West Sixth Brewing - Pay It Forward

This brew forms the centerpiece of a philanthropic effort by West Sixth to support local nonprofits, with a portion of the sales revenue going directly to people who succeed every day in making a positive difference in their communities. Cheers to that! Note also that the brewers employ 60 lbs of organic cacao nibs sourced from Tabal Chocolate in each 40-bbl batch. Pay It Forward presents us with a super dark – essentially black – color, topped with a large and lasting head of brown foam. On the nose, this is deeply roasted, with rich notes of chocolate, deep down caramel, mild coffee impressions, dried dark fruits, scorched brown sugar, a bit of woodiness and earthiness, and light, wispy floral overtones. We’ve got a lot going on in the flavor too, with the roasted character conjuring notes of charred bread crust and coffee tones that come through stronger than in the aroma. Notes of pure, high-cacao-percentage chocolate are prominent here too, as we expect. The moderate hop bitterness merges into the roasted malt elements to produce plenty of bitterness to easily counterbalance a mild touch of malt sweetness, making this smooth beer eminently drinkable. For pairing options, the brewery recommends Kentucky burgoo stew or oysters, to which we’d add grilled vegetables and meats, including venison and other game. Cheers!

West Sixth Brewing hit our radar pretty early on after they were founded in 2012, and this sustainability-minded brewery in Kentucky has been making some exceptional beers that see very modest distribution. From their core year-round IPA (packed with Cascade, Centennial, Citra, and CTZ hops) to more occasional offerings like their exceptional Christmas Ale and imperial stout releases, West Sixth has been continually knocking it out of the park. The brewery distributes solely in its home state of Kentucky and nearby areas, but the local emphasis has also helped them grow in leaps and bounds over the past few years.

West Sixth currently operates a taproom at their brewery in downtown Lexington in the historic Bread Box building, along with a brewery and taproom in Louisville’s trendy NuLu neighborhood. There’s also the brewery’s West Sixth Farm, a 120-acre property in Franklin on which West Sixth grows all kinds of different regional ingredients for their beers: hops, blackberries, raspberries, cider apples, and more. A small fourth location serves visitors to Newport’s Bridgeview Box Park.

In addition to world-class beers, we appreciate the mindfulness West Sixth shows toward the surrounding communities, as well as their efforts toward environmental sustainability. Along with supporting nonprofits through campaigns like Sixth for a Cause, Wooden Nickel, Pay It Forward Cocoa Porter, and Pedaling for a Purpose, the brewery also releases a sustainability report each year—highlighting efforts in areas like farming and land management practices, resource utilization/recycling, charitable giving, and community involvement. For more info, give 'em a ring at 859-705-0915 or visit them at www.westsixth.com.