Black Swan Brewpub - Plainfield

First the facts: 2067 E. Hadley Rd. Plainfield, IN 46168 317-838-7444 www.blackswanbrewpub.com This is the first stoplight north of I-70 at the Ind 267  exit south of Plainfield. Turn left on Hadley and it's the at the first street on the left. Open Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun 11am-10pm; Fri, Sat 11am-midnight Opened about a week ago by DJ McCalister who has been the brewer at Barley Island and Lafayette Brewing. No, it's not a brewpub yet. A room on the west end has been carved out for spacious brewery space and they hope to be producing in January. Right now it's a 15-tap Indiana beer bar. Yep, nothing but Indiana beers. (click all the pics for bigger views). The wait staff is knowledgeable. While I was there a new hire was sampling her way through the line-up and Summer was happy to walk me through the menu. The beer menu is complete (again, click to biggify) with good descriptions. Prices range from $4.75 to $6 for 20-oz pints and 10-oz halves are half price with some rounding up. Sample sets are available - five 3-oz pours for $3.50. The opposite side of the menu lists 15 wines, a mead, and a cider; all from New Day Meadery and the Chateau Thomas Winery (which is just across Ind 267 if you need another excuse to visit the west side). The quiet bar area seats about 8 at the bar and has 4 tables and a 6-person booth. Housed in what was a uninspired BBQ place, they've reskinned the whole interior in darkish woodiness which is quite inviting.

Food, yep, there's food. Appetizers include fried pickles and a beer cheese crock - $5-$9. Salads as meals – whole at $7-$9 half at $4-$5. Lots of choices and add-ons available for these. A list of 6 Sandwiches will be most carnivores' food choice from "Sliced roast pork, tomato chutney, Capriole goat cheese, mixed greens, on a broiche roll" to the quite tasty Beef Roll ("Shaved beef, provolone, caramelized onions, arugula, Peppadew aioli, on a brioche"). $9 range. No steaks or heavy meals.

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DJ says about his upcoming beers:

"Here is how we think our first six beers will shake out. After that, we are going no holds barred and brewing any and all styles we can crank out.

• Cream Stout
• Double IPA
• ESB (for draught as well as cask conditioned)
• A malty brown ale
• A hopped up American style rye
• and either a nice crisp Belgian Wit or a Hefeweizen to round out the array."

Summary. Go west. A bar worthy of a Girls Pint Out, a homebrew club meeting, a HBG visit. It will see plenty of business from this southwestsider. Hope to see you there.