Indiana Beer News – April 27

There’s another startup brewery in South Bend and here’s what Eric Strader and I have  learned.

Four Horsemen Brewing Co. is located at 710 Fellows St., owned by Sam and Ben Roule. They plan a production brewery, bottling, with a tasting room using the equipment they bought from Mishawaka Brewing a couple of weeks ago. These tanks have been moved from Elkhart already.

Distribution will be through Indiana Beer Inc., formerly Metro Beverages distributors which Sam and Ben sold a while back.

More pictures, etc. at the link above to their facebook page.

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This weekend: More, including liquor store tastings, can be found at IndianaBeer’s Calendar.

• Thurs, Apr 28 - Ram Spring Fever tapping. 6:30 Fishers. 7pm downtown.
• Thurs, Apr 28 - Indiana Breweries, Book Signing. Thr3e Wise Men. 6-9pm
• Thurs, Apr 28 - Ceremonial First Tapping of Moerlein Maibock. Neon's Unplugged, Cinci. 5-9pm.
• Fri, Apr 29 - Indiana Breweries, Book Signing. Barnes & Noble Clearwater Crossing. 11am-1pm
• Fri, Apr 29 - Indiana Breweries, Book Signing. Nate will be at Flat 12 Bierwerks 2-6pm. John will be at Sun King 2-7pm. (also on WISH-TV at 9am).
• Fri, Apr 29 - Bier Prost. Horseshoe Casino, Elizabeth. For IUS(e). $35 </TDALIGN="LEFT">
• Sat, Apr 30 – Dark Lord Day – SOLD OUT
• Sat, Apr 30 - Upland Maifest and tapping of Maibock.
• Sat, Apr 30 - Indiana Breweries, Book Signing. John will be at Lafayette Brewing 11:30am-3:30pm. Nate will be at People's Brewing Noon-3pm. (also on WTHR at 8am)
• Sat, Apr 30 - Indiana Breweries, Book Signing. Beer Geeks Pub, Highland. 6-9pm
• Sat, Apr 30 - Cask AleFest Dayton, OH. 1-5pm. $40
• Sat, Apr 30 - Kahn's bus trip to Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Horseshoe Casino. $95.
• Sat, Apr 30 - Beer & Wine tasting. Sahara Mart east, Bloomington. Noon-4pm
• Sun, May 1 - Indiana Breweries, Book Signing. Haymarket Pub, Chicago. 11am-2pm
• Mon, May 2 - Great Taste of the Midwest ticket orders must be postmarked today.

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Urbain Coutteau of De Struise Brouwers will be wandering Indiana and Louisville for a couple of weeks.

May 3 - Collaboration brewing with Three Floyds (a Belgian IPA)
May 4 – Collaboration brewing with Half Acre and Pipeworks
May 6 – Party at Louisville Beer Store
May 7 – Beer Ball at Holy Grale, Louisville.
May 8 – Collaboration brewing with NABC (Mint Julep IIPA)
May 9 – A second collaboration with NABC plus Office Hours visit

This week at the Bier Brewery and Taproom: Kolsch,Weizengoot, Wildflower Wheat, Belgian Blonde, PDG Pale, Hock Hupfte IPA, Dred Brown, and Belgianwheatfruitsomethinoranother

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Seriously?

“MGD 64, the beer that established the super low-calorie beer category, is furthering its reputation as a category innovator with the creation of the first-ever flavored super low-calorie beer. The limited-edition MGD 64 Lemonade, a 64-calorie light beer with the taste of lemonade, launches nationally beginning May 1. The special brew will be available only until Labor Day.”

North West Indiana Report

Took a trip up north. Here's what we found.

People's Brewing's tasting room has a full bar at the front of the brewery. Yes, good times.

• Mr. Brown is back with chocolate, black, and caramalt and Columbus and Cluster hops. 7%, 47 IBU, and a full mouth feel.
• The Procrastonator Double Helles Bock uses Pilsner malt and Pearl Hops at 36 IBU to give a sweetish 7.2% strong beer that may become a staple or the grounds for a lighter true Helles Bock down the line.
• Aberrant Amber is a nice dinner Amber with a touch of spice from Amarillo and Centennial. 5.5%, 48 IBU.

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Kennywood Brewing Supply in Crown Point was closed as we went through town. Got a shot of the interior at least.

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Just 2 blocks away, Crown Brewing was open with a few people enjoying their taps. New beers include

• Belgian Triple – Soft peach color. 9.1%. Little aroma, somewhat sweet, neutral and very to style.
• Milk Chocolate Stout – Thick, plenty of carbonation, very drinkable, lots of chocolate coming through from the 20 pounds added to the boil. 7.1%. A+
• Winter Warlock. Reddish cherry. Small malt aroma. At 7.1% a pleasant knickerdropper with no flaws. Uses maple syrup and honey along with spices in the brew kettle.

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Three Floyds hasn't changed much from their winning formula. The beers are varied and interesting.

• The Ostemoller (AKA Osti) – Smoked Helles Lager with 5.1% and 28 IBU. Substantial Rauchness comes in late. More smoke than Spezial and less bacon than Schlenkera. A+
• The Creeper Dopplebock. 9% and 23 IBU. Jet black with a tan head, looking like a Stout, Porter, Black IPA, or a Mild and the Creamy marshmallow, chocolate malt, and nut notes really confuse the Dopplebock designation.
• Also on tap: Alpha King, Robert the Bruce, Pride & Joy, Gumballhead, Dreadnaught, Arctic Panzer Wolf IPA, Sand Pebbles Strong American Brown, Owd Engwish Barley Whine, Aotearoa New Zealand hopped Amber, Hell's Black Inteligencer Oatmeal Stout.

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The new Beer Geeks Pub in Highland was the next stop. It's at 3030 45th St. in a shopping center. 20 taps, 1 handpull. Non-smoking. A comfortable roadhouse feel, knowledgeable staff, detailed beer menu, and a cardigan clientele make this a new favorite local for the area. The beer pictures on the walls were drawn by July Barrera.

 

 

Figure 8 Brewing was also closed as we went through. The Ro Shampo at Beer Geeks sill suffice. It has 6 malts to make an Imperial Red Ale at 7.5%. Not a Rad Red or other ultra-hoppy Summit brew, rather, it is quaffable and sneaky.

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So it was off to Shoreline for a few trials.

• Kolsh Syrah Syrah is bright golden and served quite cold in a wine glass. Fiting since it has been barrel aged in a wine barrel. A distinct wine (not cider) punch to the palatte.
• 5th Anniversary Wet Hop – Good but not a freshness bomb anymore.
• Beltaine – As always, liquid Scottish. A favorite.
• Discombobulation – Barley wine aged on Bourbon barrels. True BW with a touch of oakey vanilla. Strong and ready to drink. Worthy. A+
• Lost Sailor Imperial Stout aged in a Bourbon barrel. Noticeable Imperial Stoutness. Not noticeable barrel.
• Seven Red – Red Rye with 4 types of rye, such as Crystal Red, and 3 other malts.

Sam is putting in 2 30bbl fermenters and a 30bbl conditioning tank in the back room to join the phalanx of oak barrels.

These barrels have produced, with up to year of aging, 6 beers that are available at the bar ($20/750ml): Lost Sailor Imperial Stout, Discombobulation Celebration, Sum Cens IIPA, Big Bella Scotch, Curse the Goat Dopplebock (all of these in Bourbon barrels), and Seven Red on a French Shiraz oak wine barrel.

Coming up: Bavarian Bombshell, Black IPA, Don't Panic English Pale Ale, Singing Sands Oatmeal Stout.

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At Back Road, things are going along as normal. Chuck's Christmas Ale is conditioning. This year it is an oak-aged Baltic Porter. After 1 week in the wood it has a perfumey lavender aroma over a solid base. Give it a month more aging and it'll be perfect for the season.

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Mishawaka Brewing's seasonal is a

• Pumpin Ale that is bright, yellow, and strong pumpkin pie from the aroma through the lingering aftertaste.
• Seven Mules Kick-Ass name got the KA for a reason. Bitter, then a touch of caramel then a massive floral hops attack.