Name: Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company

Location: Lexington, KY

Website: http://www.kentuckyale.com/

Type: Production brewery

Available in DC Market: Yes (DC, MD, and VA)

Sponsorship

What You Need to Know: Started by Alltech, a livestock and crop nutrition company, in 2000, Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company produces five beers and three spirits. The beers, as you might expect, have strong connections to bourbon, as in the case of the Bourbon Barrel Ale and Stout, both of which appear at SAVOR 2014. Note that although this is bourbon country, the brewery has been open since 2000, but the distillery opened in 2012.

Beer #1: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale (American strong ale / 8.2%)

In Their Own Words: "Award winning Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale® is a unique sipping beer with the distinctive nose of a well-crafted bourbon. Our Kentucky Ale is aged for up to 6 weeks in freshly decanted bourbon barrels from some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries. Subtle yet familiar flavors of vanilla and oak are imparted to this special ale as it rests in the charred barrels. Pleasantly smooth and robust, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale may also be served as an aperitif or after dinner drink."

Food Pairing: Sticky toffee pudding (Classic English dessert of brown sugar cake, dates and rich toffee.)

Our Thoughts: The Bourbon Barrel Ale has a huge vanilla note that makes this a wonderful dessert beer but doesn't make it particularly nuanced (at least for me). This hides its alcohol well and should pair nicely with the sticky toffee pudding. If you have a sweet tooth, this is definitely for you.

Beer #2:  Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout (Russian imperial stout / 8%)

In Their Own Words: "Barrels that once contained world-famous Kentucky Bourbon lend a sweet hint of caramel and vanilla to dark-roasted malts and finish with the essence of a lightly roasted coffee. The barrel-aged flavors native to Kentucky compliment this complex stout brewed and aged with Haitian coffee to create the bourbon country’s own Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout."

Food Pairing: Turkey breast braised in a fragrant mole of dried chiles, tomato, almonds, Mexican chocolate and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Our Thoughts: This is sensible. Coffee and coffee. Dark fruit and dark fruit. You could braise turkey breast in this beer and not have it be a better pairing than the proposed mole.

This profile is a part of the DCBeer.com SAVOR Brewery Profile series. For more information, follow the link to see profiles of all 2014 SAVOR participants.