Joe Schutzman is a Newport firefighter who loves Northern Kentucky’s culture, sense of place – and beer. Find Joe’s previous columns and more on NKY dining here.
It’s no mystery why Herb and Thelma’s is a Northern Kentucky institution. A family-run small business, it’s a beautiful amalgamation of unassuming dive and community cornerstone, operating since 1939. And personally, it checks every single one of my boxes for “a killer spot to grab a beer.”
It’s a rare neighborhood gem, the cool spot, and you’re invited! The first-timer and the seasoned patron alike are greeted with the same hospitable familiarity as if they were coming over to a backyard get-together. You bring the cash; they’ll provide the beer. And I say cash because that is the only currency accepted at Herb and Thelma’s. But not to worry, there’s an ATM in the corner for the uninitiated, or for when you’re out and about and a friend invites you for an impromptu beer…