Hoosier Beer Geek - A Beer Blog for Indiana, from Indianapolis.

Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Downtown

2012-01-29T22:23:00.006-05:00

You can forget all your troubles and forget all your cares and drink downtown…

Indianapolis has some great drinking neighborhoods. Broad Ripple, Fountain Square, Massachusetts Avenue… they all have great establishments for craft beer, but if you live, work, or visit downtown, there is no need for expensive cab fares or a potential DUI. There are a variety of places within stumbling distance. Here are a few of our favorites, with distances from the center of the city (Monument Circle) and from the house that Peyton built (Lucas Oil Stadium)…

Adobo Grill
(Monument Circle: 2 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 8 blocks)
110 E. Washington St.
http://www.adobogrill.com/indianapolis/
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2009/06/kotbr-74-tacos-and-chelada-at-adobo.html
This Mexican grill has a small craft beer selection, but they make your guacamole tableside (highly recommended), have fantastic tacos, and a fine selection of tequila, if that’s your thing.

Creation Café
(Monument Circle: 11 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 18 blocks)
337 W. 11th St.
http://www.thecreationcafe.com/
The Creation Café is located in the former church building known as Buggs Temple. It is located at the north end of the Central Canal, which puts it a good mile from the city center. But it is close to IUPUI and a short people mover ride to Methodist or IU/Riley Hospital. Because even hospital patients need a drink. The views from Creation Café are spectacular and a popular place when the weather is nice.

Dick’s Bodacious Bar-B-Q
(Monument Circle: 1/2 block; Lucas Oil Stadium: 9 blocks)
50 N. Pennsylvania St.
http://www.dicksbbq.com/
This counter-service Texas-style BBQ joint keeps a great craft beer list on tap and in bottles. A great choice for a quick bite and a drink. I highly recommend the Hoss nachos.

Hoosier Park’s Winner Circle
(Monument Circle: 1 block; Lucas Oil Stadium: 8 blocks)
20 N. Pennsylvania St.
http://hoosierpark.com/winnerscircle
If you want to place a bet on the big game, you can’t do it in Indy. At least, not legally. But if you want to bet on the ponies, Indy can help you. The Winner Circle is a bar, restaurant, and off-track betting facility. It just recently opened, but you’ll find craft beer to help lubricate your wallet.

The Libertine
(Monument Circle: 1 block; Lucas Oil Stadium: 7 blocks)
38 E. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
http://www.libertineindy.com/
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/search/label/Craft%20Beer%20and%20Fine%20Food%20Symposium
Chef Neal Brown owned and operated L’Explorateur before opening The Libertine. We are fans of Neal’s food. The Libertine is probably better known for their cocktails than their craft beer, but we are making a convert out of Neal…

Mo’ Joe Coffeehouse
(Monument Circle: 7 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 10 blocks)
222 W. Michigan St.
http://www.mojoecoffeehouse.com/
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2009/09/kotbr-86-berghoff-at-mojo-coffee-house.html
Close to IUPUI, Mo’ Joe is an off-campus coffee shop that is adjacent to a college bookstore and serves a selection of bottled beer. A relaxing place to hang and be out of the way.

Pearl Street Pizzeria and Pub
(Monument Circle: 2 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 7 blocks)
65 E. Pearl St.
http://www.pearlstreetpizzeria.com/
A little off the beaten path, but close to everything, Pearl Street serves up pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and craft beer. It is in the same building as O’Reilly’s ( ) and Coaches Tavern ( ), two other bars with craft beer selections. And great picks if Bankers Life Fieldhouse is your destination.

Ram Restaurant & Big Horn Brewery
(Monument Circle: 3 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 8 blocks)
140 S. Illinois Street
http://www.theram.com/indiana/indianapolis.html
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2011/06/kotbr-128-knights-of-beer-ramtable.html
The two breweries downtown are chains, but they have good food and locally crafted beers with fantastic brewers. We recommend you grab a burger and a pint of Andrew Castner’s special or seasonal brews.

Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
(Monument Circle: 1 block; Lucas Oil Stadium: 6 blocks)
10 W. Washington Street
http://www.rockbottom.com/indianapolis-downtown
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2008/11/kotbr-59-likely-story.html
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2007/11/rock-bottom-pumpkin-ale.html
Brewer Jerry Sutherlin brews up some fantastic hoppy beers (the Hopbomb is a personal favorite) and the food is good too. I recommend the nachos (I like nachos!)

Scotty’s Brewhouse
(Monument Circle: 2 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 7 blocks)
One Virginia Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
www.scottysbrewhouse.com
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2009/06/kotbr-77-socratic-beer-method.html
Scotty’s Brewhouse has locations in Indy, Muncie, Lafayette, and Bloomington with a brewery (Thr3e Wise Men) in Broad Ripple and a Burger Joint in Columbus. The food menu is extensive and the craft beer tap list is the largest downtown. The patio is a great place to hang and there are plenty of TV’s inside. It is a block from the front door of Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Tavern on South
(Monument Circle: 9 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 1 block)
423 W. South St.
Indianapolis, IN 46225
http://tavernonsouth.com/
HBG Visits
http://hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2011/08/kotbr-133-youre-going-to-hate-this.html
Tavern on South has one of my favorite non-nachos appetizer: Shagbark Teriyaki Duck Wings. The mushroom cappachino soup is wonderful on a cold day. The entire menu is fantastic. It is close to Lucas Oil Stadium. And it has a great tap list. You’ll find me there after work during half priced appetizers (4p-6p Monday through Thursday).

Tomlinson Tap Room at the historic City Market
(Monument Circle: 3 blocks; Lucas Oil Stadium: 10 blocks)
222 E. Market Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
http://www.indycm.com/index.php/tomlinsontaproom
HBG Visits
http://www.hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2010/11/sneak-preview-tomlinson-tap-room-at.html
http://www.hoosierbeergeek.blogspot.com/2011/02/replicale-tapping-at-tomlinson.html
If you are looking for a variety of local food bites, you’ll find it at the City Market. Papa Roux and 3 Nights in Paris (crepes) are amongst my favorites. But the icing on the cake: the Tomlinson Tap Room. Located on the second floor of the main hall, the TTP serves nothing but Indiana craft beer. And you can get growlers to go (except on Sundays).

Previously in our "Where to Drink in Indy" series:

Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Broad Ripple, the North Side, and the Northeast Side
Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Mass Ave, the Near East Side, and the Near North Side
Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Fountain Square

Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Broad Ripple, the North Side, and the Northeast Side

2012-01-29T19:34:00.001-05:00

To better serve our readers and folks coming to town for Super Bowl XLVI, we're updating our "Where to Drink in Indianapolis" series. In our third post of the updated series, we focus on one of Indy's prime entertainment and cultural districts: Broad Ripple Village. We also highlight some drinking destinations on the city's north side and east side. Here's our list, sorted according to area.

South Broad Ripple/Meridian Kessler

Recess/Room Four
If you're looking for an amazing culinary experience to match your search for excellent beer, you should dine at Recess or its companion restaurant, Room Four. Chef/owner Greg Hardesty is a gastronomic superstar in Indianapolis, and the restaurants' contemporary American dishes are unparalleled in the city. The menus change daily. And the beer selections, though offered solely in bottles, are perfect for pairing with Hardesty's cuisine. Reservations are a must for Recess; if you want to walk in, try Room Four.
4907 N. College Ave.
317.925.7529
Website
HBG Visits:
Scenes From a Beer Dinner: Nøgne Ø at Recess

The Sinking Ship
Along with Recess/Room Four and the Upland Tasting Room, the Sinking Ship recently brought a welcome revitalization to the long-neglected intersection of 49th Street and College Avenue. The Ship has a punk vibe and a menu of hearty sandwiches and draft beers from regional and local brewers (though be prepared to have your beer served in a Mason jar). The Ship is a great place for hockey fans because NHL games are always on during the season. 21+ only. Smoking permitted
4923 N. College Ave.
317.920.7999
Website

Twenty Tap
The sign outside Twenty Tap says "Craft. Beer. Bar." What more need we say? Well, this: Twenty Tap, owned by Broad Ripple Brewpub brewmaster Kevin Matalucci, is one of your best bets for getting a taste of the best beer Indiana has to offer, especially considering that the pub boasts 31 taps. It's also worth noting that Twenty Tap offers half-pours of any of their beer selections, allowing patrons to moderate their sampling. Chef Rob Coates keeps a menu of expected bar food favorites interesting and upsale yet remarkably affordable. The vegan (yes, vegan) bahn mi sandwich is a Hoosier Beer Geek favorite.
5408 N. College Ave.
317.602.8840
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #134 - Zombies on Twenty Taps

Upland Tasting Room
Bloomington-based Upland Brewing Company opened up their Indianapolis outpost, the Tasting Room, in 2009. The brewery's concept for the space is pretty simple. They serve beer, but they're not a bar. They serve food, but they're not a restaurant. The best way to describe the Tasting Room is that it's like a coffee shop, but with the emphasis on beer instead of coffee. Stop in and you'll be able to grab a beer and relax in a funky chair, or just walk in with a growler and head home to enjoy some fresh Upland beer there. We recommend the Teddy Bear Kisses Imperial Stout or a bottle of one of Upland's acclaimed lambics (if available).
4842 N. College Ave.
317.602.3931
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #124 - In Tribute
Upland Tasting Room Now Open!
Upland Coming Soon to Indianapolis

Broad Ripple

Binkley's Kitchen & Bar
Binkley's is a neighborhood favorite with Broad Ripple and Meridian Kessler residents. The restaurant offers classic American fare and has a great line-up of local and regional beers on tap, including unique offerings from a nitro line.
5902 N. College Ave.
317.722.8888
Website
HBG Visits:
Sierra Nevada Brewmaster Meet and Greet - Binkley's

Broad Ripple Brewpub
Despite owning Twenty Tap, Kevin Matalucci still holds down a regular job as the head brewer at the Broad Ripple Brewpub. English expatriate John Hill opened the Brewpub in 1990 in an effort to bring an authentic English pub experience to Indianapolis. He did more than that, kick-starting Indiana's craft beer revolution and creating an Indiana craft beer monument. Matalucci's English-style ales and an extensive menu help complete the effort. Order whatever is on the hand-pull. We especially like the Monon Porter.
842 E. 65th St.
317.ALE.BREW (253.2739)
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #94 | 2001: A Stout Odyssey
The 2009 Knights of the Beer Roundtable Beer of the Year - Broad Ripple Brewpub's Monon Porter
KOTBR #64 - Forgotten Landmarks
Indiana Beer Week Bar Hop - Day One - Operation Chaos
KOTBR #11 - Broad Ripple Brewpub's Wee Alec Heavy

Brugge Brasserie
Look below and you'll see a long list of posts we've written about Brugge Brasserie. There's a good reason for this: Brugge is an Indianapolis treasure. Nestled next to the Monon Trail, Brugge is unique among Indiana's brewpubs because it's the only brewery in the state to focus on Belgian-style beers and food. Ask your server if there are any sour beers on tap, and be sure to order the frites (fries), which are among Indianapolis' best. You also can't go wrong with a glass of Brugge's famous Tripel de Ripple, but be advised: there's a two-beer limit due to the potency of this beer.
1011 E. Westfield Blvd.
317.255.0978
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #124 - In Tribute
KOTBR #120 - Two Places, One Beer - Dogfish Head/Three Floyds Poppaskull
Beer Diary #17 - Jim | The Power of Names
KOTBR #104: Brugge Spider
Beer Diary #18 - Lose Ends Edition
KOTBR #90: Medal Winners
Beer Diary #15 - Mike - Vacations
The First Annual Hoosier Beer Geek Craft Beer Breakfast
Beer Diary #10 - Mike
KOTBR #51: The Hoosier Beer Geek Second Anniversary Party
Indiana Beer Week Bar Hop - Day One - Operation Chaos
KOTBR #48 - Dude, Where's Chris's Car?
Six Pack Interview with Brugge's Charlie Midgley
The Complete Works (so far) of Ted Miller (abridged)
KOTBR #34 - Two at Brugge Brasserie - Thunder Monkey and Impérial
Beer Diary - Mike
The Hoosier Beer Geek 6 Pack - Ted Miller, Brewer/Owner of Brugge Brasserie and Brugge Beer
Beer Diary - Jim | South Florida Edition
KOTBR #14 - Brugge Quadripple
KOTBR #5 - Brugge's The Black

Chumley's Pub
Chumley's is more or less a college bar, attracting much of its clientele from nearby Butler University (home to Indy's beloved Butler Bulldogs). But unlike many college bars with their sole focus on macrobrews, Chumley's has an extensive tap list that always has something to suit any beer geek's tastes. The bar also sells beer by the pitcher and has several nitro lines that pour more than the usual nitro offerings. 21+ only. Smoking permitted.
838 Broad Ripple Ave.
317.466.1555
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #55 - Beer and Progress with the Urbanophile

Corner Wine Bar
If you're looking for a restaurant that is perfect for date night and that has a well-curated wine and beer list, visit the Corner Wine Bar. Along with a menu of Continental-inspired dishes, the CWB has a cozy English-style pub with a small but nice selection of draft beers. Stop by on Wednesdays, when pints are $3.00. Smoking permitted in the pub.
6331 Guilford Ave.
317.255.5159
Website
HBG Visits:
Beer Diary #8 - Jim | Then and Now

Locals Only Art & Music Pub
Seeking local music in an off-the-beaten-path establishment? Then Locals Only is your place. There's a stage in one corner of the bar, offering live music of all sorts. The work of local artists hangs on the walls. And then there's the amazing bottle and draft beer selection, put together by proprietor and craft beer lover David Quiesser. 21+ only. Smoking permitted.
2449 E. 56th St.
317.255.4013
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #38 - I Love Scotch. Scotchy Scotch Scotch. Here It Goes Down, Down Into My Belly...
KOTBR #12 - Locals Only...With a Special Guest Star

Monon Food Company
Offering a selection of 60 beers (mostly bottled), the Monon Food Company is a great place to dine in a family-friendly and casual atmosphere. During the summer, the restaurant's deck is a great place for people watching due to the restaurant's close proximity to the Monon Trail. When it comes to the food, we recommend the Ultimate Mac and Cheese.
6420 Cornell Ave.
317.722.0176
Website

Northside Social
Managing to be upscale and casual at the same time, Northside Social carries a sophisticated air with its contemporary furnishings, well-dressed patrons, and attentive servers. Sink into a cushy chair in the lounge area, grab a table, or snag a spot at the bar and you'll have a good draft list at your disposal.
6525 N. College Ave.
(317) 253-0111
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #112 - Flashback at the Northside Social

Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company
Scott Wise's Scotty's Brewhouse restaurants are well-known in central Indiana, especially in the area's college towns. To refer to Wise as possessing a restaurant empire would be no exaggeration. But Wise is an emperor of the best kind: a benevolent one who always wants to ensure a fun, good-quality dining experience. In 2011, Wise added a brewpub to his stable of restaurants with Thr3e Wise Men. With its blond wood paneling and airy space, the restaurant kind of looks like a ski lodge inside. But pizza and beer are the house specialties. Hop-heads should go for a Golden Zoe IPA, which is lovingly crafted by head brewer Omar Castrellon.
1021 Broad Ripple Ave.
317.255.5151
Website
HBG Visits:
3WM HBG Double Brown Tapping
KOTBR #132 - Thr3e Wise Men Golden Zoe IPA, Neil Patrick Harris Style
Opening Today: Thr3e Wise Men

Union Jack Pub
There was a time when hardcore soccer fans in this town had no place to go if they wanted to watch a match from across the pond. Around the time of the 2006 World Cup, Indy's barkeepers began to catch on to the fact that yes, rabid fans of the Beautiful Game make Indianapolis their home. The Union Jack Pub is one of Indianapolis' soccer-centric bars, offering Saturday and Sunday breakfasts to accompany the English Premier League matches they show. The pub has a pretty extensive draft and bottle list with some British, regional, and local offerings.
924 Broad Ripple Ave.
317.257.4343
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #75 - Secret Meeting of the (Expanded) Knights of the Beer Roundtable

North Side

Ale Emporium
Billing itself as "The Home of Honest Pizza," the Ale Emporium certainly has a diverse selection of pies to choose from. But this Allisonville pub also has a well-rounded selection of local and regional craft beers on tap and in the bottle. You can even order by the pitcher if you desire. Visit on Tuesdays for discounted pints and pitchers. 21+ only. Smoking permitted.
8617 Allisonville Rd.
317.842.1333
Website

The Beer Sellar
"100 bottles, 50 taps, and 1 bitchin' jukebox"--with the Beer Sellar's tagline, you at definitely know what's in store for you. This bar is probably the north side's best known beer bar and occasionally hosts tap takeovers by the likes of Michigan's Bell's and Indy's own Sun King. If you're on the north side and don't mind smokers, we definitely recommend that you stop in, especially on Wednesday, when Indiana beers are $3.00 by the pint and $4.00 by the bottle. 21+ only. Smoking permitted.
6466 E. 82nd St.
317.849.2739
Website
HBG Visits:
Photo Post: 30 Bell's Taps at The Beer Sellar

Chatham Tap Fishers
Like soccer? We do. Chatham Tap is the default choice for fans wishing to catch English Premier League action. The pub's tap list follows suit, with the standard English selections as well as local taps and a nice bottle list. And if you happen to follow the U.S. National Team, the Chatham Tap is where you want to be on match day because the local American Outlaws chapter takes over the bar with their bawdy chants and infectious enthusiasm.
8211 E. 116th St.
Fishers, Indiana 46038
317.845.1090
Website

Rock Bottom College Park
Unfortunately, chain brewpubs sometimes get a bad rap. People automatically assume that if it's corporate, it's not worth having. Definitely not so with Rock Bottom. While some of Rock Bottom's beers are the same no matter which Rock Bottom you visit, each pub's brewer is given the freedom to brew several other beers according to the brewer's own recipes. Rock Bottom's north side location offers several gems from brewer extraordinaire Liz Laughlin. We recommend ordering whatever's on cask.
2801 Lake Circle Dr.
317.471.8840
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #107 - Re-dedication at Rock Bottom College Park

Northeast Side

Bier Brewery and Taproom
Bier Brewery and Taproom's Darren Connor began his brewing career at homebrewing supply store Great Fermentations, perfecting the homebrewing craft that he learned in college. In late 2010, he opened Bier just a few doors down from Great Fermentations. Bier is different from other Indy breweries in that it operates on a small, 1.5 barrel system. So in that sense, Bier is the city's one and only nanobrewery (though that will change soon with the opening of Black Acre Brewing Company in Irvington). Because Bier's batches are small, the brewery rotates styles quite frequently and offers only growlers for sale. But that's not a bad thing; variety, as they say, is the spice of life. We're quite fond of Bier's DFG IPA, so grab a growler if it's on. 21+ only.
5133 E. 65th St.
317.253.BIER (2437)
Website

Triton Brewing Company
Triton Brewing Company opened in 2011 out at Fort Benjamin Harrison in a marvelously refurbished building that was long-used as a horse barn. At Triton's helm are Jon Lang, former head brewer at Barley Island Brewing Company; Mike DeWeese, a longtime veteran of Indianapolis' craft beer scene; and David Waldman. Triton's name--borrowed from the name of Greek sea god Poseidon's son--stems from the brewery's emphasis on water quality. Indeed, Triton uses a reverse osmosis filtration system to ensure the highest quality water for its beers. Pints and growlers are available at the brewery, along with local and regional beers from the brewery's guest taps. Drinkers won't be disappointed by Triton's Rail Splitter IPA or Deadeye Stout.
Fort Benjamin Harrison
5764 Wheeler Rd.
317.735.2706
Website

Previously in our "Where to Drink in Indy" series:

Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Mass Ave, the Near East Side, and the Near North Side
Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Fountain Square

Flat12 Winterfest Tap List

2012-01-28T09:47:00.000-05:00

We just heard from Josh Hambright, brewer at Flat12 Biewerks, who sent us the brewery's taplist for today. According to Josh, Flat12 will not schedule the tappings. Rather, they'll just tap what they feel like drinking at the time.

Here's the taplist in no particular order.

Half Cycle
Lacto-Matic
Cherry Milk Stout
Cranber
Moustache Ride
Moustache Rides Again
BA Nunmoere Black
Coconut Porter
1/2 Cycle Reserve
Grandpa's Glazed Ham
Barrel Jack
Walkabout Pale Ale
Apple Bottom Blonde
Fruitcake IPA
BBD68 (Big Black Dog - American Rye Stout)
Winter Cycle
Winter Cyclo (Belgian Double IPA)
Super Bravo 46
Passion Fruit Walkabout
Flateua Du Dorman (Blackberry Porter)
Kiwi^2 (Kiwi Kiwi Hefe)

We hope everyone enjoys the festival today!

Random Beer Roundup - The Winterfest Edition

2012-01-27T10:44:00.000-05:00

Hoosier Beer Calendar

Events are subject to change

From the Brewers

From Clay at Sun King Brewing Co. in Indianapolis:

Super Bowl is here and our 11 day Tent Party that we've dubbed: The Local Underground is in full effect! Our 4,000 square foot temperature controlled structure is hosting the Big Green Bistro with our brand new draft trailer for pouring Fresh•Local•Beer and some of Indy and the surrounding area's best bands! We have created this as a place for locals to enjoy some of the festivities surrounding the big game, as well as an experience where visitors can get a true taste of Indy.

The Local Underground is open from 11 a.m.. to 10 p.m. Friday, January 27th through Saturday, February 4th and we'll be serving up Brunch on Sunday January, 29th and February 5th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. We'll be pouring Java Mac and plus featuring the Sunny Mary and Pale Mary with Hoosier Mama's Bloody Mary Mix.
Chef JJ is putting together an incredible menu so make plans to join us for lunch, dinner, brunch or just stop by for a good time and some Fresh•Local•Beer...
Live Music Schedule:

Friday 1/27 $5 Cover starting at 5pm
Stereo Deluxe 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Saturday 1/28 $5 Cover starting at 5pm
Woodstove Flap Jacks 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Wednesday 2/1 $5 Cover starting at 5pm
Neon Love Life 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Thursday 2/2 $10 Cover starting at 5pm
Left Lane Cruiser 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Friday 2/3 $10 Cover starting at 5pm
Goliathon 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Saturday 2/4 $10 Cover starting at 5pm
Oreo Jones 6:30pm - 9:30pm

From Ryan at Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis:

Come into Broadripple and enjoy all of the Big Game Festivities with Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company! Stop by and enjoy a beer before you head down the street to watch the concerts and take part in the fun and then grab one to go and take it down the street with you. We will be serving all of our amazing beers plus our current seasonal the Lombardi’s Super Baltic Porter all week long!

From Mike at Triton Brewing Co. in Lawrence:

Triton has 3 specialties on tap currently: Sin Bin Ale, Muletide Raspberry Bourbon Stout and Sweet Georgia Brown. Those will be tapped at Winterfest Saturday. Look for our schedule at the event.

Guest Taps:

Stone 11-11-11
Founders Dirty Bastard
Rogue Hazelnut Brown
Alltech Kentucky Bourbon Ale
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard
Bells' Sparkling Ale
Upland Winter Warmer

From Lindsay at Upland Brewing Co. in Bloomington/Indianapolis:

We're hiring a brewer! :)

http://uplandbeer.com/brewer-position-at-upland-brewing-co/

At Bars and Restaurants
From Jordan at Beer Sellar in Castleton:

It’s almost here: Our Super Bell's Party Wed. Feb. 1st. Party starts at 5pm. Black Note and the firkin will be tapped at 6pm. Live music is at 6 as well.

Amber
Best Brown
Black Note
Double Cream Stout
Expo Stout

Golden Rye
Harry Mag Spiced Stout
Hell Hath No Fury Ale
Hopslam
Java Stout
Kalamazoo Stout
Lager of the Lakes
Oarsmen
Porter
Quinannan Falls
Raspberry Ale
Sparkling
Third Coast Beer
Rye Stout
Two Hearted
Winter White

The firkin will be HOPSLAM

We also will have a small amount of Oracle and 25th Anniversary bottles.

Friday the 3rd we are having a Sixpoint Brewing welcome party. Beers on tap will be

The Crisp

Righteous Ale

Bengali Tiger

Sweet Action

Disel

7th Anniversary Ale

Belgian IPA

Gorilla Warfare

Our current tap list includes as of 1/25/12

Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye

Great Divide Oaked Aged Yeti

Bell's Hopslam

Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf

Three Floyds Gumball Head

Kasteel Rouge

Brooklyn The Companion

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Rogue Double Chocolate Stout

Bell's Sparkling Ale

Duvel Single

Sun King Wee Muckle

New Bottles

Goose Island BCBS

Goose Island King Henry

Founders Imperial Stout

Sun King Osiris Cans

Sam Adams The Vixen

Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11

Upcoming Drafts coming NEXT WEEK 1/30/12-2/6/12

Bouder Mojo Risen on Nitro

Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11

Stone Sublimely Self Righteous

Founders Breakfast Stout

Founders Double Trouble

Founders Imperial Stout

Great Divide Hibernation Ale

New Belgium Fresh Hop IPA

New Belgium Prickly Passion Saison

Three Floyds Behemoth

Triton Sweet Georgia Brown

Harpoon Leviathan IPA

Flat 12 Walkabout Pale Ale

Sun King Zaius Oatmeal Stout

Fountain Square Count Nibula Chocolate Stout

Brooklyn Blast

Dark Horse Scotty Karate

Rogue Chateau Orgasmic Ale

Three Floyds Dreadnaught

Victory Storm King Stout

Goose Island Pere Jacques

Between Winterfest and Sunday's Game these beers will be put on, Stay tuned to our twitter,facebook and BeerMenus to check for updates.

From Patrick at Patrick's Kitchen in Zionsville:

ON DRAFT
Sun King Sunlight Cream Ale Pint 5.00
Bell’s HopSlam 8oz 5.25 12oz 7.50
Boulder’s Hazed and Infused IPA Pint 5.25
Schmaltz Brewing Lenny’s Rye IPA 12oz 7.00 10%abv (almost gone)
Two Brother’s Resistance IPA Pint 5.25
Boulder Cold Hop British Style Ale Pint 5.00 6.3%abv.
Two Brother’s Heavy Handed IPA 12oz 5.25
People’s Brewing Mr. Brown Pint 5.25 ( a higher than normal abv. hoppy brown)
North Coast Pranqster - A big and tasty Belgian Style Golden Ale 12oz 7.5% abv.
New Albanian Yakima Red IPA Pint 5.75 7.5% abv.

From Eddie at Sahm's Place in Indianapolis:

Tuesday Night Trivia will be hosted by Bier Brewery on January 31st with 5 tap handles. Bier Brewery is located on 65th and Binford and produces some "Awesomeness" for everyone to taste! Darren, Jerry, and Corbin will be giving us some of the best product for everyone to see what they have to offer.

We have just added a new dart board are with real cork, offical distances, and tournaments. We stay open until 1am for our double dollar menu with all sliders, tacos, toastadas, and snacks at $2 a piece.

This week we will be adding a few new beers to our lineup including Sun King Malus Pi, Flat12 walkabout pale ale, Three Floyds Robert the Bruce, and Bier Brewery seasonal brew.

Weekly craft specials:
Monday- $4.50 imperial craft pints
Tuesday- $3.00 pints of Tuesday Night Trivia Sponsor
Wednesday- $2.50 craft draft
Thursday- $3.50 craft pints

Friday- $13.00 craft pitchers

From Ryan at Scotty's Brewhouse in Various Locations:

Scotty’s Brewhouse Downtown is going to be rocking out for the Big Game! We are celebrating right with a huge heated tent over our patio. We have a whole list of great things going during the week. The Nick & Artie Show will be broadcasting live Monday thru Friday 10am to 1pm next week. We will also have Free Tweetup with Peter King from Sports Illustrated on Tuesday evening at 5:30pm in our tent.

Then join us on Friday morning for the live Broadcast of the Smiley Morning Show! We will be opening at 7am for Eggs & Kegs with Smiley! Our full breakfast menu will be available and will be handing out free shirts for the first 50 guest.

Scotty’s Brewhouse Bloomington now has Bluegrass Brewing Company’s Bourbon Barrel Stout on tap! You can get this delicious beer every Thursday night for $3.50 a pint!

Scotty’s Brewhouse West Lafayette is now pouring People’s Brewing Company’s Mr. Brown on Nitro! Come on by on Wednesday evening and enjoy this awesome Brown for only $9.00 for a 48oz pitcher!

Scotty’s Burger Joint in Columbus now has Triton Brewing Company’s Magnificent Amber on tap! Come by on Tuesday and enjoy a 48oz pitcher for only $5.00!!

For Carry-out
From Todd at Keg Liquors in Clarksville/New Albany:

Here is the latest from Keg Liquors:

Jolly Pumpkin - Calabaza Blanca (Michigan)

Jolly Pumpkin - Oro de Calabaza (Michigan)

Jolly Pumpkin - Fuego del Otono (Michigan)

De Proef - Flemish Primitive #4 (Pinhead) (Belgium)

De' Proef - K-O Blonde (Belgium)

Spezial - Rauchbier (Germany)

Kulmbacher - Monchshof Kellerbrau (Germany)

New Albanian - Bonfire of the Valkyries (Indiana)

Pretty Things - Babayaga (Massachusetts)

Three Floyds Mikkeller - Boogoop (Denmark)

Xbeeriment - #44 Smoked Stout (Barack) (Denmark)

De Molen - Bommen & Granaten (Netherlands)

De Molen - Bed & Breakfast (Netherlands)

Finchs Beer Company - Cut Throat Pale Ale (Illinois)

Finchs Beer Company - Golden Wing Blonde Ale (Illinois)

From Josh at Payless Liquors on SR135 in Greenwood:

New Beers in stock-

Jolly Pumpkin =

Bam Biere

Bam Noire

Calabaza Blanca

Oro de Calabaza

Fuego Del Otono

Weizen Bam

Noel de Calabaza

Saint Somewhere Lectio Devina, Pays du Soleil & Athene

Mikkeller/Three Floyds BooGoop

High & Mighty Beer of the Gods

Pretty Things Babayaga

Sixpoint Crisp, Bengali Tiger, Sweet Action & Righteous

Finch's Golden Wing & Cut Throat

Boulevard Chocolate ale

Winterfest 2012 Preview Map

2012-01-26T23:22:00.000-05:00

Look what else I just found... it's a map for this year's Winterfest! You'll notice that there are more breweries listed in the previous post than are on this map. I believe the list is more up-to-date than the map, so use the list as a brewery reference and the map as a general sense of layout. And if your next question is "Will there be a program" the answer is yes and it will include the map. Although I didn't make it so I don't have a copy of it to share with you. Of course if I can dig one up between now and Saturday, you guys will be the first to know.

Winterfest Brewery Line-up

2012-01-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

As you may have heard, we aren't organizing Winterfest this year. But that's not to say that we don't still have our connections! The date is drawing close and many of you have been wondering which breweries will be present. The following list may not be 100% complete, but it should be pretty representative of the festival. Enjoy and remember to thank our volunteer crew for their hard work on Saturday!

Against The Grain Brewery (Louisville, KY)
Back Road Brewery (LaPorte, IN)
Barley Island Brewing Company (Noblesville, IN)
Bell’s Brewery, Inc. (Kalamazoo, MI)
Bier Brewery & Taproom (Indianapolis, IN)
Big Woods (Nashville, IN)
Black Swan Brewpub (Plainfield, IN)
Bloomington Brewing Co (Bloomington, IN)
Bluegrass Brewing Co. (Louisville, KY)
Bluegrass Brewing Production Brewery (Louisville, KY)
Breckenridge Brewery (Breckenridge, CO)
Broad Ripple Brewpub (Indianapolis, IN)
Brugge Brasserie (Indianapolis, IN)
Bulldog Brewing Co (Whiting, IN)
Crown Brewing (Crown Point, IN)
Cutters (Bloomington, IN)
Das Big Dawg Brewhaus (Richmond, IN)
Falls City Brewing Co (Louisville, IN)
Figure 8 Brewing Co (Valparaiso, IN)
Finch’s Beer Co (Chicago, IL)
Flat 12 Bierwerks (Indianapolis, IN)
Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, MI)
Fountain Square Brewing (Indianapolis, IN)
Four Horsemen Brewing Company (South Bend, IN)
Half Moon (Kokomo, IN)
Harpoon Brewing (Boston, MA)
Kentucky Ale (Lexington, KY)
Lafayette Brewing (Lafayette, IN)
Mad Anthony’s (Fort Wayne, IN)
Magic Hat (South Burlington, VT)
Main Street Brewing at Turoni's Pizza (Evansville, IN)
Napa Smith Brewery (Napa, CA)
New Albanian Brewing Company (New Albany, IN)
New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO)
New Day Meadery (Indianapolis, IN)
North Coast Brewing Co. (Fort Bragg, CA)
Oaken Barrel Brewing Company (Greenwood, IN)
People's Brewing Co (Lafayette, IN)
Power House Brewing Co. (Columbus, IN)
Pyramid Brewing Co. (Seattle, WA)
RAM Restaurant and Brewery (Indianapolis, IN)
Rivertown Brewing Co. (Cincinnati, OH)
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery (Indianapolis, IN)
Samuel Adams, Boston Beer Co. (Boston, MA)
Schlafly Beer (St. Louis, MO)
Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant (Michigan City, IN)
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico, CA)
Stone Brewing Co (Escondido, CA)
Sun King Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN)
Three Floyds Brewing Co. (Munster, IN)
Thr3e Wise Men Brewery (Indianapolis, IN)
Three Pints Brewing (Plainfield, IN)
Triton Brewing Company (Indianapolis, IN)
Upland (Bloomington, IN)
Victory (Downingtown, PA)

And a few breweries you'll find in the Malt Shoppe...

Abita Brewing Company (Louisiana)
Brooklyn Brewery (New York)
Dark Horse Brewery (Michigan)
Dogfish Head (Deleware)
Flying Dog (Maryland)
Ommegang (New York)
Rivertown (Ohio)
Rogue Ales (Oregon)

Although I guess it doesn't really matter if you were on the fence about the festival, as tickets have been sold out for weeks. At least now you can be reassured that there will be a ton of great beer!

Indianapolis Breweries by IndyGo Bus (and a Guide to Super Bowl XLVI)

2012-01-26T07:24:00.000-05:00

So there you are, shuttled on the IndyGo Green Line from Indianapolis International Airport directly to the doorstep of your downtown hotel and from there into the warm confines of your room. All that travel has you craving a beer. A local beer. But the company you work for is a bunch of cheapskates and you have NO CAR.

First things, first: you're in downtown Indianapolis and you're a hop skip and a jump away from a local beer just about anywhere! For tips on where to go, take a look at Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Downtown. Within easy walking distance of downtown hotels there are a pair of brewpubs and virtually every bar and restaurant has some craft beer to offer you.

But say you've been to Indy before or you're here for Super Bowl XLVI and have already been knocking around downtown for a few days. You're itching for something new.....again, though, you have NO CAR.

My friend, you need to get on the bus. For the low, low price of $4, you can buy an all-day pass of unlimited boardings on IndyGo buses to go galavant around the city. For a trip with a plethora of interesting beer stops, we highly recommend the #17 bus. This bus route begins downtown at Ohio St. and Meridian St. and winds along restaurant and bar hotspots such as Mass Ave., College Ave. and Broad Ripple Ave. (click the links for more detailed info about beer destinations on this route). Take a look below for all the information you'll need on your bar-hopping bus trip plus some additional information specific to bus transportation during Super Bowl XLVI.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INDYGO:

IndyGo runs the buses around Indianapolis. Find info online or in their downtown retail space at 34 N Delaware St (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-noon).

TIP: IndyGo routes and schedules are accessible through Google Maps directions. To have Google Maps tell you which bus to take, just click the public transportation icon (the one that looks like a bus or train) directly above the boxes where you enter your locations.

IndyGo Fares:

Single ride: $1.75
All-day pass: $4
7-day pass: $20
31-day pass: $60
SPECIAL NOTE: all IndyGo bus boardings will be free Thursday, February 2nd through Sunday, February 5th in conjunction with Super Bowl XLVI (airport Green Line excluded)

All about the #17 bus:

Route operates between downtown and Glendale Town Center, with stops on Mass Ave, College Ave, and Broad Ripple Ave.
Operates Mon-Fri, 5am to 10pm at 30 minute intervals
Sat/Sun hours may be slightly different -- check the online schedule for exact times

Brewpubs and brewery tasting rooms along the #17 route:

Bars and restaurants with noteworthy beer lists on the #17 route:

SPECIAL SUPER BOWL XLVI BUS INFORMATION:

As a special incentive to encourage using public transportation during the Super Bowl XLVI festivities, ALL IndyGo bus boardings will be free Thursday, February 2 through Sunday, February 5th (airport Green Line excluded). In addition, a special bus line will operate during Super Bowl XLVI that circulates between downtown, Mass Ave and Fountain Square. Monarch Beverage and World Class Beer will sponsor the bus, with service times and stop information available below:

Mass Ave will have FREE shuttle service Feb. 2 - 4 from 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Shuttle stops can be found on Mass Ave: 300 block near Alabama/Vermont intersection; 600 block near Dean Johnson & 800 block near IPS bus entrance. Additional stops are Indianapolis City Market, Indiana Government Center, Fletcher Place and Fountain Square. Shuttles will run along Mass Ave to the Indianapolis City Market, through Downtown, to Fountain square and back to Mass Ave. Shuttles can accommodate 25 passengers and will have on-board concierges at all times.

We'd love to see a bus route like this become permanent (even just Fri/Sat service would be great) but we'll certainly take advantage during the brief time that it's available. Get on board and enjoy all the independent bars and restaurants outside the core of downtown!

OTHER BREWERIES BY BUS:

For the adventurous types with some time to kill, these far-flung breweries and brewpubs can also be reached from downtown on the following bus lines:

Triton Brewing Company - #4 Bus, Ft. Harrison Line
Fountain Square Brewing Co. - #14 Bus, Prospect Line
Rock Bottom College Park - #34 Bus, Dr. ML King / Michigan Rd. Line
BJs Brewhouse - #31 Bus, Greenwood Line
Black Acre Brewing Co. - #8 Bus, Washington St. Line (NOTE: not open at press time but expected to open very soon; check their website for details)

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN RIDING THE BUS!

Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Miscellaneous Session Beers

2012-01-25T19:36:00.003-05:00

"The Tippecanoe Common Ale is LBC's best selling beer, and it's easy to see why. Hints of grapefruit-like hops are nicely balanced with a tasty caramel back, giving you a hoppy yet complex and extremely sessionable red ale. We all liked this one, and luckily it's bottled, so we were able to bring some home."

"There is a reason why Tippecanoe Common is so popular: it is delicious. This is one of those beers that is well balanced between hops and malts. But it isn't lacking in Amarillo hops, even in the bottle."

New Albanian Community Dark Mild Ale. Not many American breweries are doing an English dark mild ale. Fortunately for Hoosiers, New Albanian is with its medal-winning Community Dark. This is a true session beer, clocking in at 3.7% ABV. What's more, Community Dark does not lack for flavor with its malty chocolate, nut, and molasses notes. Along with Beak's Best, this is one of our go-to beers when we visit the Bank Street Brewhouse. If only NABC sold this beer in bottles.

Previously:
Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Porters and Stouts
Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Brown Ales
Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Pale Ales & IPAs
Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Lagers

Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Porters and Stouts

2012-01-24T20:06:00.000-05:00

On January 28, the Brewers of Indiana Guild will stage the fourth annual Winterfest, which will of course feature offerings from Indiana's craft breweries. In honor of Winterfest, we've decided to focus most of our posts this month on Indiana beers.

As part of this focus, we thought it would be a good idea to shine the spotlight on Indiana beers that are overlooked or underrated--the unsung heroes of Indiana craft beer, if you will.

Admittedly, our methods in picking these beers were not scientific. Indeed, some of the beers that we'll talk about have won awards, so calling these beers "unsung heroes" might be a bit of a stretch. Moreover, our list is going to focus on only one beer from each Indiana brewery we discuss, and we may have omitted breweries who brew beers worthy of unsung hero status. So leave us a comment noting any beer that you think should have been included in the list.

In our fourth installment of this series, we reveal our picks from Indiana's porters and stouts.

Bee Creek Clay County Coffee Stout. The little brewery from Brazil is best known for its signature beer, Hoosier Honey Wheat. While Hoosier Honey Wheat is delicious, it's Bee Creek's Clay County Coffee Stout that really hits our palates in the right spot. Malty, chocolaty, and full of java boldness, Clay County Coffee Stout goes down especially well in the January cold (though we also enjoyed it quite a bit in the August heat).

Great Crescent Coconut Porter. Aurora's Great Crescent Brewery is currently one of two Indiana breweries offering its beers in cans. While Central Indiana beer drinkers might not be used to frequently seeing Great Crescent beers anywhere aside from the Brewers of Indiana Guild's festivals, that is changing. Kahn's is now carrying Great Crescent beers, and the brewery recently received recognition from CraftCans.com for its Bourbon's Barrel Stout. The brewery's Coconut Porter, however, is the beer we really crave. Brewed in the English porter style, Coconut Porter has the classic roasted malt and chocolate notes you'd expect from this sort of beer. And the coconut note is just hinted at rather than emphasized.

Ram Total Disorder Porter. As we've noted before, Ram's brewmaster Andrew Castner is one of the coolest people in the Indianapolis craft beer community. In our experience, his seasonal beers are definitely worth seeking out. When it comes to Ram's flagship beers, Total Disorder Porter is the one that we consistently reach for. The most sessionable offering in our list of unsung porters and stouts, Total Disorder Porter offers a moderate mouthfeel with smooth chocolate and coffee notes. Definitely a multiple pint beer.

Rock Bottom Downtown Hoosier Ma Stout (Oatmeal). Hoosier Ma Stout is my default beer at Rock Bottom's downtown location, even though the brewery rotates styles for this beer. Indeed, that's part of the allure for me. When Brewmaster Jerry Sutherlin puts Hoosier Ma on as an oatmeal stout, the beer rivals the best stouts in the state. The nose on this beer is wonderful, full of chocolate and toffee notes. The flavor is a deluge of malt and chocolate with a subtly sweet finish. I adore the mouthfeel of this beer; it's one of the creamiest stouts I've ever had.

Previously:
Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Brown Ales
Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Pale Ales & IPAs
Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Lagers

Random Beer Roundup - The Sugar and Spice Edition

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Hoosier Beer Calendar

Events are subject to change

From the Brewers

From Bob at Flat12 Bierwerks in Indianapolis:

For Super Bowl Week:

The Flat12 Bierwerks taproom will be open special hours for tasting, pints and carryout as follows:

Monday - Thursday 2-7
Friday-Saturday 12-8
Sunday 12-4

Friday, January 27th, we will tap a specialty brew that celebrates Indianapolis' big week. The beer, a sessionable Extra Pale Ale, features Super Galena hops and Bravo hops. It comes in at 46 IBU. The working name for this brew is Super Bravo 46. Or SB46, for short.

Friday, February 3rd, we will tap Big Black Dog 68, an American Stout brewed with Rye Malt. Head Brewer, Rob Caputo, describes the 6.8% ABV Rye Stout as "chewy and big." A couple other surprises are probably in the offing on this date as well.

Meats, cheeses, soups and other items from Smoking Goose will be featured on the food menu.

From Skip at Fountain Square Brewing Co. in Fountain Square:

At our Grand Opening this Saturday we will tapping two new beers…..Count Nibula Chocolate Stout and Workingman’s Pilsner. Stop by between 7pm and 11pm.

From Andrew at Ram Restaurant and Brewery in Indianapolis/Fishers:

Super Bowl prep is in full swing! The coming weeks are going to be a great chance to come downtown and see the once-in-a-lifetime experience. When you're taking in the sights, pop in to the RAM to warm up and grab a pint. Two new seasonals were release today for your enjoyment. Happy tasting!

Aries American Wheat - light with a citrusy hop finish
ABV: 5.5% IBUs: 27 SRM: 3.4

Sticky Fingers Stout - roast, coffee, and caramel with a slight hop finish
ABV: 4.4% IBUs: 34 SRM:36

Batch 1100: Monk Juice - Belgian Tripel with citrus notes and a peppery finish
ABV: 9.5% IBUs 32 SRM: 4.6

From Clay at Sun King Brewing Co. in Indianapolis:

We're busy gearing up for the big game here at Sun King... Next week we will be kicking off our 11 day Tent Party that we've dubbed: The Local Underground. This 4,000 square foot temperature controlled structure will play host to Chef JJ's enormous food trailer, The Big Green Bistro, our brand new draft trailer for pouring Fresh•Local•Beer and some of Indy and the surrounding area's best bands! We wanted to create a place for locals to enjoy some of the festivities surrounding the Super Bowl, as well as an experience where visitors can get a true taste of Indy. The Local Underground opens its doors on Thursday, January 26th at 5:00 and Rusty Redenbacher & Mr. Kinetik take the stage at 6:30 PLUS we'll be tapping several kegs of Sunlight Cream Ale that were aged for a year in William Henry Harrison Bourbon Barrels!

The Local Underground will be open from 11 a.m.. to 10 p.m. Friday, January 27th through Saturday, February 4th and we'll be serving up Brunch on Sunday January, 29th and February 5th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with special guest Java Mac. Chef JJ is putting together an incredible menu so make plans to join us for lunch, dinner, brunch or just stop by for a good time and some Fresh•Local•Beer...

Live Music Schedule:

Thursday 1/26 FREE

Mr. Kinetik & Rusty Redenbacher (#ATFU) 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Friday 1/27 $5 Cover starting at 5pm

Stereo Deluxe 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Saturday 1/28 $5 Cover starting at 5pm

Woodstove Flap Jacks 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Wednesday 2/1 $5 Cover starting at 5pm

Neon Love Life 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Thursday 2/2 $10 Cover starting at 5pm

Left Lane Cruiser 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Friday 2/3 $10 Cover starting at 5pm

Goliathon 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Saturday 2/4 $10 Cover starting at 5pm

Oreo Jones 6:30pm - 9:30pm

From Ryan at Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis:

Come by Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company to enjoy our newest seasonal, Lombardi’s Super Baltic Porter! Stop by on a Wednesday evening and enjoy this or any of our other beers for $3.00 for a Pint. We will be tapping our next seasonal, Wise Ass White IPA, on Tuesday February 7th so put that on your calendar.

From Mike at Triton Brewing Co. in Lawrence:

Triton has 3 specialties on tap currently: Sin Bin Ale, Muletide Raspberry Bourbon Stout and Sweet Georgia Brown.

Guest Taps:

Stone 11-11-11

Founders Dirty Bastard

Rogue Hazelnut Brown

Alltech Kentucky Bourbon Ale

Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard

Bells' Sparkling Ale

Upland Winter Warmer

From Lindsay at Upland Brewing Co. in Bloomington/Indianapolis:

The main thing we have going on we'd like to share is our Valentine's Day Beer and Food Pairing.

http://uplandbeer.com/valentines-day-beer-and-food-pairing-dinner/

At Bars and Restaurants
From Jordan at Beer Sellar in Castleton:

Feburary 1st Super Bell's Party 5 pm
Tap List for the event
Amber
Best Brown
Black Note
Double Cream Stout
Expo Stout
Harry Mag Spiced Stout
Hell Hath No Fury
Hopslam
Java Stout
Kalamazoo Stout
Lager
Oarsmen
Porter
Quinannan Falls
Raspberry Ale
Rye Stout
Sparkling
Third Coast Beer
Two Hearted
Winter White
A Firkin of Hopslam

From Patrick at Patrick's Kitchen in Zionsville:

Can you say HOPSLAM?...okay, so it's not Indiana Beer, but come on, it's hopslam....starting Wednesday night 5pm..1-18....in addition we are pouring at the moment, Flat-12 Porter, Two brothers' Resistance as well as their Heavy Handed IPA...my favorite lately is the Boulder Brewing's Cold Hop (think ESB)...we've got Boulevard's Tank 7 Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale, and Boulder's Hazed and Infused Pale.

From Eddie at Sahm's Place in Indianapolis:

Sahm's Place will be having our weekly Tuesday Night Trivia this week starting at 8:30pm. It will kick of our 10 week season in which you take your 8 best scores and play for a top 5 spot in the end to win some cash! We will have different craft sponsors each week with Bell's Brewery up on the 24th with Hopslam, Two Hearted, Winter White, and Double Cream Stout.

Our weekly craft specials:

Monday- $4.50 20oz Imperial Pints

Tuesday- Craft sponsored trivia night w/ $3.00 Pints

Wednesday- $2.50 craft draft

Thursday- $3.50 Craft Pints

Friday $13.00 craft pitchers

From Ryan at Scotty's Brewhouse in Various Locations:

All Scotty’s Brewhouse locations now have new beer menus! Please make sure to stop by and try some of the new additions to our list.

Scotty’s Brewhouse Bloomington is now pouring Bluegrass Brewing Company Bourbon Stout! You can get a pint of this very delicious brew every Thursday for $3.50.

Scotty’s Brewhouse West Lafayette is now serving Upland Bad Elmer’s Porter! You can enjoy a 48oz pitcher of this amazing Indiana beer for only $6.00.

Scotty’s Lakehouse is now serving Triton Magnificent Amber! Come by and enjoy a 48oz. Pitcher of this Indianapolis Brew for only $9.00 every Wednesday!

From Adam at Trion Tavern in New Haven:

Latest beers on tap:
Great Divide Old Ruffian
Southern Tier choklatBell's Hopslam
Upland Teddy Bear KissesMad Anthony Snowplowed Winter AleWells & Young's Banana Bread BeerSierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA

On Deck (kegs are in-house and will be tapped any day...as soon as a handle opens up)
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti
Ommegang Abbey Ale
Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock
Delirium Tremens
Dark Horse Tres Blueberry

Use our Interactive Daily Tap List to check out the rest of the 58 beers we have on tap.Package Store specials:
Old Rasputin XIV 500ml bottles - $19.99 (price includes tax)
Hopslam 6-packs - $15.99 (price includes tax)
Gumballhead 6-pack - $9.99 (price includes tax)

Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Mass Ave, the Near East Side, and the Near North Side

2012-01-19T20:33:00.000-05:00

To better serve our readers and folks coming to town for Super Bowl XLVI, we're updating our "Where to Drink in Indianapolis" series. In our second post of the updated series, we focus on one of Indy's designated cultural districts: Mass Ave. We also highlight a few establishments that aren't on Mass Ave but that are close enough that they ought to be discussed in the same breath.

When I moved to Indianapolis in 1993, Mass Ave was a neighborhood in the infancy of a renaissance. New businesses that are now institutions were starting to sprout up along the avenue, but Mass Ave wasn't a place where many went to do anything after dark. Nearly 20 years later, the neighborhood has blossomed into a key place where locals go to drink, dine, shop, and enjoy art.

If you're looking to explore Mass Ave and some of the nearby neighborhoods, here's our list of establishments to check out, especially if you want to enjoy a good pint or two (or three, etc.).

Mass Ave

The Ball and Biscuit
Perhaps the most polished of all the Mass Ave bars is The Ball and Biscuit, a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge with a menu of excellent small plates and a solid craft beer lineup. The cozy space is made even more comfortable by the lack of televisions. This is a bar built for conversation. 21+ only.
331 Massachusetts Ave.
317.636.0539
Website
HBG Visits:
Notes from the Beer and Chocolate Benefit
KOTBR #109 - The Mass Ave Craft Beer Pride Parade
KOTBR #108 - A Great Divide at the Ball & Biscuit

Bazbeaux
Opened in 1989, this widely loved pizza parlor has become an Indianapolis institution. Offering a wide array of gourmet pies, Bazbeaux also carries a full selection of craft bottles to keep you on an even keel. The pizzeria added taps last year, and most of them are craft.
333 Massachusetts Ave.
317.636.7662
Website

Black Market
This acclaimed gastropub lies at the east end of Mass Ave in a cul-de-sac that juts off the street. Black Market is literally a "blink and you might miss it" sort of place because the restaurant has no signs facing the avenue; you'll have to look for the pub's black awning. The restaurant's menu focuses on locally-sourced selections that put a modern spin on traditional Hoosier comfort food. Black Market also has eight craft taps flowing mostly with locally-brewed beers. 21+ only.
922 Massachusetts Ave.
317.822.6757
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #129 - A Local Brew in a Kick Ass Neighborhood Bar

Bru Burger Bar
This recently-opened restaurant specializes in gourmet hamburgers and has what appears to be an impressive tap and bottle list. We haven't visited yet, but Bru is on our list of roundtable targets. Early reviews are good.
410 Massachusetts Ave.
317.635.4BRU (4278)
Website

Chatham Tap
Like soccer? We do. Chatham Tap is the default choice for fans wishing to catch English Premier League action. The pub's tap list follows suit, with the standard English selections as well as local taps and a nice bottle list. And if you happen to follow the U.S. National Team, the Chatham Tap is where you want to be on match day because the local American Outlaws chapter takes over the bar with their bawdy chants and infectious enthusiasm. 21+ only.
719 Massachusetts Ave.
317.917.8425
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #93 | Jingle Bells
So what's on the telly? Football, you say?
Beer Diary #3 - Jason
KOTBR #31 in Review | Wychwood Hobgoblin Ale @ the Chatham Tap

The Chatterbox Jazz Club
The Chatterbox Jazz Club--a Mass Ave original--is the divey-est of dive bars, with a legendarily dusty interior, the most interesting stage carpet that ever existed, the biggest ball of aluminum foil in Marion County, and bathrooms that are either scary or entertaining, depending on your outlook. Your best drink option is probably Sun King in a can, but what an atmosphere! 21+ only. Smoking permitted.
435 Massachusetts Ave.
317.636.0584
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #109 - The Mass Ave Craft Beer Pride Parade

MacNiven's
You might be thinking that a place named MacNiven's is an Irish pub. You'd be wrong. MacNiven's is a Scottish/American Pub. It also features one of Indianapolis' most extensive beer lists and regular tappings from the likes of Sun King, Bell's, and Three Floyds. And we haven't even mentioned the awesome haggis (yes, you read that correctly--the words "awesome" and "haggis" in the same sentence), which comes in both regular and vegetarian versions. With the bar's recent decision to go non-smoking and its addition of a hand-pull, MacNiven's has become one of the city's premier craft beer destinations. 21+ only.
339 Massachusetts Ave.
317.632.7268
Website
HBG Visits:
American Craft Beer Week, Annoying Photo Angles Edition | Sun King/Three Floyds Takeover @ MacNiven's
Scenes from a Tapping: Bell's Hopslam Firkin at MacNiven's
KOTBR #91 - A Second Helping of BCS
KOTBR #54 - MacNiven's Broken Promise
KOTBR #3 - Three Floyds Robert The Bruce

Mass Ave Pub
Located across the avenue from the Indianapolis Firefighters Museum, the Mass Ave Pub is where IFD's finest like to have an after-shift drink. On top of that, proprietor Tracy Robertson (whose husband Stuart is the man behind MacNiven's) always has the pub well-stocked with a deep selection of craft beers in the bottle and on draft. 21+ only. Smoking permitted.
745 Massachusetts Ave.
317.974.0745
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #109 - The Mass Ave Craft Beer Pride Parade

Mesh on Mass Avenue
If you're seeking contemporary American cuisine and a place that's ideal for date night, you'll want to check out Mesh on Mass Avenue. A craft-beer-focused group of eight taps and a well-rounded bottle selection will please beer drinkers as well.
725 Massachusetts Ave.
317.955.9600
Website

Old Point Tavern
Something about Old Point Tavern is just plain cool. Maybe it's the flatiron building's wedge shape, or the girl dancing on the sidewalk outside, or perhaps even the extensive beer menu. In any case, the cozy confines provide plenty of entertainment. 21+ only. Smoking permitted.
401 Massachusetts Ave.
317.634.8943
Website

The Rathskeller
If you're the German beer-hall type, the Rathskeller is your Indianapolis answer. Located in the historic Athenaeum building (designed by writer Kurt Vonnegut's grandfather Bernard), the Rathskeller offers a full selection of German-brewed beers as well as a sausage-heavy menu that fits the atmosphere. In the warm-weather months, the Rathskeller's outdoor biergarten offers an unparalleled Mass Ave experience; the biergarten band shell hosts an eclectic group of bands. Grab a stein of Spaten Optimator and get ready to polka!
401 East Michigan St.
317.636.0396
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #119 | A Toast to the Original - The KOTBR & Paulaner Salvator
KOTBR #81 - The All-Request Line
KOTBR #28: Roll Out The Barrels
KOTBR #2: Spaten Optimator

The Near East Side

Dorman Street Saloon
This beloved dive bar is nestled among the Victorian-era shotgun houses in the Cottage Home neighborhood, which is a hop, skip and jump from Mass Ave. The clientele tends to be on the bohemian side, and the jukebox is certainly hipster-influenced. But don't let that discourage you from visiting because the bottle list is quite nice. 21+ only. Smoking permitted.
901 Dorman St.
317.237.9008
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #67 - Reader Submitted Locations - Ralph's Great Divide and Dorman Street Saloon

Flat12 Bierwerks
Flat12 Bierwerks, one of the city's newer breweries, is located in Indianapolis' historic Holy Cross Neighborhood, which has gone through a recent revitalization with the recent additions of Flat12 and Goose the Market's Smoking Goose Meatery. Since opening in 2010, Flat12 has gained a dedicated local following for their "tradition with a twist" approach, leading to a myriad of variations of their house lineup, as well as an adventurous attitude toward their specialty beers. 21+ only.
414 North Dorman St.
317.635.BEER (2337)
Website
HBG Visits:
Flat12 Bierwerks
Flat12: Start Your Engines

Sun King Brewing Company
Since opening in the Cole Noble District in July 2009, Sun King has skyrocketed to brewing success. Aside from being the first production brewery to brew in Indianapolis since Indianapolis Brewing Company closed in 1997, Sun King recently made big waves in the craft beer community, capturing eight medals at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival and showing the country what Hoosiers already knew: Indiana makes great beer. 21+ only.
135 N. College Ave
317.602.3702‎
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #130 | The Super-Secret Sneak Preview Review of Sun King's Johan the Barleywine
KOTBR #125 - Three Kings vs. Eight Knights
KOTBR #111 - Polka, Wieners, and Beer
KOTBR #102: The Island of Misfit Beers
The Hoosier Beer Geek 2009 End of Year Readers Survey: RESULTS! (Part 3) - The Rise of Sun King
The Sun King Rises Over Indy, Part 2
The Sun King Rises Over Indy

The Near North Side

Goose the Market
Opened in 2007 in the Fall Creek Place neighborhood, Chris and Molly Eley's Goose the Market quickly became a hub in Indianapolis' growing gourmet and local food movement. In June 2010, they opened up their basement space to create The Enoteca, "a casual place to drink wine" (and beer), featuring six ready-to-drink beer choices as well as anything from the well-selected varieties on their store shelves. While the beer selection is nothing to blink at, it's the Enoteca's food that's the star. With selections such as duck rillette, terrine, charcuterie, or one of their highly-regarded sandwiches, there's something adventurous and tasty waiting for you.
2503 North Delaware St.
317.924.4944
Website
HBG Visits:
KOTBR #122 - Nøgne Ø Dark Horizon 3.edition
KOTBR #115 - Hanging Out with Bears in the Basement
Notes from the Beer and Cheese Benefit
Beer Diary #20 - Mike - Goose the Market's Enoteca
A Lesson on Beer and Cheese

Previously in our "Where to Drink in Indy" series:

Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Fountain Square

Beer Diary #23 - Mike | Three Free from Magic Hat, a Tribute to David Beckham

2012-01-18T19:52:00.003-05:00

It's a Wednesday night. I start vacation tomorrow. I have beer in the fridge that was gifted to me by Magic Hat (I've been mailed some wacky stuff lately, but gifted beer is a rarer occurrence than you might think). Why not beer diary? Here it goes.

Howl Black Lager - Pilsner lager nose, hint of chocolate malt, dry chocolate. flavor follows through on nose, sweet pilsner elements, a tiny hint of chocolate malt, finishes chewy, tasty. This is a pretty nice Schwartzbier which I liked quite a bit, and it's well worth a purchase at the local grocery store.

Ravell (Porter brewed with Vanilla) - I can't think of a vanilla porter I like - usually the vanilla tastes off, or the beer doesn't mesh together all that well, or... I'd say that Ravell has less nose than Howl, and also less flavor. The flavors that do come through are light across the board, with a hint of cinamon or perhaps even a slight note of burnt plastic in the finish. That sounds worse than it is - basically this is a beer. And that's about all.

Encore (American Wheat IPA) - What's a wheat IPA? Maybe a Gumballhead sort of thing? I do get hops out of the nose here, and taking a drink reveals a sweet cereal-like beer (I can't put my finger on what cereal, but think of the oversweet marshmallow packed cereals made for kids), that finishes with a flourish of massive bitter hop flavor. Interesting, sure. Would I have a second bottle? Unlikely. But if unbalanced hop overload is your thing, maybe this is a beer for you.

About that Beckham thing. Seems he's sticking around MLS. Good. (He also wears number 23).

KOTBR #138 | Fountain Square Times Two

2012-01-18T12:00:00.001-05:00

We make no secret of the fact that we like Fountain Square. Poll all seven of us and most (if not all) of us will tell you that it's our favorite Indianapolis neighborhood.

We love the neighborhood for both sentimental and practical reasons. As for the sentimental reasons, Fountain Square is where the seed of Hoosier Beer Geek was planted and began to grow. Indeed, when we started regularly doing roundtables in 2006, we made the now-defunct Deano's Vino our unofficial base of operations. We also used to hold HBG parties at Deano's, and our first anniversary party was there as well.

As for the practical reasons, Fountain Square is close to where most of us live. Add to this the fact that the neighborhood is finally coming into its own as a cultural destination in the city and we wonder why we would spend our entertainment dollars anywhere else in Indianapolis. We still love places like Broad Ripple and Mass Ave. But Fountain Square is where the city's young cultural heart truly beats.

We'll get out to different parts of the city for future roundtables. But for our most recent roundtable, we found ourselves back in Fountain Square to hit up two new establishments: La Margarita (1043 Virginia Avenue, 317.848.1457) and End of the Line Public House (1105 Shelby Street, 317.687.4857).

In addition to offering hearty Mexican fare and a well-rounded selection of premium tequilas, La Margarita has six craft taps and a good bottle selection. Proprietor Jon Carlos Rangel likes to stock off-the-beaten-path craft beers. For example, about a month ago, we enjoyed some Three Floyds/Dogfish Head Poppaskull on tap. Currently, Belgian quad Urthel Samaranth is on draft.

As for End of the Line, Fountain Square finally has a bar devoted solely to craft beer with the recent addition of this bar. The End of the Line has ten taps, mostly local, along with a diverse menu of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. The menu also has a good selection of vegetarian dishes.

While at La Margarita, we had People's Pilsner from Lafayette's People's Brewing Company.

Mike: The nose on this beer is sweet like sweet corn (minus the flaws implied) or those powdered sugar Christmas cookies. The beer is sweet and clean throughout, finishes clean but not particularly dry. Clean, agreeable, drinkable, all things a pils should be. 4.00 Mugs.

Gina: Brewed for its working-class citizen coal miners and steel workers, the original Dortmunder-style pilsner was made to be full-bodied and thirst-quenching. It needed to be hearty enough to satisfy the strongest of thirsts. The history of the style is quite fascinating if you’re into that sort of thing.

People’s gave a nod to this style with People's Pilsner. Their rendition takes advantage of the hard water in Lafayette. This, along with Caramalt and Santium hops, gives this beer a balance of sweet and bitter. This beer is full-bodied with a slightly dry finish and absolutely loaded with flavor for a 4.5% ABV beer. If I had not just come from dinner, this beer would have been perfect with just about everything at La Margarita. 3.60 Mugs.

Jim: This beer stood out to me because of its spicy finish. Indeed, the beer left my palate with a peppery note. I'm used to a bitter finish on pilsners, but the peppery bitterness in People's Pilsner was quite memorable. A great representation of the style and one that I'll now be seeking out more often. 4.00 Mugs.

After finishing our People's Pilsners, we headed over to End of the Line to have Flat12 Bierwerks' Walkabout Pale Ale. Flat12 just celebrated their one-year anniversary, where they featured some outstanding variations on some of the flagship beers they brew.

Gina: For last year’s ReplicAle, the Brewers of Indiana Guild chose a single hop pale ale. Each brewery chose their hop and brewed their beer based on a recipe created by brewmaster Liz Laughlin of Rock Bottom College Park. Flat12 chose Galaxy as their hop and brewed their beer. It was a smash hit at the festival, and they found themselves replacing their existing Puppet Show Pale Ale for this delightful new brew. It has a tropical fruity aroma that is so nice, it is almost relaxing. Malt shines through in this beer as well, making it a well-balanced brew. 4.00 Mugs.

Jim: I poured beer at the ReplicAle tent at last summer's Indiana Microbrewers Festival, and Gina is correct when she calls Flat12's Walkabout a "smash hit." Above all other ReplicAles, festival attendees were clamoring for this beer. The keg blew quickly, and for good reason. Not only is this beer fairly sessionable at 5.3% ABV, it's brimming with flavor with its mango, passion fruit, and grapefruit attributes. That being said, it doesn't overwhelm your palate, making it a good beer for multiple-pint sittings. I don't know that I'd put Walkabout in the quite the same class as Three Floyds Zombie Dust, but it's pretty close. 4.45 Mugs.

Mike: Grapefruity, biscuity, fuck who needs another goddamn pale ale review. This one is fucking good though. Chewy chewy chewy. I like a little more malt, but I can't fault the beer. 4.00 Mugs.

People's Pilsner
Mike: 4.00 Mugs | Gina: 3.60 Mugs | Jim: 4.00 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.87 Mugs

Flat12 Bierwerks Walkabout Pale Ale
Mike: 4.00 Mugs | Gina: 4.00 Mugs | Jim: 4.45 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 4.15 Mugs

Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Brown Ales

2012-01-17T09:15:00.000-05:00

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps: "I like it. It’s a good beer for everybody. Malty for the malt heads. But hoppy enough for hop heads like me. Did you know that hops and marijuana come from the same family?”

U.S. Women's National Soccer Team goalkeeper Hope Solo: "It's not over the top like me, but it is very drinkable with flavors of slightly bitter coffee, caramel, and malt. I could see myself drinking several after one of my matches, where I am the best goalkeeper ever."

Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford: "This dark brown ale had a nose redolent of bread, flowers, and metal (that’s right—metal). It was heavier in hop character than the brown ales I’ve enjoyed in across the pond, but in my opinion, heavy is good. The flavor was a pleasant combination of caramel, chocolate, and malty sweetness. There’s no question that Barley Island is delivering the goods with this beer. I predict that it will become the rage in craft beer circles."

Danzig frontman Glenn Danzig: "Woooaahahh Dirrrrty Helllllen. She's a deep mahogany devil."

Crown Brewing Crown Brown. One criticism we often get is that we don't focus enough on beers and breweries from northern Indiana. We think this criticism is a fair one. And as it so happens, one of our favorite brown ales in the state comes from the Calumet Region. The most sessionable of our brown ale picks at 4.1% ABV, Crown Brewing's Crown Brown is what a good brown ale should be: roasty, malty, a bit chocolaty and nutty, with a hint of caramel, backed by the mild fruitiness and woodiness of Fuggle hops. This is a beer that you'll be reaching for more than once in a sitting. We'd love to see Crown Brown more widely available on draft here in Indianapolis.

Sun King Naptown Brown. Sun King has become the big macher of central Indiana breweries. So a fair question may be whether they indeed make any beers that qualify as unsung heroes. We think so. The lone India brown ale entry in our brown ale picks, Sun King's Naptown Brown is a seasonal brew released each February by the brewery in honor of Indy's own Naptown Roller Girls. It carries an enticing chocolate and molasses sweetness balanced by an aggressive pine hop presence. I can't speak for my fellow Knights of the Beer Roundtable, but I would love to see this beer become one of Sun King's flagship beers.

Previously:
Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Pale Ales & IPAs
Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Lagers

HBG Six Pack Interview with Shane Welch of Sixpoint Brewing Company

2012-01-16T14:47:00.000-05:00

Next week, Indiana will welcome a new beer company to town from the borough of Brooklyn. I've had the pleasure of having their beer on several occasions in my travels to the East Coast. Sixpoint is a canning operation that currently cans in 16 oz. cans, but they will be launching a 12 oz. "tall boy" can for their newest DIPA called Resin. We reached out to Shane Welch, the president of Sixpoint, for one of our six pack interviews.

1. Who are you and where do you work?

My name is Shane C. Welch, and I am the President and Founder of Sixpoint Brewery in Brooklyn, NYC.

2. Indiana is a great state that is really taking off for craft beer. What about the Indiana market attracted you to begin selling here?

Because the people of Indiana are the type of people I can have a beer with. :-) There is something about the Midwest, particularly the Great Lakes region, that I can instantly identify with. I was born and raised in the Midwest, so these are my roots. I always knew I would one day bring my beer back to the people who helped make it all happen, so it was just a matter of time.

3. How did Sixpoint get to where it is today? Can you tell us a little about its founding and the people behind it? What is the company's mission statement around crafting new beer?

Sixpoint arrived at where it is today through a groundswell of support and innovation from the community and its staff. It's the people that made it happen. Sixpoint is merely a reflection of this collective effort.

I have a history with beer that goes back to when I was two years old (see attached photo). There was always something magical about beer to me, and as a chemistry study it seemed like the perfect application for my knowledge. Therefore, I started homebrewing on the regular while in college. By my junior year, I was completely hooked and brewing several times per week. I eventually decided to drop out of school (my parents were pissed) to pursue brewing full-time. I took up a job at a local homebrew supply store, and eventually landed a position at the Angelic Brewing Company in Madison, WI. I worked there for three years and actually went back to school and completed my degree, then traveled around the world for 9 months and visited over 100 breweries before starting Sixpoint. Sixpoint represents a mashup (no pun intended) of my collective homebrewing experience, my three-year apprenticeship at Angelic Brewing Company, and my visits, experiences, and internships at various breweries around the globe.

Our mission statement around craft beer is we brew to taste, not to style. The inspiration comes through improvisation to us, so there is a lot of feeling and sentiment in what we do. However, we have a solid bedrock of the scientific fundamentals underneath all of this, so that is why we call ourselves the "Mad Scientists."

4. Is Indiana going to be getting your full portfolio of beer? What beers can we look for to start with distribution?

Our full portfolio of beer consists of over 200 varieties, so unfortunately you won't get everything! :-) That said, you will be able to get all four core flavors in draft and cans, as well as the four seasonal beers. You also will have the Spice of Life Series and some of the Mad Scientists Series as well. So you will be launching with at least 10 different offerings to start, with extra treats thrown in for the Indiana Winter Beer Fest. :-)

5. Sixpoint is a canning operation. 16 oz. cans is how most of your beers are being released to the public. Can you talk a little bit about the decision to do some cans (Resin at least) in 12 oz. tallboy format?

The primary reason is to provide value to the customer and keep the price reasonable. A 4-pack of 16 oz. double IPAs is going to be running over $10 for sure in most markets, and up to $13-15 in Manhattan where there are outrageous markups at the retail level. But that is not the most important reason why. We are doing this because we believe for too long, "big" beers (meaning high gravity beers, or high "potency" beers with a lot of IBUs and ABV) are in too large of a format. Let's say you get home one evening and you crack open a 22 oz. bottle of a really strong double IPA. It may taste great after the first few sips, but after 12 ounces of beer it really starts to warm up and you might be ready to move on to a different style. At that point though, you still have 10 oz. of beer to burn through. We feel it's better to have the option to savor a smaller amount of a complex beer than be forced to finish a higher quantity in one sitting. After all - does anyone ever pour a 22 oz. draft of double IPA at a bar? No, of course not. As a matter of fact, they usually pour you less than the standard 16 oz. A more complex, flavorful brew is often enjoyed best when it's savored. That is why we wanted to offer this beer in a 12 oz. format instead of the typical 16 oz. We feel it's the appropriate amount of liquid to enjoy in a session. And most important, if you wanted 22 oz. of it, well you can just open up another 12 oz.! :-) Also, sometimes it's fun to try 3 different beers in one evening. That's pretty hard to do when you are talking about drinking three 22 oz. bombers of beers like double IPA. That's the equivalent of drinking an entire 12-pack of regular beer. Last, and this is an important consideration for folks who live in NYC, Philly, Boston, Washington DC, etc. - or anyone who has a small apartment or home really - its simply better to have a tall slim can. It's smart design - like building skyscrapers in your fridge. The narrower width and taller height allows you to make more efficient use of your limited refrigerator space. This way, you can fit more beer more efficiently into the same footprint of space. Easier for beer trades too! :-) Just sayin.' For these four main reasons we have opted for the 12 oz. tallboy for this release.

6. What else should a craft beer drinker that is new to Sixpoint know about beer? What beers are your favorites that Sixpoint produces? Any epic failures that just didn't do well when first rolled out or in R&D?

I could probably write a whole book about epic failures. Luckily, when you people trust you, or more importantly, they trust your intentions, they are willing to forgive when you don't quite hit the bullseye on the first go-around. Many of our epic failures are actually operational rather than beer recipes that didn't turn out right. Like the time we decided to dry hop a batch of double IPA with four large sacks of hops (about 30 lbs. in a 15bbl batch). Of course, the hop bags clogged the drain port and the beer was completely stuck in the tank with no way of getting out. Haha. Then there is the time I had the brilliant idea of doing a Carob Porter. Carob is great because it's the hippie chocolate, right? Yeah, except when you boil it down into the kettle it turns into a thick tar, and this sludge clogs all of your centrifugal pumps and burns the motor out. LOL. Smells like burning!

I don't know if I have any favorite, as it changes throughout the season. Be on the lookout for a very special sour, spontaneously fermented beer we did recently. It's really quite tart and refreshing. Very cool.

And of course, we have a ton of stuff in the pipeline as per our tradition of being the Mad Scientists...so we'll always be keeping it fresh, with the strong core portfolio.

Cheers!

☮ ☮ ☮ ☮ ☮ ☮
Shane C. Welch
President
Sixpoint - Brooklyn - NYC 11231

We really appreciate the time Shane has taken to answer our questions. I also find it of note that Sixpoint's price point will be in the neighborhood of $8.99 for their four pack offerings here in Indiana.

Reader Email - Beer Prices in Indianapolis

2012-01-13T15:00:00.000-05:00

From our inbox:

Hoosier Beer Geek,

I was recently transferred to Indianapolis by my company, and I've found an incredible amount of value out of your website. This has been just a tremendous resource for someone from California that knows no one here in the city. I hope you keep up the great work, and I am looking forward to attending one of yours events that I've read about on your website.

Here is my question for you, and maybe you can't answer it. I work for (Name Deleted) and Indianapolis is the seventh city I've lived in in just under ten years, including my college days in Arizona. I've lived in Tampa, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tempe, Cleveland, and now Indianapolis. Why is Indianapolis the most expensive city I've ever been in for beer? The price of living here is the lowest I've seen outside of Cleveland, but when I go to the bars the drinks are $6, $7, and $8 dollars for a pint of local beer. The beer prices in the liquor stores are even worse - six packs all over $10 and four packs of pale ale for $12. This is not what I've experienced around the country. In Charlotte it would be downright shocking to see a six pack over $10 dollars. I am certainly not knocking the quality, but the price point is a good 15-30% markup in comparison to the other cities I've recently lived in.

Any ideas?

Thank you again and keep up the fantastic work!

Brad

Do we have any ideas? Well, we're not sure we completely agree with Brad's assessment of local beer prices - in an email conversation Matt noted that on a recent trip to a Chicago liquor store, most beer was priced at 50 cents to $1 more than what we pay in Indianapolis. Gina and I regularly shop in the St. Louis area, and liquor store prices there seem to be generally in line with what they are here, apart from the occasional craft import. As for pub prices? In conversation we thought that perhaps they're a little higher here than elsewhere.

So we'll open it up to our readers. What's your impression of beer prices in Indianapolis versus everywhere else you've been? Leave a comment.

Random Beer Roundup - The Freaky Friday Edition

2012-01-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

Hoosier Beer Calendar

Events are subject to change

From the Brewers

From Bob at Flat12 Bierwerks in Indianapolis:

Flat12 Bierwerks, a craft brewery that opened January 2, 2011, is celebrating its 1st Anniversary on Saturday, the 14th of January. The brewery will tap a special brew called “Winter Cycle”, a Double IPA that comes in at 9.2 ABV/107 IBU.

In addition to the tapping on Saturday, the brewery will hold a cookout, featuring local food, live music and special surprises throughout the day. In the run-up to the Saturday event, Head Brewer Rob Caputo and his staff plan to offer a variety of specialty and barrel-aged beers in the tasting room on Thursday and Friday.

From Skip at Fountain Square Brewing Co. in Fountain Square:

We're having our Grand Opening Luau on January 21st. from 7pm to 10pm.
The time has finally come for our grand opening. We've had a month or so to get our feet wet (sometimes literally) and have had some time to brew a few great seasonals in addition to our house lineup. So now its time to celebrate and we would love to have our community of friends and those new to Fountain Square Brewery to join us for our Winter Luau. Come dressed for the heat and maybe you'll win a marginally valuable prize! Oh, and there will also be some great Island eats and music!

From John at Half Moon Brewery in Kokomo:

We are releasing an Oatmeal Stout on Thurs., Jan. 12. Brief descriptionis below:

Half Moon’s Oatmeal Stout is a full flavored and full bodied beer.It has a smooth, creamy, rich roasted malt character with notes of coffee,chocolate, and caramel. A meal in a mug and this one is delicious!

O.G.=1.064 ABV=6.5% IBU=27

From Ryan at Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis:

Join us at Thr3e Wise Men on Tuesday January 17th for our first tapping party of the new year!! We will be tapping our Lombardi’s Super Baltic Porter! The tapping party starts at 6pm and Omar will be giving out some samples of this new beer. We will have $3.50 pints and $8 growler fills of this tasty beer that evening as well.

From Mike at Triton Brewing Co. in Lawrence:

We have 2 specialties on in the tasting room: Sin Bin Ale and Muletide Raspberry Bourbon Stout. Tapping Sweet Georgia Brown, a sweet coffee brown ale 1/18 at 5pm.

Guest Taps:

Stone 11-11-11

Founders Dirty Bastard

Rogue Hazelnut Brown

Alltech Kentucky Bourbon

Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard

Bell's Sparkling Ale

Upland Winter Warmer

At Bars and Restaurants
From Jordan at Beer Sellar in Castleton:

New Drafts as of 1/12/12

Rogue Double Chocolate Stout

Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf

Triton Deadeye Stout

Fountain Square Winter Warmer

Founders Red's Rye

Brooklyn The Companion

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Kasteel Rouge

Sam Adams Lat. 48

Bell's Hopslam Tapped 1/14/12

New Bottles

Founders Imperial Stout

Goose Island BCBS

Goose Island King Henry

Sam Adams The Vixen

Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11

Events

Feburary 1st Super Bell's Party 5 pm

Tap List for the event

Amber
Best Brown
Black Note
Double Cream Stout
Expo Stout
Harry Mag Spiced Stout
Hell Hath No Fury
Hopslam
Java Stout
Kalamazoo Stout
Lager
Oarsmen
Porter
Quinannan Falls
Raspberry Ale
Rye Stout
Sparkling
Third Coast Beer
Two Hearted
Winter White

A Firkin of Hopslam

From Jon at La Margarita in Fountain Square:

On Tap as of Thursday (1/12/12):

- Urthel Samaranth

- Founders Centennial IPA

- Flat 12 Half Cycle

- Fountain Square Blonde

- Fountain Square Amber

New bottles in our continous conquering of a well-rounded bottle list:

- Victory HopDevil Ale

- Great Divide Nomad Pilsner

- Founders Double Trouble Imperial IPA

- Founders Porter & Dirty Bastard

- Rogue Mocha Porter

- Ommegang Witte

- Orval

- Unibroue Maudite

- Three Floyds Pride & Joy

From Stewart at MacNiven's on Mass Ave in Indianapolis:

MacNiven's Restaurant & Bar Proudly Announces that we will become a Non-Smoking Establishment beginning this Monday, January 16th.

From Patrick at Patrick's Kitchen in Zionsville:

ON DRAFT

Flat 12 Porter Pint
Boulder’s Hazed and Infused IPA 12oz
Schmaltz Brewing Lenny’s Rye IPA 12oz 10%abv
Two Brother’s Resistance IPA Pint
(Coming Soon North Coast Pranqster)
Boulder Cold Hop British Style Ale Pint 6.3%abv.
Bell’s Amber Ale Pint
Gone Soon! Harpoon Leviathan Double IPA 12 oz 10% abv.
Saison Dupont Farmhouse Ale 12oz 8.5%abv.
People’s Brewing (Lafayette) Mr. Brown Ale Pint
Three Floyd’s Arctic Panzer Wolf IPA 12oz (no samples please)

BOTTLES
Schlafly Kolsch
North Coast Brother Thelonius (an Abbey style Ale) (very potent, watch out)
Dark Horse Boffo Brown Ale
Spaten Optimator A nice Dopplebock
Duvel—the classic Belgian Golden Ale
Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
Victory Brewing Golden Monkey (Belgian style triple)9.5% abv.

WHEAT BEERS
Celis White a Belgian style wit
North Coast Blue Star Wheat

From Eddie at Sahm's Place in Indianapolis:

I have our Trivia opening night on January 17th and will be featuring 4 Bells taps including HopSlam and Winter White.

Also we have a new Thursday Night Craft Night which will feature $3.50 Craft Pints and $3.50 Craft Bottles and Cans (this totals over 20 craft selections).

From Ryan at Scotty's Brewhouse in Various Locations:

Make sure to stop by any of our 5 Scotty’s Brewhouse locations around the state starting on Monday January 16th for our launch new beer list! We have a great lineup for you! Scotty’s Brewhouse Muncie now has Upland Double Dragonfly on tap! Come on by and enjoy a pint of this great beer on a Thursday evening for $3.50.

Scotty’s Brewhouse Bloomington will start pouring Spaten Optimator on Monday January 16th! Join us on Wednesday evenings for a $9 48oz Pitcher of this great beer.

Scotty’s Brewhouse West Lafayette has now tapped Stone Ruination IPA! Come on by any day of the week and get this very delicious beer from Stone for $7 a pint!

Scotty’s Brewhouse Northside Indianapolis & Downtown Indianapolis will start pouring Founders Double Trouble on Monday January 16th! Come get this amazing beer from Founders every day of the week for $6.50 a pint!

From Adam at Trion Tavern in New Haven:

Bell's HOPSLAM release party: Friday, January 13th at 7pm
Special, one-night pricing:
10.5oz pours for only $3
Carry-out 6-packs for only $15.99 (while supplies last, limit 1 per customer)

Latest beers on tap:Bell's Hopslam (Friday at 7pm)
Upland Teddy Bear Kisses
Flat12 Upside Down BlondMad Anthony Snowplowed Winter AleWells & Young's Banana Bread BeerSouthern Tier old man Winter Ale
North Coast Pranqster
Boulevard Tank 7
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA

On Deck (kegs are in-house and will be tapped any day...as soon as a handle opens up)
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti
Great Divide Old Ruffian
Ommegang Abbey Ale

Use our Interactive Daily Tap List to check out the rest of the 58 beers we have on tap.

For Carry-Out
From Josh at Payless Liquors on SR 135 in Greenwood:

Now in stock-

Bell's Hopslam

Founders Double Trouble

Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA

Upland Teddy Bear Kisses

Hanssens Oude Gueuze

Three Floyds Black Sun Stout

New Belgium Lips of Faith Fresh Hop IPA

Morland Old Crafty Hen

Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti

From the Distributors
From Jen at Cavalier Distribution

NEW IN THE CAVALIER WAREHOUSE
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti - Stout aged on Oak Chips with Coffee Added; limited seasonal release; 22oz bottles and draft

Great Divide Old Ruffian - Hoppy Barley Wine; limited seasonal release; 22oz bottles and draft

Great Divide Nomad - Bohemian Pilsner; New Jan- Mar seasonal realease; 6 packs and draft

Founders Double Trouble - Imperial IPA; seasonal release; 4 packs and draft

Southern Star Bombshell Blond - American Blond Ale; everyday offering; 6 pack cans only

Southern Star Buried Hatchet Stout - Strong American Stout; everyday offering; 4 pack cans only

New Planet Gluten Free Brews; Off the Grid Pale, 3R Raspberry Ale, and Tread Lightly Ale; everyday offering; 4 pack bottles only

Finch's Brewing Golden Wing Pale Ale - American Pale Ale; everyday offering; 4 pack cans and draft

Finch's Brewing Cut Throat Pale Ale - American Pale Ale; everyday offering; 4 pack cans and draft

UPCOMING EVENTS
1/13 - WiseGuys Merrillville New Planet Gluten Free Tasting; 5pm-7pm

1/18 - Chalet #7 Craft Beer Tasting ; Elkhart; 4pm-6pm

1/19 - Chalet #3 Craft Beer Tasting; Elkhart; 4pm-6pm

1/31 - Binkley's Founders Super Bowl Beer Dinner ; Tuesday, 6:30pm ; $75, SOLD OUT

2/7 - Birdy's Monthy Beer tasting; 6pm-8pm; $10

Hoosier Beer Geek Classics - KOTBR #6: Bell's Hopslam Ale

2012-01-12T09:28:00.004-05:00

One of the more common requests we get from our readers is that we give more advance warning when new and limited beer are about to hit store shelves. In many cases, you know when we do (in the Random Beer Roundup), but in the case of this year's Hopslam release, it's through twitter where we're hearing that today is the day. Not all local liquor stores will have the beer - depending on delivery schedules it could arrive as late as next Wednesday - but here's a little advance warning, with the rerunning of KOTBR #6, from way back in November of 2006.

A word of warning for those who don't know - Deano's is no longer open.

On Thursday, the Knights of the Beer Roundtable convened at what has become one of my very favorite new haunts - Deano's Vino Restaurant & Wine Bar, located by the fountain in Fountain Square. For you Naptown Old Skoolers, Deano's is located in the same building that once housed Theater on the Square, and later, Santorini's (before they moved into the larger building further down Prospect Street). The original Deano's Vino was located just the next block south on Virginia Avenue in the old Murphy's building, but now the wine shop is located on Mass Ave. The restaurant & wine bar is a collaboration between Deano (Dean Wilson) and his good friend Chef James Bryant (Jody). For those of you who may be leary about checking out a "wine bar", this place is far from pretentious & haughty. In fact, Deano supports Indiana wine & beer makers, recognizing that not all the good stuff has to come from California. While it is obviously known for it's wine selection, let me tell you, this place has a kick-ass beer selection. I find all of my very favorite beers on their menu, and that covers everything from micros to imports. I can go on about Deano's all night, so obviously, I highly recommend this spot, but I should save some of my raves for my part of the beer review. Let me focus on our choice of beer.

Fellow Knight of the Beer Roundtable, Jim, oberved that we overwhelmingly choose dark beers to rate here on HBG. So he suggested we try something a little different. Furthermore, said Jim, none of us are big fans of really "hoppy" beers, so we probably underrate them, and to compensate, we should choose a really "hoppy" beer and give it a fair rating. In fact, we decided to turn this into a very "hoppy" night, choosing hops for warm-ups and for our beer of rating. After asking for a suggestion, Nick, the Sam Malone of Deano's (pictured on left, with Laura and Deano), recommended we try Bell's newest single batch release that just hit stores last Friday, the Hopslam Ale (also known as the "Bitch Slap Ale", but that's a different story).

Bell's tagline for the Hopslam, an Imperial IPA, is "A biting, bitter, tongue bruiser of an ale. With a name like Hopslam, what did you expect?". With an ABV of 9.3%, you damn well better believe it's a "bruiser", and not just of the tongue! Needless to say, all of us were slammed by the hops.

JASON: (special note* Jason mentions to us the other night that he thinks we should do our reviews in haikus. He's the only one to produce. I hereby challenge him to do ever review for the rest of the year in a haiku!)

So four days later,
my head finally clears up.
Time for beer review.

Beer was named Hopslam.
Should be called Kick in the Nuts
Due to intense brew.

Color was copper.
Head started thick, then thinned out.
Lace was slight but there.

Fruitty scents up front.
Pepper and alcohol next.
Complex but pleasing.

Taste was well balanced.
Hoppy but smooth with slight burn;
Made tongue jump with joy.

Has creamy body.
It is not a chewy beer
Nor is it too thin.

Surprised by this beer.
Double IPA is not
Usual first choice.

But Hopslam is cool,
Made hop fan of this malt guy
With one side effect.

High alcohol with
High drinkability means
Slight brain damage here.

Too much Hopslam means
Four days (and counting) of me
Speaking in Haiku.

Despite annoyance,
I give Hopslam five mugs and
Half of my brain cells.

JIM: The beer menu at Deano’s contains Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote about fine malt beverages: “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” This may be true about all other beers. But when it comes to Bell’s Hopslam Ale, God didn’t just want us to be happy; the Almighty wanted us to be wildly jubilant.

Hopslam is an IPA. For the uninitiated, hops are a type of flower that is added to beer during the brewing process. The hops give beer the floral, citrusy aroma and the sort of bitter “bite” that hits your tongue when you drink it. They’re also used as a preservative to keep beer from getting sour or “skunked.” “IPA” stands for a variety of beer known as India pale ale. India pale ale is a heavily hopped style of beer that British brewers developed in the 1700’s to thwart the spoilage of the beer on long ocean voyages to places such as—you guessed it—India. IPA’s tend to be high in alcohol content and very bitter in taste.

In the past, I wouldn’t have gone for a heavily hopped beer like Hopslam. The bitterness used to get to me, so I would gravitate toward dark, malty beers, which tend to have little bitterness. But lately, I’ve been trying to diversify my beer sampling and have put a hold on malty beers in favor of hoppy beers. In that process, I’ve managed to become attached to Three Floyds’ Pride and Joy, which is a nice, dry ale with a citrusy nose and finish.

So when I arrived at Deano’s, what did I warm up with? A Pride and Joy, which turned out to be the perfect prelude to the Hopslam because the two beers are made from roughly the same mold. However, the Hopslam is much more complex and, at 9.3% alcohol by volume, much more powerful than Pride and Joy.

Nick brought out snifters for the Hopslam, which was appropriate for a beer of this potency because it’s meant to be sipped, not chugged. The nose on the Hopslam was a hybrid of citrus and peaches. In fact, the peach aroma was prevalent. Imagine the richest peach cobbler that you’ve ever had and you get the idea of the aroma. Upon my first sip, I was very surprised to find that, while hoppy, Hopslam was not overwhelming. The heavy hops were nicely balanced with a pleasant sweetness, which seemed to take the edge off of the bitterness that most hoppy beers provide. As might be expected, the flavor was rich in peach and citrus notes. After my second sip, I knew I was in love with this beer. I proclaimed to Chris that this was the best beer we had reviewed—even better than my previous favorite, Brugge Brasserie’s The Black.

A word about the buzz (I can’t go without discussing the buzz)—this is a take-it-slow beer. If you go too quickly with the Hopslam, you could find yourself to be “one hurtin’ tater” as my kinfolk like to say. But if you take your time, Hopslam will put a wide grin on your face and a cheerful mood in your heart. Whether it was the people that we met at Deano’s, the fine hospitality shown by the restaurant’s staff, or the beer itself, I can easily say that this was the best time that we’ve had reviewing a beer so far.

My rating: Five mugs. Yes, I said it – five mugs. This is only the second perfect beer that I’ve ever had (the first being North Coast’s Old Rasputin Imperial Stout). I’m happy that I can now consider two beers to be perfect instead of just one.

CHRIS: The label of Bell's new beer Hopslam shows three giant hops crushing a dude like the house falling on the Wicked Witch. Ladies and gentlemen, this label is a forshadowing of things to come for you if you drink this beer. In perfect French, it will tap a keg of whupass on you! And it did it to me. And I'm a big boy. Hopslam has an ABV of 9.3%, and I think Larry Bell may be fibbing about that just a little bit - I think it's a little higher.

Now, let it be said that I'm not a true fan of very hopped up beers. Not that I think they're bad, but I'm just the kind of guy that likes my beers tall, dark, and malty. So I was very leary to try a beer proclaimed as "Hopslam". But Jim is talking us into being diverse in our reviews, so I played along. And I'm glad I did. This is really a good beer.

It has a very rusted look to it - what I jokingly call "lite" beers. But that's where its "lite" ended. As for the nose, I may as well have stuck my sniffer straight up the ass of a Georgia Peach. I think the nose is extremely peachy, almost to a fault - again, not something I'm fond of. But when I took my first sip (because you only sip beers that are 9.3%), my fears and insecurities melted away because the flavors are so well-balanced. The aroma of the peach blends together with the strong hoppiness in a way that takes the punch in the nose away. However, it does still leave a prevalent peach after-taste.

Obviously, with a beer so rich in hops, the beer is a little bitter, and it definitely has a bite. But it's not overwhelming. It's well-carbonated, but not overly done. It's smooth, yet very distinct. And it has a nice moist, medium-bodied taste.

I give this beer 4 Mugs. While I'm working on it, I still can't get over my bias for the dark & malty. But really the only detractor for me with this beer was so many peaches. I think it's definitely a 5 Mugger for any hopheads out there. But 4 Mugs may just be the highest I can ever give really hoppy beers.

As for a word on Deano's, I can't say enough. As someone who spent some time growing up in Fountain Square back in the early 90s, I'm so pleased an establishment like this is located in the heart of Fountain Square, and leading the efforts in its renaissance. The atmosphere is fantastic, the staff are super-friendly and very knowledgeable, the beer list is out of this world, and the food is pretty damn good, too. If you haven't been there yet, I say this is THE essential new restaurant/bar in the 317 to check out. I can promise that many more reviews from the KOTBR will come to you from Deano's.

Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Pale Ales & IPAs

2012-01-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

On January 28, the Brewers of Indiana Guild will stage the fourth annual Winterfest, which will of course feature offerings from Indiana's craft breweries. In honor of Winterfest, we've decided to focus most of our posts this month on Indiana beers.

As part of this focus, we thought it would be a good idea to shine the spotlight on Indiana beers that are overlooked or underrated--the unsung heroes of Indiana craft beer, if you will.

Admittedly, our methods in picking these beers were not scientific. Indeed, some of the beers that we'll talk about have won awards, so calling these beers "unsung heroes" might be a bit of a stretch. Moreover, our list is going to focus on only one beer from each Indiana brewery we discuss, and we may have omitted breweries who brew beers worthy of unsung hero status. So leave us a comment noting any beer that you think should have been included in the list.

In our second installment of this series, we reveal our picks from Indiana's pale ales and IPAs.

Broad Ripple Brewpub Lawnmower Pale Ale. Some craft beer aficionados tend to overlook English-style beers because of their mellow flavor profile. But sometimes, an in-your-face hop bomb simply doesn't suit the occasion. Brewed by the granddaddy of Indiana craft breweries, Broad Ripple Brewpub's Lawnmower Pale Ale is an easy-drinking brew that is admittedly tailor-made for those new to drinking craft beer. But if you're looking something sessionable, flavorful, and subtly citrusy, you cannot go wrong with this beer. Perfect for the pub's patio in the July and August heat.

Flat12 Bierwerks Walkabout Pale Ale. This beer originated at the Indiana Microbrewers Festival last summer as part of the ReplicAle program. Under this program, all participating breweries brewed a single-hop pale ale according to the same recipe, but each brewery chose a different hop. For its ReplicAle, Flat12 chose Galaxy hops, a high-alpha hop from Australia--hence, the name "Walkabout." Walkabout was so well-liked that Flat12 decided to brew it again after Winterfest. You'll undoubtedly be seeing more of it around town. We'll have a more detailed write-up on Walkabout soon because we recently reviewed it at a roundtable. For now, know that the citrus and passion fruit notes of this sessionable beer will leave you craving more. We wouldn't be surprised if this beer becomes a local favorite.

Three Floyds Pride & Joy. You may be wondering why a Three Floyds beer is on a list of underrated beers. Doesn't the brewery get enough attention already? Mike recently enjoyed a Pride & Joy on draft at the Tomlinson Tap Room. He explains why we've included this beer as an unsung hero of Indiana craft beer--

While Three Floyds certainly needs no hype, Pride and Joy seems to be an often overlooked selection from their stellar lineup. It's probably no surprise that if you stick your nose in the general vicinity of the beer, a pungent hop aroma jumps out at you. Despite being a "mild ale", the beer has all the big and bold characteristics you'd expect from Three Floyds, but like Gumballhead or Zombie Dust, it rewards the drinking sip after sip, providing full flavor without ever overwhelming the palate.

Pride and Joy slots in between Alpha King and Gumballhead on the IBU scale, and if you're a fan of Floyds in general, the beer won't let you down. I've heard that the bottled version isn't as great - probably due to traffic/freshness if anything - but on tap it's a beer with very few competitors. If Pride and Joy were the only Floyds beer you knew, it would still be worthy of the throne. It's odd to think that the recipe may be 14 years old, and yet the beer is still unique and sort of aggressively yet agreeably great.

While it's hard to call any Floyds beer underrated, Pride and Joy is surely often-forgotten, despite the fact that it's as good or better than many other breweries' flagship beers.

Mad Anthony IPA. When you think of IPAs from Indiana, Mad Anthony is probably not the first beer that comes to mind. Yet we like this beer quite a bit. We tend to think of Mad Anthony IPA as a "workhorse" IPA--steady, dependable, never disappointing. Indeed, it's probably one of the most well-balanced IPAs produced in the state; it toes the line between malty sweetness and citrusy, bitter hoppiness quite nicely. Take it from us: you should not turn your nose up at this beer.

Oaken Barrel Superfly IPA. A 100+ IBU explosion of citrus and pine hop character supported by a toasty and sweet malt backing. What's not to like about this beer? Along with the brewery's Snake Pit Porter (which also could easily be classified as an unsung craft beer hero), Superfly is our go-to beer when we visit Oaken Barrel. If you dig this beer as much as we do, make sure you get a growler before you leave the pub. We've never reviewed Superfly, but that's going to have to change soon.

Rock Bottom College Park Simcoe IPA. Unfortunately, chain brewpubs sometimes get a bad rap. People automatically assume that if it's corporate, it's not worth having. Definitely not so with Rock Bottom. Among the other beers she brews, Rock Bottom College Park's brewmaster Liz Laughlin has a gem with her Simcoe IPA. Yes, we realize that Simcoe IPA is an award-winning beer, so maybe we're cheating by calling it an "unsung hero." And yes, we realize that the beer is a seasonal beer, so its availability is limited and you probably can't get it right now. But we wanted to emphasize that just because it's corporate doesn't necessarily mean that it's not worth having. In other words, you should order this beer when it's on.

Here's what we had to say when we reviewed Simcoe IPA back in 2010:

Mike: A sweet nose with just a hint of candy grapefruit elements gives way to a middle that's lightly woody, piney, and perfectly balanced. The beer finishes chewy and bitter, but with a subtleness that begs for repeated drinking.

Rod: The first thing that jumps out in this IPA, as with most IPAs, is the strong hop bitterness. Strong bitterness, yet moderate for the style. Caramel and sugary sweetness round off the edges of the hops and a soft carbonation level gives it a creamy mouthfeel. Grapefruit and lemon zest are the most prominent, and probably most expected bitter flavors in this beer. Pine and juniper hints give it a pleasantly spicy compliment.

Gina: One whiff of this IPA and I was in heaven. The super strong nose of pine and grapefruit gave way to a sweet, chewy mouthfeel reminiscent of a Double IPA. This beer was big but the flavors playfully remained balanced. There is a line at which hop flavor goes from complex and flavorful to harsh and bitter and this beer seems to walk right up to that line without crossing it. By the time I finished my sip, I was already looking forward to the next.

Previously: Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Lagers

Unsung Heroes of Indiana Craft Beer - Lagers

2012-01-09T14:39:00.000-05:00

Here's what we had to say about Preservation Pilsner at the time:

Jim: Preservation Pilsner had the classic golden lager hue, biscuity nose, and sweet and grassy finish. It carried a nice hop bite as well, which lent it a good heft that kept it from coming across as watery. All in all, an impressive pilsner, and one that I wouldn't hesitate to stock my fridge with for hot summer days.

Gina:: The beer's lightly citrus aroma led to a bready flavor and finished crisp and dry. This is a fine beer worth revisiting again, preferably outside when it's hot...maybe with some barbecue.

Chris: Count me among those who generally aren't too keen on beers made with lager yeast. I'll admit that's a broad stroke, but I find the wide range of flavors produced by ale yeasts much more interesting. Given my prejudice, Upland Preservation Pilsner had a hill to climb. I have to say, though, this is one mighty fine pilsner. Crystal clear, bready and crisp with a dose of grassy hops, this is a beer that can really quench your thirst . . . .

You can drink Preservation Pilsner with a good conscience as well because the brewery donates 10% of the profits from the sale of the beer to environmental causes.

As for People's Pilsner, we met for a roundtable last week in which we reviewed this spicy Dortmunder-style pilsner, so our complete thoughts on the beer are forthcoming. Suffice it to say for now that like Upland's pilsner, People's Pilsner is among the best Indiana lagers out there. Indeed, this beer makes us feel lucky that the good folks at People's make this beer fairly-widely available in Indianapolis.

Random Beer Roundup - The Epiphany Edition

2012-01-06T08:58:00.000-05:00

Hoosier Beer Calendar

Events are subject to change

From the Brewers

From Bob at Flat12 Bierwerks in Indianapolis:

Flat12 Bierwerks, a craft brewery that opened January 2, 2011, is celebrating its 1st Anniversary on Saturday, the 14th of January. The brewery will tap a special brew called “Winter Cycle”, a Double IPA that comes in at 9.2 ABV/107 IBU.

In addition to the tapping on Saturday, the brewery will hold a cookout, featuring local food, live music and special surprises throughout the day. In the run-up to the Saturday event, Head Brewer Rob Caputo and his staff plan to offer a variety of specialty and barrel-aged beers in the tasting room on Thursday and Friday

From Skip at Fountain Square Brewing Co. in Fountain Square:

On January 6^th, First Friday in Fountain Square, we will be tapping our Winter Warmer. A perfect beer for the time of year. A dark ale with caramel notes along with a touch of nutmeg and a hint of raspberry. Deep ruby in color with a tan head, at 6.5% ABV this brew is sure to melt your snowballs.

We're having our Grand Opening Luau on January 21st. from 7pm to 10pm.
The time has finally come for our grand opening. We've had a month or so to get our feet wet (sometimes literally) and have had some time to brew a few great seasonals in addition to our house lineup. So now its time to celebrate and we would love to have our community of friends and those new to Fountain Square Brewery to join us for our Winter Luau. Come dressed for the heat and maybe you'll win a marginally valuable prize! Oh, and there will also be some great Island eats and music!

From Ryan at Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis:

Come by Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company and enjoy our newest Seasonal creation, King Solomon’s Imperial Stout! You can get it for $3.00 a pint every Wednesday. Also to give all of you beer lovers a heads up, we will be tapping our next seasonal on Tuesday January 17^th. It will be the Lombardi’s Super Baltic Porter.

At Bars and Restaurants
From Jon at La Margarita in Fountain Square:

Sunday, January 8th, we are hosting the Fountain Square Pinball Classic, a day long pinball tournament, with fajitas and craft beer, starting at 10 a.m., lasting until we crown a champion.

To compete, call (317) 431-4976 for more details. Entry cost is $43, and includes tourney entry, food, pint glass, beer. Prizes will be awarded. To eat, play pinball machines on free play, and drink beer, that cost is $25, and can be paid at the door.

Fountain Square will be the featured brewery. And we will be offering their entire current beer list. We anticipate over 10 machines, as well as a slew of Top 100 pinball players in the world.

Also, tap list as of Friday:

Flat 12 Half Cycle

Urthel Samaranth Quadrupel

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

People's Pilsner

Sun King Sink the Clipper

Fountain Square Porter

From Stewart at MacNiven's on Mass Ave in Indianapolis:

New on tap...

Victory Storm King Imperial Stout

People's Brewing Procrastinator Helles Bock

Also, still have...

Goose Island Christmas Ale

Sun King Sink The Clipper Imperial ESB

From Patrick at Patrick's Kitchen in Zionsville:

Happy New Year!

Here at Patrick's Kitchen we have expanded our offerings on tap from 5 to 10 choices, and I can't hardly keep up with what we offer these days. I can tell you that we are pouring Flat 12 Porter, Sun King Cream Ale and SK Sink the Clipper Imperial ESB, Two Brothers Resistance IPA, People's Mr. Brown Ale, Saison Dupont Farmhouse, boulevard Tank7, oh yeah, and a bit of Leviathan has found it's way to us, but I believe it will blow tonite....Schmaltz's Lenny's RIPA has been pretty tasty as well.

From Ryan at Scotty's Brewhouse in Various Locations:

Scotty’s Brewhouse Bloomington now has Bloomington Brewing Company’s Java Porter on tap! Come by on a Thursday night and enjoy a pint of this amazing porter for only $3.50!

Scotty’s Brewhouse Downtown is now serving Widmer Brothers Pitch Black IPA! Come by on a Wednesday evening and get this delicious beers or one of our other craft beers for only $9 for a 48oz pitcher.

Stop by Scotty’s Lakehouse to try the newest beer on tap, Flat 12 Pouges Run Porter. You can get 24oz of this amazing beer on Thursday night for only $4.00!

From Adam at Trion Tavern in New Haven:

Latest beers on tap:Ommegang Seduction3 Floyds Black Sun Upland's Double DragonflyNew Belgium's Prickly Passion Saison (Lips of Faith series)Southern Tiers's krampusConey Island Albino PythonNew Belgium's Snow Day Winter Ale

On Deck (kegs are in-house and will be tapped any day...as soon as a handle opens up)Upland Teddy Bear KissesFlat12 Upside Down BlondMad Anthony Snowplowed Winter AleSouthern Tier old man Winter Alenorth Coast PranqsterBoulevard Tank 7Ommegang Abbey Ale

Use our Interactive Daily Tap List to check out the rest of the 58 beers we have on tap.

A Beer Weekend In Indianapolis

2012-01-03T08:00:00.004-05:00

2012 will be a big year for events in the city of Indianapolis, and with that in mind we've put together the following guide for those visitors who might want to spend their time in the circle city the way we would - with a beer in their hand. Welcome to a Beer Weekend in Indianapolis.

Friday
5 p.m.
Begin in the Basement

Opened in 2007, Chris and Molly Eley's Goose the Market (2503 North Delaware, (317) 924-4944) quickly became a hub in Indianapolis' growing gourmet and local food movement. In June of 2010 they opened up their basement space to create the Enoteca, "a casual place to drink wine" (and beer), featuring six ready-to-drink beer choices, as well as anything from the well-selected varieties on their store shelves. While the beer selection is nothing to blink at, it's the Enoteca's food that's the star. With selections such as duck rillette, terrine, charcuterie, or one of their highly-regarded sandwiches, there's something adventurous and tasty waiting for you.

6:30 p.m.
Welcome to ~~Broad Ripple~~ Meridian-Kessler

With a focus on local and regional beer selections - "(beer from) the people that I know" - Broad Ripple Brewpub brewer Kevin Matalucci's Twenty Tap (5408 North College Avenue, (317) 602-8840) is one of your best bets for getting a taste of beer from all over the state. It's worth noting that Twenty Tap offers half-pours of any of their beer selections, allowing patrons to moderate their sampling. Chef Rob Coates keeps a menu of expected bar food favorites interesting and upsale, yet remarkably affordable. The vegan bahn mi sandwich is a Hoosier Beer Geek favorite.

8:00 p.m.
But if you want to try Kevin Matalucci's beer...

Despite owning Twenty Tap, Kevin Matalucci still holds down a regular job as a brewer at the Broad Ripple Brewpub (842 East 65th Street, (317) 253-2739). English expatriate John Hill opened the brewpub in 1990, in an effort to bring an authentic English pub experience to Indianapolis. He did more than that, launching the careers of more than one Indiana brewer, and creating an Indiana craft beer monument. Matalucci's English-style ales and an extensive menu help complete the effort. Order whatever is on the hand-pull.

9:30 p.m.
Belgium by way of Broad Ripple

As further proof of the influence of John Hill and the Broad Ripple Brewpub, stop in at Ted Miller (and his wife Shannon Stone's) Brugge Brasserie (1011a East Westfield Boulevard, (317) 255-0978). Miller began his brewing career at the Brewpub before traveling the world, and ultimately returned home to open this Belgian-style Gastropub. Ask your server if there are any sours on tap, and be sure to order the frites (fries), which are among Indianapolis' best.

11:00 p.m.
Topping off

When restaurateur Scott Wise finally got around to opening a brewery to support his local chain of Scotty's Brewhouse restaurants, he wasn't quite prepared for the success of his beer sales directly from his brewpub. Thr3e Wise Men (1021 Broad Ripple Avenue, (317) 255-5151) is that brewpub, and remains the only Wise-owned restaurant to carry his beer. Brewer Omar Castrellon puts his 20+ years of brewing experience to practice brewing styles that live up to Wise's vision. The pizza will come in handy after a full day of drinking.

Saturday
10 a.m.
Wake Up!

Still with us? After yesterday's effort you'll probably want to wait until noon before you start drinking again. Start your day at Good Morning Mama's Cafe (1001 East 54th Street, (317) 255-3800) a former filling station turned breakfast stop. There's a menu full of the breakfast classics, as well as the Hoosier Loco Moco, a sort of KFC Famous Bowl of breakfast foods, featuring rice, cheesy grits or potatoes, an egg, a beef, sausage, or spam patty, with a biscuit top, all covered in gravy, all for just $7.99. I don't order that, but it's an option.

11:30 a.m.
Say Hi to a Farmer, and Get Drinking

Indianapolis' City Market (222 East Market Street) has gone through many changes over its recent history, but finally seems to have hit its stride with the additions of a Saturday farmer's market and the Tomlinson Tap Room (upstairs in the main hall, west wall). The former can provide produce or baked goods for snacking along the route today, while the latter can get you started on drinking by providing a full list of beer from Indiana's breweries. Partially owned by the Brewers of Indiana Guild, Tom Tap often features Indiana's harder-to-find craft beer selections. Keep an eye out for something from Three Floyds. If you're hungry, check out Papa Roux on the lower level for a po' boy.

1:00 p.m.
A Rainbow of Beer Flavors

Now that you're back to drinking, your first brewery stop today should be at Flat12 Bierworks (414 North Dorman Street, (317) 635-2337). Since opening in 2010, Flat12 has gained a dedicated local following for their "tradition with a twist" approach, leading to a myriad of variations of their house lineup, as well as an adventurous attitude towards their specialty beers.

2:00
Heavy Medals

A short trek southwest brings you to Sun King Brewing Company (135 North College Avenue, (317) 602-3702) where - if you get there in time - you can catch a 2 p.m. brewery tour. Sun King recently made big waves in craft beer community, capturing eight medals at the Great American Beer Festival, and showing the country what Hoosiers already knew: Indiana makes great beer.

3:30
Hidden in Plain Sight

After your tour, head north on College and then north east on Massachusetts Avenue (Mass Ave to locals), where you'll be spending the rest of your day. Just before the road turns north, you'll run into Black Market 922 Massachusetts Avenue (317) 822-6757) - but only if you know where to look. Cross the sidewalk, find a parking spot, and step into one of Indy's best restaurant spaces. The food lives up to the space, with locally-sourced selections that put a modern spin on traditional Hoosier favorites.

5:00
Drink your way down Mass Ave

The following list of Mass Ave establishments provides a little something for everyone, so you can pick and choose who suits you best as you work your way back towards downtown from Black Market.

Best Chocolate in Town (880 Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 636-2800): Yes, this is a chocolate shop. But this chocolate shop offers truffles made with Sun King's Wee Mac. Definitely worth a visit.

Mass Ave Pub (745 Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 974-0745, smoking permitted): Smokers in your group will appreciate the fact that they can enjoy a pint and a cigarette in this locally owned neighborhood pub. A surprisingly deep selection of craft beer rounds out the experience.

Chatham Tap (719 Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 917-8425): Like soccer? We do. Chatham Tap is the default choice for fans wishing to catch a bit of English Premier League action. That tap list follows format, with the standard English selections, as well as local taps and a nice bottle list.

The Flying Cupcake (715 East Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 536-0817): No beer here, just a cooler full of cupcakes to satisfy your beer-drinking sweet tooth.

Yats (659 Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 686-6380): An Indianapolis cheap food institution, Yats provides diners with a plate of something saucy and cajun in a pile of rice. Chili cheese etouffee, anyone?

The Rathskeller (401 East Michigan Street, (317) 636-0396): If you're the German beer-hall type, Rathskeller is your Indianapolis answer. A full selection of German-made styles await you, as well as a sausage-heavy menu that fits the atmosphere.

Chatterbox Jazz Club (435 Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 636-0584, smoking permitted): The Chatterbox Jazz Club - a Mass Ave original - is the divey-est of dive bars, with a legendarily dusty interior, the most interesting stage carpet that ever existed, and bathrooms that are either scary or entertaining, depending on your outlook. Your best drink option is probably Sun King in a can. But what an atmosphere!

Old Point Tavern (401 Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 634-8943, smoking permitted): Something about Old Point is just plain cool. Maybe it's the wedge shaped building, or the girl dancing on the sidewalk outside, or perhaps even the extensive beer menu. In any case, the cozy confines provide plenty of entertainment.

MacNiven's (339 Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 632-7268, smoking permitted): You might be thinking that a place named MacNiven's is an Irish pub. You'd be wrong: MacNiven's is a Scottish/American Pub. It also features one of Indianapolis' most extensive beer lists, regular and rare tappings from the likes of Sun King, Bell's, and Three Floyds. And I haven't even mentioned the giant folded cheeseburger and the awesome haggis!

Ball & Biscuit (331 Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 636-0539): Perhaps the most polished of all the Mass Ave bars is Ball & Biscuit, a cocktail lounge with a very solid beer lineup. The cozy spaces are made even more comfortable by the lack of televisions. This is a bar built for conversation.

Bazbeaux (333 Massachusetts Avenue, (317) 636-7662): Once again we end the night with pizza - this time from an Indianapolis institution that provides a full selection of craft bottles to keep you on even keel. They have taps now; some are craft. Opened since 1989.

Sunday
10:00 a.m.

Act like a tourist, finally.

If you've survived two straight days of drinking, today's the day to catch a few easy local tourist areas. At the center of Indianapolis lies the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (1 Monument Circle), perhaps best known as the only part of Indianapolis they show during national football telecasts. If you manage to make it up to the viewing deck, keep in mind that Hoosier Beer Geek's own Jason Larrison is the architect responsible for those vertical windows you're looking out of.

A bit north of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument lies the Indiana War Memorial (431 East Meridian Street) perhaps best known for this), the American Legion Mall, and the Central Library (40 East St. Clair Street). While I wouldn't normally recommend a library for tourists, ours features one of the best views of the city, as well as a pretty impressive interior.

Lastly, a visit to Indianapolis wouldn't be complete without a stop to Maxine's Chicken and Waffles (132 North East Street, (317) 423-3300) for a stomach full of fried chicken goodness for the drive home. A word of warning, though - show up early and beat the church crowd.

* * * * *

Indianapolis cab companies: All this drinking calls for either a designated driver or the services of a cab driver. To be honest, Indianapolis' cab companies don't have the best reputation, but they are still, in many cases, your best option.

Yellow Cab: (317) 487-7777
Blue Line Cab: (317) 444-1444
Prompt Cab: (317) 927-7070
Freedom Cab: (317) 244-4448

* * * * *

Of course this isn't all Indianapolis has to offer - you might also want to check out our Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Fountain Square.

Open Thread: What was your Beer of the Year?

2011-12-30T15:11:00.006-05:00

So after working through every beer we tried in 2011, we made our choice. There were plenty of great options in 2011, with new breweries popping up left and right, as well as new, old, rare, and common selections filling liquor store shelves throughout Indiana. You may have filled out our survey, but we didn't break it down to a beer-by-beer level.

So now we'd like to hear from you. What was your favorite beer in 2011? Leave a comment, and have a happy New Year.

Random Beer Roundup - The Good Riddance 2011 Edition

2011-12-30T09:10:00.003-05:00

Hoosier Beer Calendar

Events are subject to change

From the Brewers

From Skip at Fountain Square Brewing Co. in Fountain Square:

On January 6^th, First Friday in Fountain Square, we will be tapping our Winter Warmer. A perfect beer for the time of year. A dark ale with caramel notes along with a touch of nutmeg and a hint of raspberry. Deep ruby in color with a tan head, at 6.5% ABV this brew is sure to melt your snowballs.

From Clay at Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis:

The end of the year is upon us and we're busy getting things in order for the Super Bowl. In the last month we've added 2 new 90 barrel fermenters and 1 new 90 barrel bright tank in order to increase our capacity for the big game and keep up with the growing demand for Fresh•Local•Beer. We're thankful for all of the support we've received and are looking forward to the new year! We've got some great stuff planned and new beers in the works, so stick with us because it's going to be a fun 2012, starting with the Local Underground Tent Party we're hosting in our South Parking Lot with the Big Green Bistro and our friends at Nuvo, WTTS, Kolman Dental, The Naked Monkey and IOPO (Indiana Organ Procurement Organization) spanning the 11 days leading up to the Super Bowl. More details to come...
Have a safe and happy New Year!

From Ryan at Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis:

Thr3e Wise Men will be bringing in the New Year with a New Year’s Eve Tapping Party!! We will be tapping our King Solomon’s Imperial Stout at 10pm on December 31^st! Stop by and enjoy a beer toast to bring in the New Year!!

From Mike at Triton Brewery in Lawrence:

This weekend Trion still has Muletide Raspberry Bourbon Stout on tap. 8oz pours only. Wed 1/4 5pm we are tapping our Sin Bin Belgian Pale Ale which is the official craft beer of the Indiana Ice. It is a 6.2% beauty that will only be available in the Triton tasting room and at Pepsi Coliseum.

Guest Taps:

Stone 11-11-11
Founders Dirty Bastard
Founders Breakfast Stout
Alltech Kentucky Bourbon Ale
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard
Bell's Sparkling Ale
Upland Winter Warmer
Oaken Barrel Razz Wheat

On Deck:

Victory Hop Wallop
Rogue Hazelnut Brown
Boulevard Tank 7 Saison

At Bars and Restaurants
From Jordan at Beer Sellar in Castleton:

SUPER BELL'S PARTY FEB. 1ST

20 BELL'S BREWERY TAPS AND A CASK.

TAP LIST COMING SOON.

From Jon at La Margarita in Fountain Square:

The draft list as of this Friday:

Sun King Sink the Clipper

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Founders Centennial IPA

People's Pilsner

Fountain Square Porter

Ommegang Three Philosophers

Also, we will be open for New Year's Eve, until 3 a.m.

From Ryan at Scotty's Brewhouse in Various Locations:

Scotty’s Brewhouse 96th street Indianapolis now has Widmer Brothers Black IPA on tap! Come join us on a Wednesday evening and get this fantastic brew for only $9 for a 48oz pitcher!

Scotty’s Brewhouse Muncie is now carrying Founder’s Breakfast Stout! Come enjoy this great Stout for only $3.50 a pint on Thursday nights!

From the Distributors
From Jen at Cavalier Distributing:

NEW IN THE CAVALIER WAREHOUSE

Moreland Old Crafty Hen - Old Ale that is a blend of Old 5X and a stronger version of Old Speckled Hen; year round availability; 16.9oz bottles only

New Albanian Solidarity - Smoked Baltic Porter; limited seaonsal release; 22oz bottles and draft

UPCOMING EVENTS

1/3/12 - Birdy's Monthy Beer tasting ; 6pm-8pm ; $10

1/18/12 - Chalet #7 Craft Beer Tasting ; Elkhart ; 5pm-7pm

1/31/12 - Binkley's Founders Super Bowl Beer Dinner ; Tuesday, 6:30pm ; $75.00, SOLD OUT

The 2011 Knights of the Beer Roundtable Beer of the Year - Three Floyds Zombie Dust

2011-12-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

Every December since 2008, we have looked back at all the beers reviewed during our roundtables over the past year so we can pick our favorites. In some cases, not all the Knights attended a roundtable. So admittedly, our ranking method is far from scientific.

This year's field was made up of 37 competitors from seven states and four countries. The vast majority of the candidates were from Indiana - this is Hoosier Beer Geek, after all - but we feel confident that the beers receiving votes this year are as good as any beers you'll find anywhere.

Because our method isn't scientific, it's possible that we may have decided that we like a beer more or less since the roundtable in which we reviewed the beer happened. In any case, looking back, we've decided that the beers listed below left us with the fondest of memories.

And our fondest memory of them all?

Three Floyds Zombie Dust

We reviewed the beer that began its life as Cenotaph when we visited Twenty Tap during its opening week for a roundtable. Most of us had tried Zombie Dust before the Twenty Tap roundtable, so we knew what we were in for. Not surprisingly, the beer won near-unanimous acclaim from us:

"This single-hop (Citra) pale ale has the classic attributes of a Three Floyds pale ale: aggressive pineapple, mango, and grapefruit notes. It's also backed with a nice, somewhat caramel-like maltiness. . . . [I]f Zombie Dust tastes like this when I have it in the future, it will officially become my favorite Three Floyds beer. The best of the bunch."

"The orange-pineapple nose was bright and very enticing. The similar flavor gives a sweet, sticky kiss on the lips rather than a punch in the mouth, but don’t tell Floyds that. They have a punch-in-the-mouth image to uphold. Not only would I order this without question, I would go out of my way to find it."

This is the first year that we picked a Three Floyds beer as our beer of the year, but it was only a matter of time before that occurred. Perhaps it's appropriate that Three Floyds won beer of the year honors from us on the year of their 15th anniversary. Our congratulations go out to the Three Floyds crew!

And now for an explanation of our ranking system...

We ranked our top five beers with the option of listing beers under "honorable mention." We awarded 3 points to a first place vote, 2 points for a second, 1 for a third, 0.5 for a fourth, 0.25 for a fifth, and 0.1 for an honorable mention.

As you'll see, Three Floyds is well-represented in the rankings; the brewery also won second place for Three Kings Pale Ale, a beer it brewed in collaboration with Sun King. And in addition to local brewery Sun King, locals Brugge, Flat 12, Ram, and Upland are represented in our rankings.

Here are the votes from each Knight of the Beer Roundtable:

Jason

I had a lot of great beers this year. Some of them were consumed but not reviewed, which is a shame. Beers like Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Rare, which I often crave. Or beers like Brugge Diamond Kings of Heaven (the world is coming to an end folks when I start enjoying sours).

But there was only one reviewed beer that I could remember off of the top of my head without looking at a list. And I find myself craving it. My number 1 beer of the year is Ram's Anaheim IPA.

2. Pizza Port Carlsbad Barrel Aged Barleywine
3. Three Floyds/Sun King Three Kings Pale Ale
4. Pizza Port Carlsbad Barrel Aged Night Rider Imperial Stout
5. Founders Nemesis 2010

Honorable mention: Upland Bourbon Barrel Ard Ri, Paulaner Salvator, Flat 12 Pogue's Run Porter, Three Floyds Zombie Dust.

Jim

1. Three Floyds Zombie Dust
2. Trinity Old Growth Flemish-Inspired Wild Sour
3. Three Floyds/Dogfish Head Poppaskull
4. The Alchemist Heady Topper
5. Three Floyds/Sun King Three Kings Pale Ale

Mike

1. Three Floyds/Sun King Three Kings
2. Three Floyds Zombie Dust
3. Nøgne Ø Dark Horizon 3.edition
4. Pizza Port Carlsbad Night Rider Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
5. Three Floyds/Dogfish Head Poppaskull

Honorable mention: Brugge Black (still), Ram Anaheim Chili IPA

Gina

1. Three Floyds Zombie Dust
2. Three Floyds/Sun King Three Kings
3. The Alchemist Heady Topper
4. Ram Black Widow Stout
5. Trinity Old Growth

Rod

1. Nøgne Ø Dark Horizon 3.edition
2. Trinity Old Growth
3. The Alchemist Heady Topper
4. Three Floyds Zombie Dust
5. Three Floyds/Mikkeller/Surly/De Struise Baller Imperial Stout

Honorable mention:

6. Trinity Double Rainbow Saison
7. Three Floyds/Sun King Three Kings

Matt

1. Nøgne Ø Dark Horizon 3.edition
2. Three Floyds/Sun King Three Kings
3. Three Floyds Zombie Dust
4. Trinity Old Growth
5. Ram B-Java Disorder Porter

Chris

1. Three Floyds Zombie Dust
2. Three Floyds/Sun King Three Kings
3. Trinity Old Growth
4. Flat 12 Pogue's Run Porter
5. Ram Black Widow Stout

I'll do an honorable mention for Flat 12 Tangerine Porter, which I thought was amazing but we didn't review this year.

The Master List of 2011 Rankings. Here's our list of all beers that received votes, ranked in order of points received.

1. Three Floyds Zombie Dust
2. Three Floyds/Sun King Three Kings Pale Ale
3. Nøgne Ø Dark Horizon 3.edition
4. Trinity Old Growth Flemish-Inspired Wild Sour
5. Ram Anaheim IPA
6. The Alchemist Heady Topper
7. Pizza Port Carlsbad Barrel Aged Barleywine
8. Three Floyds/Dogfish Head Poppaskull
9. Pizza Port Carlsbad Night Rider Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
10. Ram Black Widow Stout
11. Flat 12 Pogue’s Run Porter
14. (tie) Founders Nemesis 2010, Ram B-Java Disorder Porter, Three Floyds/Mikkeller/Surly/De Struise Baller Imperial Stout
19. (tie) Brugge Black (2011), Flat 12 Tangerine Porter (not reviewed), Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock, Trinity Double Rainbow Saison, Upland Bourbon Barrel Ard Ri.

Past winners of the Knights of the Beer Roundtable Beer of the Year Award:

2010: Brugge Brasserie's Spider
2009: Broad Ripple Brewpub's Monon Porter (on cask)
2008: Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper (2007)