Previously we shared the good news: Louisville Beer Week (October 23 – 30) would return in 2020.

Hip Hops: Louisville Beer Week approaches (Oct. 23 – 30)

The philosopher cautions us to define our terms, these being gleaned from a helpful information release calculated to provide just the facts, ma’am, and reduce the digital editor’s workload.

That’s because he’d rather be drinking beer.

Louisville Beer Week is a grassroots collaboration by Louisville beer nerds for Louisville beer nerds and is a 7-day celebration of Louisville’s historic and growing craft beer community.

Louisville Beer Week is being presented by Louisville Ale Trail.

Louisville Ale Trail serves to engage with Louisville tourists and residents about our local beer scene by encouraging city-wide tourism through the promotion of participating member brewery taprooms.

This year’s highly appropriate Louisville Beer Week theme is resilience, a term explained in the aforementioned information release.

Louisville Beer Week Returning October 23 – October 30
Celebrating resilience in Louisville brewing and the new Louisville Ale Trail
Louisville Beer Week 2020, presented by the newly-established Louisville Ale Trail, will recognize the resilience of brewery owners and employees during COVID-19 with brewery collaborations and the launch of the new Louisville Ale Trail Passport during the week of October 23 – October 30. 
Louisville Beer Week’s theme this year is “resilience.” Despite statewide and citywide shutdown requirements due to COVID-19 and curfews, and subsequent financial burdens, throughout 2020, brewery owners and employees were able to pivot to package sales, patio seating, and curbside pickup. Despite all uncertainties, the local beer scene has also managed to grow – with the addition of multiple new breweries opening since March.
“Nobody planned on opening their taproom during a global pandemic,” said Roger Huff, co-founder of Gallant Fox Brewing. “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?”
In addition to special brewery releases and events, the team behind Louisville Ale Trail announced a new limited-edition pilot launch for the Louisville Ale Trail Passport to be released in time for Louisville Beer Week with a full-scale launch planned for early 2021.
“This was one way to encourage beer-tourism within our own city when many people just aren’t traveling right now,” said Louisville Ale Trail organizers. “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.”
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.
2020 BREWERY COLLABORATION LIST
Mile Wide Beer Co. + Holsopple Brewing:
“Mean What You Say” – Holsopple Brewing – Imperial Slushy-style Sour Ale with Raspberry, Mango, and Passionfruit (fruit added post-fermentation)
“Say What You Mean” – Mile Wide Beer Company – American Sour Ale with Raspberry, Mango, and Passionfruit (fruit added during fermentation).
West Sixth NuLu + Gravely Brewing Co:
“Dueling Banjos” – Double IPA with Citra, Idaho 7, Centennial, and Chinook hops.
Atrium Brewing + Against the Grain Brewery:
“Beach Kitsch” – A mixed 4-Pack of Strawberry Daiquiri and Piña Colada versions of American Tart Ale.
Gallant Fox Brewing + False Idol Independent Brewers:
“C’est La Vie / C’est La Mort” – C’est La Vie and C’est La Mort are a golden and dark Biere De Garde, respectively. C’est La Vie uses golden candi syrup, ginger, and lemon zest, while C’est La Mort uses dark candi sugar, grains of paradise, and a touch of roasted malt.
3rd Turn Brewing + Apocalypse Brew Works:
“The Trunchbull” – Salted Caramel Porter (6.8%). Layered with caramel and chocolate malts in the mash. Salted caramel powder from sugar and spice donut shop was added to the boil along with copious amounts of Himalayan sea salt, lactose, and caramel. The Trunchbull loves her sweets. She’s salty and mean. She’s a tyrannical monster who frightens the life out of children. The Trunchbull is very superstitious and has an intense fear of ghosts, black cats, and the supernatural in general. Enjoy with caution. The Trunchbull is ruthless.
Falls City Brewing Co. + Akasha Brewing Company:
“Campbell St. Porter” – Variants: Pecan, Chocolate & Vanilla (Akasha). Chocolate Banana (Falls City).
Goodwood Brewing + Lagers Homebrew Club
“Mango Madness” – When Greg and Sarah from LAGERS won the homebrew competition and brewed with us in Frankfort, we dove deep into our ties with fruit…We know wood, wood is good yes? Then we dove deeper, they were basically doing everything. What is this beer? Mango’s grow on trees, right? Trees are wood, wood is good, Goodwood. Aha! It’s madness! Absolute Mango Madness! Hazy IPA with Citra, Centennial, and Mango Puree. A tropical Vacation of a 7.5% beer that we’re crazy about. Available in both Louisville and Frankfort pubs on 10/23.
Old Louisville Brewery + Wild Hops Brewery
“Coffee Blonde”
Monnik Beer Co. + TEN20 Craft Brewery:
“Biere de Mars”