Jeffersonville: Indiana’s Newest Craft Beer Destination and One Man’s Choice to ‘Embrace the Vision’

Beer is here! Finally!

Yes, finally!

Flat 12 Bierwerks has officially, as of Nov. 22, opened its doors to Jeffersonville and rest of Southern Indiana/Louisville. This is a big deal, at least to me, and here’s why you should put your hands in the air ala YMCA fame and be rejoicing with me.

Earlier in 2014, when I was exploring the possibility of moving to Jeffersonville from my quiet little corner of the universe in Georgetown, I often asked myself, Is Jeff the place I want to live?  Because, after all, I was looking for a town I could actually do something in and Jeff was on the up and up. The downtown was quaint and had some great restaurants with great selections. There was a buzz here. Plus they had a brewpub, Red Yeti. And while Red Yeti hadn’t put any of their own beers out yet, they were in the works. And, well, I love beer! And, as shallow as this may sound, I’ve always wanted to live in a town with a craft brewery.

I also looked at New Albany. I mean, who can go wrong with the New Albanian? Plus NA had Donum Dei Brewery in the works and the enigma that is Wrecker Brewing Co. But, ultimately, Jeffersonville won me over because, like I wrote earlier, I bought in (well technically I bought a house but that’s still buying). I drank the Kool-Aid. I embraced the vision.

But there was still that stigma that came with the word Jeffersonville.  And if you’re not from here you ask, what stigma do you speak of Mr. Huffman? Well, anytime I told people where I had moved, they gave me a crooked look and simply asked, Why? And yes, it was sarcasm in its most condescending tone

And that’s because the inquirers aren’t visionaries. At least, not yet. But Flat 12’s co-founder, Rob Caputo, is. Thank god!

I wish I would have taken a selfie when I “heard” that Flat 12 was moving into an old boat storage building.

WTF?

Then another selfie when the building went from a blend in beige to an eye popping red.

 OMG!

And the final selfie of me after a mouthful of Half Cycle, their flagship IPA.

Ahhhh!

Flat 12 to Jeffersonville is a reality.

If you aren’t familiar with Flat 12, you’ll thank the heavens soon enough. The Indianapolis-based brewery chose up and coming Jeffersonville (remember, I drank the Kool-Aid) and with the recent distribution of Flat 12 beer into Louisville, a phenomenal choice it was.

I spoke with Flat 12 co-founder Rob Caputo (my fiancé pours beer at the new taproom. Hooray for me!) recently about his decision to open a taproom (although, soon enough they will be brewing delicious beer here too) in Jeffersonville. He told me that coincidentally, one of his distributors came down from Indy to meet with Boombozz Taphouse to discuss business and was told of a commercial property on the Jeffersonville riverfront.

Long story short…Jeff scores.

Short story long term…the Southern Indiana beer scene scores.

The revitalization of downtown Jeffersonville has been phenomenal. With Red Yeti Brewing Company offering their own selections, adding Flat 12 increases foot traffic from the casual beer drinker to the nerdiest of beer geeks (this is meant as a compliment, if you’re offended then you’re a beer snob…very different).

With The Big Four Bridge, Southern Indiana and Louisville constructed a brilliant tourist weapon! More foot traffic to both cities. Walking access to downtown Louisville? Against the Grain? Bluegrass Brewing Company? Hooray!!

But wait. Why would I walk to Jeffersonville?

Gasp! They have a stigma!

Yeah we do. A new one. Great beer.