I’m starting to realize that it’s just not a proper Kentucky Derby without two things for me:
- I need my annual bet with my brother. It’s not a lot of money (it’s actually very little money, but that’s not the point)
- I need a bottle of Braxton’s Kentucky Home.
Don’t tell any of my Kentucky living friends (unless they work for Braxton) but it’s actually gotten to the point now, where I need to drink Kentucky Home on Derby day even more than I need to have an actual traditional mint julep. Let’s start simple, let’s get to know Kentucky Home.
All About Braxton’s Kentucky Home
All about is a relative term. I’m not going to dig into the details to heavily, because I do what you to head over and read my beer notes still after you read this post.
What you need to know about the beer is that it’s a Golden Strong Ale, inspired by the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby, the Mint Julep. Braxton uses freaky dumped bourbon barrels to make sure that the beer has a big fresh hit of bourbon, and fresh mint in the barrel to keep things nice and summery fresh.
The beer clocks in at 9.5% ABV… it’s bold, and boozy, but perfectly light and refreshing at the same time.
The Release Details
The 2018 version of Kentucky home is currently available to reserve online, and you’ve got the chance to set aside 6 bottles for your derby party. At $9.99 a piece they won’t break the bank too badly, either.
Reservation or not, the release happens on April 7th in the Braxton Taproom. You’ll want to make sure that you snag a few before the Derby on May 5th. If you aren’t able to get down to the tapping party to snag some bottles, they will be hitting distribution into all of Braxton’s current markets (NKY, Cincinnati, Lexington, Louisville, Dayton, Nashville, and Columbus)
Keep your eyes peeled, and your calendar cleared, because in addition to the tapping party, the brewery will be hosting a Derby Day party as part of the Covington Trifecta with The Hannaford and Hotel Covington that day. There’s going to be keep the glass specials, and competitions for the Best Dressed, Best Hat, and Best Dressed Couple.