When we visit HW, we usually stay at the Hampton Inn in Jasper. It's right next to Schnitzelbank, which is supposedly one of the better German restaurants in the states. They have authentic German food and beer, as you mentioned you liked. It's about 25-30 minutes from the park, but it's clean. Just beware of the time change between Jasper and HW.
Jasper is where A League of Their Own was filmed... if you care... and why would you?
We stay at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Louisville. Although, last time we went, the city was dead. It got hit hard by COVID and peaceful protests.