By Jessica Bard – Reporter WDRB

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Old Louisville Brewery is expanding and opening its second location.

The Old Louisville Brewery Barrel Room will open Saturday after about a year of construction on an old, reclaimed building at 622 Main Street in Shelbyville. It will serve 18 beers on tap with a full bar.

“We really, really wanted to be on Main Street,” owner Wade Mattingly said.

Mattingly chose Shelbyville to be a catalyst for change in the city. He said there aren’t many pub options.

“Right now, there are days of the week, especially on the weekends, when there is not a lot of activity going on,” he said. “Well, we’re now going to be open, and there will be things going on down here, and we think we will attract a good crowd of people down here.

“We’re really excited to be one of the first ones to really get in here and hopefully push that over the hill.”

Shelbyville Mayor David Eaton hopes three steps in the city’s comprehensive plan will attract more people and cause more businesses like the Barrel Room to open.

“If you want businesses to invest in your community, first you have to show you’re willing to invest in yourself,” Eaton said. “If we get people downtown, it will make it a little easier to ask business to locate downtown.”

The city is building a new road and multi-use path on Seventh Street.

“It’s a gateway into our downtown area,” Eaton said.

The next step will close a hole in the heart of downtown.

A massive fire six years ago destroyed buildings on Main Street. A space in the middle of downtown with unlimited potential has been an eyesore ever since the fire.

“It will be an outdoor plaza with a stage and restrooms,” Eaton said. “The purpose of that is to bring various groups to downtown. They can have a wedding there or a family reunion there.”

The third step is to create parking for those new visitors.

“We are also looking at a parking lot on Sixth and Clay Street,” Eaton said.

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This story was posted on the WDRB website. You can view the video here:

https://www.wdrb.com/news/old-louisville-brewery-to-open-barrel-room-in-shelbyville/article_5a4bcb08-3ecb-11e9-82d5-efac285c2c94.html

Barrel Room to open soon

By Morgan Lentes – Reporter/Anchor WLKY

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. —A Louisville brewery is preparing to open a second location in Shelbyville.

The Old Louisville Brewery Barrel Room of Shelbyville should open in two to three weeks. The bar is located in the 600 block of Main Street.

Owner Wade Mattingly said he was drawn to the downtown area when looking for a place to expand the business.

“We got to a point where we felt comfortable where we were and we wanted to grow,” Mattingly said. “We just naturally fell in love with Shelbyville.”

Mattingly said he hopes the business can help revitalize the downtown corridor.

“It’s a small town kind of atmosphere, but it is a nice-sized town,” Mattingly said. “We couldn’t be happier to find a building down here on Main Street.”

It has taken 16 months to renovate the building that will house the bar. When open, it will serve beer, bourbon and wine.

“We always say drink what you like,” Mattingly said. “The brewing industry is such a tight knit, close industry, and I’m really excited to also be able to tell their stories and showcase their beers as well.”

Mattingly said the bar will carry eight to 10 Old Louisville Brewery taps and eight to 10 regional, guest taps.

Other local business owners told WLKY that they are optimistic about how the new bar will impact their bottom line.

“I think it’s pretty important to have different restaurants, a variety of restaurants and drinking options,” said Leon Swarts, owner of Walnut Grove Farm and Lodge. “People are going to want to come down to the city.”

This story was posted on the WLKY website. You can view the video here:
https://www.wlky.com/article/louisville-brewery-expands-to-shelby-county/26538984

2018 Zymurgy Best Beers By State

In addition to announcing Zymurgy’s Best Beers in America 2018, we also like to break out the results by state.

Click here and scroll down to “Kentucky” to see what earned the titles of Top Beer and Top Brewery.

Note: The Top Beer and Top Brewery by state results are unique, meaning the Top Beer is not always brewed by the Top Brewery. The results for each were compiled in one table, organized alphabetically by state name, for your convenience.