It is no secret that this year has not been easy for the craft beer industry. Kentucky breweries were shut down mid-March and were ordered to stay close until late May. They’ve pivoted to package sales and curbside orders. They’ve dealt with changing capacity restrictions and curfews. They’ve removed and added chairs and tables both inside and outside. They’ve changed their hours more times than any business should. Despite all that, they’ve remained steadfast and committed to safely serving their customers. That’s why the founders of Louisville Beer Week knew it was pivotal to go ahead with their plans to celebrate and support the local Louisville beer scene.

Louisville Beer Week is a grassroots collaboration by three Louisville beer nerds, Michael Moeller, David Satterly and John Ronayne, and is a seven day celebration of Louisville’s historic and growing craft beer community.

“This year’s theme is resilience,” Moeller said. “Despite every curveball our local Louisville breweries have experienced throughout 2020, it’s crazy to think that the beer scene has managed to actually grow with the addition of four new breweries. So we’re celebrating with brewery collabs and (COVID-conscious) events.”

Unfortunately, it’s not much of a surprise to see a brewery close its doors during this time of COVID-19. However, since April, Louisville added four new breweries to its growing craft beer scene; Atrium Brewing, Gallant Fox Brewing, TEN20 Craft Brewery and West Sixth NuLu.

“Nobody planned on opening their taproom during a global pandemic,” Roger Huff, co-founder of Gallant Fox Brewing, said. “But it’s not like we could just give up on our plans. We were able to pivot and make it work under new conditions. The other few breweries that opened after us probably thought the same. Why give up – why wait?”

The founders of Louisville Beer Week had the same mindset. The team couldn’t give up on months of planning beer releases, events and a whole week of celebrating Louisville Beer. Like the breweries themselves, the Louisville Beer Week team was resilient.

This year’s Louisville Beer Week includes the pilot launch of the Louisville Ale Trail passport program, also created by Moeller, Satterly and Ronayne.

“This was one way to encourage beer tourism within our own city when many people just aren’t traveling right now,” Louisville Ale Trail organizers said. “Thumb through an Ale Trail passport and we guarantee that you might get thirsty and find somewhere either new or somewhere you haven’t been in a while.”

In a way, this was perfect timing for both Louisville Beer Week and the launch of Louisville Ale Trail. While consumers are still having to adhere to social distancing and COVID-19 safety guidelines, it is an important reminder to continue to support small, local craft breweries who were impacted by the pandemic. That’s what it’s all about for the founders of Louisville Beer Week and Louisville Ale Trail.

The pilot launch for passport booklets can be purchased online at www.louisvillealetrail.com beginning October 23 through the end of the year, while supplies last. For news and updates for Louisville Beer Week, follow @louisvillebeerweek or @louisvillealetrail.

Brewery Collab Beer List:

• Mile Wide Beer Co. + Holsopple Brewing: “Mean What You Say” & “Say What You Mean”
• West Sixth NuLu + Gravely Brewing Co: “Dueling Banjos”
• Atrium Brewing + Against the Grain Brewery: “Beach Kitsch”
• Gallant Fox Brewing + False Idol Independent Brewers: “C’est La Vie” & “C’est La Mort”
• 3rd Turn Brewing + Apocalypse Brew Works: “The Trunchbull”
• Falls City Brewing Co. + Akasha Brewing Company: “Campbell St. Porter” –
• Goodwood Brewing + Lagers Homebrew Club: “Mango Madness”
• Old Louisville Brewery + Wild Hops Brewery: “Coffee Blonde”
• Monnik Beer Co. + TEN20 Craft Brewery: “Biere de Mars”

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