A solid preview of The Standard Plate & Pour, coming to the former Gospel Bird footprint.

Good things happen when writers aren't bound by the imperative to write to a 3rd-grade level and produce text capable of being read in two minutes. The newspaper's editors give recent hire McAfee almost1,000 words, and she uses them quite well, producing one of the better Tom May Content Coagulator restaurant previews in a while.

Speaking personally, I've come to dislike the word "gastropub." This implies nothing more than a continuing internal rebellion against my own past pretentiousness, and isn't about the new establishment; all the best to them, and I look forward to seeing the craft beer selection.

Former Gospel Bird spot to become New Albany's next gastropub, by Brooke McAfee (Hanson's Folly)

NEW ALBANY — Business partners Tim Smith and Beau Kerley have been hoping to open a restaurant in New Albany or Jeffersonville for quite some time.

And when the former Gospel Bird space in downtown New Albany became available, it gave them the perfect opportunity to create their new concept. Their gastropub, The Standard Plate & Pour, is moving into the space at 207 E. Main St. Smith and Kerley are preparing to open their restaurant on June 24.

"This was pretty much a no-brainer," Smith said. "We discussed this for like two days, and it was like, how can we not do this?"

And just a few days later, they had the keys to the building. The space was home to the Gospel Bird for three years before the restaurant closed in November 2018.

Over the past 10 years, Kerley and Smith have worked together to open a variety of restaurants in the area, including 812 Pizza Co. in Georgetown and Crescent Hill Craft House in Louisville. Kerley has also been a co-owner of Bluegrass Brewing Co. in Louisville for about 12 years, and Smith has many years of experience as a chef ...

The former Gospel Bird space on Main Street will house a new eatery called NA Standard.

Always keep your eyes on the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission's local board information page. It's a valuable source of information, revealing that the new occupant of the former Gospel Bird space is to be called NA Standard. Further research indicates it will be operated by local food and drink business veterans, which is very good news.

Their most recent project is the well-received 812 Pizza Company in Georgetown, which is the name on the NA Standard alcohol license application.

Tim Smith recently was profiled: Full Plate: Chef Tim Smith of Craft House is being new, by Kevin Gibson (Insider Louisville; February 2, 2019)

Beau Kerley came into Bluegrass Brewing Company some years back as Pat Hagan's partner, and later they opened the Crescent Hill Craft House. As an aside, I'm told Pat retains his previous ownership stakes, but has retired to Florida.

Good for Pat, and best of luck to Beau, Tim and NA Standard. I don't know what they have planned, but what a wonderful patio to work with.

812 Pizza Co. bringing foodie culture to Georgetown, by Danielle Grady (Dec 5, 2017)

GEORGETOWN — Beau Kerley owns two restaurants in Louisville, but when it comes to eating out, he often finds himself at the El Nopal in Georgetown, not just because he likes it, although he does, but because there aren't many dining options in his small town.

In March, Kerley decided to take his 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry and enter Georgetown’s sparse culinary scene. He recruited the help of his then-employee and current co-owner, Tim Smith, who is an executive chef at Crescent Hill Crafthouse in Louisville. (Kerley co-owns the crafthouse, as well as Bluegrass Brewing Co.). After nine months of work, the two are ready to open 812 Pizza Co. (right next to El Nopal, incidentally), on Dec. 11.