"Browning’s to convert to Against The Grain Brewery"

The Bar Belle tweets:

http://barbelle.leoweekly.com/2011/06/30/brownings-to-convert-to-against-the-grain-brewery/

This is great news for the Louisville craft beer community: A beer-first brewery at Louisville Slugger Field.

[Robin Garr]

Yeah, Paula asked me to hold it until 4 so they could inform the employees first. Here's her release to HotBytes:

Anoosh Shariat and Paula Barmore, co-owners of Browning’s Brewery & Restaurant located at 401 E. Main Street, are excited to announce that new owners will be taking over the business in July. The new owners, Adam Watson, Jerry Gnagy, Samuel Cruz and Adam Ott, will rename the business located in Louisville Slugger Field “Against The Grain Brewery and Smokehouse.”

“They are very excited about brewing beer and have big plans for the site,” said Barmore. “This is a great opportunity for them. They are beer brewers and are enthused to a part of the Louisville brewing community. They are great guys.”

Shariat and Barmore have owned the business since April 2009. Browning’s, along with Park Place on Main, had been closed since October 2008.

They have enjoyed being a part of the rejuvenation of the Main Street corridor. “It has been an exciting seeing all the businesses open and thrive. The area has boomed especially since the opening of the area. We have loved being a part of it,” said Barmore.

“Thank you to all of our guests, employees, the Bats organization and our families and friends for their support for the last two years. As this chapter of our lives is closing, a new one will begin,” said Shariat.

Although Shariat has no definitive plans he will to be available for caterings and will continue to play a part in the local charitable community, just as he has done in the past.

“We wish the new guys nothing but the best and we are looking forward to the positive impact they will have on the local beer community.” Brownings will continue to operate until mid July.

She also mentioned that the Park Place venu won't be used by Against The Grain but will "go back to the Bats."

Rick Redding had it, too:

http://louisvilleky.com/2011/06/beer-focused-team-taking-over-at-brownings/

It's time. When Brian was on board full time, the beers were very good, but I went to Browning's the other day before a Bats game, and there were only two house beers on the board, with roughly six other various golden styles (PBR, Schlafly Pilsner, Sierra Summerfest, etc) on tap as guests.

Frankly, the She-Devil was barely drinkable; not sure what happened with the final batch. The food was fine, but it's supposed to be a brewpub, and now it will be. The craft beer community has been following the Against the Grain insurgency for a while, and we're all pumped.

My only worry is that the Philistines at Centerplate might file suit against it or something.

Sad to see Browning's depart, but excited the see what the Against the Grain crew will do. Hoping for extended hours. Always seemed to move toward Browning's near or after closing time.

Browning's had a black IPA earlier in the year I really liked. If that's the last beer I have there, it will last as a good memory.

[Robin Garr]

Rick Redding had it, too:

I guess Paula asked HotBytes to hold back because of our circulation and the increased likelihood that employees might see it. No big deal, I was happy to abide by her request. It's not like this is The Front Page or something.

[Robin Garr]

> “The changes are primarily ascetic and culinary,” Watson said. <

It's been hard not saying anything for a while now. A few hours don't matter that much, in the end. Currently there are many changes in the local craft beer scene, and an equal number of developing opportunities. I'm excited.

So are Anoosh and Paula. They wanted to do right by the staff and make sure they heard this from themselves and not on the streets. So I thank you for waiting Roger.

> “The changes are primarily ascetic and culinary,” Watson said. <

Yeah, I thought the same thing when I read it! I bet it's another example of taking the first suggestion Word gives you in spell check.

Great news about the rejuvenation of brewing focus at the site. I had the same disquiet as Roger when I was in a couple of weeks back when the in-house brews on the board were half or a third in number what they were a year or so ago.

So will Park Place still be available for events? I had booked Sept 22nd for the Food Literacy Project 'Field to Fork' dinner with Liz a couple months ago. Will I have to find another venue?

[Robin Garr]

So will Park Place still be available for events? I had booked Sept 22nd for the Food Literacy Project 'Field to Fork' dinner with Liz a couple months ago. Will I have to find another venue?

Paula might be able to help with that. All she told me is that "it goes back to the Bats."

I have one (tiny) little bit of sadness over this...the loss of the Browning name. Nothing wrong with Against the Grain, but well before the existence of Browning's I felt Pete Browning had gotten the short shrift from the city. He was THE superstar when Louisville was a literal Major League City.

It was 79 years after his death before his gravestone had his name spelled correctly.

As a baseball fan it bothers me. As a beer fan, go get em...I expect good things from AtG.

> “The changes are primarily ascetic and culinary,” Watson said. <

I don't remember saying that so much. I think everyone saw past the typo, though. I assure you, self-flagellation will be purely optional.

I would like to know more about the "Smokehouse" part of the equation please. Has a menu been developed ? Who's in the kitchen ?

Steve Coomes from Insider Louisville.com had a nice write up about this yesterday too:
http://insiderlouisville.com/news/2011/ ... mokehouse/

Looks like a BBC chef (Reid Johnson) is going with Jerry, Sam and Adam from BBC St. Matthews. I wonder who is brewing for them now?

I'd love to see Brian Reymiller resurface somewhere soon brewing. He has always been one of my favorite brewers in the city, and its odd to not see his name creeping up in any of the new ventures coming around.