Bats, Centerplate as oblivious as ever, but Browning's ale is on tap inside Louisville Slugger Field.

Yes, there is Browning's beer inside Louisville Slugger Field. Last night, ESB was on the main concourse by the sports card shop.


It's identified as "import"beer, which is highly suspect grammar, and costs $4.75. When I observed to the worker that it isn't an import, she responded that she isn't supposed to know were it comes from. When I asked her if she knew it was made less than one hundred yards away, she expressed cluelessness.

The other worker acknowledged that yes, it's a "microbrew," but could not explain why it's identified as an "import" beer.

It is served in a white Budweiser/Bud Light cup. It tasted damned good in the heat, but I was afraid to be seen drinking it from such a receptacle.

Does the Louisville Bats management mandate persistent shoddiness like this from Centerplate, the supposedly "professional" caterer it provides a monopoly on subpar food and drink offerings? And while I'm at it, why should there be such a monopoly in a publicly-owned facility? All of you slamming your long-necks of vapid swill on the counter might want to think about that as you expedite your money to corporate headquarters in foreign countries.

Judging from the "Rally" mascot that performed profoundly unfunny routines throughout the evening, to the bored sighs of even the children present, I'm thinking the answer is "yes." Years pass, and the Bats just plain don't get it, do they?

Browning's restaurant back?

Good news from Louisville. To help clarify, the space in question is the once/future Browning's Brewery, which has continued producing beer since the attached restaurants closed in October, 2008, and the locally renowned Shariat formerly ran the kitchen there.

Shariat receives city loan for Slugger Field restaurant

Louisville restaurateur Anoosh Shariat and a business partner have received a $100,000 loan from the Louisville Metropolitan Business Development Corp. to open a restaurant and brew pub at Louisville Slugger Field.

Browning's still brewing beer.

Apparently both the Browning's and Park Place restaurants are closed for good, but all indications are that brewing will proceed for off-premise distribution, at least for the foreseeable future, and that's good news.

Browning's beers are brewed by Brian Reymiller and distributed locally by River City (Louisville) and World Class Beverages (Indiana). Brian's She-Devil IPA has become a great favorite in metro Louisville, and justifiably so.

When I learn more about the future of the brewing arm of Browning's, I'll let you know.

Shocker: Browning’s Restaurant and Brewery is gone.

First, the good news.

Saturday night was the finale of NABC’s first ever Fringe Fest. Our banner facing Spring Street told the story: Live Music, Craft Beer, No Cover!

Close to 20 kegs of beer were vended on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and by the time Sativa Gumbo finished its set early Sunday morning, only Kaiser 2nd Reising remained on tap. Everything else was gone.

However, there was much sadness. My giddiness over Fringe Fest’s success was radically tempered early in the evening as reports continued to come in to the effect that Browning’s Brewery would unexpectedly be closing as of Saturday night.

So it has, according to this somewhat surreal press release, which strangely mixes past and present tenses, and claims victory after acknowledging defeat. What comes next? I'll try to let you know after I learn more this week.

Park Place and Browning's Restaurant to Close This Weekend

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (October 11, 2008) - - Park Place Restaurant and Browning's Restaurant and Brewery will officially close their doors this Saturday, Oct. 11 after dinner service.

"We have had many years of success," said Susan Friedrich, general manager for both restaurants. "Although we have seen a steady increase in business, we feel the current state of our national economy will prove to prohibit the sustainability of our success. We are extremely grateful to all of our supporters and will miss them at our tables."

Park Place Restaurant received rave reviews after opening in 2004. This fine dining restaurant established itself as one of the city's top tables with farm fresh local ingredients and inventive dishes. Park Place has enjoyed many accolades including awards from AAA, Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast.

Browning's Restaurant and Brewery is an upscale gastropub with a similar philosophy of using fresh local ingredients. The brewing facility, housed within the restaurant, produces several brews including She Devil IPA and Bourbon Barrel Stout.

Park Place on Main and Browning's are located at 401 E. Main Street.

Browning's Brewery tasting Thursday at Keg Liquors.

For daily Gravity Head 2007 lineupdates, go here.

Even the most rigid temperance fanatic would not fail to be impressed by the gleaming, copper-clad grandeur of the Browning’s Brewery three-story brewhouse, truly a building within a building that towers over the bar at 401 E. Main in Louisville. The brewpub, named for a 19th-century baseball star, occupies retail space in front Louisville Slugger Field, the city’s minor league ballpark.

Appearances aside, brewmaster Brian Reymiller provides a solid roster of house ales and lagers, and to prove it to you, he’ll be venturing to the Sunny Side this week for another in a series of beer events hosted by Keg Liquors (617 Lewis & Clark Parkway, Clarksville). The tasting is scheduled for Thursday, March 29 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Brian recently commenced small scale bottling in 22-oz “bombers,” which are being distributed in Southern Indiana by North Vernon Beverage Company. His Barleywine and Imperial Bourbon Barrel Stout both will be featured at the Keg Liquors tasting, along with Louis the XVI Guillotine ESB, Fleur de Lis IPA and She-Devil Imperial IPA, the latter three on draft.
As is his custom, Todd Antz of Keg Liquors will be discounting bottles of Imperial Bourbon Barrel Stout on the night of the tasting.

For more information on the beer portfolio at Browning’s, visit Rate Beer’s site. The brewpub's home page has moved; here's the new site.