Beer Culture shown to be alive and well at Brewers of Indiana Guild Winterfest 2011

Beer appreciation is thrivnig in Indiana as shown with participation in Winterfest, 2011. By one count 26 Indiana Breweries were well represented at Winterfest at the Indiana State Fair Grounds on Saturday, Jan. 29, and nearly 20 out-of-state breweries also brought fabulous beers.
It is a testament to Indiana beer appreciators that this was not 'drink and lose it' event, but there was serious appreciation of some of the nation's finest brews. One police officer on the scene mentioned that the crowds last year and this year were very orderly.

Going with a strategy to primarily try beers you are less familiar with or new special offerings any accurate appraisal of 'best beer there' by one observer is impossible, especially given approximately 250 different beers offered. Yet here is one list of particularly notable beers tried -and our other indianabeer.com contributors will be listing some of their own notations.

Beers making a very big impression:
Rudolph's Revengee Belgian Dark Strong Ale AND Barrel Aged Rudolph's Revenge with Brett from Turoni's Main Street Brewery, Evansville
Java Vanilla Stout from RAM Brewery, Indianapolis
Buffalo Mac Bourbon Barrel Aged Scottish Ale, SunKing Brewery, Indianapolis
Thunderfoot Cherry Imperial Stout, New Albanian Brewery, New Albany

Thanks to all of the brewers who offered the ReplicAle Imperial Double Stout based on a recipe from the former Southern Indiana Ice and Beverage Company (known as Ackerman's) of New
Al bany which closed in 1935. Every version offered a great expression of this interesting beer.

Cheers to our newer Indiana brewers who had long lines and very tasty beers, including Bier Brewery and Flat 12. Cheers to John Hill for starting one of the city's first brew pubs and for being at Winterfest to share, enjoy, and encourage. And it was great to see some brewers who have new breweries in progress or just opened who did not yet have beer to offer but were hanging out and enjoying the beers of their colleagues.

Among the out-of-state breweries (thanks to all for bringing great and sometimes hard to find beers) Tyranena of Wisconsin shared Sheep Shagger Scotch Ale which has been on tap in Indiana but is probably less known by most Hoosiers. Bluegrass Brewing Company of Louisville showed their experience with barrel aging in Bourbon Barrel Aged Wee Heavy, a Scottish Ale base, and one worth traveling to Louisville to have on tap when available.

We trust each attendee left with his or her own list of beers they must have again!

Special thanks to Brewers of Indiana Guild and all sponsors including 92.3, Crown Liquors, World Class Beverages, and Nuvo plus many Indiana Brew Clubs and many, many others for their support of great beer.