BEER WITH A SOCIALIST: "Upscale microbrew pub franchise" comes to Jeffersonville.

Courtesy of Franchise Gator.

Long live the indies!

Whenever I hear the words "upscale microbrew pub franchise," I reach for Franchise Gator to learn how much it costs to buy into someone else's ideas.

It's not my preference in beer or life, and the older I get, the more often I shrug and yawn, BUT to each his or her own.

As an aside, when Growler USA's corporate HQ speaks of "certified brew specialists," are we to imagine they mean Cicerones? I googled the term, and the only hits I got were from Growler USA.

Growler USA opened in Jeffersonville on Dec. 6.

Craft beer bar and restaurant Growler USA officially opened Thursday, Dec. 6, at 3010 Gottbrath Parkway in Jeffersonville.

The restaurant features more than 100 beers on tap and menu items, including a fried chicken sandwich, skillet mac and cheese with bacon and the Bromance Burger, a burger topped with carnitas, barbecue sauce, bacon and crispy onion.

The Jeffersonville location of the Colorado-based franchise is owned and operated by couple Greg and Laura Brown.

Greg Brown told Insider previously that, despite being a franchise, the design of Growler USA will be customized to fit the region in look. It also will serve about a dozen specialty menu items not found at other stores.

The 4,000-square-foot restaurant seats 150 inside and another 60 on the patio around two fire pits. -- Caitlin Bowling