While waiting for the return flight from Louisville, I wandered in to the airport bar and had a Kentucky Ale from the Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. Lexington B&D, established in 2000, is the only brewer in downtown Lexington. They make the Kentucky Ale, the Kentucky Light and the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. At the 2010 United States Open Beer Championships, the Kentucky Ale won the gold medal in the English Pale Ale category and the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale won the silver medal in the Wood / Barrel aged beer category.

From the Lexington B&D site:

Our Master Brewers describe Kentucky Ale® as a marriage between two classic beer styles, Irish Red Ale and English Pale Ale. Light amber in color, Kentucky Ale owes its unique body and character to select imported malts and a pinch of wheat malt for a rich, smooth taste. The unique body and character of Kentucky Ale is heavily influenced by the water, drawn from aquifers in the limestone rock underlying the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky.

I found the Kentucky Ale to have the following characteristics.

Appearance: Clear amber with a lot of quickly dissipating foam.

Clear amber with a lot of quickly dissipating foam. Aroma: Malt and wheat with an almost grainy aroma.

Malt and wheat with an almost grainy aroma. Taste: Sweet, fizzy with a slight hint of hops at the finish.

Sweet, fizzy with a slight hint of hops at the finish. ABV: 5.3%

This was a very drinkable beer. Nothing fancy. Nothing gimmicky. Just a solid beer. I think the Kentucky Ale would make a good session beer but since I was boarding a flight the session had to end at one.