Sneak peek: New Germantown spot making craft beer, spirits and pizza set to open soon

If you’ve ever wanted to see how the sausage is made, how about a peek at where the beer, bourbon and pizza is prepared?

At Hop Atomica, a new multi-concept restaurant in Germantown, patrons will get a behind-the-scenes view of how everything on the menu gets created.

That’s thanks to a window in the brewing area, complete with seven fermenting tanks and a 300 liter still for “very small batch” spirits, and an open kitchen providing an up-close look at the seven-by-five foot pizza oven.

All of this shows the many things cooking at this craft brewery, craft distillery and wood-fired eatery all in one.

Hop Atomica is expected to open in the days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day, according to co-owners Paul Berrier and Kenneth Suchower.

It’s the latest eatery to move into 1318 McHenry St., formerly the site of Couvillion, Finn's Southern Kitchen, and, most recently, Germantown Social.

Berrier and Suchower decided to open Hop Atomica after leaving their corporate jobs working for a restaurant chain.

“This is much more fulfilling,” Suchower told the Courier Journal. “We have a lot of creative license. I think my favorite thing is Paul and I get to bring our own vision to it.”

The vision started with the original Hop Atomica in Savannah, Georgia. Suchower grew up in Georgia and is friends with the owner of the craft pizzeria/brewery/distillery that opened in 2020.

After a visit to the family-friendly neighborhood spot, Berrier and Suchower were sold on opening their own version of Hop Atomica, with the same name, in Germantown.

Following years in the corporate world, the two men wanted to begin a business that would allow them more time with their wives and young daughters. Berrier, a Louisville native, imagines Hop Atomica as the kind of place where families and friends will build fun-filled memories.

“It’s not about opening a place with more food and more drinks,” Berrier said. “We want to bring value to the community.”

One piece of that sits on the large outdoor patio, dubbed the Germantown & Schnitzelburg Biergarten. With several long wooden tables, the patio has space for more than 100 people and live music.

“We think it’s going to be a really good center point for the community,” Berrier said. “We want people to feel like it’s their beer garden.”

Inside the brick building, you’ll find an open space centered around a long bar with golden taps offering a mid-century modern design. Two side rooms offer more options for dining and come with a nod to the owners’ families. One is called the “Aila Lounge,” which is named after Berrier’s daughter, and another is called the “Magnolia Room,” which is named after Suchower’s daughter.

In these areas, customers will order from a mostly server-less system using QR codes. Their food and drinks will be brought out by staff. There’s also the option to order at the bar or at the outdoor counter, which is opened by a garage door.

Speaking of what to order, the menu is still being finalized. You can expect a variety of 14-inch wood-fired pizzas, salads, sandwiches and specials spearheaded by executive chef Bryce Montessa. A brunch menu, including breakfast pizzas, and lunch specials are on the way. Pizzas will be priced around $16-$20.

“The best part of the menu is it’s going to be chef-driven,” Berrier said. “So you should be able to come in every six or eight weeks and get something new.”

When Hop Atomica opens, 10 house-brewed beers will be on tap with more to come. Cocktails, using the restaurant’s distilled gin, rum and vodka, will be priced between $10 and $15, with a program led by director of experience Em Sego, a well-known Louisville bartender with previous gigs at Noche Mexican BBQ, North of Bourbon and Rabbit Hole Distillery.

“We want to be the place where you come in and get top-notch beer, top-notch cocktails, and top-notch food because we can do all three of those things in the same building,” Berrier said. “So if you love cocktails and your spouse or best friend likes beer, you don’t have to settle.”

As bourbon lovers know, it will take some time (at least a couple of years) for Hop Atomica to have its own bourbon available.

In the meantime, the team hopes to experiment with other items on the menu, including a variety of styles of beer, cocktails using unique flavors, and food made with seasonal ingredients (think a pizza topped with Kentucky country ham).

“I really think we’re going to have one of the best new experiences in the city,” Suchower said.

Hop Atomica will be open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday-Saturday.

Reach food reporter Amanda Hancock at ahancock@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Hop Atomica in Germantown serves craft beer, small batch spirits, pizza