Sergio's World Beers

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The first thing people notice about Sergio's is that it's tough to find. As you're traveling into town on Brownsboro road, the bar is on the right after it turn into Story Ave, 2nd building from the corner of Frankfort. There are international flags covering the window. There is plenty of on-street parking whenever I've gone.

Sergio has been behind the bar every time I've visited. It is a cash bar, and I love that he trusts everyone to bring up their bottles and glasses at the end to tally up the cost. It's like going back in time to when people were less paranoid. He is incredibly friendly so I had to give the "service" a 5, not because they are doting but because they are friendly, knowledgeable, and genuine.

This is a pub, not a restaurant, so the food is basically just there to sop up the beer in your belly, and it does that just fine.

I've always thought the prices were reasonable, and I have tried a new beer every time that I have been to Sergio's. If you have a couple beer nerd friends, take them with you for an unforgettable experience. I'm getting ready to move back to Louisville and I can guarantee I'll be making Sergio's a regular experience. I totally agree with the other reviewers that called this place a "beer library." This place is like the beer Library of Congress.

Reviewed on: 05-16-2012 02:15:13

I thought the location was great. The atmosphere was perfect, not to tight. Safe building and parking terminal with supervision. The food was good, just about everything on the menu is above average. Selection is of course the best thing you'll notice. Blows everything away in Louisville, and automatically anything in Kentucky. The representatives were very friendly, helped above their duties, and quite knowledgeable. I have been a "member" at Sergio's for over a year now. Just learned about BeerAdvocate through their staff. I will check it out thoroughly. RateBeer has been around a little longer so I got used to it.

Reviewed on: 04-29-2012 04:12:55

Okay. This place has me in a love/hate situation. I LOVE the fact that they have so many beers to choose from. I LOVE the beer signs, tap handles and other beer "eye candy" that is EVERYWHERE. (think back to your teenage years and how your bedroom looked).

Now, the food sucks. Honestly. Its horrible, so eat somewhere else and then come here. Or drink here and order the food to sober up. The only good thing is the pretzel. Then we have the actual prices on the beer. The tap prices are fair, but the bottles are STUPID! Why would I pay $20 for a bottle that I can get for $7.99 at any other liquor store in Louisville? (Read Hoptimus by NABC). Oh and lets not forget that this place is cash only. Really? For what reason? To keep prices low? Obviously not.
In summary; go if you live here, but only once. Dont go out of your way to get here.

Reviewed on: 12-03-2011 08:16:11

I hope you know someone who has been here before, or you're fucked!! It's not like there is a sign that says "Sergios"!, but once inside the atmosphere is messy with a lot of bottles on the bar with coolers full of great beer and a shitload of taps that are not the norm.

The bartender is full of knowledge that will lead you in the right direction. They have like 40 taps of unreal craft beer that no matter your style, they have something for you.

Prices are reasonable considering what they have. The bottle selection is f'n unreal if you can find what you want-you may need to look hard to find a gem-but don't worry, it's probably there.

The best place to drink in Louisville, and maybe the Mid-West! I hear Sergio is there a lot and will converse with you about beer until you go home.

World Class!!!!

Reviewed on: 11-19-2011 03:39:19

Stopped on the way from Chicago to Asheville NC. On the top 25 places on that other site, in Louisville KY???
My wife and I drove by the place 3 times, no signs and from the reviews on said other site, I figured there'd be some flashing neon sign I could see 5 miles away. Interesting older looking neighborhood, but then pretty much everything we drove through looked that way. Flags cover the windows, as others have said, is what you're looking for.
One of the strangest places I've ever walked in to. Chaos of bottles and glassware on a wood bar with ornate backing. Glassware covering the walls behind and beside the bar. Like some uber beer geek just turned his entire house into his cellar and drinking area. The building is long and there is seating in the back, follow the stream of coolers.

Counted 43 on draft. Prices were marked on a menu, semi up do date but had hand written updates on it. Bottle shop selection of bottles, almost all coolered. Huge selection, prices were a bit high otherwise would have brought some home. I would seriously wonder if he has some stuff he probably shouldn't, but certainly was not complaining. Sergio is a true beer lover, seemed to love talking beer and travel. Apparent he didn't want every idiot in the city in there, really catered to those who appreciate the craft.

People were eating, but we tried none. Eclectic, eccentric, if you find you way you owe it to yourself to stop here, if not just to say you've been and tell others about your experience.

Reviewed on: 09-03-2011 01:20:04

One of the most eclectic and best beer bars I have ever been to. It is seriously more like a beer library and study hall than a pub or bar.

The atmosphere is like no other. First off, it's in a building with no signs or a logo on the awning. The windows are covered with flags and tapestries, and the door doesn't even have the name on it. It's seriously like a speak easy for beer nerds. An absurd amount of breweriana all over the place. Tons of beer coolers throughout the establishment filled with beers you simply pick out yourself. A smaller bar up front, as well as all the taps and about 5 or so beer coolers. A hallway that leads to seating for guests who are wanting to sit or eat at a table rather than the bar. More coolers there, and plenty of booths. Rare beer bottles, both unopened and consumed strayed about. As well as magnums, jeroboams, and other strange bottle formats on display. Truly a unique beer bar atmosphere, and almost like drinking at an old friend's house who really loves beer rather than an established business.

The bartenders are knowledgeable and more than willing to make a suggestion for you, or talk beer. But the wait staff in the back wasn't too great the last time I was there. I had to get my own beer a couple of times, and he wouldn't even bring me a water. But as a whole, their employees are good. Also, the owner Sergio is basically the ultimate beer geek. He loves to talk beer, and drink with customers. He's always there either working or drinking with friends or customers (one in the same for him, I'm sure).

The selection is out of this world. Tons of fresh beer on tap, with kegs being constantly rotated. Also, I've seen some vintage kegs and rare beers on tap before while there. They don't even have a beer menu simply because I'm sure a dozen times a week, a keg will be kicked and they'll rotate the tap to something new. There are some regular beers that always seem to be on tap there though, like Rodenbach Classic and Bell's Two Hearted. Also, their bottle selection is unbelievable. Tons of vintage beers, imports you've never heard of and American craft and micro you can't get anywhere else. Hell, Sergio will even serve you something a bit rarer from his personal stash if he is in the mood. I've had sour ales from Belgium that were almost a decade old or older, and vintage barleywines and stouts by American brewers from years ago from the coolers. It seems like they have a deep cellar and just put out beer at random. I've also seen some pretty rare things there that I didn't even think an American beer bar could have. Sergio goes out of his way, and travels to get these beers to serve at his bar and it really shows.

Overall, an outstanding beer bar. One of the best, if not the best I have ever been to. Tons of beer (vintage bottles, in season and current bottles, and like 40 taps that are constantly rotating), a vibe unlike any other, an owner that loves beer and wants to talk beer with you as well as drink with you, and plenty of things for customers to look at and discuss while they drink their beer. Like I said, it's seriously almost like a beer library rather than a pub or restaurant. Once I try their food, I will add that to the review and score. My only complaint is I wish they would develop a chalkboard system like most beer bars have so you could know what was on draft without looking for an up to date beer menu or having a bartender list off forty or so beers. But the selection process they allow the customer to do with bottles they have more than make up for the absent minded waiter I had once and the lack of a proper beer menu. The prices can vary from cheap to expensive too. Vintage beers will cost you a bit more, as well as some things on tap. But the prices seem justified.

Reviewed on: 08-01-2011 05:40:26

Sergio's features over 1,400 bottles (yes 1,400), and over 40 taps. Sergio, the proprietor is a beer lover and a snob, in a good way. Be sure you talk to him when you visit, he's full of good beer stories that usually involves his travels to Belgium.

You will not find anything that resembles a Budweiser, Miller or Coors unless you go to the men's restroom, because frankly, that's where these beers belong anyway. Ask for a water, and Sergio may jokingly offer you a Coors.

The selection is quite amazing. If you're lost, just ask Sergio. Tell him what you like, and the price range and he'll lead you to one of the many refrigerators and pull out the winner. This place even stocks rarities like Beer Geek Weasel, and some hard to find Belgians, which are near and dear to Sergio's heart.

If you want a mind-numbingly huge choice of Craft Beers, Imports and rarities ,this is the place for you. Remember, no credit cards are accepted here, kids, though there is an ATM on site.

Reviewed on: 03-15-2011 17:26:03

Stopped by this place back in January. It is rather difficult to find as there are no signs outside, but I suppose maybe they want it that way? Once inside, there is a small seating area and bar with loads of taps. This is what I came for! The tap selection was off the charts. Very good (and some rare) choices there. The vibe was kind of odd, and the service questionable (when my party moved to the back room we didn't see a server for probably 20 minutes), but I got the impression this place was simply all about the brew. We didn't have any food, so I can't comment on that. The prices seemed reasonable for the selection. It's not the most fun place in the world, but if you're looking to try some great (and possibly tough-to-find) draft beer then it's worth a shot.

Reviewed on: 03-11-2011 20:48:39

Finding this place, not an easy job. My friend and I passed it up a couple of times before finally using the GPS, and stopping nearby to ask a guy smoking a cigarette outside a nearby bar who pointed us in the right direction. And I'm local! No signage for this, but there is an old sign out front that says the "Fusion Bar". CASH ONLY TOO!!!!

After talking with the owner, I understand why. He isn't in this business to make a ton of cash. That why there is no signage and it is cash only. He wants REAL beer lovers to search this place out. Not a bunch of frat boys searching for a Bud Lite and a pool table. Therefore there is no signage and it is cash only, (although there is an ATM on premise, but it will cost you a $3.00 service charge).

The beer selection is unrivaled at any bar in Louisville, and I'd bet most of North America. If you're a beer lover, you're going to need to bring at least a hundred in cash to try everything you'd want to try. Seriously, you could spend a whole paycheck here.

This place is apparently an old shotgun house that has been renovated into a bar. Not a bar atmosphere here at all. But beer coolers line the walls all the way back to the end of the place. It will take you 15 to 20 minutes just to quick-glace over every beer here. And do yourself a favor and strike up a conversation with the owner Sergio. He can tell you about every beer he has there, and others than he doesn't. And quite possibly he will have other beers behind the counter, not even out for sell to the general public! So do yourself a favor and be friendly.

Didn't try the food, but for a small place like this, the menu is extensive. Like the beer selection, there are a whole lot of choices! Well more than your typical bar fare.

Seriously, if you're a real beer fan visiting Louisville, you CANNOT pass up visiting this place! This should be your first destination!

Reviewed on: 01-06-2011 05:10:28

Well, if you want to find Sergio's, the method is simple: ask someone behind a bar who has the best selection in town. Everyone who has a serious interest in beer around here knows how to get to Sergio's. Getting directions is likely your best bet anyway.

The beer selection is numbing. It's easy to forget that you're trying to pick a beer as you see row after row of amazing, unusual or unheard-of beers. The phrase "kid in a candy shop" is spot-on. A thousand-plus selections on bottle alone. Their website has the current draft list. Go look now. My jaw drops every time.

The food is good Largely unamazing, but quite tasty. Usually, this'd warrant a 4, but Sergio's hosts beer dinners in which the food warranted a 4.5.

The service and atmosphere seem to go hand-in-hand. It's not like a "bar", but almost like a "beer library." The people there reflect this idea. Wander around and make your selection, or ask them if you need help. Once you get one of them on the case, you will wind up with a beer you love. If price is an issue, mention that to them beforehand or they'll simply point you to the most exceptional (and often priciest) rendition of your request. Not to say they ignore you, because if you've made a selection or gotten food, they make sure that everything is up to your expectations.

With so much going for them, it's easy to see that they get busy. Their hands might be full when you get there, but it's completely worth the wait.

Reviewed on: 09-22-2010 23:10:06