Bluegrass Brewing Company facts for kids

Bluegrass Brewing Company is a company in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. It started as a special restaurant called a brewpub, where they make their own drinks. They also have a larger place called a brewery that makes drinks for many stores.

How it Started

The Bluegrass Brewing Company began in 1993. It was founded in Louisville, Kentucky, by a main brewer named David Pierce and a small group of people who invested money. At first, it was just a brewpub.

Later, in the late 1990s, another company called Pipkin Brewing Co. started making and bottling some of BBC's drinks. This is called "contract brewing." In 2001, Bluegrass Brewing Company bought Pipkin Brewing Company. This new location was at 636 East Main Street in Louisville.

Also in 2001, the brewpub and the brewery became two separate companies. They both kept the same name for a while. The Main Street brewery made drinks to sell in many places. The brewpub mostly made drinks for its own restaurant and another small location. In 2015, the Main Street brewery changed its name to Goodwood Brewing. This was because it was a separate company. David Pierce, one of the founders, has worked with BBC at different times. Today, the only active Bluegrass Brewing Company location is at 300 West Main Street.

Awards and Recognition

The Bluegrass Brewing Company often enters its drinks in a big competition called the Great American Beer Festival. This festival is where many different breweries show off their best drinks.

BBC has won many awards there. For example, their "Bearded Pat's Barleywine" has won several gold medals. In 2003, their "Black Silk" won a gold medal. This was a special kind of smoked beer. Also in 2003, their "Dortmunder-style" lager beer won a bronze medal. Most recently, in 2008, their "Kick in the Baltic Porter" also won an award.