Beer, wine and soft drinks at the Kentucky BBQ Festival

While you’re eating some of the world’s best BBQ at the Kentucky State BBQ Festival, you’ll want something cold and refreshing to wash it down.

We haven’t forgotten you.

Kentucky Ale

Three products from Kentucky Ale will be available at the Festival for you enjoyment. Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Ale Light and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale will be vended by Heart of Danville.

Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Light and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale are Lexington’s only locally-brewed beers. Located in the heart of Downtown, Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Company has been creating award winning beers since 2000. Kentucky Ale was released that same year with Kentucky Light not far behind in 2003. Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale completed Kentucky’s Triple Crown of Beers with its introduction in 2006. We invite you to check out our brews and see why we are a favorite of Kentuckians across the Commonwealth.

Our Master Brewers describe Kentucky Ale as a marriage between two classic beer styles, Irish Red Ale and English Pale Ale.

Light amber in color, Kentucky Ale owes its unique body and character to select imported malts and a pinch of wheat malt for a rich, smooth taste.

The unique body and character of Kentucky Ale is heavily influenced by the water, drawn from aquifers in the limestone rock underlying the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky.

Kentucky Light is a light bodied easy drinker for a thirst quenching low calorie, low carb experience. The aroma is lively with a crisp, zesty finish. That’s because our specialized yeast, said to be the life force in beer, is the single greatest flavor contributor to this remarkably smooth and flavorful microbrew sure to be a Bluegrass favorite for years to come. Whether you’re strictly a light beer drinker or prefer a medium bodied microbrew, one taste of Kentucky Light will prove you can have a great tasting light beer full of flavor without all the calories.

Award winning Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is a unique sipping beer with the distinctive nose of a well-crafted bourbon. Our Kentucky Ale is aged for up to 6 weeks in freshly decanted bourbon barrels from some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries.

Subtle yet familiar flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in the charred barrels. Pleasantly smooth and robust, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale may also be served as an aperitif or after dinner drink.

Lore Brewing

Lore Brewing Company and the folks at the Kentucky State BBQ Festival are teaming up to bring you some of the best beer in the Bluegrass to enjoy while experiencing world-class BBQ. Four selections will be available from Lore at the event, which takes place in Constitution Square on the first weekend in November. One thing you should know when attending a “foodie” type event is how to properly pair your food and drink.

When most people think of food pairings, they think of wine. What you might not know is that properly pairing beer is just as important. We’ve done the work for you, and written a guide on how to take your taste buds to BBQ heaven with a little help from Lore Brewing’s beer.

Toolbox Cream Ale – Since this is …a lighter and slightly sweet beer, you don’t want to overpower the beer with really heavy flavors. This beer will go best with any meat that has a fruity glaze or is lightly smoked. This includes chicken, sausages and most pulled pork sandwiches that aren’t swimming in sauce. We experienced this pairing first hand at Danville’s Oktoberfest, where the pulled pork from the Lucky Dog BBQ Team and Toolbox Cream Ale complimented each other very well.

Freya’s Stone Amber Ale – This beer is right in the sweet spot for just about every type of BBQ. The hop flavor will play nicely with most sauces, and the caramel maltiness won’t be drowned out by more heavily smoked fare. Freya’s Stone is highly recommended for things like ribs, sauced sandwiches, and brisket. This is by far the most popular beer in Lore’s lineup, so make sure you pick some up before it runs out.

Derby Brown Ale – With the dark and roasty flavors in this beer, you will generally want to seek out food with heavier flavors. Anything with a sticky, molasses type glaze, and any type of beef pairs very well with this beer. Stay away from chicken while sipping this one, because the lighter taste will be completely overpowered by the beer. Food that is heavily smoked will also go well with Derby Brown.

Smoked Festive Ale – This beer from Lore was created exclusively for the festival. It is a smoky-looking light ale made with malted barley that has been smoked over cherrywood. The result is a hammy smoke flavor in the beer. Some people have referred to it as “bacon beer”. Enjoy this one with anything at the festival. Smoked beer goes well with smoked meat – but we probably didn’t have to tell you that. It is not a part of Lore’s regular production, so make sure that you try this beer that will only be available at the festival.

Chrisman Mill Vineyards

First Vineyard Reserve
The specially bottled Kentucky State BBQ Festival wine is Chrisman Mill’s First Vineyard Reserve, a full-bodied red wine, similar in style to a fine Chianti Classico, this wine is produced from a blend of Chambourcin, Norton and estate-grown Cabernet Franc grapes hand-selected on the crush pad each fall by our winemaker. The final blend is assembled and aged for 12-16 months in Kentucky-coopered American oak barrels.

Norton
A full-bodied red wine made from Norton, also known as Cynthiana and the only red grape native to America capable of producing world class red wines. Norton has a deep garnet color and flavors characterized by earthly elements accented with brown spice flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove.

Vidal Blanc
A semi-sweet wine similar in style and flavor to a Riesling, but made from Vidal grapes selected from vineyards around central Kentucky. A bouquet of honeysuckle and apple is followed by soft, ripe flavors of pear and fig in this delicious wine. Our biggest seller for its broad appeal to a variety of palates.

Sweet Jessamine Rose
A delicious sweet & fruity blush wine made from a blend of locally grown Vidal Blanc and several red grapes including Chambourcin, Chancellor Foch and Baco Noir. This wine resembles a White Zinfandel in style, but with more pronounced floral aromas and tropical fruit flavors.

Sweet Riverbend Red
We proudly present to you our 2008 Indy International Wine Competition GOLD MEDAL winner. This Kentucky born and bred delicious sweet red wine is made from a unique blend of grapes grown exclusively in Kentucky. This sweet red wine is perfect enjoyed on its own or in a sangria.

The above wines may be purchased by the bottle or by the glass. Wine-A-Ritas, Raspberry Sangria and Peach Sangria will be available by the glass.

Blackberry
Enjoy sweet, syrupy pleasure produced from supremely ripened blackberries grown in the Pacific Northwest. Goes fantastically well with chocolate desserts and cheesecake. Available by the bottle only.

Coca-Cola Products

Coca-Cola products will be available at either end of 2nd Street (Main and Walnut). Look for the big red trailers.