On March 11 the Yelp Elite Squad (YES) gathered 'round the (not so) old Blue Stallion Brewery to enjoy many tasty beer samples and mouthwatering sandwiches and cheese spreads from Dad's Favorites Deli.

 Established in 2012, Blue Stallion burst onto the burgeoning brewery scene on July 17, 2013, making them the third to open since the beginning of 2012. Founded by brothers Kore, Zac, and Xavier Donnelly - along with Nico Schulz and Jim Clemson - Blue Stallion aimed to steer clear of the hops-heavy hipster market and focus on what they knew best: German lagers and British Ales. Sure enough, the Dunkel has remained their #1 seller since day 1, though I'd argue that Patch Kids (obviously a sour) is the best libation on the menu; to each their own, I guess. The 7,000 SF historic building is located at 610 West Third Street in a rehabbed industrial corridor of downtown Lexington, near Transylvania University and BCTC's Newtown campus. The brew system was acquired from Birmingham, MI (what would later become Griffin Claw Brewing); according to Xavier, the tanks are more valuable now than when they were built in 1995. After only 6 months the brewers could no longer keep up with demand, and the expansion was underway! The taproom as we now know it features a bar (which unless you're 7' tall will make you feel like a kid at the grownups table) and lounge, with adjacent pool and shuffleboard tables, dart boards, patio, elevated seating, and a loft; the latter two spaces can be reserved (together or individually) for private parties.

In January 2017, Blue Stallion made the game changing decision to carve out a space for Dad's Favorites Deli to open up a satellite location in the taproom, offering lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday. Prior to this partnership the brewery had welcomed the typical assortment of food trucks, mostly on the weekends. There came an occasion when Blue Stallion needed a food vendor for a big event, and the one they contracted no-showed, leaving them in a lurch. Never fear: Dad's sandwiches to the rescue, and the rest is history! I love that story. Blue Stallion hosts an array of lively events throughout the year, including the Mardi Gras crawfish boil, Oktoberfest, seasonal releases, weekly trivia, UK games, and not to be forgotten, Mission Mondays, when they select a different non-profit each week to receive the donation of 10% of their taproom sales. Who doesn't love drinking for a good cause?