I love Liquor Barn. Like, SERIOUSLY love Liquor Barn. There are a lot of options for adult beverages in greater Louisville, but after trying many, many options, Liquor Barn shines as my absolute favorite. Each time I walk in the door it's as if the clouds part, the sun shines down on the Craft Beer taps, and a choir of angels sings to me.
This location is the closest to my house, which is both good and bad. Good because it's about a 10 minute drive.
Bad because it's ONLY a 10 minute drive. :)
First up, the aesthetics. You're greeted by the current/seasonal beverages, usually thematically displayed with the current season. This location is newer than the location I used to frequent, and has a very contemporary, comfortable atmosphere without feeling warehouse-y.
As you make your way to the Craft Beer counter (or, as I like to call it, Mecca), aisles left and right are stocked with liquors, wines, mixers, party supplies, and just about everything you need for your next adult beverage occasion. Chances are they've got the spirit you're looking for.
At the back center of the store is Craft Beer Central. Here you will find a countless variety of craft beers in every style what I'm willing to be is hundreds of craft breweries from all around the country. IPAs. Stouts. Pilsners. Ales. Lagers. SO many to chose from. To one side are shelves of six- and twelve-packs of beers, as well as bombers. There is about a 16-foot section of singles for build-your-own-six-pack evenings (which I tend to favor). Along the back wall are the beer coolers sporting domestics and craft beers in an endless variety to style and flavor.
For me, however, the shining star is the growler bar. Here you can pull up a bar stool and sample any one of (I think) 16 different craft beers. The current selections are on the flat screens and there is a printed list as well. You can get 2 oz samples and you can get a full pint (but keep in mind you're limited as to how much you can consume) at varying prices. The 2 oz samples range (on a current visit) from $.75 to $3.00. This is where the fun takes place, because you can sample several in your search for something to fill your growler. The staff at the growler bar is very knowledgeable and helpful, and their guidance has helped me find the right beer during those times that I couldn't make up my mind because of what I'm going to call "Craft beer decision overload".
Eventually I always walk out with either a mix-my-own-six or a growler of something I haven't had before, and I always walk out knowing I made a good decision (if buying beer for a Friday night can be labeled a "good decision") and that I'll like what I'm taking home.
(geez...this review makes me sound like a raging lush, but that's not the case at all. I'm just very selective about what I drink on Friday nights, and Liquor Barn helps lead me down the path to better drinking.)
Suffice it to say, Amazing selection, Helpful staff, and more Craft Beer than anywhere else in town. (this is an unsubstantiated claim, but could quite possibly be the truth.) read more