Indiana Beer News - September 15

New Albanian says 22-oz bombers of Jaxon, Yakima and Tunnel Vision will hit Indiana real soon now.

Three Floyds - November 12^th is their 15th Anniversary party. 2500 tickets will be sold starting sometime to be announced. The XV beer will be a collaboration between 3F, Surly, Mikkeller, and Struise. "We are brewing Surly Darkness, Mikkeller’s Beer Geek Brunch, De Struise’s Black Albert, and our Dark Lord Imperial Stout. All these beers will be blended to create our XV beer for maximum ass kickery." Bottles of XV will be $30 each at the party.

Indy's upcoming Black Acre Brewing Co. gets ink at the Indy Star. article

Prohibition: Ken Burns 3-part documentary will air on your local PBS station probably Oct 2, 3, 4, at 8pm. The parts are titled A Nation of Drunkards, A Nation of Scofflaws, and A Nation of Hypocrites.

The UK is looking at raised taxes on beer of over 7.5%. Right now a 7.6% ABV pint has duty of 80 pence. Shen the new budget goes into effect that will be just over £1. It's a sliding scale so the average raise on barleywines and the like will be over £1. That's at the brewery, not at the pump. (Back to American English) A 6-pack of, say Fuller's Vintage Ale, Gales Prize Old Ale, an Imperial Russian Stout, or Traquair House Jacobite will cost an extra $5 over here.

Wheats from unexpected places. Weihenstephaner White Hoplosion. Amstel Wheat.

Top 10 Oktoberfests outside Germany including Zinzinnati and Ho Chi Minh City.

32 beer tattoos. That is all.

Want More to do this Week (9/12-9/17) - Go Beer!

A small addition to Bob's wonderful beer update :) & IndianaBeer.com's Calender  update -->

Tonight 9/12  -  Ale Emporium - Tapping @ 6pm - Bell's Brewery "Oracle" - DIPA
Tuesday 9/13 - Thr3e Wisemen Brewery  - Tapping @ 6pm - Strong Scotch Ale
Saturday 9/17 - Hoosier Hops and Harvest Festival - in Brown County
Saturday 9/17 - FalltoBeerFest - Beer Seller in Indianapolis.. (Castleton) from 4pm-5pm


We'd love to hear if you have more events or information on current beer festivities! :)

Indiana Beer News - September 12

This week in stuff to do. (see http://www.indianabeer.com/calendar.html for more).

• Today:  Sandkerwa begins at New Albanian's Public House. All beers Bavarian (including Bamberg). Continues for a couple of weeks.
• Tues, Sept 13 - Rocktoberfest tapping. Rock Bottom, Downtown Indy. 6-8pm. 
• Thurs, Sept 15 - Official Grand Opening of Triton Brewing. Lawrence.
• Fri, Sept 16 - Great Lakes Brew Fest. Racine, WI.
• Sat, Sept 17 - Fall Fest. Back Road, La Porte. w/ Ein Prosit band. 1-5pm. $20.

Brewers Art Supply has moved a couple of blocks to 1425 Wells St. in Fort Wayne. Francie and Joe have filled their new digs with grain, hops, etc. and out back is a pleasant, shaded courtyard for special events.

 Triton soft-opened last Saturday with Jon Lang's first batch of beer - a root beer - and a full set of guest taps. That day, Jon was in the back room brewing an American Wheat - the first beer that will hit the taps.

Figure 8 Brewing is in the early stages of moving to a 12,000 sq ft building on the south west corner of the Porter County courthouse square (Indiana & Washington Sts. in Valpo). They will devote 1,800 sq ft to a full restaurant and the back room to an expanded brewery with bottling.

Right now, F8 has Date Night with Jumbo Love on tap. Jumbo Love is their Black Barleywind (10%) and the Date Night name references the use of Medjool dates in the recipe.

 Figure 8's new place

 The county courthouse is reflected in the window

Crown Brewing is also expanding. Adding 2 more fermenters to the already-crowded brewhouse. Next year a separate brewery with a 15bbl system is in the plans. The new fermenters are part of a 7bbl extract system they bought at auction and the rest of those vessels are available for sale. Contact Tim Walsh.

We missed Tim Marshall's last brew at Rock Bottom Lombard/Yorktown, IL. (He named it "Good Riddance IPA"). Davin Bartosch is taking his place.

The  Bulldog Brewing Co in Whiting has the essential stainless steel in place and the furniture ready to become a full brewpub. It has a long bar and stool seating on one side and table seating for 30 on the other side. The back of the mash tun and boiler are in the front window. They have "We're hiring" signs in the window and might be opening this autumn.

 Future home of the Bulldog in Whiting

Sam and company have been working since last January on the back rooms at the extensive Shoreline building to make room for a 30 bbls system and bottling works. New walk-ins, a cask room (now with 23 barrels for next year's release with plans and space to double that in the future). There's still a lot of work to do so don't expect 12oz bottles until next spring.

Back Road is now open Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Sun. Chuck really should put that on their web site. My apologies for dropping in at crunch time.

Rock Bottom, Downtown Indy's Rocktoberfest tapping is Tues, Sept 13th. $1 of every Rocktoberfest sold goes to Miracle on Washington Street.

Oaken Barrel will be tapping their Oaktoberfest on Sept 17th.

We've lined up a couple more Hoosier Beer book signings to bother you with. Sept 22nd at Barley Island. Oct 12 at Shoreline.

Headline: Brewing Mecca: Wet your whistle in Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan

The neo-prohibitionist Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking is back. Director and sole employee Lisa Hutcheson calls for more taxes, etc. article

Labor Day Beer Trek

This labor day was a little quieter than previous weeks with the beer festivities at least for me.


However... I was able to take part in a little trip down south to Bloomington to visit a couple of breweries.


First stop was at Upland Brewing Company . Most Hoosiers know of this company, since they have been one of Indiana's top micro brewers for the past 13 years.  This was my first time actually visiting the brew pub. I have had many samples of Upland during beer fests and at local bars but there is always something better about coming to the place where all it comes together.

I arrived to Upland a little before noon.. (hey.. it's always 5 o'clock somewhere).. and right of the bat ordered a sample set of all 7 drafts available along with the spinach and artichoke dip to help snack in between sampling. 


(I was slightly disappointed that they didn't have their Bad Elmer's Porter which is usually a year around beer on tap, but the selection available seemed to be a good variety.)


<-- From bottom to the right I went around the board..

My order of tasting was:
1. Double Dragonfly Imperial IPA
Despite the high IBU, this was very nice IPA. I could even see myself drinking more of it. Even with the floral notes in the aroma. 
2. Rad Red Amber Ale
3. Helios Pale Ale 
Both of these were drinkable but not distinctive enough for my taste. However, they are smooth enough for anyone to drink. 
4. Wheat Ale 
I liked that this was a Belgian Wit  instead of more of a weissbier. The orange peels that were added during brewing gave it a nice light citrusy taste, however I prefer a lemon flavor more with my witbeirs than orange, but overall a very nice brew. 
5. Oktoberfest
As the Amber Ale and Pale ale previously, the Oktoberfest was a smooth beer but didn't have me craving more. 
6. Nut Hugger Brown Ale 
Another festival tasted brew.. but in this line up stood out more given the carmelness of the malts. 
7. Mother's Milk Stout 
If you read my review of HBG5 then you know this is one was on top of my list from the beginning. 

After visiting Upland, I will say I had more of an appreciation for their beers, even the ones that are not my typical profile choices. I do suggest if you get a chance to visit their Bloomington Brew Pub or at least their tasting room in BroadRipple. You may be surprised as well.


 After Upland and the scenic tour of Brown County, the next brewery I visited has only been on the map for 2 years.  Big Woods Brewing Company literally sits in the heart of Brown County's crafts district.

 (which is a pain to find parking, but fun if you are on foot.) 

If you'd like More information on Big Woods can be found from Bob's blog from 2010: Big Woods Addition.

Sitting at Big Woods Brew Pub is by the honor's code, as in they don't have a hostess and you line up on the porch. It's a small brew pub, but it has a small friendly staff. After a brief wait, a table was free and I got to order their sample flight and an appetizer. 

Sample of  7

My samples from left to right where:

• Busted Knuckle Ale -- a hybrid ale.. with the color of a porter but the taste of an ale.
• Cat Tail Wheat -- an American Wheat, however had more weiss taste. The orange slice addition actually was a little too much. 
• Six Foot Blonde -- a soft blonde ale
• Possum Trot Pale -- followed by a soft pale ale
• Hare Trigger IPA -- this one was actually the "winner" of this round of sampling. a figuratively light IPA with only an IBU of 75. I preferred it above all the rest because it had more of a robust flavor than the other 6. 
• John's Red Ale -- an easy drinking red ale
• Tim's Big Woods Stout -- a light tasting stout. It seduced me by name, color and smell but left me hanging with no richness that I have come accustomed to with stouts. 

As you can see overall the beer was OK, but my expectations were set high with a name like Big Woods... I was hoping for Big Flavor. 


I would however go back to Big Woods Brewing Company because the pulled pork nachos were amazing.


Both breweries should definitely be on the map to try for yourself, mostly because no one know can tell you what you'll like.. you just have to go experience yourself.   I know that trying the IPAs from both places made me rethink my stance on hoppier beers, but I could have been under the influence of my Flat12 Bierworks shirt -- "Hopheaded Stepchild" 


In the end.. I want to say thank you Upland and Big Woods for the visit.. hope to see you again soon!

Indiana Beer News - September 6

Three Floyds' Region Riot is an 8.1% malt liquor complete with corn. Released before Labor Day.

Tonya Cornett gets ink in the Wall Street Journal. "Secrets of a Blue-Ribbon Brewmaster". large article

Twenty Tap, Kevin and Tracy Matalucci's pub at 54th & College is now open. Kevin, as you know, has been the brewer at the Broad Ripple Brewpub for 17 years, so expect 20 taps of good beer and first reports say the food is excellent. 

Butler Winery's annual hop sale is on. Here are the details.

Indiana Beer News - September 1

This weekend and beyond (includes next week because I'll be on the road in northern Indiana. Stop in at Mad Anthony's or Beer Geeks and say hi.

• Thurs, Sept 1 - Oktoberfest Tapping. Sun King. Indy 6-9pm
• Thurs, Sept 1 - Rhineland Kolsch tapping. Ram Fishers. 6:30. (also some 2009 Barrel-aged Buttface Amber)
• Fri, Sept 2 -  Opening of Triton Brewing. Lawrence. 3pm-10pm.
• Sat, Sept 3 - Kennywood Brewing Supply 2nd anniversary. Crown Point. 11:30am-7pm   
• Tues, Sept 6 - Book Signing for Hoosier Beer. 6:30 boring speech. 7:30 Pub Quiz. Mad Anthony, Ft. Wayne. No charge
• Wed, Sept 7 - Tapping of Harvest Ale. Rock Bottom, 86th St. Indy. 6pm
• Wed, Sept 7 - Book Signing for Hoosier Beer. 6:30 boring speech. 7:30 Pub Quiz. Beer Geeks Pub, Highland. No charge. 
• Thurs, Sept 8 -  Big Horn Oktoberfest tapping. Ram Downtown Indy. 6pm.
• Fri, Sept 9 -  Mad Anthony Octobeerfest Golf Outing. Ft. Wayne
• Sat, Sept 10 - Mad Anthony Octobeerfest. Ft. Wayne
• Sat, Sept 10 -  ZooBrew, South Bend. 7-10pm. $35
   Barley Island, Four Horsemen, Mad Anthony, Oaken Barrel, Three Floyds, Upland
• Sun, Sept 12 -  Sandkerwa begins at New Albanian's Public House, New Albany. All beers Bavarian (including Bamberg). Continues the rest of the month.

 

 

At the Taste of Kokomo, Half Moon and the Howard Co. Homebrew Club gave brewing lessons but Half Moon didn't win the ribs competition. article

Triton Brewing will open this Friday, Sept 2nd.

We found Snaps Steakhouse; 12 and Main in Jasper - worth a visit.Steaks, seafood, pasta, sandwiches and 8 taps including BBC, Bells, FFF, Schlafly, Stone. $2 pints on Tuesdays. They seem to have the largest mug club around - 3 walls are covered in engraved 25oz mugs and members get their filled for $1 more than a pint. The building is directly across the street from the the site of the Excelsior brewery (1849-1916) which osened it as the Queen City Saloon (below). Now it's owned by Kim Mitchell and Dave Englert - Zack Mitchell is the barman.

 

The Hoosier Beer book signing in Evansville had about 16 people and the OHVA crew won the pub quiz (below). In New Albany at a smaller, 6-person turnout Roger Baylor swept the quiz playing alone.

Roger reports Jesse Williams is now with Huber winery - as you remember, Jared Williamson is now with Schlafly. Don't get them confused.

Sara's Harmony Way is selling Harmonie Bier at her small antique shop / lunch place in New Harmony. It's Great Crescent's Replicale (Dark Lager). here are the details - The sign says "Indiana's 1st Beer".

The popular Upland tasting room in Indianapolis will be selling pints every day and has new hours: Sun-Thurs 4pm-10pm. Fri + Sat: Noon - Midnight

Re: last weekend's Midwest Brewers Festival in Plainfield, IL: " Overall, some 3,000 to 4,000 people braved the devastatingly perfect weather to walk along the river and try beer from nearly 60 brewers."

Guinness Black Lager to be launched nationally in September

I Dug into Indiana at Dig-IN

The second annual Dig-IN at White River State Park  this past Sunday was my first experience at a combined food, wine, and beer festival. 

For $20 in advance.. attendees were able to have unlimited samples of beer, wine, artisans goods and with a passport, one sample from each of the chefs, with 5 bonus picks.  As a volunteer.. I shared about 3 1/2 hours of my time and received this for free. (hint, hint.. I highly suggest volunteering next year) 

There was more wineries to sample than breweries.. However I was able to sample from the following: 

Black Swan Brew Pub - A newly brewed Cream Stout.  First I was surprised, because I didn't know that Black Swan was brewing a Cream Stout, but the cold malty brew was very rich and satisfying, with the right touch of sweetness. 

Barley Island - Flat Top Wheat - pretty smooth wheat beer.   I go back and forth on wheat beers. This is a year-round staple at Barley Island, usually served with a lemon. I think the lemon helps the flavor profile of the beer. 

Flat 12 Bierwerks - Pogue's Run Porter. I have a growler of this at home already, but why pass up a good thing? 

Most of the breweries were in the beer tent for sales. If you bought a Dig-IN pint glass you got a free refill from one of the breweries.  My beer of this summer has been Harvey from Brugge Brasserie . A sour ale brewed with fresh blackberries. I had my first taste of Harvey at the Bloomington Brew Fest in June and have made many trips to Brugge Brasserie for more.  So of course I had to get a pint of Harvey when I saw it was available at Dig-IN:

The food and wine available was also very delicious. Even though there was 25 options for food, I was full after about 10! The wineries also gave away Dig-IN wine glasses with samples. 

All in all.. Dig-IN was a great experience to try new cuisine, support Indiana, and I hope to see all of you next year on August 26th for the 3rd annual Dig-IN. 

Hoosier Beer Geek's 5th Anniversary Party

If you are fan of festivals such as the Indiana Microbrewers' festival,

then you would've loved going to the Hoosier Beer Geek's 5th Anniversary Party. 

From 6pm - 11pm this past Saturday, Sun King Brewery's Tasting room opened their doors to 150 people in celebration of the team that continues to inform the masses, support the festivals and amuse beer lovin' Hoosiers. 

I was very happy to be 1 out of the 150 in attendance. 

Shortly after the party started (or fashionably late), I proudly walked in with my yellow Beer Knee Highs and Bier Brewery shirt and received a warm welcome from Rodney, Gina and other Hoosier Beer Geek associates at the door.  Thanks to the power of the Internets and Twitter, I was recognized as the new reporter for IndianaBeer.com. (which made me quite ecstatic to be "known" )

I was handed a one of a kind pint glass with an HBG5 logo on one side and Sun King Brewery on the other along with 5 red tickets for 5- 16oz pours of delicious beer of my choice. The glass is also how I was able to get unlimited samples of the 30+ beers available. Lastly I was also given a raffle ticket for the prize drawing to be take place later in the evening. 

Now, Ok.. I know you all are thinking enough with the small stuff.. Let's get to the beer! 

Out of the 30+  beers available, I actually only sampled 10 beers and used three of my pint tickets. Of course you make think.. in 5 hours that is not enough beer, well my friends.. let's just say the team behind the taps, were more than generous with their samples. 

In numerical order.. the beers of my night were:

Stone Brewing Co. - Sublimely Self Righteous Ale 

Brugge Brasserie - SuperKitty Fantastico!

Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company - Hoosier Beer Geek Double Brown

Barley Island Brewing Company - Barrel-Fermented Rust Belt Porter 

RAM Brewery - Bjava Disorder Porter
The St. Louis Brewing Company aka Schlafly - Raspberry Coffee Stout
 Sun King - A Few More Hops 

Flat12 Bierwerks -  Nunmoere Black 

Founders - Cerise
Upland Brewing Company -  Mother's Milk
 

The pint winners were:

 The RAM's Bjava Disorder Porter -

 a well blended mix of B-Java coffee beans and the RAM's Total disorder porter

The best of two worlds Coffee & Beer

Brugge Brasserie's SuperKitty Fantastico! - 

a barrel aged tripel, 

which surprised me because my tripel experience always has me comparing the beer to bananas

Upland Brewing Company's Mother's Milk -

a creamy malty milk stout

I'm a sucker for stouts

All the samples were fantastic and even though Founders and Schlafly are not Indiana beers, I highly suggest going and sampling the Founders - Cerise and the Schlafly - Raspberry Coffee Stout if you can, especially if you like a small fruit like sensation in your brew. 

In addition to all the beer goodness, Papa Roux  spiced up the night with make your own po-boys and cheesy etouffee.

As the beer clock ticked towards the end of the night.. Jason from HBG held a raffle. Some raffle winners won Hoosier Beer Geek wears or local brewery goods. Some lucky people took home growlers!  This gal was given a t-shirt from Triton Brewing Company from a winner for her beer shirt collection. 

Other highlights of the evening was meeting Jim and Jason from HBG, talking with Tara and others from Bier Brewery and interacting with many of my fellow beer aficionados.. which that part was mostly due to my socks. 

All in all a very good night for beer indeed!


And in closing I want to say:

Thank you Hoosier Beer Geek & Sun King for a fun night and I look forward to HBG6!

August 29 part 2 - Good News for next August

Farm Bureau Votes To Support Alcohol at the State Fair. "Over the weekend, delegates from all 92 Indiana counties set policy for Indiana Farm Bureau for the coming year. In a surprise move, Farm Bureau voted in favor of beer and wine at the Indiana State Fair." They don't mention it's a state law but their support will carry weight in next January's statehouse session. article

Lets send a dozen Bacon Roses to the Farm Bureau.