Phoenix Theatre Brew-Ha-Ha 2011

Another year, another day of perfect weather for the Phoenix Theatre Brew-Ha-Ha. Ha Ha. This was the first year in a while that 90°+ wasn’t the bane of all the breweries and attendees. Indeed, a nice day and a huge crowd.

The Lebanon American Legion calliope boat/trailer entertained the set-up crews before the bands (Bobbie Lancaster, Finding Fred, and The Subpoenas) played.

Fountain Square Brewing Co. made their public debut with   a wide range of test beers and an innovative 1 litre backkpack pourer working the crowd.

 

Jeff Eaton (Barley Island) and Tom Hynes (Three Pints Brewpub) discussed the business of suburban brewpubs.

Roderick and Kiera Landess are expanding their brewery in Richmond

Sun King, the Ram and others had special pourings through the day.

 

 

 

It didn’t take long for the block to become crowded. Two hours into the festival it became very crowded. We’re not going to speculate on the count but next year an attendee limit or a larger venue will be likely.

People who live on that block of Park Ave. were, again, very gracious, helping both brewers and the crowd alike. By 5pm, the lines stretched from door to across the street at Sun King, Half Moon, Upland, Broad Ripple Brewpub, Thr3e Wise Men, Bier, The Rock Bottoms, People’s, Bee Creek, Power House, and every other brewery pouring (as this 1-minute video shows).

And the typical line at the portapotties. This one was odd that it stretched across Abbey Road.

 

All in all, a lot of people got to try a lot of good beer. Cavalier was pouring from their excellent repertoire, breweries were pouring from their back rooms, food was good and not overpriced. People realized they needed to get a sample and immediately stand in the next line. The 16th year of good times for the Phoenix Theatre Brew-Ha-Ha.

Indiana Beer News – June 6

Lafayette Brewing this month: Golden Lady IPA is back. Oatis Brown comes in mid-June.

Flat 12 Bierwerks gets ink and lots of moving pixels in an 11-minute episode of Travel by the Pint. They’ve just added new fermenters in a project to double production for the Big Woods Pizza soon to open across the alley. article

The HBG Knights take on the Ram.

Bloomington’s Craft Beer Festival reports:

• Roger Baylor liked the smaller crowd, the location, but Keg Liquors’ Fest of Ale got shorted.
• There’s some arty pictures, some from the CBF.
• The Indiana Daily Student had a strategy.

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

• Tues: Tapping of Flat 12 Tangerine Porter. Sonka Irish Pub, Terre Haute
• Wed: Tapping of Buffalo Gold Ale. Rock Bottom, 86th St. Indy. 6pm
• Wed: Flat 12 is the guest brewery. Barley Island Restaurant and Brewhouse, Broad Ripple. 6pm
• Wed: Here's To Beer, non-credit IUS course. New Albanian's Public House. 6:30-8:30pm. $65. Session 1/4.
• Wed – Sat: Germanfest, Headwaters Park, Ft. Wayne. 11am-midnight
• Thurs: Tapping of A Few Hops More. Sun King. 6-9pm

Breweries: The Brewing News is looking for summer beers for the 4th Global Warming Open. Deadline, June 9th.

Wisconsin is not without its charms. Beer, cheese, snowmobiles, Madison in general, but the current government seems to suck. Now they have taken MillerCoors money for a bill to make brewpubs, selling growlers onsite, and self distributing all illegal. article

The Wisconsin bill, if bought here in Indiana by, say, Zink or Monarch, would put the following Indiana breweries in violation: Back Road, Barley Island, Bee Creek, Bier, Big Woods, Bloomington, Broad Ripple, Brugge, Crown, Figure Eight, Flat 12, Granite City, Great Crescent, Half Moon, Lafayette, Lil’ Charlies, Mad Anthony, NABC, New Boswell, Oaken Barrel, People’s, Power House, Ram, Rock Bottom, Shoreline, Sun King, Three Floyds, Three Pints, Thr3e Wise Men, Turoni’s, Upland, and Wilbur. Yes, you’re right, that’s all of them.

PR: Bloomington Craft Beer Fest – Cutters Brewing Co.

Reprinted press release:

BLOOMINGTON (May 19, 2011) – The newest microbrewery in Bloomington will be making it’s premiere at the inaugural Bloomington Craft Beer Fest on Saturday, June 4th, 2011. Cutters Brewing Co. Cutters Brewing Co. is owned and operated by long time friends and accomplished homebrewers Monte Speicher and Chris Inman as well as their spouses and business partners Amanda Speicher and Emma Inman.

They recently received government approval to brew at their brewery at 1927 S. Curry Pike. Their hand crafted and packaged beers will be available for purchase in and around Bloomington in late June. The public will be able to sample Cutters’ Monon Wheat, Empire Imperial Stout, and Half Court IPA at the Bloomington Craft Beer Fest.

Other Indiana breweries that will be offer beer samples includes: Bloomington’s Upland Brewing and Bloomington Brewing Company; Nashville’s Big Woods Brewing Company; New Albany’s New Albanian Brewing Company; Brazil’s Bee Creek Brewing Company; Evansville’s Turoni’s Main Street Brewery; Indianapolis’ Sun King Brewing Company, Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery (Downtown and College Park), Brugge Brasserie, Broad Ripple Brewpub, and Flat 12 Bierwerks; Plainfield’s Three Pints Brewpub; Noblesville’s Barley Island Brewing Company; Kokomo’s Half Moon Brewery and Restaurant; Lafayette’s People’s Brewing and Lafayette Brewing Company; Munster’s Three Floyds Brewing Company; Valparaiso’s Figure Eight Brewing Company; and Fort Wayne’s Mad Anthony Brewing Company.

The festival will be held on the property surrounding the Woolery Mill at 2200 West Tapp Road.

Tickets will be on sale at www.IndianaBeerFest.com. General admission tickets are $35 and include admission, a commemorative tasting glass, a tasting guide, and access to over 120 beers in 2 ounce pours. Parking at the festival will cost $10, but a free shuttle is being offered to and from the festival. The shuttle service will include stops at IU Stadium’s Purple Lot and downtown Bloomington on College Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets.

For those bringing a designated driver, admission for them is $10 but includes free parking and free soft drinks and bottled water.

A special “Bloomington Breweries Tour” tickets are being offered for $90. It includes lunch, tours and beer samples at Upland Brewing Company and Bloomington Brewing Company, admission into the Bloomington Craft Beer Fest, and bus transportation.

The Brewers of Indiana Guild, along with Best Beers, Bloomington Brewing Company, and Upland Brewing Company, are proud to present the first annual Bloomington Craft Beer Fest on Saturday, June 4^th, 2011 from 3pm to 7pm. The festival is also sponsored by Big Red Liquors, 92.3 WTTS, and VisitBloomington.com .

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Hoosier Hills Food Bank and the Sycamore Land Trust.

Oct. 14 - more....

Bloomington's Big Red Beer Fest kicks off tonight, Thursday, Oct. 14 6 -9, and continues tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 15, 6-9 @ the Bloomington Convention Center, 302 S. College which is 2 blocks south of the town Square. Tickets are $30 Thursday and $35 Friday and can be purchased at local Big Red Liquor stores. Beermeisters from all over including Indianapolis and Louisville will be present with beer samples.