West Sixth Brewing - Pennyrile Pale Ale

Pouring a bright, clear copper color with plenty of off-white foam, Pennyrile Pale Ale looks great in the glass as its inviting aroma wafts outward. It's quite fruity, with luscious hoppy notes evoking tropical fruits like mango and guava, along with touches of citrus, light pine, and floral overtones. On the palate, this brew is deliciously juicy as those hops take center stage. Look for the malts to add a nice dash of underlying caramel and light toast as the beer's medium body provides plenty of support for the exuberant hops, whose bitterness is very firm for an APA, easily approaching IPA territory. As with an IPA, pairing options should be able to stand up to and complement the hops; the brewery recommends spicy Indian and Thai dishes, and we would definitely steer towards those with a citrus or tropical element, such as a South Indian Turmeric Lemon Rice. Cheers!

West Sixth Brewing hit our radar pretty early on after they were founded in 2012, and this sustainability-minded brewery in Kentucky has been making some exceptional beers that see very modest distribution. From their core year-round IPA (packed with Cascade, Centennial, Citra, and Columbus hops) to more occasional offerings like their exceptional Christmas Ale and imperial stout releases, West Sixth has been continually knocking it out of the park. The brewery distributes solely in its home state of Kentucky and nearby areas, but the local emphasis has also helped them grow in leaps and bounds over the past few years.

West Sixth currently operates two taprooms in downtown Lexington: the Main Taproom (at their original location in the historic Bread Box building) plus The West Sixth Greenroom, both of which offer 15–20 West Sixth beers on tap along with a selection of bottled releases. Ditto for the brewery’s West Sixth Farm, a 120-acre property on which West Sixth will grow all kinds of different regional ingredients for their beers: hops, blackberries, and raspberries, along with barley, sorghum, squash, pawpaws, sugar beets, and chili peppers. The brewery’s also slated to open a large new location in downtown Louisville in the trendy NuLu neighborhood. West Sixth Nulu will include a brewery and taproom, and is expected to open up early this year.

In addition to world-class beers, we appreciate the mindfulness West Sixth shows toward the surrounding communities, as well as their efforts toward environmental sustainability. Along with supporting nonprofits through campaigns like Sixth for a Cause, Wooden Nickel, Pay It Forward Cocoa Porter, and Pedaling for a Purpose, the brewery also releases a sustainability report each year—highlighting efforts in areas like farming and land management practices, resource utilization/recycling, charitable giving, and community involvement. For more info, give 'em a ring at 859-705-0915 or visit them at www.westsixth.com.