Indiana Beer News – May 2

Four Horsemen gets ink and a picture in the South Bend Tribune. Here’s some new information.

Location: Corner of Fellows and Bronson – near southeast side.
Brewer: Stephen Foster.
Opening: June. They are brewing test batches now.
Production brewery, bottling, with a tap room that seats 50 (open Thurs, Fri, Sat evenings).

Steve Hershberger tells an upbeat story about Flat 12’s impact on the neighborhood in just 4 months. blog 

Tastes:

• Sun King 1887 German-Style Alt - All the Alt-ness without the sharp middle so often associated with the style when made on this side of the pond. 6%.
• Thr3e Wise Men Golden Zoe – Centennial American Pale. Delicious. 5.1%. The board says 82 IBU but this seems high since Golden Zoe can be followed by another Golden Zoe without an attack of bitter beer face.
• Brugge Brasserie Bokkenrijder – Dry-hopped pale ale (American ingredients) fermented with Belgian yeast. Has a big Belgian yeast bite with more bite from the upfront bitterness. This prepares you for a spicy sweet finish. Not a Drambuie finish but think in that direction. 9%.
• Brugge Rojato Imperial Red – Made, again, with Belgian yeast. Interesting.
• Brugge Harvey – A blackberry wheat version of Pooka (which is a boysenberry wheat with a brett basis). Intense fruit followed quickly by sour domination.
• Shoreline Big Bella – Bigger and sharper than I remember.
• Figure 8 Brewing Camp 4 English Nut Brown – Robust southern brown style which tends toward an American interpretation of a dark mild at 5%.
• Figure 8 Jumbo Love – They say Barleywine. Has lots of Old Ale character reminiscent of Wadworth Old Timer.
• Figure 8 Devil’s Drip Tripel – Ugly, soapy apricot-colored look. Nose is all Belgian with some cinnamon and banana. Spicy on the tongue. True to style.
• Crown Brewing Industrial Porter – Rick, thick, creamy porter with roastiness and a bit of burnt toastiness. A+
• Crown Fade to Black – Someone had to make an Imperial Black IPA. At 9% this qualifies and is worthy. Is there no end to new styles?
• Crown Jailhouse Bock – Chewy sweet amber bock.
• Crown Alkoholika Blonde Dopplebock – Thick alcoholic body. Earthy in a very welcome way.
• Crown 2010 Alkoholika – Much the same. Enjoy the nuances.
• Crown 2010 Barrel-aged Alkoholika – A great chance to see what the barrel can do to a good beer. Everything blends with plenty of wood and bourbon mixed in. I’d guess 6-month in the barrel. Served in samplers only and only by request. Get it while it lasts.

 Sun King is now officially everywhere

Don’t listen when someone tells you to check out Growlers in Highland. Yes, they have 20 taps but only 2 of them are remotely interesting.

Marston’s Oyster Stout is coming to America. This is a good thing.