Sergio's World Beers, located off US 60 outside of Shelbyville, is Kentucky's best-kept secret when it comes to drinking.
It's easy to miss Sergio's because the exterior, like its proprietor, is quiet and unassuming. The watering hole sports a large neon "RESTAURANT" sign near the highway but most of the letters are burned out. Inside is not much better - there's little in the way of amenities aside form a few simple tables, chairs and a large TV.
However,the vast array of national flags, license plates and beer taps adorning the walls should clue you into Sergio's strength - an unparalleled selection. There's a healthy rotating selection of more than a dozen excellent beers on tap at any given time. On our most recent trip it included Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, Avery IPA, Ommegang Three Philosophers and Fantome de Noel, just to name a few.
One of my favorites is the Clipper City Brewing Co.'s Loose Cannon American-style IPA - it has a big bold flavor reflects the massive 3 pounds used for each barrel.
One of our drinking companions, David Lucky, imbibbed the Three Philosophers and described it as "hoppy," "sweet" and a "step above "Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale."
But be careful, when you ask for "water" you'll probably end up with Bud Light! Be sure to specify you want H20 in order to cleanse your palette.
Another big hit was the Dogfish Head 120 minute IPA - unfortunately, as the designated driver, I was unable to partake of this delicious 21-percent ABV nectar.
Another drinking buddy, Jay Mackay, described said it was a fruity, thick syrup - one of the best drinks he's ever had.
"I didn't know they made beer like that," he said.
However, David Lucky was not a fan and his criticism bordered on blasphemy!
"You can smell the alcohol," he said. "Beer's not supposed to burn."
However, backing these prime selections is a mind-boggling catalogue of 834 different bottled beers from 50 different countries. When you ask for a beer list Sergio hands you a 1-inch binder. Each beer has a short entry including its rating on ratebeer.com (most are rated 70 or higher) and three-letter code for the brewing style. And the list is always expanding with a projected total of 1,000 by the end of 2009.
Any sensible beer aficionado would feel intimidated by that overwhelming selection of good beers. However, proprietor and namesake Sergio is always on hand to lend some guidance and advice. He's always available to chat about great drinking experiences, homebrew tips or recommend a new libation. Sergio, a Brazilian, is quiet yet friendly.
Sergio's also a little too dedicated to his work - this watering hole is open even on Christmas and Thanksgiving!
And that's because the place is always empty - one of Sergio's great weaknesses. We've been there several times, both during the week and on weekends and every time the place has been deserted. Hopefully, a planned relocation to Middletown, on the outskirts of Louisville, will help get this place the attention it deserves. The move to neighboring Jefferson County will also ease some of the more restrictive rules relating to alcohol sales in Shelby County.
A couple unique little elements also make Sergio's stand-out, like his elite beer club (complete with certificate) and his multi-course beer banquets. Only the most dedicated fans will be able to attain the highly laudable goal of consuming 100 samples ( or less than 12 percent) of Sergio's total beer catalogue.
Although a little pricey, the $50 11-course marathon meal/drinking festival is certainly a good investment. Past menus have included such pairings as beer wings with Commodore Perry, Brie with Ommegang Witte and a decadent chocolate brownie with Kasteel Rouge.
But the beer is only half the story. A simple, tasty and inexpensive menu includes basic bar staples, along with Italian and Mexican dishes. But the real star of the menu is the East Coast Style Foot Long Philly Cheese steak. For $7.50 it comes with fries and enough sandwich to feed two - that's in addition to the free chips and dip every table gets when you sit down.
The bread is obviously baked fresh and the ensemble of meat, cheese and peppers is perfect. The fresh-cut fries were also so good that Jay ordered a second helping - he said they had a mild, Cajun-like flavor.
Overall rating
Paul - I was temporarily distracted from my all-consuming thoughts of nihilism for more than 45 minutes, an incredible occurrence!
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