Bourbon & Bars

Lexington brewery closes after four years in high-profile spot

A Lexington brewery opened by a former Eastern Kentucky University chemistry professor has poured out its last brew.

Fusion Brewing, which opened in 2019 in the Rickhouse on the Pepper Campus in the Distillery District off Manchester Road, closed as of Aug. 15. The business was one of the first to open in the building.

Owner Christian Paumi announced the news on social media, saying, “Hi all, it is with a weighted heart and sadness that I am announcing that @fusionbrewing will be closing it’s doors this week. It has been an amazing ride! I will indeed miss it. There are so many people I want to thank including everyone who believed in fusion from the start, my investors, my family, my awesome staff, my friends, Kentucky guild of brewers, and so many many more I’m sure I missed. As for me… stay tuned as who ever knows what the future holds! Thank you all again and cheers!”

Fans of the brewery expressed sadness online at the closing of the spot. Paumi declined to comment at the moment.

In May 2018, Paumi said that he named his brewery Fusion because it represented how he liked to brew.

“I do brew traditional brews, but I would like to do sets of beers that are different styles and ingredients. And I would like to incorporate as many Kentucky ingredients as possible,” Paumi said.

Shown in a 2018 photo, Christian Paumi, an EKU chemistry professor, opened Fusion Brewery on the ground floor of the Pepper campus rickhouse in the Distillery District on Manchester Street.
Shown in a 2018 photo, Christian Paumi, an EKU chemistry professor, opened Fusion Brewery on the ground floor of the Pepper campus rickhouse in the Distillery District on Manchester Street. Charles Bertram cbertram@herald-leader.com
Fusion Brewing on the Pepper campus opened in February 2019 with big garage doors in the bar that opened onto a creekside patio.
Fusion Brewing on the Pepper campus opened in February 2019 with big garage doors in the bar that opened onto a creekside patio. Photo provided
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Janet Patton
Lexington Herald-Leader
Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp. Support my work with a digital subscription
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