Valu Market - Bardstown Rd.

Overview: I’ve been coming to Valumarket on Bardstown Rd. since I moved to Louisville, and it’s had a really good beer selection for as long as I can remember. Pretty much any beer ticker in town probably cut their teeth here. It’s a grocer, and the beer is located near the back right of the store. There’s a "beer cave" section, along with a few end caps full of beer. There’s a singles cooler outside the beer cave, and they’ve expanded the amount of discount beer they offer- some of it on a single end cap across from the singles cooler, and some in a cylindrical wire rack very close to the singles rack. In terms of selection for a grocer, only Whole Foods competes with it locally, but it’s far away enough to have it’s own turf. A good amount of beer from the classic cultures (mostly in the beer cave), but American beer and modern craft get the most visible shelf space. Growler station features about 8-10 taps, much of it local/regional.

Service has a classic case of the "Highlands Disease" (I’m too self-important to do my job) and asking for any help from anyone will be a chore. Selection has already been mentioned above, but it should be mentioned that their previous problems with old shelfies has been improved (though not snuffed out) by putting most in discount racks. Anyone reading this likely checks dates before buying anyway. An above average grocer in regards to food selection, though some of their fresh made stuff looks less than stellar. Beer value is pretty great, considering the competitive prices of new bottles/cans combined with discount beer.

PROS: Huge selection; competitive pricing. CONS: Service needs an attitude overhaul; too much old beer to be considered a top tier place. OVERALL: A place I used to frequent, and one I will continue to pop into from time to time... but not a place I’d recommend any longer as a beer destination. Still, if you have time to kill, you might find a few pleasant surprises. Located in a shopping center (Mid-City Mall) so there’s parking on site.

Surprisingly large beer selection for a grocery store with such a plain exterior/interior...you’d never guess by its appearance. Make sure you go back inside the beer room, too, there’s more than just what’s out on the back wall. Stacks and stacks of the new batch of Hopslam when I visited. Sadly most beer is near or beyond their best-by dates (some are literally years old). So, avoid the imports for the most part (unless you like stale beer) and be weary even with midwest micros. Some taps here for growler fills as well. Certainly worth checking out, but yeah...beware the dust-covered old stuff.

how have I never rated this place? went in with low expectations and that made it better. good to great selection with taps for growlers if I remember correctly. probably the most unassuming place to buy beer in Louisville.

like they say its grocery store. but a grocery store with a pretty good selection. was in there for the first time today and just wandering around looking at what they have. found a couple of 12oz bottles i’ll rate later but have a good selection of local and regional micros. as far as food goes (its a grocery store). some prices I know were a touch higher than other places and seem some that we lower so I guess it works out in the end. overall i’ll go back there and do some more searching for things...good job.

Visited just before dinner on a Wednesday. Thrift store looking place from the front, though fairly normally laid out grocery store once you enter. The beer selection is in the back corner, selection is located in an open cooler featuring singles, a warm rack, and a walk in beer cooler with the remainder of the selection. Selection is below the other stores I have visited in Louisville, though still way above average compared with most grocery stores. Import selection in particular was solid. Certainly worth checking out, just not at the top of my list for Louisville bottle shops.

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

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

Grocery store. Kind of run down looking other than the beer area. Nice selection featuring several beers each from numerous different breweries. Their warm beer selection is lacking due to space, but you’ll still find several end caps next to and across from the beer cave. The beer cave is where the majority of their beers are kept. Prices are typical for the area, although they do have some nice specials fairly often. Newly added cooler shelf of single 12oz bottles for around $2.00 each is a great addition. And they have (I think) 12 taps which are usually running some great local and rare national beers. Ambiance is blah, (it’s a grocery store). Service can be a bit spotty and the only person who seems to know anything about the beer appears to be their beer purchaser. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re in the area. But ultimately there are better places to purchase beer in Louisville.

Grocery store with a pretty big beer selection. Walk in cooler with mostly main stays, some local West Sixth and New Albanian ticks. Singles selection which is nice to tick but not a ton of local stuff. The reason to come here is the growler station. 12 taps that are awesome and cheap as can be. $9-$12 including glassware for great stuff like Maharaja, Gumballhead, etc. Worth a stop.

Great beer place for a grocery store. I pur N/A for food because even though they are a good food source, you generally would not be eating there. Selection and price were very good for a grocery store. Actually better than many liquor stores that don’t focus on beer. Staff is hit or miss, but all seemed friendly.

Stopped in while in town with my wife. They have a good bottle selection with a growler station to boot. The grocery section was solid too, as was the value. Worth a stop if you’re in the area; I’d just avoid IPAs, as I’m not sure how quickly their stock turns over.

this is a grocery store with a small walk in cooler and a selection of i think 10 taps. the selection is nice with everything from boon and st. louis gueuze to local favorites like upland and west 6th. Last trip there my friends and i found a couple bottles of GI Madame Rose that hadnt made its way to Lexington yet. Food selection is that of a grocery store, i noticed anything special. Overall its worth a stop in because you might be surprised with what you find.