Joe Schutzman is a Newport firefighter who loves Northern Kentucky’s culture, sense of place – and beer. Come back each month for a new column on the latest brewery opening, Joe’s seasonal favorites, and more. Find Joe’s previous columns and more on NKY dining here.
I opened the door and was immediately enamored. A group of folks were gathered around a table. They were in the middle of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Across the room, there were five other friends playing a board game, and next to them, a family of four was playing Uno while the mom and dad enjoyed their beers. Before even savouring a single sip, I knew Fabled Brew Works was my kind of place.
The taproom was set up to resemble a medieval town square, the bar being the apothecary, evoking a Tolkienesque theme throughout the space. The ceiling was lit up like a mythical night sky and even had clouds hanging from the ceiling with occasional flashes of lightning running across them. And while the decor and theme were playful, the one thing clearly taken very seriously at Fabled was the craft of brewing.
Despite my unfortunate penchant for drinking the same style of beers on repeat, Fabled offered so many intriguing and original selections that it was delightfully impossible not to venture out of my thirst’s comfort zone.
The folks behind the bar were happy to help a newbie like me navigate their vast menu. They even used my personal preference in beer as a jumping-off point. “The traditional style beers start on the left side of the menu. I’d begin there,” said one of the staff members. “As you move right on the menu, we start adding stuff and things get weirder the further across the menu you go.” I was immediately hooked, on board, and excited for the ride. Fabled had quite intentionally thrown down the gauntlet and bestowed an overt call-to-adventure to anyone entering the door.
And as anyone can tell you, when you’re at a brewery that’s new to you, the move is to always go with flights of beers. Courting as many different beers as you can responsibly do throughout an evening is often how you find that one special beer that becomes the love of your life. And as they say, when you fall in love, you simply want to tell the world (I knew I could find a way to mention Schneider Weisse in another article!).
Fabled does the basics super well. Their American lager, which they call Paul Bunyan, was straightforward, crisp, and simple. I was also thoroughly impressed with their Kolsch, “A Walk in the Woods” as well as their Czech dark lager, “Czech Ubetcha.” This might have been my personal favorite beer of the evening. They also offer the same beer as a version that has been aged on amburana oak spirals. I highly, highly recommend sampling both versions in succession to fully appreciate the differences.
I also absolutely have to mention their Mexican lager “Unlitigated Sea Monster.” It had the loveliest touch of lime and is one of the most interesting Mexican lagers I’ve tried. It’s definitely a beer I need to experience with street tacos. And that is certainly an option, as Fabled allows patrons to bring their own food into the taproom. Fabled has also partnered with the mobile burger trailer, Gobblin’ Goblin, which is parked right out front of the entrance.
I can’t get over just how much I enjoyed sampling these different beers, but the real adventure began on my second flight. I had dipped my toes in the water, and now it was time to dive in head first. I tried some of their flavored beers, and one of the stand-outs was “Plum-p Up the Jam,” a sour ale with plums and vanilla. I also did a flight of meads, amongst which was their “Batman,” a mead with raspberry and blackberry, their “Robin” with strawberry, and their “Bizarro Batman” with raspberries, blackberries, maple syrup, and vanilla bean. And again, I highly recommend doing yourself a favor by sampling these together to really get the full enjoyment and appreciation of the nuances.
This was my first foray into meads, and I have to say, it’s something I will be returning to when I go back. First of all, it’s ridiculously fitting that this type of brewery would offer mead. Secondly, why aren’t more places doing this? It was an awesome experience.
Located somewhere between fantasy and adventure, Fabled Brew Works delivers all around, from their product to their ambiance to their hospitality. It’s everything I’m looking for in a good local brewery: killer beer and a place that is clearly community-oriented. Next time you’re looking for a fabulous casual evening with friends and family, don’t even think about it, just make a quest to Fabled Brew Works.