Hofbräuhaus Newport

It’s about time for my first brewery/bar/eatery review and it is one that every beer lover (or German lover) should visit!

The Hofbräuhaus in Newport, KY!

You might be thinking the same thing I am, why is such a popular, traditional German place located in Kentucky? How did the owners of the Hofbräuhaus München decide upon Newport, KY as the very first replication of their brewery in the United States? To that question, I have no answer, mostly because I don’t speak German (but even more so because I am sure the owners would have no interest in granting me an interview.) This location opened in 2003 with two more locations opening in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh in 2004 and 2009, respectively. I am sure each location is worth a stop!

From the outside, all you see is a fairly industrial, modern looking building that blends in to the building surrounding it. Of course the big blue signs that mark the building let you know you’re in the right place. The hallway you walk down to get to the dining area has photos and history and information on their beer club. Then you arrive in the dining area.

I’ve never been to Germany, but I would imagine the people of Hofbräuhaus have made sure that the seating and general atmosphere of the place is very similar to the one in Munich. Large tables with bench seating fill up the floor with a few booths along the wall while flags with various family crests hang from the ceiling. The bar is nice and large with some huge brewing tanks setting the brewery atmosphere. Perhaps the most important part of any German beer place is apparent as well: the beer maidens, decked out in their Dirndl.

I enjoyed being in the place because it actually does make you feel like you could be in Germany, minus the German accents. The food list is mostly authentic German cuisine and the beer list is of course their beer. I won’t go too much into the food but you can see it for yourself below:

I will say that I was quite disappointed at one point during the meal. As you can tell from a previous review of the beer itself, I had a liter of the Dunkel. The ONLY reason I wanted a liter of beer at

lunch was because the menu said I could keep the stein afterwards, and who doesn’t want a liter stein? Upon finishing the meal, the beer maiden hands me the check and I look at it and realize she didn’t charge me for the stein yet. So upon her return I question her and they tell me they are running low on steins and can’t sell any. I was heartbroken to say the least, but I suppose its not entirely their fault.

In conclusion, it was a wonderful experience to be there, eat their wonderful food, and drink their decent beer. I am very interested in going back and trying the different beers they have each month.

I am going to give this a brewery/bar/eatery a B+ overall, despite not selling me a stein.

Check out their website HERE

Happy Drinking!