LIFE

Kentucky Common beer to stand out at BrewFest

Bailey Loosemore
@bloosemore
A sampling of beers at Apocalypse Brew Works on Mellwood Avenue.

The Bluegrass State's namesake beer — the Kentucky Common — is kind of like chili: Everyone has a recipe, and no one's is the same.

It's been like that since the 1800s, when the dark cream ale made up about 80 percent of beer Kentuckians were drinking and every brewer had a different version, said Bluegrass Brewing Company marketing director Kathy Ogburn.

But with Prohibition came the near-end of the style, and a majority of those original varied versions and recipes have since been lost to history, leaving brewers nowadays to argue over which recipe truly made the Common a standout.

"No one is alive that's ever tasted it because it was so long ago," said Leah Dienes, the head brewer at Apocalypse Brew Works who has managed to secure one of those early versions. "So we wanted to bring the style back to life because we had a real recipe."

Leah Dienes of Apocalypse Brew Works says her favorite brew is Fallen Dust.

Local craft brewers from Louisville and Southern Indiana haven't forgotten the Kentucky-centric beer, and on Friday, they will offer up their own versions at the first Derby City BrewFest, taking place on the plaza in front of the KFC Yum! Center.

The Derby Eve event will feature 16 brewers with more than 60 beers, Ogburn said. Admission is $10, and beer tickets are $2 per 4-ounce taste of beer or $6 per 16-ounce glass of beer.

Dienes will bring Apocalypse's Kentucky Common, which she said has a slight caramel flavor, with a light body and crisp finish. It was brewed according to a 1912 recipe found in former Oertel's Brewing Company brew logs that had ended up with a member of the LAGERS Homebrew Club.

Oertel's was once Louisville's largest brewery, but the brand was bought and sold following Prohibition and eventually disappeared, Dienes said. In its heyday, the Kentucky Common was the brewery's most popular beer.

The Oertel's recipe is not sour, like other versions, and Dienes said she thinks she knows why.

"My theory is there were sour versions because back then, they couldn't clean their barrels," she said. "They barreled everything. So stuff goes sour in barrels. But Oertel's was making 350 barrels a day, every single day. And they were brewing and packaging in nine days, so there was just no way for it to go sour."

BrewFest guests will get to try seven or eight versions of the Kentucky Commons, Ogburn said, including two from BBC — one light version and one sour.

Ogburn said the event is meant to introduce residents to another signature Kentucky beverage — you know, besides the Mint Julep — but the bourbon cocktail will also be offered by sponsor Four Roses.

"You kind of have to," Ogburn said.

Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at (502) 582-4646. Follow her on Twitter at @bloosemore.

DERBY CITY BREWFEST

Bluegrass Brewing Company has planned a festival that includes 16 brewers and more than 60 beers.

When: 4:30-11:30 p.m. Friday

Where: KFC Yum! Center plaza, 1 Arena Plaza

Cost: $10 admission, $2 per 4-ounce taste. Specials include pre-ordering $20, $40 and $60 worth of drink tickets to get free admission and other items.

More info: Purchase tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/derby-city-brewfest-2015-tickets-16037836601.