Weekly Wine Tasting

Greetings folks! I announced last week that the wine tastings would be returning, and I already have Friday's lineup ready for you all. We will be presenting the following tasty wines from 4 - 7 PM:

• St. Urbans-Hof Riesling
• Seigneurs de Bergerac Blanc
• Charles Thomas Cotes Du Rhone
• Santa Ema 60/40 Cabernet/Merlot

This fantastic selection is sure to please every wine drinker from the Dessert Wine enthusiast to the Dry Red Wine aficionado. Come out and celebrate the return of the Weekly Wine Tasting!

Oskar Blues Pint Night -- Now with IPAs!

Ladies and gentlemen thank you for your attention on this glorious evening!

This Friday's Pint Night will feature a brewery that many have clamored to sample from, but haven't because this brewery has not been available in the state -- until now!  We are excited to present the Oskar Blues Brewery:

• Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale
• Oskar Blues Old Chub Scotch Ale
• Fall's City American-Style Pale Ale
• Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
• Stone 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung Imperial IPA

The Oskar Blues brews are brand-spanking-new to the state, but that isn't the only thing special about this Pint Night.  The Fall's City Pale Ale is an American Style, which means it is much more hoppy and flavorful than the standard English-style pale ale that everyone is used to.  In addition the Stone 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung Imperial IPA is a rarity, a limited edition, and a true pleasure to taste, especially after our IPA drought.  Finally the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA is an imperial IPA that has graced our wall with its aromatic and deliciously bright flavors before, to many people's delight; this particular batch is only two weeks old in the keg, assuring amazing and profound flavors.  My hop-deprived mouth is quivering and salivating in anticipation, so make sure you relieve your thirst with us this Friday!

Oskar Blues Arrives

This long desired beer has finally made it to our shelves! Many of you have asked about any hope or status on Oskar Blues coming. We will be carrying the first 3 beers offered in Kentucky from them:

• Dale's Pale Ale
• Old Chub Scotch Ale
• Mama's Little Yella Pilsner

All of them will grace our shelves tomorrow in 6 pack cans. Look for more great offerings from this highly regarded brewery in the future. Happy drinking!

Weekly Wine Tasting Returns!

Yes folks. Back by popular demand are our Weekly Wine Tastings on Friday and Saturday. We will be doing a plethora of wine each week and invite you in from 4 - 7 PM on Friday and 3 - 6 PM on Saturday. We will accompany each wine tasting with a wide assortment of cheeses, breads, and crackers to compliment these fantastic wines. Hope to see you all out here.

Weekly Beer Reviews

Abita Purple Haze Raspberry Wheat Ale

The featured beer for Pint Night and the one that the glass is meant for. That is probably where the greatness of this beer ends. The nose is very light with hints of raspberry syrup, soap, and sour dough that make for a curious opening to this beer. The taste is equally as light and brings about thoughts of a pilsner with raspberry flavoring. The initial taste has just the slightest hint of tart raspberry flesh before you get flavors of toasted biscuits and English muffins. The finish is soft and refreshing with only light, creamy flavors of wheat to round it out. A very quaffable beer at an exceptional price ($5.99 a growler).

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 6/10


Abita Pecan Harvest Ale

This lighter-style Brown Ale is one of my favorite offerings from Abita. It is brewed with zounds upon zounds of fresh Louisiana Pecans. However, as with most Abita beers, I tend to prefer the bottle over the draft. The nose is interesting with strong aromas of dirt/earth, soap, minerals, and bright citrus. The end of the nose finally displays that expected aroma of pecans. The flavor is lighter than one would expect from a Brown Ale with soft flavors of pecans and oatmeal with light earth notes. The finish is even lighter with flavors of bran and hay and only the slightest kiss of pecans. I must admit I was slightly disappointed with the draft version which didn't display the deep flavors of pecans mingling with strong flavors of bran and milk chocolate.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.25/10


Abita Mayhawk Belgian Pale Ale

A special release from Abita? This is a rarity in and of itself. We have had some good BPA's on tap that both Tyler and I enjoyed. This one we couldn't agree on to save our lives. The nose is diverse with strong aromas of snow peas, clove, grapefruit, coriander, and floral notes. It made for a weird aroma that grows on you with time. The flavor immediately gives off the flavor of those snow peas before taking it away and giving you strong flavors of spice and cloves. The finish is sour with flavors of grapes and copper with hints of coriander thrown in. This beer is certainly a wild ride, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it. However, the same doesn't go for Tyler. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7/10


Abita Strawator Imperial Strawberry Lager

Abita's Strawberry Lager is probably their most popular beer when it is in season. Light and refreshing with flavors of Strawberry without being sweet. Abita managed to take that formula and make it bigger and better, though this is another beer Tyler and I disagreed upon. The nose is all strawberries and cream with a little rock candy. The flavor is slightly bitter up front with strong flavors of strawberries (what a shock!) and lights flavors of buttered crust and ash. The finish is creamy and tastes similar to strawberry milk. This is a last Ode to Summer, so let's enjoy it.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8/10

Abita Pint Night

Hello everyone,

This week's Pint Night will be a good one, as it will feature the ever-popular Abita Brewery Company:

• Abita Pecan Harvest Ale
• Abita Strawator Strawberry Harvest Ale
• Abita Vanilla Double Dog American Strong Ale
• Abita Purple Haze Raspberry Wheat Ale
• Abita Mayhawk Belgian Golden Strong Ale

These beers are perfect transitions into the Fall season, which promises to be filled with fresh new IPAs.  In addition, the Abita Purple Haze pint glasses are most certainly the finest pint glasses we have had in; those of you who remember the Abita Andygator pint glasses can attest to the claim that Abita makes awesome glasses.  Definitely a must-have for anyone who wants a real collection of glassware.  Anyone who purchases a pint glass filled with Purple Haze will receive $1 said purchase.

It is shaping up to be another delightful Pint Night here at the Liquor Barn!  Join us, won't you?

Weekly Beer Reviews

Three Floyds Gumball Head American Pale Wheat Ale

A week removed from throwing on a couple of sessionable Three Floyds ales, we add yet another to that number. This Gumball Head is insanely fresh, having just had its week old birthday. The nose is dominated by oranges, with every bit of the orange detected. Lighter aromas of pine, cherries, pasta, and hay rounding out a fantastic nose. The flavor is smooth and refreshing with thick flavors of lime juice, oranges, and tea hit first with softer flavors of clove and hay with floral notes appear a little after. The finish is bitter and toasty with flavors of lime and hay remaining. This beer is one of the more perfect beers for Summer.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.5/10


Atwater Voodoo Vator Doppelbock

Atwater is a relatively new brewery to Kentucky. Coming out of the Great State of Michigan though is never an easy task when you compare them to the likes of Bell's or Founders. Atwater stumbles out of the gate, but the beer isn't bad by any means. The nose is intriguing with aromas of coffee beans, cherry cough syrup, oak, and a hint of smoke. The flavor upfront is unlike most doppelbocks with flavors of milk chocolate, oatmeal, and cream giving it a decent flavor. Slightly bitter on the finish, it displays flavors of cream, coffee grounds, and smoke. The flavor is reminiscent of a Porter rather than a doppelbock, and came off a little more watery than you would desire. A very drinkable beer, but not the greatest example of a Doppelbock.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7/10


Atwater Vanilla Java Porter

The second offering this week from Atwater. We have had many variations of the Vanilla Porter, and this one ends up better than expected after the last beer. The nose doesn't branch out much with subtle aroma's of roasted coffee, milk chocolate, vanilla, and neapolitan wafers. The taste has an immediate sour twang before strong flavors of cocoa powder, vanilla, and black coffee. The finish is creamy with flavors of chocolate milk and bitter coffee. While very one-dimensional, what it does do is correct to form. A little more watery than to my liking, it actually reminds me of a Young's Double Chocolate Stout with a bit more bite. Definitely worth a try if this is your style.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.75/10

Homebrew Update

Greetings folks! I figured I would give you an update on the Homebrew Section this week. The entire section has been redone and we have a lot of new product as well as old product that had been phased out. We now carry a full compliment of all your favorite adjuncts including a variety of oak chips, most every beer flavor you can imagine, and some natural ingredients like cocoa nibs and star anise. We have also expanded our kits and malt extracts to provide beginners and veterans alike with options. A plethora of dry yeasts have been ordered in, and we eventually plan to expand into the "wet" yeasts.

If that wasn't enough, now we carry every type of US Pellet Hop available by LD Carlson. That's right folks, from Ahtanum to Zythos, we now carry a full compliment of hops to make sure that any American IPA or American Double IPA you can dream up will be possible. We also now have a full compliment of Belgian, English, and American Whole Malts and we will be selling grain mills to get that perfect all grain batch you have been wanting to try. It's not perfect, but the section is coming along beautifully. Please come in and check it out and consider Liquor Barn St. Matthews as a new Home Brew Haven for your needs!

Weekly Beer Reviews

We have a few kegs that have sat in the wings that need to be sold. The age is evident, but they still drink well and we are doing a fantastic price on growlers for all of these beers. Next week will be full of exciting things, but pick up an old favorite this week for a great price.


Three Floyds Pride & Joy Mild Ale

This is, in terms of hops, the weakest of Three Floyds APA's. However, that isn't saying much considering how highly hopped Zombie Dust and Alpha King are. Pride & Joy doesn't try to be overly hoppy, but instead goes towards the quaffable category while remaining quite tasty. The nose is incredibly diverse with aroma's of pine, pineapple, and mango making sure their presence is known immediately. Softer aromas of citrus, soap, banana's, and lavender round out an exceptional aroma. The taste, however, is where this beer shows its age. Crisp up front, it seems to come from a slight over-carbonation. Yet deep flavors of grapefruit and lime were still detected. The finish is refreshing, but the hops skid to a halt with only a bit of black tea. Whereas the malt displays flavors of popcorn and hay. For the price, this is an exceptional APA. However, don't expect something to wow you along the lines of Three Floyds other APA's.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7/10


Three Floyds Jinx Proof Lager

When we tapped this Lager from Three Floyds a couple of months ago, Tyler and I were pleasantly surprised. However, this time around it doesn't seem to last the test of time. The nose is still heavily present with aroma's of grapefruit, coconut, and toast with floral notes immediately picked up. Lighter aroma's of coriander, oranges, and banana were also picked up. Another exciting nose that led to slight disappointment. The flavor has a sour twang before displaying bitter flavors of lemon juice and banana's. The finish is creamy and has a light flavor of white bread. A lot of the flavors seem to have dissipated, though those that are picked up are very well represented in this brew. Still a great buy during this muggy Summer days.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.25/10


Abita Vanilla DoubleDog

Many have asked me this question last time we tapped it: Porter or Stout? It is actually an American Strong Ale, and it shows with just how thin this beer is while tasting like a stout. The nose is lighter than I would have expected but displays plenty of aroma's. Hints of cream, vanilla, coffee, cocoa, and sour notes are picked up, though they certainly don't overpower you. The flavor is immediately sour right off the bat. Flavors of vanilla, cherries, and white chocolate dominate the front of this beer. The finish continues those sour notes and contains more tame flavors of cream, roasted coffee, and chocolate milk. All in all, it has a good flavor once you get past those out-of-place sour flavors.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 6.5/10

Oktoberfest Trickling In

We have had a steady flow of beer coming in with each month arriving, and this month is no exception. Paulaner Oktoberfest and Samuel Adams Oktoberfest have already arrived, and we expect Great Lakes Oktoberfest any day now. More should be flooding our shelves are the temperatures gets more mild and the leaves start to turn. In addition to that, we have received two specialty 22oz. beers that are sure to fly off our shelves in Founders Magnifico con Calor, a mango habanero ale that is sure to surprise and delight. It has already scored 89 points on RateBeer.com. Another rare and great addition is Stone's Farking Wheaton W00tstout. It is a collaboration between Stone's own Greg Koch, Fark.com creator Drew Curtis, and Star Trek's own Wil Wheaton. It is an Imperial Stout brewed with rye, wheat, and pecans and having 1/4 of it aged in a Bourbon Barrel. It has already scored a 99 on RateBeer and a 90 on BeerAdvocate. Come try these new additions today!

Pint Night Clearance Value-Added Closeout Spectacular!

Hello Readers,

Cheap beer is the name of the game this week, as we will be tapping a few kegs that need to move fast.  We have the following new selections up:

• Abita Vanilla Double Dog American Strong Ale
• Three Floyds Jinx Proof Lager
• Three Floyds Pride & Joy APA

In addition to these three brews, we will be tapping  a mystery keg, to be revealed upon Friday -- how lovely!  But the excitement doesn't end there, for the following beers will be available for $2 a pint Friday:

• Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Winter Warmer
• Founders Dry-Hopped APA
• Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale
• Great Lakes Silver & Gold IPL
• North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner
• Three Floyds Jinx Proof Lager
• Three Floyds Pride & Joy APA

Yes, you've read correctly: two dollar pints! Its a wonderful result of our eagerness to sell these kegs as fast as possible, so that we can order in new shipments of amazing beer.  Won't you drop in to help us in this endeavor?  Come to Pint Night this Friday for the best deal on tapped beer in the city!

Weekly Beer Reviews

Green Flash Citra Session IPA

Green Flash decided to celebrate National IPA Day with a bang by releasing this sessionable burst of flavor made with Citra hops. The nose is pungent with smells of cat urine, grapefruit, tons of citrus and lemon zest, and a bit of pine. It makes for quite the aroma of hops. The flavor is bitter up front with tons of citrus...Not surprising considering Citra hops were stuffed into this brew. Softer flavors of copper and grass were also present. The finish is bitter and toasty, yet it remains refreshing despite all of that. A wonderfully hoppy beer that won't light you up during these hot Summer days.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.75/10


Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA

It wouldn't be National IPA Day (well, one day after) without a Three Floyds beer on tap. The Dreadnaught made the cut, and at only 17 days old, it is quite a doozy. The nose is diverse with tons of citrus and pine resin immediately picked up. Softer aromas of cherry and clay with spicy notes were picked up after the strong initial burst. The flavor is quite bitter up front with flavors of pine, lemon, licorice, and burnt toast. The finish smooths out with flavors of lemon juice, rye, and fresh parsley. This beer packs a wallop of flavor and is sure to delight those looking for the hoppiest of beers to enjoy at the end of the work week.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9.25/10


Founder's Double Trouble Double IPA

This one was technically on tap at the end of Friday. The previous keg had blown and I didn't want to wait to throw up this fine Imperial IPA. This one is even better than the last one that we tapped. The nose is full of orange zest, armpit, and grass with plenty of earth notes towards the end. The flavor is bitter up front with tons of lemon zest on the front. Softer flavors of oregano and basil round out the initial flavor. The finish continues the bitterness and still has tons of lemon but also continues soft floral hints and touches of cologne. This is another fantastic Imperial IPA to enjoy before the winter brings us more malty beers.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9.25/10


Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

What is this...Christmas in August? We procured this aged beer at a wonderful price, and it has only served to smooth out this Winter Warmer. The nose has hints of butterscotch, grapes, and woodchips. It certainly reminds you of Winter. The taste is smooth with tons of caramel, butterscotch, and toffee up front. Softer hints of marshmellows, hay, and vanilla are present as the finish comes on. Ridiculously smooth, it definitely brings a warm tinge to the cheeks as you plow through this sweeter beer. However, it almost seems one dimensional with the flavors you do get.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.25/10


Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout

For this one, Anderson Valley took their Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout and aged it in bourbon barrels. Considering I enjoy their Oatmeal Stout immensely, I figured this beer would shock and excite me. Boy, was I mistaken. The nose has sweet hints of bourbon and vanilla at the beginning and finishes with aromas of unsweetened cocoa, smoke, and fennel seed. The flavor, however, is thin and disappointing. Bourbon is very strong on the front with flavors of cream and very light hints of smoke. The finish is even thinner than the start and displays only lights hints of dark chocolate, smoke, oak, and ash. Everyone always says that barrel aged stouts are the best. This one proves that mantra quite wrong.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 6.75/10

National IPA Day Pint Night Spectacu-nanza '013 !!!

Yo everyone!  If you weren't aware, today is National IPA day, and we will be celebrating this sacred holiday with a very special Pint Night, featuring the following:

• Green Flash Citra Session IPA
• Founder's Double Trouble Double IPA
• Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA
• Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Winter Warmer
• Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout

Such an IPA trinity will help to celebrate our holiest day in the very finest way possible, while the Winter Solstice will please all of you Chilly Willies pining for a cooler season.  We will also have Anderson Valley Pint glasses available.

If you are a devout beer enthusiast then you cannot miss this most important and enlightening of occasions!  Come, my children!