to be open and bare bones to honor the dive scene. It’s an approachable pit stop for a beer and yummy hot sandwich, and you’d never feel intimidated to stop in.
In addition to beer, they also make hard kombucha. But if you want Amelia’s recommendation, go for the Eddy Kolsch: it’s light drinking and crisp, with a soft lemon tea finish.
Gallant Fox Brewing
You may have heard of this little thing called the Kentucky Derby? Well, Gallant Fox Brewing Company in Clifton is named after the 1930 Kentucky Derby winning horse that went on to win the triple crown!
In true Derby tradition, the taphouse caters to both beer and bourbon lovers. Their impressive bourbon list has over 150 choices (including vintage bottles), which is ideal if your party is made up of both beer and bourbon drinkers.
Who knows, maybe your bourbon drinkers might be converted to beer drinkers with a glass of Sweet Steve, an American Pale Ale that’s got a light amber roast with an edge of sweet and juicy stone fruit.
But let’s be honest, the best part about Gallant Fox isn’t the beer or bourbon, but the wall collection of top hat gentlemen fox portraits. Tally-Ho! Feel free to bring your dog and dress it up in a little top hat, too.
The Best Breweries in Southern Indiana
Over the river and through the woods… wait no, just over the river you’ll find a bunch of breweries that fall under the “Kentuckiana” umbrella, and some are seriously good.
I know to some going to Indiana may seem comparable to traveling to Siberia, but trust me, there are plenty of places worth the “grueling” journey to explore. So take a stroll or bike ride across the Big Four bridge and head to these delicious Southern Indiana, Louisville-adjacent breweries!
Breweries in New Albany & Jeffersonville
Our Lady of Perpetual Hops Brewing Company
Tricky to get to, as it’s tucked away in an industrial park in New Albany, Our Lady of Perpetual Hops Brewery is always hosting something fun. Their large, dog-friendly warehouse taproom is often the stage for local bands and singers – often local favorite cover band The Juice Box Heroes.
They also host food trucks (bourbon bacon jam burger, anyone?!), pop-up clothing boutiques, and an annual Oktoberfest celebration, when they serve all the German inspired styles like their dark but refreshing Munich Delight dunkel.
If you’re here during non-Oktoberfest times, check out their popular smooth and creamy Just the TIPA IPA, with hints of citrus fruits and fruity pebbles.
New Albanian Brewing Co
A pizzeria and brewpub, New Albanian Brewing Company is one of the original craft beer breweries in New Albany. The wood paneled walls and terracotta red tiled floors bring us back to all the childhood team sports after parties.
And although the arcade games and pinball might make us feel 10 again, beers like the resinous Hoptimus IPA remind us there are still perks to growing up.
Upland Brewing Company
Upland Brewing Co is originally from Bloomington, IN. They’ve expanded all across the state, but their Jeffersonville taphouse is definitely the most stunning, with a heated patio that overlooks the Ohio River and the gorgeous Louisville skyline. It may be the most gorgeous patio in Jeffersonville!
If you’re a sour lover, their french oak foeders produce some of the best sour beers in the area, hands down! Go for the PawPaw or Modern Tart for a full acidic pucker experience.
Upland Brewery’s delicious tart, sour beers pair perfectly with a pimento and beer cheese pretzel starter (see, that’s super Kentucky), brewery fries, or the whipped feta and honey appetizer. Their menu features carefully curated, southern-inspired brewery fare like burgers and sandwiches, and they’ve got a few delicious vegetarian options, too!
Floyd County Brewing Company
If you don’t cross the river for the beer, you should at least consider the journey to live out all your Monty Python medieval tavern dreams. Yes, that’s right: this cozy tavern in New Albany has fish and chips and psychedelic gnomes painted on the walls!
Floyd County Brewing Company is a full restaurant, brewery, and outdoor live music venue whose chuggable Leprechaun’s Gold blonde ale will tempt you to Thor slam your empty liter on the ground and shout “ANOTHER!” But remember to not actually do that – a simple “we’ll have another round, please” should suffice.
Order anything with bier cheese, one of their delicious bison burgers, and a bourbon bread pudding for desert. And feel free to put on your worst medieval European accent and complain about the Black Plague.
Donum Dei Brewery
Donum Dei Brewery, “Gift of God” as it is translated from Latin, was started by a home brew couple and features 8-10 small batch brews in their cozy taproom in New Albany.
Their scotch ale, Unicorn, is boozy and sweet with notes or caramel and vanilla, and their Drunken Unicorn takes it one step further by aging it in bourbon barrels. In addition to brewing beer, Donum Dei also distills and bottles spirits like vodka, gin, and whiskey.
Map of the Best Breweries in Louisville & Southern Indiana
We’ve created a map to help you get your drink on! Be sure to bookmark this page so you can come back and find it next time you’re out brewery-hopping.
About the Author: Allie Nova lives in Louisville, KY with her 2 dogs, 2 cats, and high school sweetheart husband. She is obsessed with all things food, wine, beer, & gin and is currently working her way through the Master Sommelier and Cicerone certifications. She is always down to get a drink and dish on true crime (hey, hey fellow murderinos,) books from the Rory Gilmore reading list, or award worthy movies. But most importantly, Allie is a proud first generation American who believes diversity is key to beauty.
Are you ready to grab your friends and get some beer in Louisville this weekend (or any day, we don’t judge)? Which of these Louisville breweries are your favorite? Drop us a comment below!
Psst, while you’re here, take a look at some of our other posts:
- The 16 Best Bars in Louisville, Kentucky
- 13 Famous Louisville (& Kentucky) Foods You Have to Try
- The 63 Best Things to Do in Louisville, Kentucky
- The Best Gay Bars in Louisville, Kentucky
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Hi Allie,
Thanks for taking the time to write this article. A few notes about it: Chimera has gone out of business, but a new brewery called Awry recently opened in its spot. Great Flood’s taproom is still open, but they do not brew their own beer anymore. I believe the head brewer had a serious heart attack about a year ago, and since then, Apocalypse has been making their beer for them. Also, Monnik has closed their location in New Albany. Cheers!
Hello Zach,
I appreciate you letting us know about the changes! I’ll work on getting the post updated.
Thank You!