Bluegrass Brewing Co. - Theater Square

Bluegrass Brewing Co. - Theater SquareBluegrass Brewing Co. - Theater Square
Bluegrass Brewing Co. - Theater SquareBluegrass Brewing Co. - Theater Square
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

660 S 4th St
Louisville, Kentucky, 40202-2418
United States

(502) 568-2224 | map
bbcbrew.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.64
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
25
pDev:
12.09%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ndolover:
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Reviewed by ndolover from Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -9.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 4
Located just south of the "LIVE" area in downtown. This old brick building has some character.

The place had a good vibe, but nothing to write home about. The service was quick and helpful.

The beers on tap were all their own. They some crazy stuff too! Alt's and Raspberry Meads come to mind of some interesting selections. The IPA was good, with alot of Simcoe hops throughout.

The smallish bar and subdued atmosphere put me off a bit. However, I would like to come back and give it another try. Worth a stop if you are in the downtown area.
Nov 01, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Had a chance to visit BBC whilst in Louisville for work. This is a nice location with plenty of space....both bar and tables. The quality of the beer was good and certainly worth the try in in Louisville for the night. Service was fine....would help if friendlier....but certainly attentive. They had 9 of their own beers available and you should be able to meet your tastes for the evening.
Jan 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by ADTaber from South Carolina

Jun 02, 2015
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Reviewed by Benjamin_Stewart from Kentucky

4.26/5  rDev +17%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 3 | food: 4.75
I live a block from this place, and often walk over from my apartment for lunch or dinner. The wait and bar staff know me, and are always willing to accommodate my high-maintenance food orders. Unfortunately, the BBC is not as prolific with their brews as they were five or six years ago, when they would have two or three new seasonals every couple of weeks. Now they are lucky to have one new seasonal a month, and fill in the rest of the seasonal spots with guest brews from other breweries. However, their food is still top notch, and they make one of the best burgers in the city.
Dec 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by cwd from Kentucky

Sep 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by bigred89 from Maryland

Aug 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by tykechandler from Kentucky

Aug 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by denver10 from New Mexico

Aug 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Carl_R from Oklahoma

Jul 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ToddBeans from Kentucky

Feb 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by target88 from Kentucky

Dec 05, 2013
Photo of neckbracesub
Reviewed by neckbracesub from Indiana

3.59/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.25 | food: 3.75
Stopped here before a Drive-By Truckers show in October 2011.

It was a very warm day for the fall season, so the atmosphere was very welcoming as we sat at the bar near the outside of the building. The place is nice & clean and located well.

From what I remember, the service was neither impressive or disastrous. There was no lasting impression either way.

For a brewpub that features locally brewed beer there was surprisingly few options on the tap list. I was a bit disappointed to see the only stronger option being their popular Bourbon Barrel Stout. Oh well.

We both enjoyed the burgers we ordered, and overall I think we'd be back when in town again.
Aug 12, 2013
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Reviewed by RoninWai from Texas

3.2/5  rDev -12.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 4
(I'm writing this review two years after the fact so bear with me if I don't have a lot of detail in my review. )
My wife and I went here after visiting family for Thanksgiving. I grew up in Louisville as a kid and I was pleased to see how much the town got built up downtown.
The beer choices were good and the buffalo burger was great. I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Like one of the reviewers above, we were there for a late lunch and it wasn't too loud or quite. Our waitress was prompt and helpful. I enjoyed the Cardinal lager and bought a growler of it to take home.
I'm definitely going to check it out again next time I'm in town.
Dec 29, 2012
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Reviewed by jwjon1 from Pennsylvania

2.3/5  rDev -36.8%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 2
I hate writing less than positive reviews, but they can be useful so here goes. I've had bottled beers from Bluegrass before, none of which stood out, save for a bal aged stout which was soured and wretched. Nevertheless, was in town and the 4th st location was across the street from my hotel, so figured I'd give it a shot. I had just arrived in L'ville that day and had a beer at Against the Grain, L'ville Beer Store, and dinner at Holy Grale. Great start, with my excitement at the L'ville beer scene increasing with each stop.

Then came Bluegrass. My enthusiasm fell off a cliff. Tried the Homewrecker and American Pale Ale. Blah and blah. Especially the Homewrecker. This is a DIPA? Really? It's a sticky mess with no real hop profile--and this from a fresh batch on draft. The APA wasn't much better.

Anti-impressed and frankly bored.
Oct 24, 2012
Photo of dbrauneis
Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina

3/5  rDev -17.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
We sat outdoors so only a portion of the atmosphere was in the control of BBC - there was traffic on the street and plenty of pedestrians going by. Unfortunately, we were down wind from another table where everyone was smoking cigars and it was less enjoyable than I desired.

The beers were properly served and tasted as I expected (and similar to other reviews).

The service at this BBC establishment was awful - had to be one of the worst servers I have ever had in all my years of going to bars/restaurants/brewpubs. It took well over 15 minutes just to get the menus and put in a drink order, then it took quite a while for the food to be delivered. Additionally, after the food was dropped off we did not see the server again for about 40 minutes - I got so desperate for another beer that I went to the bar and got one myself.

The selection was about what you would expect for a brewpub, I think they had about 10-12 different beers available on tap. They seemed to cover a decent array of styles, some regulars and some seasonal.

The food was decent for pub fare but not anything special.

Prices seemed to be about average for the area and I would consider it reasonable.
May 29, 2012
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Reviewed by FanofHefe from Illinois

4/5  rDev +9.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Stopped in for a quick bite to eat and to have a couple of beers on a Saturday afternoon. Promptly seated and asked if we wanted to watch the game with the noise or have a more quiet seat in the back. I thought that was courteous.

I asked for an IPA and th waiter quickly told me what they had and brought it out promptly. The wife and I ordered a sandwich and split it. Nothing spectacular on the food side but very decent.

The atmosphere was pleasant and the front near the bar seems like a good sports bar environment. The 2 beers I had were solid.

Overall, a good experience. If you're in the area, I'd recommend it.
Feb 18, 2012
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Reviewed by TheBeerAlmanac from Kentucky

3.43/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 2 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
A: Stopped in after a concert one Thursday evening. Only a handful of people inside, not a lot of enthusiasm.

Q: Food was really good, beer was decent too. Was a little surprised to see so few beer options on hand.

S: Waitress seemed uninterested, like she was ready to get out of there. Came by rarely, only when needed. But she did take care of everything we needed, so there's that.

S: Decent menu, various options. Again, just wish they had a better beer selection.

F: Had some pizza, it was really good. Finished it off in our hotel later that night. I'd go back again.
Oct 17, 2011
Photo of KYBrewgrass
Reviewed by KYBrewgrass from Kentucky

4/5  rDev +9.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Right across the street from the Palace Theater, this is a great spot if you're pregaming for a show. If otherwise, it is still in a convenient spot close to everything downtown. I had lunch here summer 2010 with my wife.

A - 4 We were there for a late lunch, and it was quiet. I like that, though! The patio was a nice and relaxing spot to have our lunch.

Q - 4 The food and beer were both well-crafted. The beer I've discussed elsewhere as being very solid in general; it's the same case here. The food was tasty and hot and how you'd expect it. It's not upscale but it is definitely good.

Ser - 4 No complaints here. Not overly attentive but our needs were met just fine. As I said, it was a slow and quiet afternoon, which probably trickled down to everyone. It was fine.

Sel - 4 A good menu of both food and beer. They have the standard offerings on tap as well as seasonals that would surely offer everyone's tastes something. I wish they had more guest brews, but if you're going to a brewpub chances are you're looking for their beer anyway.

F - 4 As mentioned previously, the food was tasty. It wasn't fancy or anything, but it was nice.

V - $$ For a brewpub downtown with decent food, its prices were reasonable. They were what I expected to pay.
Apr 12, 2011
Photo of Shrews629
Reviewed by Shrews629 from Kentucky

4/5  rDev +9.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I must say that I really enjoy this place. I have been to this particular pub 4 times and everytime I thoroughly enjoy myself. Nice open atmosphere bar with all the proper beer selections from BBC. Several big screen TVs to enjoy the nights baseball, football or basketball games. The food is well above average in my opinion also with more than adequate portions. The bartenders and waitresses are very kind and quick with service. You can choose to sit inside or hang out outside. You can even pick up BBC merchandise in the pub. This is one place that I will continue to visit on my infrequent trips to Louisville.
Nov 29, 2010
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Reviewed by Bourbon from Kentucky

4.3/5  rDev +18.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Well, I will say that this is just a pleasurable place to grab a bite as dusk settles in. The atmosphere when it's too cold to sit outside is not amazing, just alright.

No complaints about the food or service any time I've been there. One incident that does stick out in my mind is when I asked a server about one of their brews, she wasn't sure about it, so she grabbed the head brewer over to my stool.

I love their selection of their in-house brews, although on occasion they seem a little inconsistent. Not a bad beer in the set, though. They also carry a handful of other beers, some of which are good. Missing the selections they brew would almost be criminal, though.

Smiling servers and good Microbrew. A winner in my book.
Sep 23, 2010
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Reviewed by kalopharis from Hawaii

4.15/5  rDev +14%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Visited on a business trip in April 2010. Like another poster I also stayed across the street at the Brown, and knew right away that could be a dangerous combination.

Though the APA was good, it did leave something to be desired. The Dark Star porter was so tasty that I nabbed a six pack. But I have to say that the seasonal coffee stout was really my favorite - if you happen to go, do yourself a favor and ask if they've got any on tap.

Curious that they had absinthe on the menu, I also tried this and enjoyed it - they do everything short of charring the sugar cube. In fact, the bartender seemed perturbed at having to go through the ceremony of the drink and after acted annoyed at me. I move to a table and quickly befriended my server who spent quite a bit of time hanging out with me.

At his recommendation I had a Hot Brown and can only describe it as a cheesy gooey delicious mess. I'd highly suggest this, but as it's the only one I've ever had, I'm not sure if it's true to the "original" recipe, which was named for the aforementioned Brown Hotel and still served there today.
Jul 31, 2010
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Reviewed by thesyko56 from Georgia

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 2.5
I visited BBC last summer and again about a month ago both times were during Lebowskifest. The atmosphere is very nice and most people there were very friendly and there for a good time which made the experience better. The service was decent. The waitress knew nothing about the beer which I hate but there were a few guys that brewed there that were wondering around the bar and they would stop by and talk about the beer, how its made, type of hops, etc... which I love. The only problem I see with this particular location is the food. Both times I have been there the food was not particularly good. However, it is right across the street from the Brown Hotel and if your hungry I would recommend going to eat there and get a famous Hot Brown SO good. The beer selection was good when I was there they had around 8 beers on tap and they were delicious. There APA was nice and hoppy but the standouts were their Amber Waves of Pain and their English Mild. Amber Waves is a double amber ale that is nice and strong but not overwhelmingly harsh. On the other side of the spectrum is their English Mild that is low alcohol but still flavorful. It is one of the better session beers I have had. Worth the stop for sure.
Aug 15, 2009
Photo of TheEclecticGent
Reviewed by TheEclecticGent from Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +13.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
First of all I have to say I was impressed not just with the beer scene in Louisville, KY but the overall city as well. This is a really cool place to visit.
This pub is located at a lovely location on 4th Street. I was located across the street at the Brown Hotel which was a potentially dangerous setup (an easy 30 yard walk "home")! It is a very open air setup during the summer with an inside / outside bar set up. Add in plenty of windows and you have a very open feel in this BBC. The food that we had, a mushroom-veggie "burger" and the black bean burrito were quite good. The beers I'd give a B- overall. The darker the better it seemed with the Bluegrass Brews. All their beers that were Bourbon Barreled Aged, however, were a notch up (B+ to A-). Live "open-mic" music was playing in the nearby courtyard and the people watching was entertaining as well. This is a good stop not only for food / beer but the local neighborhood has a lot of shops and interesting stuff nearby.
Jul 28, 2009
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Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.75/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Visited in mid-2007. Located just down the road from the 4th St. Live area, it is nice little location that sports plenty of outdoor seating and garage door like window bar with stools sitting outside. Inside it is typical pub look. The bar was crowded and tables were pretty full too.

10 beers were on tap providing a nice selection. They had a schwarzbier, summer wheat, nut brown, alt, porter, and a pale ale were some of the offerings. They also had a rapsberry meade and a fruity beer called frambozen that we did not try.

Food was a bland but plentiful and cheap. Horrible pizza, so avoid those. Stick with the appetizers.

Definitely a nice stop while in Louisville for some locally produced beers.
Mar 08, 2008
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Reviewed by tmitch75 from Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 2 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
A quick visit on a recent business trip. Furniture and decorations are lacking.

Service was very friendly from start to finish. Personable and laid-back. Very helpful and prompt.

I had a "hot brown" which is a local favorite of which I had only seen on Food Network. I don't know if this was a traditional hot brown but it was quite tasty (toast covered with cheese, alfredo sauce, tomatoes, bacon and more cheese. Very tasty.

First beer was their flagship Alt. It was rather disappointing but washed the food down well. A bit watery.

Second beer was their Baltic Porter. Served in a half-pint because of high alcohol level (which was fine because I was driving in a completely new city to me). Very tasty beer.

Overall I would definitely visit again if ever in the area. I also bought a couple single bottles of BBC brews to bring home so I am looking forward to trying them.
Mar 07, 2008
Bluegrass Brewing Co. - Theater Square in Louisville, KY
Place rating: 3.64 out of 5 with 25 ratings