USA, KY: Trellis Brewing set to open in Smoketown this summer

For the past few decades, there was nothing to see at this building off Logan Street in Smoketown, Aol.com reported on April 5.

That changed in January 2023, when work began to turn the vacant property, once part of an ice-making facility, into the neighborhood’s first craft brewery.

While the initial opening date of late 2023 passed, signs of progress still appeared. In September, colorful murals brightened the sides of the dark building at 827 Logan St., surrounded by overgrown trees, gravel lots, and, to the left, a crumbling brick building. The artwork arrived thanks to Trellis Brewing hosting part of the Louisville-based 2 Buck Invitational, which annually invites artists to paint graffiti-inspired murals around town.

In recent months, brewing equipment, beer glasses, and handmade wooden tables have been delivered. Trees were planted in the front outdoor area and trash was picked up in the back of the brewery, which sits near a section of Beargrass Creek.

The front windows of Trellis Brewing might be covered up, but owners Kyle Jahn and Ryan Reed watch as each step of their dream unfolds. They were there a few weeks ago when a “mysterious goose,” as Jahn recalled, wandered on a stretch of concrete near the brewery’s front doors. The owners noticed, too, when the goose came back earlier this week with another goose. Five little yellow goslings followed.

When Jahn saw the family of animals, he grabbed a video on his cell phone for his business’s social media.

Soon, Trellis Brewing, which will be owned by its bartenders and brewers, should see a lot more activity.

After talking about opening a brewery together for three years, Jahn and Reed are excited to show people their vision at the 7,000-square-foot space they hope to open by late June, they told the Courier Journal.

Jahn, a native of Sarasota, Florida, moved to Louisville in March 2020 after years of working at breweries and in the hospitality industry around the country. He went on a “business first date” with Reed, who grew up in Kansas City and works in business consulting and engineering.

“We both love making beer,” Jahn said, adding that the duo "didn’t really see what we wanted in the brewing community here as much.”

Part of the vision for Trellis Brewing revolves around using ingredients grown in Kentucky or Indiana. For example, they get malt from South Fork Malthouse in Cynthiana.

The pair say they’ll offer low-ABV lagers, “big bad stouts” and “hop-forward killer IPAs."

“These beers are really thoughtful and balanced,” Jahn said. “And we had to make custom equipment just to make it possible to make them how we wanted.”

In the process, he and Reed created their own business designing beer equipment, called Brewing Bridges.

Another part of the vision is to bring something new to Smoketown. While the neighborhood is home to the iconic Shirley Mae’s Cafe and popular Germantown spots, like the recently opened Hop Atomica, are not too far away, Reed and Jahn said residents told them they've been waiting for a place like Trellis.

But finding a space in the neighborhood wasn't easy.

“Nothing was just ready for a brewery,” Reed said. “Other buildings we saw were going to require a lot of work.”

While the spot they picked "required a lot of work ... the layout of it was almost perfect,” he said, adding that the duo "saw the vision" of the space.

While the duo said they “geek out” about the behind-the-scenes of beer, they don’t necessarily want patrons to know that.

“We’re putting a lot of thought and effort in our end, going from grain all the way to the glass, to have a perfect beer to serve to someone when they ask, ‘Do you have something that’s like a Miller Lite,’” Reed said.

They want Trellis to be approachable.

That trickles down to the brewery’s decor, which includes plants, artwork, and communal seating. There are also plans for the outdoor patio to host food trucks, live music and other events.

“We want this to be a place where you don’t just sit for one beer and want to get out of there,” Jahn said. “We want everyone to feel welcome and included.”

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