I recently went on a trip to Kentucky, my home state, to visit family. Having been away from Western Kentucky for several years now, I have lost touch with most of the happenings of the area. I was refreshed to see a sleepy part of the state embracing the craft beer boom that is sweeping the nation.

Dry Ground Brewing Co. is a player at the forefront of the Western Kentucky craft beer movement, bringing quality beer in a modern atmosphere to its audience. The brewery is located within the Coca-Cola plant and features a tasting room that will make you feel cool even if you’re not. The stainless brewing equipment draws the attention of the patrons and literally begs them to ask those serving the beer questions about their operations, engaging the customers into all aspects of the business.

While there, I tried the 37 Flood, an American IPA that gets its name from the historical 1937 flood that devastated the area. This beer was fantastic, although my dad who is not a craft beer enthusiast found it “too strong” for his virgin pallet. The color, a beautiful shade of orange, looked great paired with the thick layer of head that held for the majority of time it took me to finish the glass. A strong hit of hops mixed with citrus wakes you up and keeps you intrigued throughout the entire glass, perfect for those of you that can appreciate a bitter beer.

While the beer was great, I found that the brewery limited who visits (maybe that is part of the plan…). I went with two people that do not drink beer and the only option for them was water out of a water cooler. My suggestion for the brewery would be to add other drink options for those that are not “beerisseurs” like myself. In doing so, I can stay longer without hearing about how much my girlfriend does not like beer and is ready to go.