It's official, Indy RAM brewer Andrew Castner said farewell to his fans tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013) as he departs his post and gives us what is the best "S'No Angel" WeizenBock yet! Brewer Chris Knott took the helm tonight toasting with the Barrel Aged St Olaf Bock -- aged nine months in an Indiana produced Harrison Bourbon barrel. Andrew will hang his hat at both Great Fermentation AND Flat12 Bierwerks over the next few months. However, permits expediting, we will be with him for his inauguration of a new brewery in Greenwood on State Road 135 across from Hal's Las Vegas. This means I can get great beer and a great dinner by walking across the street! This makes the RAM a certified launch pad since it was the home to Dave Colt and Clay Robinson prior to SunKing and now to Andrew and a new operation. Watch here as we follow Chris Knott and his future. What we DO know is that barrel aged beers and great recipes have sprouted in this downtown Indy corporate chain restaurant. We highly recommend you get the current S'Sno Angel. Just leave the St Olaf for me!
Cheers to progress! GregKitz
Showing posts with label Ram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ram. Show all posts
Indiana Beer News - collaborations, new beers, and more....
SunKing has released a seasonal beer IPA: Fistful of Hops. At 73 ibu and 6.4% it delivers great hop notes featuring Pacifica and Zythos providing orange, tangerine, a little grapefruit but still a nice balance with a big beer. WeeMuckle is also available and tasted mighty good last night with higher alcohol and nice caramel and toffee!
RAM releases the much awaited (at least in my house) S'No Angel tonight, Nov. 20, but also features a Barrel Aged Bock starting at 6:30 PM downtown. Of course the seasonals will end up at both DT and Fishers, but do not expect the BBL Bock to last long.
Flat12 has a Girl's Pint Out event with racer Sarah Fisher tonight at Lino's 5-7 PM. Flat12 starts their always anticipated Twelve Beers of Christmas 12/5 and runs through 12/22.
Upland has TWO collaborations with New Belgium Brewing: Light Synth is 50% NB Felix, 40% Upland Sour Reserve, and 10% Upland Cherry Lambix. Dark Synth is 50% NB Oscar, 40% Upland Dantillon, and 10% Upland Raspberry Lambic. Both will be released in 750 bottles in 2014.
Bloomington Brewing released their Persimmon Ale on Nov. 6, and last we checked it was still on tap at Lennie's Bloomington. This has a reasonable spice that almost reminds of pumpkin beer. BBC also released their Homegrown Ale featuring organic Cascade Hops grown on their own farm providing a light bodied ale with a bit of pine bit and some grassy flavor.
Daredevil cans of LiftOff IPA have hit shelves with distinctive graphics.
Bell's (Okay, a bit further afield) ships CANS of Two Hearted and Oberon in late April 2014. These will eventually be followed by cans of Bell's Best Brown, Winter White, and Smitten Golden Rye.
So many breweries.... SO much good beer!!
Cheers, GregKitz
RAM releases the much awaited (at least in my house) S'No Angel tonight, Nov. 20, but also features a Barrel Aged Bock starting at 6:30 PM downtown. Of course the seasonals will end up at both DT and Fishers, but do not expect the BBL Bock to last long.
Flat12 has a Girl's Pint Out event with racer Sarah Fisher tonight at Lino's 5-7 PM. Flat12 starts their always anticipated Twelve Beers of Christmas 12/5 and runs through 12/22.
Upland has TWO collaborations with New Belgium Brewing: Light Synth is 50% NB Felix, 40% Upland Sour Reserve, and 10% Upland Cherry Lambix. Dark Synth is 50% NB Oscar, 40% Upland Dantillon, and 10% Upland Raspberry Lambic. Both will be released in 750 bottles in 2014.
Bloomington Brewing released their Persimmon Ale on Nov. 6, and last we checked it was still on tap at Lennie's Bloomington. This has a reasonable spice that almost reminds of pumpkin beer. BBC also released their Homegrown Ale featuring organic Cascade Hops grown on their own farm providing a light bodied ale with a bit of pine bit and some grassy flavor.
Daredevil cans of LiftOff IPA have hit shelves with distinctive graphics.
Bell's (Okay, a bit further afield) ships CANS of Two Hearted and Oberon in late April 2014. These will eventually be followed by cans of Bell's Best Brown, Winter White, and Smitten Golden Rye.
So many breweries.... SO much good beer!!
Cheers, GregKitz
Pumpkin Beers
Pumpkin beer: a controversial topic! Some brewers hate the idea, some love it. But the real question may be are you looking for the spice of a pumpkin desert or are you trying to taste pumpkin, the squash itself? Two of our veteran bloggers took on the task of tasting as many pumpkin beers as they can, and just in time for your Halloween night (a stormy one at that). Your choice, open your sack of candy or open a pumpkin beer and get ready to read. Here is what they say:
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
Always my number one choice, the spices of this beer are so relative to a pumpkin pie, I feel like it is pure, 100% liquid alcoholic pie coming rolling down my throat. Draft or bottle. I’ll always pick this every time.
Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale
This was my first year trying Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale. At a pumpkin ale takeover at Union Brewing Company, the barrel aged paired well with the pumpkin and still had a nice blend of spice. Generally barrel aged beers hold a smooth vanilla taste to my tongue, and I think it compliments this beer like whip cream on pie.
Southern Tier Pumking
The great PumKing! I tracked this bottle down in Chicago, and bought two bombers of it. It has been on tap locally around Indianapolis, but the bottle is still nicely spiced. A little more reserved than Schlafly’s but still wonderful. I’ll be saving my other bomber to next year.
Heavy Seas – The Great'er Pumpkin
A bomber found in Big Red Liquors in Broad Ripple, I was pleasantly surprised. It was darker, still nicely spiced. Not over powering with the nutmeg, but drinking this with food, pair well which a lot of pumpkin ales seem to overpower food with the spice.
Hoppin Frog – Double Pumpkin
Another bomber found out of state, but it is available in Indiana as well. This was very similar to The Greater Pumpkin in spice and also in color.
Jolly Pumpkin – La Parcela – No 1. Pumpkin Ale
This one was interesting because it wasn’t spiced , it was a normal ale, it was more of a sour ale. I’m not sure if it is normally none spiced or sour being this was my first time having a bottle of this beer.
New Belgium – Pumpkick
A new one not only to me, but to the pumpkin ale world. This beer not only has pumpkin spice but also a cranberry splash for a whole thanksgiving meal in each sip. I had a bottle of this at a friend’s house and honestly I think it was too much of a spice and then a tart contrast to really enjoy but I applaud New Belgium for another interesting beer. If I could find it on draft somewhere I’d probably try it again.
Smuttynose - Pumpkin Ale
A newly distributed ale to Indiana, I had this on tap and in the bottle and unfortunately didn’t taste anything relating pumpkin or pumpkin spice. It did have a nice color and pumpkin aroma in the nose.
Blue Moon – Pumpkin Ale or Samuel Adams – Double Pumpkin
Both of these are not complex, simple lightly spiced pumpkin ales. Both from the bottle, both available mostly anywhere, if you like a touch of pumpkin spice, or are curious about pumpkin ales these are a good option to start with.
Local Indiana Beer–
#1 – Bier Pumpkin Ale –
Another spiced liquid pumpkin pie, only available draft and it is amazing. Thankfully as Bier grows it is available on draft many places. Anyone in Indianapolis, needs to try this beer.
People’s Brewing Company – Gourdon Pumpkin Ale
up from Lafayette, I had this beer back at UBC for the Pumpkin Tap takeover. It really is incomparable with Bier, both are great spiced, lightly smooth pumpkin beers.
Flat 12 – Flat Jack
I remembered when this was draft only at the brewery and it is now the bottled seasonal available many places. Heavy on the spice, I think the draft is much better than the bottle, because the bottle doesn’t do all the levels of flavor justice.
Cutter’s Brewing Company – Pumpkin Porter
This is my first pumpkin porter, I love Cutter’s Brewing Company but I was expecting a little more of the nutmeg or cinnamon and it was more of just the pumpkin itself in a lightly malted porter.
UBC Infinite Happiness Pumpkin Ale
This was a great flavored pumpkin ale, albeit slightly timid on the spice. Only available on draft at UBC.
It was quite a challenge tasting more than 2 dozen pumpkin beers on tap and a few in bottles but an enjoyable task. The first pumpkin spiced beer I ever had I made fun of and the bartender put whipped cream on the top! Somehow, many of us have grown accustomed to this rather American flair. It is something to look forward to and savor like Oktoberfest beers or Maifest! Here’s my list and comments.
Schlafly Pumpkin: (draft) After enough 12 oz. samples and 2 “taste offs” with other beers, even after chatting with one of the brewers, Schlafly pumpkin beer is my favorite. This offering provides full body, a complex flavor profile with spice, pumpkin itself providing a great malt along with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. At 8% it delivers a pumpkin punch. My short survey of bar owners and bartenders, plus my friend that is a certified cicerone I find many that agree this is a great beer. This Schalfly beer also has the highest rating of any locally available pumpkin beer on Beer Advocate with over 1000 reviews!
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin: (draft) This coppery orange beer also delivers a wallop with pumpkin and nutmeg. Maybe I like the use of light Munich malt and Hallertau hops along with Willamette or maybe I just like 9% but I do like this and, like those above, I had this more than once.
Shipyard Pumpkin Head: (draft) In comparison to the big brother mentioned above, this one is less flavorful. Having another sample just yesterday, my opinion increased a bit is has low spice level is light in alcohol and also seemed sweet. Both Beer Advocate and Rate Beer raters seem to agree. I only put it in this order for comparison to the Smashed!
Heavy Seas Bourbon Barrel Great' ER Pumpkin: (draft). I got a lot of vanilla before I realized this was the Bourbon Barrel expression of this beer. The bourbon barrel notes with cinnamon, ginger, allspice and clove along with brown sugar. A lot going on in this beer! And at 10%, well you can see I like big beers.
New Holland Ichabod: (draft and bottle) Notes of cinnamon and nutmeg combine with the pumpkin for a fairly good version. It is a bit lighter on the spice than many but was still enjoyable enough that when I saw a 6-pack at a grocery store after having it on draught I used it as one of my nightcaps at home.
Southern Tier Warlock: (draft) this imperial stout brewed with pumpkins as they say is another deep complex beer at 8.6% and reminds you of pumpkin pie and strong coffee!
Jack-o-Traveler Pumpkin Shandy: (draft) So I think it is cool that Boston Brewing, brewers of Sam Adams, funded a new brewery to brew (for now) shandy. I think it is cool that the co-founder of Magic Hat teamed up to run this experimental firm. I think it is great that they pack so much flavor in a 4.4% alcohol shandy with real pumpkin. A friend of mine who loves fruit beer also picked this as a favorite!
Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale: (draft) Yet another big beer, at 10%, this one falls in line with other Alltech Kentucky beer labels being a bit too sweet for me. This is the first seasonal beer ever for them and the first year they’ve produced it and I applaud their effort. It has rich flavor.
Rogue Farms Pumpkin Patch Ale: (draft) the newest addition to Rogue beers using pumpkins grown on their hop farm and then immediately roasted for the mash. Spiced with …. Ginger, cloves, vanilla beans, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg this is another complex offering. I am not certain all of that flavor comes through but I love the “no chemicals or preservatives” and the “locally grown” nature of this.
Lakefront Pumpkin Lager: (draft): The only pumpkin lager (so they claim, and the only one I’ve seen) this provides a smoothness. They have a proprietary blend of spices from a local firm and they use real pumpkin.
Red Hook Out of Your Gourd Pumpkin Stout: (bottle) Read my comments on Cutter’s pumpkin porter below, because it was my opinion of both Warlock and Cutter’s that led me to buy this and have it at home. Complex with maple syrup along with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, this made nice beer to sip on a chilly night at my house! It is in its second year and I hope they keep it around each season.
Buffalo Bill’s Original Pumpkin Ale: (bottle) I like the spice in this beer and, heck, if it really was the first (the Hayward , CA, brewery opened back in 1983) hats off to them for starting a trend. A good one to have at home!
Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin: (draft) so this is really pumpkin beer, NOT spiced beer and is a tribute to the beers brewed by the American colonists. Okay…. Have you scooped out some pumpkin and eaten it? Bland. Post Road Pumpkin reflects that. Brooklyn brews quality beer and this is good beer. Just don’t expect anything like pumpkin pie.
Fat Head Spooky Tooth Imperial Pumpkin: (draft) A big beer at 9% and richly spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mace, and brown sugar along with pumpkin. This one does well on RateBeer and BeerAdvocate and I enjoyed it.
New Belgium Pumpkick: (draft) I usually love beer from New Belgium as I love their employee owned, wind-powered, bicycle loving brewery. I like the fact that they tried to out-do others with cranberries and lemongrass plus cinnamon and nutmeg and… pumpkin juice. I rarely write this…. But I just do not like this very well. I kind of enjoyed one on tap in Columbus, IN, but when I had one yesterday I just was not excited.
Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale: (draft) I agree with the brewery statement, “it’s not an obvious pumpkin beer…” spicy, a bit hoppy, a decent beer. I’ve seen it described as a pumpkin saison.
Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale: (bottle) This has a very nice spice level. Yes, this is a big corporate brewer but I am always reminded that Keith Villa, Head Brewmaster, is a Belgian who learned to brew in Belgium. I definitely get the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in this beer and it costs about $1 per bottle in a 12-pack.
And now the LOCAL beers:
Bier Brewery Pumpkin Ale: (draft) This is also my first choice and the secret is the way they spice the beers. This is delicious if you are looking for pumpkin pie in beer! I’ve been told by my cicerone friend that they have a bourbon barrel aged pumpkin porter that is outstanding and to be tapped just before Thanksgiving at the Brewery.
Cutter’s Pumpkin Porter: (draft) the first time I had this on tap I was ready to name it the best local – and maybe it is. I had some from a different keg at a different location that did not deliver quite as much spice as my first. Still, a very nice base porter with richness of pumpkin spice. Actually, from a beer judge standpoint this is exactly what we look for in base beer + fruit.
Zwanzigz Pumpkin Ale: (draft) Columbus, Indiana’s wonderful pizzeria and great brewery produced a very solid pumpkin ale this year. If I could taste the two mentioned above in a side-by-side tasting I am not sure which would win. But the good news is that it does not matter. If you are closer to Columbus than the north side of Indianapolis this may be your best choice for a very good seasonal beer.
RAM Indianapolis Pie’d Piper Pumpkin Ale: (draft) Award winning RAM brewers Andrew and Chris held a great party for the unveiling of this very nice pumpkin beer. This one has very tasty spice levels on a nice base beer.
Rock Bottom (Downtown Indy) Pumpkin: (draft) canned pumpkin with clove, cinnamon, and ginger added to this beer as a very solid local offering from one of Indianapolis most seasoned brewers. Jerry’s tapping received a lot of excitement as people got to try this beer and give it a thumbs up.
Flat12 Flat Jack Pumpkin: (draft) this beer confused me a bit, but I always remember that Head Brewer Rob likes beers a bit different – I would write “off-centered” but that phrase is taken by a bigger brewery. They claim “Indian(a) spices” and I don’t know if there is a spice that is throwing me off. It is good beer. And it is different than others.
Great American Beer Festival Winners
Along with one heck of a big party, the Great American Beer Festival also boasts the largest commercial beer competition in the world. With another record level of participation in 2013, a few Indiana breweries can boast some impressive wins:
| Medal | Brewery | Brand | Category |
| Gold (out of 117 entries) | Sun King Brewing (Indianapolis) | Afternoon Delight | Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer |
| Gold (out of 89 entries) | Three Floyds (Munster) | Blot Out the Sun | Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout |
| Silver (out of 91 entries) | Ram Restaurant and Brewery (Indianapolis) | Anaheim IPA | Field Beer or Pumpkin Beer |
| Silver (out of 149 entries) | Three Floyds (Munster) | Permanent Funeral | Imperial IPA |
In addition, here is a list of winning beers from out-of-state breweries that distribute to our market. Forgive me if I skip Natural Ice and Old Style:
| Medal | Brewery | Brand | Category |
| Gold | Boulevard Brewing (Missouri) | Love Child No. 3 | Wood and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer |
| Gold | Fat Heads (Ohio) | Hop JuJu | Imperial IPA |
| Gold | Great Divide (Colorado) | Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti | Chocolate Beer |
| Gold | Jacob Leinenkugel (Wisconsin) | Canoe Paddler | German-Style Kolsch |
| Gold | Left Hand (Colorado) | Fade to Black Vol. 1 | Foreign-Style Stout |
| Gold | Left Hand (Colorado) | Milk Stout | Sweet Stout or Cream Stout |
| Gold | Left Hand (Colorado) | Sawtooth Ale | Ordinary or Special Bitter |
| Gold | New Holland (Michigan) | Pilgrim’s Dole | Old Ale or Strong Ale |
| Gold | Sam Adams Cincinnati (Ohio) | Double Bock | German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock |
| Silver | Fat Heads (Ohio) | Black Knight | German-Style Schwarzbier |
| Silver | Fat Heads (Ohio) | Trail Head | Fresh Hop Ale |
| Silver | Hoppin’ Frog (Ohio) | Barrel Aged BORIS The Crusher | Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout |
| Silver | Jacob Leinenkugel (Wisconsin) | Leinenkugel’s Creamy Dark | American-Style Dark Lager |
| Silver | Mad River Brewing (California) | Steelhead Extra Pale Ale | Golden or Blonde Ale |
| Silver | New Holland (Michigan) | Dragon’s Milk Reserve – Smaug’s Breath | Experimental Beer |
| Silver | Sierra Nevada (California) | Barrel-Aged Narwhal | Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout |
| Silver | Two Brothers (Illinois) | Ebel’s Weiss | South German-Style Hefeweizen |
| Bronze | Bell’s Brewery (Michigan) | Sparkleberry Ale | Fruit Beer |
| Bronze | Boulevard Brewing (Missouri) | ZON | Belgian-Style Witbier |
| Bronze | Brewery Ommegang (New York) | Three Philosophers | Belgian-Style Abbey Ale |
| Bronze | Brooklyn Brewery (New York) | Brooklyner Weisse | South German-Style Hefeweizen |
| Bronze | Flying Dog (Maryland) | Dogtoberfest | German-Style Marzen |
| Bronze | Moylan’s Brewing (California) | Dragoon’s Dry Irish Stout | Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout |
Note that some of these beers were probably subject to a very limited release, while others are routinely found around the state. Happy hunting!
Brew Bracket 8: Oktoberfest
About two years ago, I discovered the existence of Brew Bracket. I've been a hooked fan ever since.
This past weekend I was able to go to my first Brew Bracket in the Tomlinson Tap Room. Just as much bracket style, great craft beer fun as their events at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, this event is only 8 local breweries, and the blind tasting happens table side, where voters can relax, snack, and drink beer poured by the expert double pourer volunteers.
Brew Bracket 8 was right time on time with their Oktoberfest style beer challenge: right in the middle of the traditional Oktoberfest celebration going on in Munich!
The fierce competitors of this BB8 was:
Flat 12 Bierwerks
The RAM
Twisted Crew Brewery
Sun King Brewing Co.
Thr3e Wisemen
Bier Brewery
Iechyd Da Brewery
Upland Brewing
Some of the beers were really interesting. Flat 12 had their Red Oatober in the competition, and it was distinct with the hop flavor in the nose and on the tongue. Twisted Crew (I believe, based off my tally sheets) gave their Oktoberfest a coffee enhancement. Other than that the other breweries had the same malted lager, creamy traditional Oktoberfest flavor.
Being only 8 breweries the voting, and tasting went quickly and it was within no time that the RAM picked up their third win.
Every time I go to a Brew Bracket event, I can't even describe the camaraderie that just surrounds the venue. Between Mike and Ryan, the charity involved, the brewers, the sponsors, the visitors, it is just a special kind of event. There is always good music, good food and I always run into good friends there.
So if you still haven't gone to a Brew Bracket.. you must go to Brew Bracket 9 - Porters! (I'm very much looking forward to this style!)
Prost!
Kathleen
Indiana Beer News - June 30: New Beers, Fun events
What beer will you drink for Fourth of July and what beer will you drink in 2014? The answer to each might change as more and more beers come on the Indiana scene! There is a LOT going on in the next few weeks and a lot more coming.
We did a quick stop at some downtown Indianapolis breweries this weekend finding new pours everywhere and also realizing we have so many offerings in downtown Indy we could not fit them all into our short schedule.
Indiana City Beer (see Kathleen's Grand Opening Story here ) was offering up a Belgian Wheat (Yacht Rock; 6%), Oatmeal Stout (Shadow Boxer; 7%), and APA (Beyond the Pale; 7.2) showing perhaps a trend in slightly 'bigger' beers in alcohol.
SunKing showcased their regular three, WeeMac, Osiris, and Sunlight, plus a hefe-weizen (Big H; 5.8%) ), Vienna Lager (Indian Lager; 5.4%), and a collaboration beer with Solemn Oath (Mythological Wonder, 7.7%) with spicy and rye notes, delicious combo hops.
Flat12 wants to give us our fruits and vegetables with so many beers on tap including their regular suspects (porter, amber, walk-about IPA, half-cycle IPA) and as usual so many seasonals, the newest being KiwiKiwiHefeWeizen with Kiwi fruit and kiwi juice so fruity, as well as Cucumber Kolsch which seems this year truly for those who love cucumbers, their Axis hefe and a Karousel Kolsch - tapped last week at the Elbow Room's 80th birthday party!
the RAM recently rolled out Barefoot wit, perfect for these hot days.
Daredevil has rolled out their Vacation Kolsch now showing up on taps throughout the state, also brewed with German ingredients and is a crisp, clean beer. Of course Daredevil Lift Off remains out there and seasonal Muse Belgian style can still be found on tap at many locations.
If you travel to Cincinnati you'll find a new brewery open (Grand Opening was June 29) with a strong Indiana connection. Rhinegeist brewing in the Over the Rhine District of the Queen City is the new home of Head Brewer Jim Matt who was a home-brewer in the award winning MECA club that also spawned now-pro-brewers Bill Ballinger and Michael Pearson of Daredevil. Jim gained professional status with SunKing, moved to head brewer status with Moerlein when they opened a brew haus in downtown Cincy, and just opened the Rheingeist operation serving a golden ale, English mild, Hoppy Wheat and IPA. Good Luck Rhinegeist and Jim!!
Bloomington Brewing Company has rolled out 10-speed nicely hopped wheat beer and a brand new Seven Sips Belgian Strong ale that has a nod to a wit with coriander + sweet and bitter orange peel but candy sugar to make it a big beer (8.3%). Also new at BBC is a Single Hop Columbus IPA following the trend of single hopped beers.
BBC's sister Lennie's restaurant and brew pub (the home of BBC beers) won a prestigious Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence award this month. The accolade, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.
UPCOMING:
July 4: most Indiana brewpubs are open on July 4 for growler fills!
If in Downtown Indy for the Freedom Blast (fireworks) check out the Indiana Craft Beer Garden with craft offerings from SunKing, Flat12, Fountain Square, Cutters, Barely Island and Peoples brewers.
Indiana City Brewing (26 Shelby Street a block from Washington Street and I-65), celebrates with a 4th of July Music Festival staring at 4:00 with $5 tickets and lost of live music, local beer, and food trucks -- plus a location to view the Indy fireworks.
July 6: SunKing celebrates their 4th anniversary with a Grapefruit Jungle IPA tapping with music, local beer, and food trucks 4-10PM - $10 tickets at the tasting room. Beer Tappings are scheduled throughout the day: 4pm Grapefruit Jungle, 6pm Port Barrel Aged Wee Mac, 7pm 777, 8pm Afternoon Delight, 9pm Velvet Fog.
Brewers of Indiana Guild 18th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival is Saturday, July 20, 3-7 p.m. at Indianapolis Art Center and Optimist Park in Broad Ripple.
Your favorite Indiana breweries will be joined by a select group of guest breweries from around the country at Indiana’s largest craft beer event. Over 300 beer selections to choose from!Details and Tix
Noted out-of-state beers coming to Indiana!
Green Flash from San Diego, noted for their West Coast style IPA, should be in distribution in Central and Southern Indiana by mid-July. Early reports suggest only 20 bars may be the first to have a GF beer on tap but many liquor stores are to get product! WCB is the distributor.
Smuttynose brewing of New Hampshire, as we previewed for Ft. Wayne story here is kicking off distribution with Cavalier in Indiana in the Northern and Southern parts of the state check releases here . We should be finding best-selling Finestkind IPA and international award-winners Robust Porter and Wheat Wine Ale in most of our areas soon.
DogfishHead has announced their return to Indiana (+ Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wisconsin) with a cute video watch the video here . Look for DFH to work out the deal with a distributor and be back by 2014, possibly sooner.
Oskar Blues of Longmont, Colorado, the first to use CANS announced in March that they should be available in Indiana soon. Most in Indiana know of the SunKing/Oskar Blues collaboration of CHAKA last year. As OB rolls out to Indiana look for Dale's Pale and Mama's Yellow Pils.
Speaking of cans look for some other craft brewers (in Indiana) to consider cans. Foxnews.com recently released a clip from one of their junior reporters extolling the virtues of cans vs bottles
and finally, having a Summer Wedding? Beer is IN! Anja Winikka, TheKnot.com Site Director recognizes the trend: "Our brides love beer! More and more we've been seeing couples go beyond the traditional bar and really personalizing the experience for their guests. Beer is huge – everything from beer flights and craft beer bars to beer tasting stations and beer and food pairings. Couples are even serving homebrews specially created for their events. That's why we're so excited about Brewlywed Ale – it gives all craft beer lovers a chance to enjoy the trend at their weddings. Plus, what could be better for personalizing your day than a specialty wedding beer?" (thanks to PR from SamAdams)
We did a quick stop at some downtown Indianapolis breweries this weekend finding new pours everywhere and also realizing we have so many offerings in downtown Indy we could not fit them all into our short schedule.
Indiana City Beer (see Kathleen's Grand Opening Story here ) was offering up a Belgian Wheat (Yacht Rock; 6%), Oatmeal Stout (Shadow Boxer; 7%), and APA (Beyond the Pale; 7.2) showing perhaps a trend in slightly 'bigger' beers in alcohol.
SunKing showcased their regular three, WeeMac, Osiris, and Sunlight, plus a hefe-weizen (Big H; 5.8%) ), Vienna Lager (Indian Lager; 5.4%), and a collaboration beer with Solemn Oath (Mythological Wonder, 7.7%) with spicy and rye notes, delicious combo hops.
Flat12 wants to give us our fruits and vegetables with so many beers on tap including their regular suspects (porter, amber, walk-about IPA, half-cycle IPA) and as usual so many seasonals, the newest being KiwiKiwiHefeWeizen with Kiwi fruit and kiwi juice so fruity, as well as Cucumber Kolsch which seems this year truly for those who love cucumbers, their Axis hefe and a Karousel Kolsch - tapped last week at the Elbow Room's 80th birthday party!
the RAM recently rolled out Barefoot wit, perfect for these hot days.
Daredevil has rolled out their Vacation Kolsch now showing up on taps throughout the state, also brewed with German ingredients and is a crisp, clean beer. Of course Daredevil Lift Off remains out there and seasonal Muse Belgian style can still be found on tap at many locations.
If you travel to Cincinnati you'll find a new brewery open (Grand Opening was June 29) with a strong Indiana connection. Rhinegeist brewing in the Over the Rhine District of the Queen City is the new home of Head Brewer Jim Matt who was a home-brewer in the award winning MECA club that also spawned now-pro-brewers Bill Ballinger and Michael Pearson of Daredevil. Jim gained professional status with SunKing, moved to head brewer status with Moerlein when they opened a brew haus in downtown Cincy, and just opened the Rheingeist operation serving a golden ale, English mild, Hoppy Wheat and IPA. Good Luck Rhinegeist and Jim!!
Bloomington Brewing Company has rolled out 10-speed nicely hopped wheat beer and a brand new Seven Sips Belgian Strong ale that has a nod to a wit with coriander + sweet and bitter orange peel but candy sugar to make it a big beer (8.3%). Also new at BBC is a Single Hop Columbus IPA following the trend of single hopped beers.
BBC's sister Lennie's restaurant and brew pub (the home of BBC beers) won a prestigious Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence award this month. The accolade, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.
UPCOMING:
July 4: most Indiana brewpubs are open on July 4 for growler fills!
If in Downtown Indy for the Freedom Blast (fireworks) check out the Indiana Craft Beer Garden with craft offerings from SunKing, Flat12, Fountain Square, Cutters, Barely Island and Peoples brewers.
Indiana City Brewing (26 Shelby Street a block from Washington Street and I-65), celebrates with a 4th of July Music Festival staring at 4:00 with $5 tickets and lost of live music, local beer, and food trucks -- plus a location to view the Indy fireworks.
July 6: SunKing celebrates their 4th anniversary with a Grapefruit Jungle IPA tapping with music, local beer, and food trucks 4-10PM - $10 tickets at the tasting room. Beer Tappings are scheduled throughout the day: 4pm Grapefruit Jungle, 6pm Port Barrel Aged Wee Mac, 7pm 777, 8pm Afternoon Delight, 9pm Velvet Fog.
Brewers of Indiana Guild 18th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival is Saturday, July 20, 3-7 p.m. at Indianapolis Art Center and Optimist Park in Broad Ripple.
Your favorite Indiana breweries will be joined by a select group of guest breweries from around the country at Indiana’s largest craft beer event. Over 300 beer selections to choose from!Details and Tix
Noted out-of-state beers coming to Indiana!
Green Flash from San Diego, noted for their West Coast style IPA, should be in distribution in Central and Southern Indiana by mid-July. Early reports suggest only 20 bars may be the first to have a GF beer on tap but many liquor stores are to get product! WCB is the distributor.
Smuttynose brewing of New Hampshire, as we previewed for Ft. Wayne story here is kicking off distribution with Cavalier in Indiana in the Northern and Southern parts of the state check releases here . We should be finding best-selling Finestkind IPA and international award-winners Robust Porter and Wheat Wine Ale in most of our areas soon.
DogfishHead has announced their return to Indiana (+ Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wisconsin) with a cute video watch the video here . Look for DFH to work out the deal with a distributor and be back by 2014, possibly sooner.
Oskar Blues of Longmont, Colorado, the first to use CANS announced in March that they should be available in Indiana soon. Most in Indiana know of the SunKing/Oskar Blues collaboration of CHAKA last year. As OB rolls out to Indiana look for Dale's Pale and Mama's Yellow Pils.
Speaking of cans look for some other craft brewers (in Indiana) to consider cans. Foxnews.com recently released a clip from one of their junior reporters extolling the virtues of cans vs bottles
and finally, having a Summer Wedding? Beer is IN! Anja Winikka, TheKnot.com Site Director recognizes the trend: "Our brides love beer! More and more we've been seeing couples go beyond the traditional bar and really personalizing the experience for their guests. Beer is huge – everything from beer flights and craft beer bars to beer tasting stations and beer and food pairings. Couples are even serving homebrews specially created for their events. That's why we're so excited about Brewlywed Ale – it gives all craft beer lovers a chance to enjoy the trend at their weddings. Plus, what could be better for personalizing your day than a specialty wedding beer?" (thanks to PR from SamAdams)
Brew Bracket: The Cure For All Your (Pale) Ales! - Contest & Information.
Ladies & Gentlemen,
Feelin' a little out of sorts? Need
something to help out those beer blues?
Time to step right up and head on over
to Brew Bracket 7 and get the cure for all your (pale) ales!
For limited time only - June 15th from
3-7pm, come and help find the best ale, the best brew, the one that
all others pale in comparison to!
For those new to Brew Bracket: Here is
the breakdown -
- You & 399 Beer Drinkers at the Indiana Fairgrounds - Exposition Hall
- 16 Breweries
- Barley Island - (BBIII: Wheats - Winner)
- Rock Bottom - Downtown (BBI: IPA - Winner)
- The RAM - Two Time Winner! (BBIV: BB, BBV:Amber)
- Indiana City Beer - New to the competition!
- 4 Hours of Blind Tastings
- 4 Round of voting
- You help pick the winner!
- Benefits - PUP (People for Urban Progress)
Want more? - Tickets are at
www.brewbracket.com
VIP - $45, GA - $35, 4-Pack of GA -
$120 & DD - $5
Now -- For a treat!
How about
getting some tickets for -- FREE!
We at IndianaBeer.com love beer and we
know our readers do too.
We also love Brew Bracket!
And with all this love - we are offering one reader a chance to win two
free tickets to BB7: The Cure for All Your (Pale) Ales..
To enter:
Please
comment on the blog with your
FAVORITE INDIANA MADE PALE ALE
* Must be registered comment, no anonymous comments allow
A random winner will be chosen and announced on our Facebook page on
Wednesday 6/12 at 5pm!
Edit:
We have a winner for @BrewBracket BB7!! - Christopher Sturgeon! Please e-mail kathleen@indianabeer.com for further details. Thank you to the ones who participated. It was great seeing everyone's choices.
Edit:
We have a winner for @BrewBracket BB7!! - Christopher Sturgeon! Please e-mail kathleen@indianabeer.com for further details. Thank you to the ones who participated. It was great seeing everyone's choices.
Thank you to Brew Bracket!
and
Good luck to the breweries.. may your ales save us all!
Indiana Beer NEWS: Bloomington Festival, Major Tastings and more
Missed out on Winterfest Indy (this coming Saturday) then plan now for the Bloomington Beer Fest which is moved to APRIL this year! April 13th, 3PM VIP, 4-7 General Admission! Most Indiana Breweries, many out-of-state breweries, music, and a very cool venue make this Fest really fun! 
Tix are already available.
If you missed RAMMAGEDON, well... .the world did NOT end that day so you can go to Fishers for each of the beers again!
Thursday, January 24!! 6:30 PM, RAM Fishers, IN;
Apocalypto Barleywine, Endgame Russian Imperial Stout, Doomsday Imperial Red, Final Countdown Imperial IPA, Apocalypse Meow, Belgian IPA, and Barrel-aged Endgame Russian Imperial Stout. We LOVED these beers! Oh, and if we are really nice some or all of these may be at Winterfest this Saturday.
Love Imperial Stouts? Get over to LaMargarita, Fountain Square, Jan.31 - Feb.3. Regular and Oak Aged Yeti, RAM Aged EndGame, Upland Teddy Bear Kisses, SunKing Timmie from a cask, where $8 gets you 3oz of 6 beers! details here
January 31 Wish you would have tried all of the Stone Vertical Epic beers from 2003 - 2012? Well you still can for $125. Yogi's Grill & Bar, Blooomington, offers a food pairing with EACH of the Stone Vertical Epic series need a refresher, click through them on Stone's web site Thursday, January 31, 7:00 PM, Certified Cicerone Chris Carl will be on hand to lead you through these. details on Yogi's web site
Feb. 5 Live in Southern Indiana? We've got you covered. There is a 5-course SunKing beer dinner at the Buckhead Mountain Grill, 707 West Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville with a welcoming pint at 6:30, and first of 5 courses at 7PM, Beers are: Obtuse Juice IPA, Malus Pi, Wee Mac Scottish Ale, Zaius Smoked Oatmeal Stout and Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Aged Mai Bock. 812-284-2912 or on facebook
And we hope to see everyone at Winterfest this coming Saturday!
Just a few of the beers on my tasting list:
Zwanzigz Rauch beer (I got a first sample recently, love it)
Cutters Floyd's Folly Scottish Ale
Upland's firkin of Ard Ri in Oak with Vanilla beans!
Figure 8 Ro Shampo
RAM.... as mentioned above, Barrel-aged Endgame Russian Imperial Stout
Tix are already available.
If you missed RAMMAGEDON, well... .the world did NOT end that day so you can go to Fishers for each of the beers again!
Apocalypto Barleywine, Endgame Russian Imperial Stout, Doomsday Imperial Red, Final Countdown Imperial IPA, Apocalypse Meow, Belgian IPA, and Barrel-aged Endgame Russian Imperial Stout. We LOVED these beers! Oh, and if we are really nice some or all of these may be at Winterfest this Saturday.
Love Imperial Stouts? Get over to LaMargarita, Fountain Square, Jan.31 - Feb.3. Regular and Oak Aged Yeti, RAM Aged EndGame, Upland Teddy Bear Kisses, SunKing Timmie from a cask, where $8 gets you 3oz of 6 beers! details here
January 31 Wish you would have tried all of the Stone Vertical Epic beers from 2003 - 2012? Well you still can for $125. Yogi's Grill & Bar, Blooomington, offers a food pairing with EACH of the Stone Vertical Epic series need a refresher, click through them on Stone's web site Thursday, January 31, 7:00 PM, Certified Cicerone Chris Carl will be on hand to lead you through these. details on Yogi's web site
Feb. 5 Live in Southern Indiana? We've got you covered. There is a 5-course SunKing beer dinner at the Buckhead Mountain Grill, 707 West Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville with a welcoming pint at 6:30, and first of 5 courses at 7PM, Beers are: Obtuse Juice IPA, Malus Pi, Wee Mac Scottish Ale, Zaius Smoked Oatmeal Stout and Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Aged Mai Bock. 812-284-2912 or on facebook
And we hope to see everyone at Winterfest this coming Saturday!
Just a few of the beers on my tasting list:
Zwanzigz Rauch beer (I got a first sample recently, love it)
Cutters Floyd's Folly Scottish Ale
Upland's firkin of Ard Ri in Oak with Vanilla beans!
Figure 8 Ro Shampo
RAM.... as mentioned above, Barrel-aged Endgame Russian Imperial Stout
Brew Bracket 5 - AMBERgeddon
Since discovering the existence of Brew Bracket last year on my 30th birthday, I have loved coming and participating in this completely unique event, that not only features 16 local breweries, makes you the judge, but helps out with a local charity as well.
On December 8th, Brew Bracket came back again to the Indiana State Fairgrounds with a Amber Ale showdown, called AMBERgeddon. The past winning Brew Bracket contenders were all there along with general favorites and newbies to find out who was the best of the best when it comes to amber ales.
This Brew Bracket had a new voting tally and procedure, making it quicker to tally, save paper and you got a cool little bracket to follow along with.
It also had the presence of some local food trucks, Spice Box Indy, Byrne's Grilled Pizza and Der Pretzel Wagon. Previous Brew Brackets had a small cafe style food location, but the addition of the food trucks really brought out the feeling to support your local vendors.
Unfortunatly at this Brew Bracket, Bulldog Brewing Co. couldn't make it down, so it left 15 breweries going head to head:
Triton Brewing Co.
Flat 12 Bierwerks
The RAM Restaurant and Brewery (BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged - Winner)
Half Moon Brewery
Bloomington Brewing Co.
Barley Island Brewing Co.(BBIII: Wheats - Winner)
Bier Brewery (BBII: Stouts - Winner)
Three Wisemen Brewing Co. (newbie!)
Rock Bottom (Rock Bottom Downtown - BBI: IPA - Winner)
Fountain Square Brewery
Upland Brewing Co.
Iechyd Da Brewing Co. (newbie!)
Powerhouse Brewing Co.
Oaken Barrel Brewing Co. (newbie!)
Twisted Crew Brewing Co.
The tasting starting promptly at 1pm and off the bat it was hard to make a vote. A lot of the amber ales seemed to me to be aggressively hopped, which is not something I am used to in an amber. I prefer something a little more smooth. I did learn that Bier Brewery had a bourbon barrel aged Amber and I guessed and later confirmed that Mustache Ride Red was roaring through Brew Bracket courtesy of Flat 12.
Despite the overly hopped ambers, I'd have to say this Brew Bracket has been my second favorite one so far. The first one is obviously the Stouts competition, mostly because I'm biased and stouts are my favorite. The best thing about Brew Bracket, which I continually point out over and over again is that the average, everyday beer drinker gets to be a part of an event that THEY decide what is good, and what should win.
And after 5 rounds of taste testing.. the people had spoken to make Andrew Castner, head brewer of the The Ram, the AMBERgeddon winner with his Buttface Amber:
Andrew is a dangerous Brew Bracket contender now. This is his second win in a row, after Big Horn Maibock won at the BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged.
The question is will he go three in a row for the undetermined Brew Bracket 6.
Which btw.. I am secretly hoping the style will be Porters
We hope if you went out to Brew Bracket you had a good time, hopefully you met me, in my beer socks of course, or Nathan, or the lovely Poppi. If you didn't come out, then come in the Spring!
As always,
Cheers!
Kathleen
On December 8th, Brew Bracket came back again to the Indiana State Fairgrounds with a Amber Ale showdown, called AMBERgeddon. The past winning Brew Bracket contenders were all there along with general favorites and newbies to find out who was the best of the best when it comes to amber ales.
 |
| Cool New Tally System |
 |
| Voting Caps |
It also had the presence of some local food trucks, Spice Box Indy, Byrne's Grilled Pizza and Der Pretzel Wagon. Previous Brew Brackets had a small cafe style food location, but the addition of the food trucks really brought out the feeling to support your local vendors.
Unfortunatly at this Brew Bracket, Bulldog Brewing Co. couldn't make it down, so it left 15 breweries going head to head:
Triton Brewing Co.
Flat 12 Bierwerks
The RAM Restaurant and Brewery (BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged - Winner)
Half Moon Brewery
Bloomington Brewing Co.
Barley Island Brewing Co.(BBIII: Wheats - Winner)
Bier Brewery (BBII: Stouts - Winner)
Three Wisemen Brewing Co. (newbie!)
Rock Bottom (Rock Bottom Downtown - BBI: IPA - Winner)
Fountain Square Brewery
Upland Brewing Co.
Iechyd Da Brewing Co. (newbie!)
Powerhouse Brewing Co.
Oaken Barrel Brewing Co. (newbie!)
Twisted Crew Brewing Co.
The tasting starting promptly at 1pm and off the bat it was hard to make a vote. A lot of the amber ales seemed to me to be aggressively hopped, which is not something I am used to in an amber. I prefer something a little more smooth. I did learn that Bier Brewery had a bourbon barrel aged Amber and I guessed and later confirmed that Mustache Ride Red was roaring through Brew Bracket courtesy of Flat 12.
Despite the overly hopped ambers, I'd have to say this Brew Bracket has been my second favorite one so far. The first one is obviously the Stouts competition, mostly because I'm biased and stouts are my favorite. The best thing about Brew Bracket, which I continually point out over and over again is that the average, everyday beer drinker gets to be a part of an event that THEY decide what is good, and what should win.
And after 5 rounds of taste testing.. the people had spoken to make Andrew Castner, head brewer of the The Ram, the AMBERgeddon winner with his Buttface Amber:
 |
| Congratulations Andrew! |
Andrew is a dangerous Brew Bracket contender now. This is his second win in a row, after Big Horn Maibock won at the BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged.
The question is will he go three in a row for the undetermined Brew Bracket 6.
Which btw.. I am secretly hoping the style will be Porters
We hope if you went out to Brew Bracket you had a good time, hopefully you met me, in my beer socks of course, or Nathan, or the lovely Poppi. If you didn't come out, then come in the Spring!
As always,
Cheers!
Kathleen
 |
| Kathleen & Jill with our beer socks! |
BB5 - AMBERgeddon - New Update
NEW UPDATE!
What goes great with beer? How about some Food Trucks!
Byrnes Grilled Pizza, Spice Box Indian Food & Der Pretzel Truck will be at BB5 to give you something to delicious to fill up on while deciding the best Amber yet
Also?!? -- Group tickets are available!! - buy 4 get $5 off each.
More details below - hope you see you on Saturday!
Brew Bracket 5: AMBERgeddon!
What goes great with beer? How about some Food Trucks!
Byrnes Grilled Pizza, Spice Box Indian Food & Der Pretzel Truck will be at BB5 to give you something to delicious to fill up on while deciding the best Amber yet
Also?!? -- Group tickets are available!! - buy 4 get $5 off each.
More details below - hope you see you on Saturday!
Brew Bracket 5: AMBERgeddon!
This competition is better than the rest because YOU get to help decide the winner brew.
How does it work?
400 attendees sampling beer from 16 breweries in a March Madness style bracket taste off. After 4 hours of blind tastings, 4 rounds of voting a winner is announced!
So come one, come all to the Indiana State Fairgrounds on December 8th from 12:30-5pm to participate in this fun, beer swillin' time for only $35 which also helps out a great cause - Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.
Tickets available at : www.brewbracket.com
This season's participants are some old favorites, previous winners and some new guys:
Triton Brewing Co.
Flat 12 Bierwerks
The RAM Restaurant and Brewery (BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged - Winner)
Half Moon Brewery
Bloomington Brewing Co.
Barley Island Brewing Co.(BBIII: Wheats - Winner)
Bier Brewery (BBII: Stouts - Winner)
Three Wisemen Brewing Co. ( a new one to the competition!)
Rock Bottom (Rock Bottom Downtown - BBI: IPA - Winner)
Bulldog Brewing Co.
Fountain Square Brewery
Upland Brewing Co.
Iechyd Da Brewing Co. (welcome another newbie!)
Powerhouse Brewing Co.
Oaken Barrel Brewing Co. (Hi - newbie!)
Twisted Crew Brewing Co.
For some more recaps of the fun of Brew Bracket see our previous blogs:
BBI: IPA
BBII: Stouts
BBIII: Wheats
BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged
Also - Be on the look out for Kathleen and her new Beer Socks. Going red and white for Christmas!
And Also Nathan and Poppi!!
So come one, come all to the Indiana State Fairgrounds on December 8th from 12:30-5pm to participate in this fun, beer swillin' time for only $35 which also helps out a great cause - Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.
Tickets available at : www.brewbracket.com
This season's participants are some old favorites, previous winners and some new guys:
Triton Brewing Co.
Flat 12 Bierwerks
The RAM Restaurant and Brewery (BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged - Winner)
Half Moon Brewery
Bloomington Brewing Co.
Barley Island Brewing Co.(BBIII: Wheats - Winner)
Bier Brewery (BBII: Stouts - Winner)
Three Wisemen Brewing Co. ( a new one to the competition!)
Rock Bottom (Rock Bottom Downtown - BBI: IPA - Winner)
Bulldog Brewing Co.
Fountain Square Brewery
Upland Brewing Co.
Iechyd Da Brewing Co. (welcome another newbie!)
Powerhouse Brewing Co.
Oaken Barrel Brewing Co. (Hi - newbie!)
Twisted Crew Brewing Co.
For some more recaps of the fun of Brew Bracket see our previous blogs:
BBI: IPA
BBII: Stouts
BBIII: Wheats
BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged
Also - Be on the look out for Kathleen and her new Beer Socks. Going red and white for Christmas!
And Also Nathan and Poppi!!
Want New Albanian? But not the drive?... + other tapping news
Yogi's Grill and Bar, Bloomington, will be hosting a Tap Takeover of New Albanian beers tonight(Nov. 6) at 7:00. Think 45 minutes south of I-465 instead of 2 hours. Of Course New Albanian Elector is the theme beer, but also included are Hoptimus, Old 15 B, Beak's Best, Tunnel Vision, Black and Blue Grass, Naughty Girl and Hoosier Daddy. The NABC open its doors 25 years ago in southern Indiana and have been cranking out great products for a quarter of a century.
And... if you ARE near the Ohio River: Zombie dust, Zes, Zes, Zes, Black Heart, Moloko, Gumball Head, Munsterfest on tap and Calumet Queen in the bottle at Rocky's Sub Pub NOW, (Nov. 6) Jeffersonville, IN
In other tapping news: RAM on November 14th taps the fourth leg of their RAMAGEDDON 2012 series, Final Countdown Imperial IPA, released at both Downtown Indy (7:00) and Fishers (6:30) locations. If that wasn't enough, S'no Angel Weizenbock will also be tapped this night in case you need extra enticement.
November 21st - Tomlinson Taproom in the Indianapolis City Market, RAM Brewers will be taking over all 16 taps at Tomlinson in one event including cellared seasonals and rare releases such as Barrel-aged Apocalypto Barleywine and Nitro Vanilla Stout among many others.
Flat12 announces: Moustache Ride Red - Movember tapping and fundraising (11/17, 6pm).
Rock Bottom, College Park, taps Winter Tartan Scottish Ale, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7:00 PM
And... if you ARE near the Ohio River: Zombie dust, Zes, Zes, Zes, Black Heart, Moloko, Gumball Head, Munsterfest on tap and Calumet Queen in the bottle at Rocky's Sub Pub NOW, (Nov. 6) Jeffersonville, IN
In other tapping news: RAM on November 14th taps the fourth leg of their RAMAGEDDON 2012 series, Final Countdown Imperial IPA, released at both Downtown Indy (7:00) and Fishers (6:30) locations. If that wasn't enough, S'no Angel Weizenbock will also be tapped this night in case you need extra enticement.
November 21st - Tomlinson Taproom in the Indianapolis City Market, RAM Brewers will be taking over all 16 taps at Tomlinson in one event including cellared seasonals and rare releases such as Barrel-aged Apocalypto Barleywine and Nitro Vanilla Stout among many others.
Flat12 announces: Moustache Ride Red - Movember tapping and fundraising (11/17, 6pm).
Rock Bottom, College Park, taps Winter Tartan Scottish Ale, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7:00 PM
Brew Bracket 5: AMBERgeddon!
"I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, Brew Bracket
Brew Bracket 5: AMBERgeddon!
This competition is better than the rest because YOU get to help decide the winner brew.
How does it work?
400 attendees sampling beer from 16 breweries in a March Madness style bracket taste off. After 4 hours of blind tastings, 4 rounds of voting a winner is announced!
So come one, come all to the Indiana State Fairgrounds on December 8th from 12:30-5pm to participate in this fun, beer swillin' time for only $35 which also helps out a great cause - Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.
Tickets available at : www.brewbracket.com
This season's participants are some old favorites, previous winners and some new guys:
Triton Brewing Co.
Flat 12 Bierwerks
The RAM Restaurant and Brewery (BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged - Winner)
Half Moon Brewery
Bloomington Brewing Co.
Barley Island Brewing Co.(BBIII: Wheats - Winner)
Bier Brewery (BBII: Stouts - Winner)
Three Wisemen Brewing Co. ( a new one to the competition!)
Rock Bottom (Rock Bottom Downtown - BBI: IPA - Winner)
Bulldog Brewing Co.
Fountain Square Brewery
Upland Brewing Co.
Iechyd Da Brewing Co. (welcome another newbie!)
Powerhouse Brewing Co.
Oaken Barrel Brewing Co. (Hi - newbie!)
Twisted Crew Brewing Co.
For some more recaps of the fun of Brew Bracket see our previous blogs:
BBI: IPA
BBII: Stouts
BBIII: Wheats
BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged
Also - Be on the look out for Kathleen and her new Beer Socks. Going red and white for Christmas!
So come one, come all to the Indiana State Fairgrounds on December 8th from 12:30-5pm to participate in this fun, beer swillin' time for only $35 which also helps out a great cause - Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.
Tickets available at : www.brewbracket.com
This season's participants are some old favorites, previous winners and some new guys:
Triton Brewing Co.
Flat 12 Bierwerks
The RAM Restaurant and Brewery (BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged - Winner)
Half Moon Brewery
Bloomington Brewing Co.
Barley Island Brewing Co.(BBIII: Wheats - Winner)
Bier Brewery (BBII: Stouts - Winner)
Three Wisemen Brewing Co. ( a new one to the competition!)
Rock Bottom (Rock Bottom Downtown - BBI: IPA - Winner)
Bulldog Brewing Co.
Fountain Square Brewery
Upland Brewing Co.
Iechyd Da Brewing Co. (welcome another newbie!)
Powerhouse Brewing Co.
Oaken Barrel Brewing Co. (Hi - newbie!)
Twisted Crew Brewing Co.
For some more recaps of the fun of Brew Bracket see our previous blogs:
BBI: IPA
BBII: Stouts
BBIII: Wheats
BBIV: Bourbon Barrel Aged
Also - Be on the look out for Kathleen and her new Beer Socks. Going red and white for Christmas!
Brew Bracket - Bourbon Barrel Aged Beer Edition
Unfortunatly our reporters were unable to attend Brew Bracket - Bourbon Barrel Aged Beer edition, but we bring you a recap from Brew Bracket's - Mike Sale:
After several rounds of tasting beers and Harrison bourbon, it was time for the reveal. The final two brewers standing were Andrew Castner’s Big Horn Maibock from RAM, and Jeff Eaton’s Barrel Aged Dirty Helen from Barley Island. After the votes were tallied, RAM was the last brewer standing that would take home the tap trophy.
Additional supply of both the winner and runner up will be tapped at their home bars later this season. And if you missed this event, stay tuned for a bracket of ambers, to be held at the fairground on December 8th. More information can be found at www.brewbracket.com. Cheers!
In a twist on the classic Brew Bracket event, the field was trimmed to eight brewers and participation limited to 150. But the style was wide open under the “Bourbon Barrel Aged Beer” category. Brewers could make any beer they wanted, but were required to age their beer in a bourbon barrel for a period of three months. Barrels were provided by Indiana’s own Harrison Bourbon, proving that great bourbon doesn't need to come from Kentucky. The event was hosted at Tomlinson Tap Room in Downtown Indianapolis on Saturday September 29th, with part of the proceeds benefiting the Greenways Foundation, a charitable trust created around building and improving Indiana’s running and biking trails.
Participating brewers and beers included:
Figure Eight Brewery (Valparaiso, IN): Jumbo Love, a Black Barleywine style Ale aged in a Harrison Bourbon barrel.
Triton Brewery (Indianapolis): Cherry Oatmeal Stout aged in a Harrison Bourbon barrel.
Bier Brewery (Indianapolis): Billy Baroo, a Russian Imperial Stout aged in a Harrison Bourbon barrel.
Flat 12 Bierwerks (Indianapolis): Jailbait Brown, a sour brown ale with milk sugar and tart cherry fermented in a Harrison Bourbon barrel.
RAM Restaurant & Brewery (Indianapolis): Big Horn Maibock aged in a Harrison Bourbon barrel.
Bloomington Brewing (Bloomington, IN): Dry Hopped Bourbon Rye IPA aged in a Harrison Bourbon barrel.
Peoples Brewing (Lafayette, IN): Duncan’s Scottish Ale aged in a Harrison Bourbon barrel.
Barley Island Brewing (Noblesville, IN): Barrel Aged Dirty Helen, an Imperial Brown Ale aged in a Harrison Bourbon barrel.
Additional supply of both the winner and runner up will be tapped at their home bars later this season. And if you missed this event, stay tuned for a bracket of ambers, to be held at the fairground on December 8th. More information can be found at www.brewbracket.com. Cheers!
Brew Bracket - Barrel Aged Beers
From the people who brought you --
Brew Bracket I: IPA
Brew Bracket II: Stouts
and
Brew Bracket III: Wheats
It is now time for
Brew Bracket
Barrel Aged Beers!
(BBBourbon)
Unlike previous Brew Bracket this one is only 8 breweries. A little more social fun time, participants will be up at the Tomlinson Tap Room and the beer will be brought to you! Along with a tastings of Harrison Bourbon
All of the beers will be aged in bourbon barrels from Harrison Bourbon, an Indiana Bourbon company. Indiana Beer - Indiana Bourbon. All in recognition of National Bourbon Heritage Month.
Interested in coming? - Below is the details
Event Details:
Saturday September 29th, 6-9PM
Tomlinson Tap Room in the City Market, Indianapolis
Ticket price: $45 (early bird special of $40 through July 29)
Tickets available here
Special Note - Winners from previous Brew Brackets are participating!
Hurry to get your tickets and get ready for one of the best Brew Bracket to come!
Also -- in the fall check out Brew Bracket IV - Amber.
Indiana Beer News June 23 12
indianabeer.com is having a "meet up and tweet up" at Tomlinson Tap Room in the Indianapolis City Market this coming Wednesday, June 27, 6 PM. Visits from some of our professional brewers, free gifts, and surprrises and a chance to grab a pint of great Indiana beer on tap at the TomTap Room! C'mon down! We'll also have a few copies of Bob Ostrander's book "Hoosier Beer...Tapping into Indiana Brewing History" for sale!
Visit FIVE central Indiana breweries on the first Indy Brew Trek bus! On Saturday, July 7, participants will meet at Thr3e WiseMen in Broad Ripple and be transported by bus to Triton brewery, Flat12 brewery, Fountain Square brewery, BlackSwan brewpub, and back to Thr3e WiseMen. All for $25 for the bus ride and most of the breweries will provide a taster or two and your chance to buy a pint or more at each place. Call Jeff at 317-432-8798 to find out Tickets on E-Bay
Triton Brewing is participating in the Lawrence 4th Festival with beer available. http://www.facebook.com/4thFest
Downtown Brew Pubs
Gettin' downtown to stroll around and find a pint?
RAM downtown has three seasonal beers on tap. The Ghost King IPA is a session IPA and a great Summer beer. Both the wit and the California Common (Steam) beer are very tasty for the Summer. The RIS is complex with appropriate high alcohol.
Rock Bottom downtown has a Summer honey blond for the season. There are actually EIGHT beer on tap right now.
Brewer Jerry of RB was busy getting his entries ready for the Brewer's Cup competition of the Indiana State Fair when we visited. Credits to Anita Johnson and Tom Stillabower for making this one of the top beer competitions in the U.S.
Just a short distance from Downtown, though not a brew pub,there is plenty of seating room at Fountain Square Brewery. the Summer offering would be their hefeweizen. But they just tapped a nugget IPA that is pretty tasty too.
Fountain Square, like most near-town brewers, has free parking.
SunKing -- remember, SunKing tap room will be closed starting July 4 until July 18 for renovation but right now they have their regulars plus Seasonals: Bitch'n Camaro and
Flat12 is at the Chatham Arch/Mass Av Brew-Ha-ha today until 7. with Cycle IPA, F12 Amber, Karousel Kolsch, Bourbon Barrel-aged Big Black Dog (68),Rye Stout, Moustache Ride Red, Bourbon Barrel-aged 12 Penny Scottish Ale, El Blanco Diablo Roble (The white oak devil – chili blonde aged in an oak barrel), Glitter Walkabout, Belgo Porter,
Fire Fly Wheat
Greenwood Freedom Fest includes a micro-brewery and wine 'garden' this year June 29-30, click for details
Again, meet up with us Wednesday! 6 PM TomTap at City Market!
Visit FIVE central Indiana breweries on the first Indy Brew Trek bus! On Saturday, July 7, participants will meet at Thr3e WiseMen in Broad Ripple and be transported by bus to Triton brewery, Flat12 brewery, Fountain Square brewery, BlackSwan brewpub, and back to Thr3e WiseMen. All for $25 for the bus ride and most of the breweries will provide a taster or two and your chance to buy a pint or more at each place. Call Jeff at 317-432-8798 to find out Tickets on E-Bay
Triton Brewing is participating in the Lawrence 4th Festival with beer available. http://www.facebook.com/4thFest
Downtown Brew Pubs
Gettin' downtown to stroll around and find a pint?
RAM downtown has three seasonal beers on tap. The Ghost King IPA is a session IPA and a great Summer beer. Both the wit and the California Common (Steam) beer are very tasty for the Summer. The RIS is complex with appropriate high alcohol.
Rock Bottom downtown has a Summer honey blond for the season. There are actually EIGHT beer on tap right now.
Brewer Jerry of RB was busy getting his entries ready for the Brewer's Cup competition of the Indiana State Fair when we visited. Credits to Anita Johnson and Tom Stillabower for making this one of the top beer competitions in the U.S.
Just a short distance from Downtown, though not a brew pub,there is plenty of seating room at Fountain Square Brewery. the Summer offering would be their hefeweizen. But they just tapped a nugget IPA that is pretty tasty too.
Fountain Square, like most near-town brewers, has free parking.
SunKing -- remember, SunKing tap room will be closed starting July 4 until July 18 for renovation but right now they have their regulars plus Seasonals: Bitch'n Camaro and
Flat12 is at the Chatham Arch/Mass Av Brew-Ha-ha today until 7. with Cycle IPA, F12 Amber, Karousel Kolsch, Bourbon Barrel-aged Big Black Dog (68),Rye Stout, Moustache Ride Red, Bourbon Barrel-aged 12 Penny Scottish Ale, El Blanco Diablo Roble (The white oak devil – chili blonde aged in an oak barrel), Glitter Walkabout, Belgo Porter,
Fire Fly Wheat
Greenwood Freedom Fest includes a micro-brewery and wine 'garden' this year June 29-30, click for details
Again, meet up with us Wednesday! 6 PM TomTap at City Market!
Brew Bracket III - The Wheat is On!
There wasn't a better way to spend last Saturday, when it was all rainy, than to be at the Exhibition Hall
of the Indiana State Fairgrounds
A quick overview for our readers who haven't heard of Brew Bracket. It is a 4 Round, blind taste testing of a select style of beer made by 16 Indiana breweries. 400 attendees get to vote and their votes are the only ones who count in choosing the winning brew.
It is 4 hours of beer drinking, food snacking, swag snatching, raffle wining, tweet walling fun!
Below are the participants who came to bracket for a brew bracket showdown:
Tasting started up a little after one. Each participant gets two tasting glasses - one gray and one orange. The volunteers at each of the four corners are trained double pour professionals. They are quick to get each person a taste and keep the line moving.
Round 1A was had some nice choices, but it wasn't until Round 1B that I met up with my favorite, later divulged as The RAM's Currant and Clove wheat --
I was all for this brew to win. Even though it was fought against by many other attendees. That is another uniqueness to Brew Bracket. While at the event there is a live tweet wall where attendees using the hash-tag #BBWheats can get their comments up on the wall for twitter, Brew Bracket and all to see. The goal is to get #BBWheats trending in Indianapolis, as in the fall when #BBStouts trended. This time was a more antics than brew talk but a good share of love and dislike of brews were shared.
Back to the beer.
That is the best part about this competition is trying and seeing what flavor and styles do you like the best, all in one place, all for one flat fee.
I will say that I was happy that again some of the breweries went out of the box and made something special for Brew Bracket, but the sad part is you may never get a chance to try again because it was special.
The brewery I was cheering for in the beginning along with others turned in brews that are part of their regular or semi regular lineups. Like the winner: Barley Island Brewing Co - Sheet Metal Blonde - It is their Belgian Style Wit available in bottles and all year long.
Overall, the whole time there was a blast. I got to try new beers. I had people go crazy over my beer socks. (see below) and the pretzel necklaces that my group was wearing were a desired commodity. (Hint, Hint Brew Bracket - I suggest getting those together for selling in BB: IV)
Mike and Ryan of Brew Bracket, DoitIndy, Nuvo, all the volunteers and everyone did a great job and about $1500 was raised for the charity - SCI Hope Fund!
My thoughts - if you are still learning or curious about beer.. check out the next Brew Bracket event in the fall.
You won't regret it! -- Kathleen
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