Same but different: "Come Back Inn in Jeffersonville opened last week as Town, a neighborhood pub and restaurant."

We've been fans of Jeffersonville's Come Back Inn almost from the beginning, and tremendously admire the individuality and perseverance of Chris and London Smith (both of whom I recall from substitute teaching at Floyd Central, a fact that dates us all).

I know heads are being scratched about the seemingly abrupt metamorphosis into Town, but it's important to understand that gradual reinvention in a restaurant or bar is constant, anyway. There comes a time to go for the gusto, and they have. It will remain a special place, and they'll be fine.

Can't wait to get up there and try the new menu.

Why this well-known restaurant is changing concepts, rebranding, by Bridgett Weaver (Louisville Business First)

A local restaurant is rebranding and revamping its menu after 17 years.

After more than 17 years of serving the same (well-known and well-liked) food, a Louisville-area restaurant is shaking things up.

Come Back Inn in Jeffersonville opened last week as Town, a neighborhood pub and restaurant. Co-owner Chris Smith said it was time to try something new.

"When you are serving the same thing, the same food — it's not that it’s not good — it's just nice to be able to have a more creative side and be proud of what you're doing," Smith said. "That creativity starts to dwindle a bit after 17 years."

Smith originally opened the Jeffersonville restaurant in a partnership with the owners of Louisville's Come Back Inn on Swan Street. After splitting up three years later, he entered a licensing agreement with the Louisville Come Back Inn to continue operating under the name and using the same recipes.

"It was just time to separate and move on," he said. The restaurant is "less Italian-centric than we used to be. It was time to move on and do new things."

Since the licensing agreement was dissolved as part of the rebranding to Town, the menu and recipes changed, too.

"Every single recipe is totally different," Smith said.

But he said the atmosphere won't change, and the entire staff will remain on board ...

Post-Valentine "Fruit & Chocolate Beer Dinner" at Come Back Inn this Monday, February 16.

Please accept my apologies for not passing this notice along earlier, but take note that there’ll be a “Fruit & Chocolate Beer Dinner” at the Come Back Inn (415 Spring Street, Jeffersonville) on Monday, February 16.

The evening is being sponsored by Come Back Inn and World Class Beverages, and begins at 6:30 p.m. The price is $70 per person, service non compris.

Yes, the price point is high, although my personal plug is this: The last Belgian beer-themed dinner that Chris Smith and the gang put on was one of the better such events I’ve ever attended, anywhere.

I don’t have a complete listing of the courses and beers, though here’s the preview provided by Tish Dean of WCB:

Monday, February 16th will be a treat, featuring six courses and seven beer pairings. Each of the beers paired with the courses are either fruit based, such as a Belgian Lambic, or the Charles Wells Banana Bread Beer paired with Bananas Foster for dessert. We're also pulling out some stops with Rogue's Chocolate Stout and Young’s Double Chocolate Stout. Neither you nor your date will be disappointed with this late Valentine treat. Reservations required: Call 812-285-1777.

A multitude of local beer events for the month of December.

There are so many first-rate beer events taking place in the first half of December that I'm unable to keep track. Consider the following a note to both myself and our readers. Look for my bi-monthly LEO column on December 10, in which there'll be more to say about the seasonal beer creations of our local brewers.

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Friday, December 5
Prohibition Repeal Party at Bluegrass Brewing Co. (Shelbyville Road)

Bluegrass Brewing Company (Shelbyville Road in Louisville) will celebrate the repeal of Prohibition on Friday, December 5th, with nickel beers from 6 :00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The festivities will include a free soup kitchen, BBC employees dressed in 1920’s apparel, and 1920’s era music to help set the ambiance.

This annual celebration is one of Bluegrass Brewing Company’s most popular events so come out and join in the festivities. For more information please contact BBC at 899-7070.

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Saturday, December 6
Food and Clothing Drive at NABC

NABC's inaugural holiday food and clothing drive takes place from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the Prost special events wing.

We'll be accepting clothing, toys, canned goods, and winter coats, with proceeds to benefit Wayside Christian Mission and other local charities.

There'll also be live music in an "open mic" format -- just bring an instrument, show up and jam with us to raise money, clothing, food, and awareness. Specific invitations have been extended to some of NABC's musical friends, but there are no limitations, and the more playing, the merrier.

A silent auction is being assembled, with items to include breweriana from (among others) the archival NABC collection and World Class Beverages via our ever industrious rep, Tisha Dean. There'll also be gift baskets (one from Huber Winery already is in place) and area gift certificates. Contact John or Reva for more info.

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Friday, December 12
Saturnalia Winter Solstice Fest at NABC

It's NABC’s annual celebration of winter seasonal and holiday drafts from America and the world, and my favorite festival of all the yearly promotions we do, primarily because so many people I haven’t seen in a while come back for the holidays, and these beers provide the ideal accompaniment to the joys of reconnecting with old pals, sharing the war stories, and remembering the ones who no longer are with us. Here are the links to Saturnalia information:

Saturnalia explained: Festive draft beers for the winter solstice, coming December 12.

American micro draft lineup, descriptions, links for Saturnalia Winter Solstice MMVIII (begins December 12).

Imported draft lineup, descriptions, links for Saturnalia Winter Solstice MMVIII (begins December 12).

Roger's believe-it-or-not: Saturnalia's planned and ready, a full month ahead of opening night.

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Saturday, December 13
FOSSILS Homebrewing & Beer Appeciation Club's 19th Annual Holiday Party at NABC.

Complete details can be found here: Hallelujah! FOSSILS annual holiday bash scheduled for Saturday, December 13. While the party obviously is intended for club members, guests (21 and over) of current members are welcomed, and the gathering is the natural opportunity for you to give yourself the gift of a membership. A headcount is needed, so questions and RSVP should be directed here: Mail.

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Saturday, December 13
NABC Winter Release Party at Flanagan's Ale House (Baxter Ave., Louisville)

The New Albanian Brewing Company will be on hand at Flanagan's Ale House (934 Baxter Avenue in the Highlands; in the Red Room) for a Winter Release Party on the 13th from 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. We'll be tapping the only kegs of NABC Naughty Claus (taps at 7:00 p.m.) and NABC Bonfire of the Valkyries (5:00 p.m.) slated to cross the river in 2008, but there'll also be other NABC beers on tap as well as live music: Rebecca Williams, Luke Asher, Ben Traughber, and the River Rat String Band. Music starts at 5:00 p.m.

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Monday, December 15
Belgian Beer Dinner at the Come Back Inn in Jeffersonville

Owner Chris Smith and company are partnering with World Class Beverages, with the majority of beers coming from the Wetten Importers portfolio (the only exception is the Chimay). The beer selection includes the relatively rare St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition, and overall, I'm more excited than usual about the choices, primarily because the September beercycling adventure took in all three of the breweries handled by Wetten (thanks again, Pete).

The Curmudgeons will be there. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., and there'll be six courses and seven Belgian beers, with a souvenir glass included. The price is $70 (service non compris), and reservations can be made at 812-285-1777 (credit card hold). For beer information, visit the sites of Wetten Importers and Chimay.