Monnik Beer Company

Monnik Beer Co. is a brewpub in Louisville’s Schnitzelburg neighborhood, opened in 2015 by friends Brian Holton and Ian Luijk. Holton had opened Beer Engine, Danville’s first brewery, in 2011, and there he met Luijk, a general contractor originally from Holland; together they planned a second spot in Louisville. Monnik is the Dutch word for monk, a nod to the focus and diligence the team brings to brewing, and the company describes itself as values-driven, aiming to be a welcoming place that puts long-term community impact first. The brewpub occupies the original building of Heitzman’s Bakery, which opened in 1924 and over time grew to fill the whole structure. Head brewer Buddy McHagan, a homebrewer since 2007, joined in 2020, learned under Scott Hand and is now an owner overseeing all brewing. Monnik serves food, offers beer to go and hosts events.