Lexington’s top microbreweries are heralding state legislation that expands production limits, and two — West Sixth and Country Boy — are wasting no time, with the former announcing a new tap room for downtown Lexington and the latter set to break ground on its new Georgetown facility.
Among the provisions included in the new law — which moved through the General Assembly as Senate Bill 11 — is raising production limits for smaller breweries to 50,000 barrels annually, up from 25,000 barrels. Another change eases and streamlines requirements to allow microbreweries to more easily take part in certified civic events, like town festivals.
“Blue Stallion Brewing supports the passage of SB11, which will allow for longterm growth in the Kentucky craft beer market,” Blue Stallion’s Xavier Donnelly said in a statement.
The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Sen. John Schickel, a Republican, and Rep. Dennis Keene, a Democrat.
“We’re very grateful to House and Senate leadership for standing up for small businesses with SB 11,” West Sixth co-founder Ben Self said. “It’s a true economic development bill — with not only many things that will help the quickly growing Kentucky craft brewery industry, but also will benefit the distilleries, Kentucky tourism and Kentucky small farm wineries. We’re especially grateful to Rep. Keene and Sen. Schickel for their leadership on this important bill.”
Just after the legislation passed both chambers, Self announced that his brewery is preparing to open the West Sixth Greenroom in the heart of downtown Lexington. Expected to be open in mid-May, the Greenroom will be located at 109 W. Main Street, next to Sunrise Bakery.
“While we weren’t actively looking to open a taproom in downtown Lexington, when Kristy and Steve [Matherly] at Sunrise approached us with this opportunity, we knew it wasn’t something we could pass up,” West Sixth co-founder Brady Barlow said in a statement. “There are some amazing things brewing with the opening of 21c, and, knock on wood, active construction hopefully beginning across the street. It will give us a great location to help celebrate all the amazing festivals in downtown Lexington and will also be a great opportunity to showcase Lexington craft beer to all of the tourists and convention goers who don’t ever make it out of downtown.”
Self said that once the proper permits are secured, the Greenroom also will operate as a “nanobrewery,” housing some small-scale experimental batches.
“It’s an intimate, warm, shotgun-style place — the sidekick to the main brewery a few blocks north,” Self said. “We can’t wait for you to see it.”
Meanwhile, about 25 miles north, Daniel Harrison and his Country Boy compatriots have broken ground on a new 23,000-square-foot facility. Harrison, who was a major backer of SB 11, said the new facility, at 108 Corporate Blvd., will be outfitted with a 50-barrel brewhouse and should be operational by year’s end.
“We did about 9,000 barrels last year on our 10-barrel system, and the new one will be able to produce an additional 20,000 from the start, although we expect to ramp up to that number,” Harrison said. “Our Lexington facility will do about 10,000 barrels next year, so SB 11 is critical to our survival and expansion.”
Harrison said tap rooms like Country Boy’s popular Lexington spot function as more than simple bars.
“Tap rooms are vital centers for revenue generation and community involvement,” he said, noting Country Boy and others are active supporters of the local communities in which they reside. “The tap room is the soul of our brewery and to have to close it down because we pass 25,000 [barrels] is counter-intuitive.”