Hops & Spirits: Neat & Mixed

First opened in September 2020, Atrium Brewing seeks to bring their passion for making beer for Louisville through a series of ever-evolving experimental and true-to-style beers with locations in Shelby Park and Norton Commons. We chat (2:40 mark) with Princeton Hurst,  co-owner/president of Atrium Brewing, about how Atrium was launched, why the name, his entrepreneurial spirit, their Logan Street taproom, expanding to Norton Commons, their approach to beers, the Boy series, what's next and more.

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): El Charro Authentic Mexican Cuisine, which already has two locations, is opening a third streamlined edition near the University of Kentucky campus just off South Broadway. The new El Charro Tacos and Tequila Bar at 561 S. Broadway is set to open in September and be a fast casual concept. Bourbon & Beyond’s culinary lineup is finally out for the Sept. 14-17 festival in Louisville. Leading the Culinary demonstrations are hosts Chef Chris Santos (Chopped) and Chef Edward Lee (The Mind of a Chef). They will be joined by renowned chef personalities including Louisville’s own Food Network Star Darnell Ferguson and Puducah Kentucky native and Top Chef contestant Sara Bradley, among others. The hosts of The Bourbon Experience include bourbon expert Chris Blandford and Chef Amanda Freitag [Top Chef and Chopped]. Tickets are still available to the festival. Those looking to go to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown will need to mark their calendars for the 2024 event as this year’s festival is sold out. Head to their website and subscribe to their e-newsletter to stay informed on ticket release dates, festival information and more. For those going this year, we’ll be there and we can’t wait to see the more than 50 brands represented. It’ll be a great time.

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.

Streetside Brewery beers run the gamut from IPAs and Wheats to Lagers and Stouts and specialty beers are featured seasonally. The taproom also spotlights guest taps to support fellow local breweries and is rooted in Cincinnati's oldest neighborhood, Columbia-Tusculum. We chat (3:20 mark) with Garrett Hickey, Managing Brewer & Owner at Streetside Brewery, about how his family got into the business, how they launched Streetside, where the name comes from, being part of the neighborhood, their beers, what folks can expect when visiting, why they enjoy doing collabs with other breweries and more.

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): Fast-casual Venezuelan concept Señora Arepa closed its NuLu location in July, but the restaurant reopened on Tuesday, Aug. 22 in St. Matthews. Bourbon & Blush Salon & Spa is celebrating its grand opening in downtown Louisville on Friday, Aug. 25. Congrats to Chef Ouita Michel, whose video series "Up Home" has been selected as a finalist for a 2023 International Association of Culinary Professionals Digital Media Award. In Lexington, Sweet Iron, which is District 7 Social Hall’s newest eatery, is slated to open soon, and will feature a European and regional waffle-inspired menu of classics. Bad Wolf Burgers, formerly located on South Broadway, has returned to the Meadowthorpe area at 1401 N. Forbes Rd. Coles 735 Main is bringing back its nonprofit dinner series called Coles Community Table. FoodChain + 21c Lexington are teaming up to help combat food insecurity in the community with HARVEST, which will be held Thursday, Sept. 7. "Seasoned Spirits" will showcase 50 bourbon barrel heads, each hand-painted by talented Kentucky artists aged 50 and above, for six weeks beginning in September at the CAMBRiA Hotel in Downtown Louisville. BoBi Cones, the sister shop of Crank + Boom, announced that it will close at the end of August.

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.

CRAVE is a festival featuring food and live at the Bluegrass Fairgrounds at Masterson Station Park in Lexington. CRAVE has more than 40 food restaurants, chefs, food trucks, craft beer and cocktails, kids stuff, a car show and 10 musical acts performing over two days. We chat (3:10 mark) with Chris Eddie of Smiley Pete Publishing which runs the event. Chris talks about how the festival came to be, how it's grown over the years, what special things are planned for the 10th edition, how the pricing works, how there's more than just food, other events Smiley Pete puts on and more.

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): Wing Week takes over Louisville Aug. 21-27 plus Koko + Rae Caribbean Kitchen is set to open Aug. 18 in the Highlands while Banditz Pizza is serving pies at The Village Market Food Hall in Paristown. Molson Coors Beverage Company has reached an agreement to acquire Georgetown-based Blue Run Spirits. Coming along for the venture is Blue Run’s co-founder and CEO, Mike Montgomery, who will maintain his role at the distillery, as well as join Coors Spirits Co. as its vice president. UK's James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits officially opened its doors earlier this month and its facilities include a research distillery building, with a 30-foot column still as the centerpiece, and the Independent Stave Company – Boswell Family Barrel Warehouse.

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.

Country Boy Brewing was founded in 2012 by four native Kentuckians with a passion for great craft beer. Since then, Country Boy has expanded to a new brewing facility and three taprooms. We chat (2:55 mark) with Pete Weiss, Marketing Director for Country Boy, about their new Louisville Taproom in the Omni's Falls City Market, how it differs from the other taprooms, their Georgetown facility/taproom, their original Lexington taproom, how they've been able to grow, what's next for them and more.

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): Lexington’s Julietta Market will have a new home starting next year after being part of Greyline Station. Dee Felice Cafe in Covington closed after 39 years in business. Bites of the Bluegrass has added a new tour in Lexington, this time at the Distillery District. "Brew at the Zoo with Wine and Food, Too!" returns to Louisville Zoo on Aug. 26 while Joseph-Beth Book Sellers is celebrating Bookstore Romance Day on Aug. 19 with a fun date night at its Lexington and Cincinnati locations.  San Diego, CA fast-food chain Jack in the Box is scheduled to open its first two Kentucky locations in Derby City next month.

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.

Out of the darkness emerges a creature born of American craft and Japanese tradition. And that is exactly happening at The Void Sake in Lexington, Kentucky's only sake brewery. We chat (2:50 mark) with Justin LeVaughn, co-owner and head brewer, about how Void got started, why sake, the process to make it, what's next for them and so much more.

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): The Ketch Seafood Grill has been sold after 28 years in operation in Lexington while Feast BBQ in Louisville announced its Jeffersontown location is now closed. Breakfast AF is coming to Schnitzelburg in Louisville and a new speakeasy at Constitution Rare and Antique Books is coming Lexington. Bluegrass Greensource will host its annual Tacos N Tequila fundraiser on Aug. 18 in Lexington while inaugural Louisville Black Chef Showcase will be held Aug. 13. New Riff hosted a grand opening that officially unveiled their upgraded gift shop, outdoor patio and new tasting bar plus Yelp named Copper & Kings Distillery as the must-visit rooftop restaurant and bar in the Commonwealth. 

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.

It's a two guest episode this week as we hit the 75-episode mark. First, we chat (2:45 mark) with David Mandell, chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, about how the festival has changed over the years, what folks can expect with more than 50 brands in attendance, new additions to this year's festival and what's next. Then we chat (24:45 mark) with Holly Doscher, Director of Marketing for Danny Wimmer Presents which is behind Bourbon & Beyond and Louder than Life in Louisville. Holly talks about what folks can expect at both festivals, how they're able to put on festivals back-to-back weekends, why bourbon and food is a big part of Bourbon & Beyond, and more. 

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): A new Oktoberbest celebration, Steins on Main, is coming to the downtown Louisville on Sept. 30 while the Seven Sense Festival returns to Louisville Aug. 5-6. Buzzard's Roost is asking folks to "Name Our New Still" though Aug. 7. The Lexington Farmers Market is looking for a new midweek home for 2024 and the Cold Brew Coffee Festival is back on Aug. 19 at the downtown Lexington Farmer's Market. Richmond's Dreaming Creek Brewery is expanding its operations with a new brewing facility and taproom in Berea.

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.

The Farm Distillery Project at Locust Grove in Louisville illustrates the small farm-scale distilling activities of early Kentucky, before mass production. The farm distillery opened in May 2017 and since has been used in exhibits, first-person interpreter programs and demonstrations. The farm distillery also plays a role in Locust Grove’s Unfolding The Story tour experience since distilling was historically the work of enslaved people, especially women. To learn more, we chat (2:55 mark) with Carol Ely, executive director for Locust Grove, and Brian Cushing, distillery consultant for the Farm Distillery 

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): Bear’s Chicken Shack from The Bear & The Butcher will be on the streets of Lexington soon while Wick’s Pizza plans to open this fall at 811 E. Market St. in Louisville. The inaugural NuLu Summer Fest debuts July 22 on East Market Street and the Summer Beer Fest at the Frazier is set for July 29. Graeter’s Ice Cream is celebrating National Ice Cream Month with Sweet Reward member deals all month long and its coloring contest. In Northern Kentucky, Newport on the Levee’s yet-to-open food hall will feature Los Tacos Hermanos, Four Mile Pig and Zaria Italian Eats. Don’t forget, it’s Louisville Burger Week through Sunday, July 23.

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.

We welcome in Larry Horwitz (2:50 mark), brewmaster for Crooked Hammock Brewing in North Myrtle Beach, for the latest stop on our Road Trip Series. He talks about how he got into craft beer, how he ended up at Crooked Hammock, how his beer journey has impacted what he brews, being part of the Brewers Association, releasing new beers for Crooked Hammock, places to visit in Myrtle Beach and more.

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:25 mark): Lexington Burger Week is underway through July 16 while Louisville Burger Week returns July 17-23. Goodwood Brewing is bringing a new concept to Bowling Green this fall called The GameYard Social. Third Annual Lexington Hot Dog Eating Contest at Boonedogs is back on July 19. Plus, Chef Ouita Michel opened Holly Hill Cooking Studio in Versailles while Par 6 Social in Lexington has closed its doors after six months.

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.

Hannah Lowen, currently the VP of operations and incoming CEO, has been at New Riff Distilling since before the distillery opened. Hannah established New Riff’s operating systems, company branding and distillery programs as the company launched. Hannah talks (3:30 mark) about how she ended up at New Riff, has she always enjoyed bourbon, how New Riff has changed over the years, stepping into the CEO role, New Riff's current $3 million restoration project, where their name comes from, what's next and more.

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): Kismet’s Tonya Mays and Phil Cronin are teaming up with Local Feed’s Justin Thompson for Seed to Feed, a special charity dinner on June 30 and Eckert’s Orchard in Versailles is hosting its first-ever Peach Party and Vendor Fair on July 8. Slim Chickens has opened its first Lexington location while Tickle Pickle officially opened their first Northern Kentucky location in Fort Thomas and Pickle & Social is coming to Louisville's East End in the fall of 2024. The Breeze at Greyline Station in Lexington is closing, but Darling Wine Bar is moving into the spot in July. Lastly, mark your calendars for Lexington Burger Week on July 10-16.

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.

It's a two guest episode this week as we get a grilling tip from chef Alison Settle while Chad Watson wonders if bourbon drinkers will care about American single malt whiskey. Chef Alison Settle (3:00 mark) talks about a new idea to try this summer in using your charcoal grill as a smoker. Chad Watson (aka MyDailyBourbon) discusses (12:30 mark) the new American single malt whiskey options hitting the market and whether bourbon drinkers are ready for it.

What's Pouring Kentucky (0:30 mark): Decade restaurant is bringing new life to the former Butchertown Grocery space in Louisville. In Lexington, Old North Bar opened their new Old North Kitchen this past Friday while The Manchester boutique hotel is now open in the Distillery District and features several restaurants/bars. Also in Lexington, the Living Arts & Science Center and Black Soil KY are joining together for a dynamic partnership.

Don't forget to check out the video on YouTube and our Facebook page. Plus, enjoy our Neat & Mixed Reviews and the Hops & Spirits Bar Conversations podcast, all available at hopsspirits.com.