American Eats: Kentucky. Bluegrass Brewing Company
When you go to Kentucky, you are practically required to order a Hot Brown. Kentucky’s spin on Welsh Rarebit, a Hot Brown is an open-faced sandwich with turkey breast, ham, and bacon covered in Mornay sauce, then baked or broiled until crisp and brown.
I got mine at Bluegrass Brewing Company in downtown Louisville.
I’ve always been a fan of open-face sandwiches, probably having something to do with the number of times I ate hot roast beef or hot turkey when I was a kid. A Hot Brown is like that, but really taken up to 11 when you add all of the cheese, all of the other meat, and the bread that soaks in all the juices of the meat and all of that melty cheese.
It’s a good sign when you walk into a brewery and see hearty food like this on the menu. On a cold, cold day in January when I walked to the brewery and ordered this, it was wise to order this and warm me up. The Bourbon Barrel Stout I ordered with it helped, too.
While Bluegrass Brewing Company is certainly a good spot to try a Hot Brown and a beer in Louisville, most restaurants in Louisville and across Kentucky have a version of this or their menu as well. Order one, and you will be pleasantly surprised at how all of the flavors work together.
Bluegrass Brewing Company
300 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202