Bluegrass Brewing Company - St. Matthews

No Longer In Business

Overview: BBC St. Matthews is BBC’s original location (I think) and while it’s undergone some cosmetic changes over the years, it still maintains it’s overall vibe as a fairly low key place to grab a beer and a bite. When you enter, the big wrap-around bar is on the left with some smaller tables, and the main dining space with larger tables and booths is straight ahead. There are small chalkboards around the place that display the seasonal offerings with ABVs/IBUs also listed. Past the bar is a fairly big deck area if you enjoy outdoor seating; it’s now surrounded by plexi-glass border to offer some protection from the elements. If you want to watch any kind of sporting event, this is definitely a place to frequent... this is one of the only places in Louisville that consistently shows Premier League football, for instance.

Service has always been friendly, though not always knowledgeable of the beers on tap, though I feel like my more recent interactions have shown improvement. When mistakes are made, they are quick to fix any issues, and offer some sort of discount on your bill. Beer-wise, they usually have around six regular and six seasonal beers on; their maltier/barrel offerings are where they shine most... I’d try a small sample of any hoppy beer before committing to a pint. Dave Pierce has recently returned from his time with NABC, so maybe this situation will change. I’m usually pretty satisfied with my meals at BBC; they have recently changed their menu to include things like Pad Thai, as well as Chicken and Waffles, but some old favorites (like their fairly tasty take on the Hot Brown) remain. In terms of value, BBC remains a very affordable place to eat and drink; I usually get half pints, which are often half the price of a regular pint (except at happy hour) and their happy hour specials are very generous.

PROS: Good hangout for sporting events; consistently good food; well priced all around. CONS: Beer can be inconsistent quality-wise; servers do not always have knowledge of beers available. OVERALL: If I had to recommend BBC to anyone, it would be for the sports fan with the occasional interest in trying a new beer, and having a good meal. It’s not something I’d recommend for the craft beer enthusiast, though it is a landmark-type place in Louisville’s beer scene.

Large restaurant and bar just down from St Matthews malls. Food standard pub fare but pretty good. Decent selection of BBC beers. Ample free parking. I prefer this location to the others.

Visited on a Thursday evening. Large, sprawling building with a big open bar as you enter, with the brewery through to the back and a nice covered patio out back to the left. There were 8 BBC beers on when I visited. Lively place, quite loud and fun atmosphere. I didn’t eat, though food looked decent that was going past me. For just grabbing a beer, I prefer the BBC Tap Room on East Main.

70 = ★★½ (Locals should check it out, visitors with extended time)

I only use the total score, not the component parts.

They usually will have one or two offerings on tap that is hard to find elsewhere as well as the standard BBC offerings. Nice building. Food is solid. Good service. Worth a stop if you are in the area.

Fun place to visit! Only there on a trip to Louisville, though the Bourbon Barrel Stout was an amazing find! If you have the opportunity, at least try this beer!

Sports bar/restaurant setup. Beer was hit/miss.

This is a great place to come during local sporting events if you want to capture the spirit of the city. It does get very crowded on weekends though as it is located in a busy part of town near a number of other bars and restaurants. The beer selection is so-so though especially compared to New Albanian, Against the Grain, or Cumberland. Check it out if you in the area as it is the best of the BBC chain (and unrelated to the bottle line) but don’t expect too many miracles.

been awhile since i have been in this location. noticed immediately they have redone the bar area and moved all the "worthog" glasses off the bar area and put them on the walls. so the area is open and more friendly. only had a couple of beers and some pretzel sticks and cheese...served their beers in imperial pints. high gravity (over 8%) are 10oz pours. decent enough. the beers i had were so so. but i did enjoy the evening..think they might have had 10 or so taps and you can get a sample tray of i think 5 at a time.

I’m a long time fan of BBC but this location in particular has gone down hill of late. All of the beers are flat except the occasional beer that is over-carbonated and the bartender has to pull three pints to get you one proper beer. Specialty beers have been unimaginative. There used to always be a bourbon barrel aged beer on as well as a cask on Thursday, not anymore. With craft brew and microbrew on the rise in Louisville and all around the country, BBC can’t keep calling it in.

A-- Went to the tap room first and then to the other location on Main, as the other had food. Mostly brick and wood. Big bar, lots of seating and very trending looking. Very casual but hip feel. Lots of parking in the area, on and off street. Q-- quality wise was not over impressed really. Have had the bourbon barrel stout and it was average. Had their Black IPA on tap and could only drink half the glass. No hops and very alcoholic. Was warned by others their beer is average. S-- All bluegrass beers. 9 total taps with 2 seasonals. Had a few of their 750 ML bottles. Not too shabby. S- Decent service. Never asked for a second beer but water and soda’s were refilled well. Nothing outstanding and had better service elsewhere. F-- Average. Cuban sandwich was cold, salads were good and the mashed potatoes were good. Garlic fries were decent. V-- On this trip Bluegrass has been the most disappointing so far. Good prices but average beer and average service. Venue is very nice though.