30 June 2011

KOTBR #129 - A Local Brew in a Kick Ass Neighborhood Bar


Hidden in the depths of Mass Ave (if you consider crossing the cultural trail as depths) lies a building that is currently unmarked. If you are brave enough to step through the door (it's really not that scary) you will be rewarded with a thoughtful list of small plates, entrees, and desserts. Not to mention a fantastic selection of wine and local craft beer. You can even sit at one of the fine communal tables and get to know your neighbor, which I recommend. If instead, you sit at the bar, you will see a unique lighting fixture above your head, a very cool, very rustic beam with the lights embedded in the thick wood. They really did a beautiful job with the space and I look forward to going as often as I can. Very cozy and sophisticated without being stuffy.

The food at Black Market is nothing short of spectacular. We tried each of the small plates and were enamored with them all. The selections are a perfect mix of fine dining and comfort food. They offer brunch on Sundays, and lunch and dinner service during the week (closed on Mondays).

We usually hold out on reviewing new breweries until they've had some time to find their footing. We figured it was time, so we chose Flat12's Pogue's Run Porter. A nice, roasty nose followed by a pleasantly sweet caramel flavor. This is the favorite of Rob, their brewer, and it shows. 3.2 Mugs

I'll let my colleagues discuss Black Market in more detail. I'll just say that if you're into the gastropub thing (and Black Market is a true gastropub), you should get to Black Market as soon as possible. Otherwise, I'm certain that you're going to be waiting awhile for a table when you finally visit, especially as word gets out about this welcome addition to Indianapolis's roster of independent restaurants.

So let's turn to Flat12 Bierwerks' Pogue's Run Porter. Every brewery in this city has its forte. To name a few, Sun King has Osiris Pale Ale, Brugge has Tripel de Ripple, Broad Ripple Brewpub has Monon Porter, Barley Island has Dirty Helen Brown Ale, and Thr3e Wise Men has Golden Zoe IPA. Pogue's Run Porter is Flat12's forte, and it's a beer that Flat12 brewers Rob and Josh do amazingly well. I had this beer for the first time in March at Flat12's tasting room (which you should visit soon if you haven't been to this rustically cool space) and was immediately impressed by the beer, so much so that I couldn't stop at just one pint. My experience with the beer when I had it on tap at Black Market was just as good. Pogue's Run Porter is dominated by cocoa and brown sugar notes, with hints of raisins and dates. It has a pleasing, medium mouthfeel, a subtle sweetness, and a faintly hoppy finish. In short, it stands up well to any good American porter (for example, Founders Porter). If I were to put together a stash of Indiana beers for my zombie apocalypse shelter, Pogue's Run Porter would be one of the beers that got top shelf status. Of course, I'd have to convince the brewery to put it in cans or bottles first. How about it, Flat12? 4.15 Mugs.


I must start by saying that I love the beer style known as porter. It is a very old style of beer originating in England in the early 1700s. Porter is a style that really helped turned my craft beer enthusiasm into a craft beer obsession. It was the first style that really made me seek out as many other historical and creative examples as I could. I've traded, traveled for, or bought just about every type of porter that I can can get my hands on. American, English, Irish, Russian, Finnish, Australian, and hopefully I will be able to continue seeing someones newest take on either the historical English version or what porter has morphed into in the US. I've gone out of my way to try historical reproductions, home brewing many Washington porters (the first porter in the US, by George Washington himself), and studying the porter style more than any other. Fun fact, did you know that Guinness was still called a porter until 1974 until the name stout was added to it? And that Guinness still retains the historical brewing technique by using young and old (sour) beer? That technically makes Guinness the most widely brewed and consumed sour beer in the world. Porters were truly one of the first styles of beer that gave a country a beer reputation, and to this day I think it is most heavily associated with Ireland, but still have a very large appeal in Britain after almost disappearing from the brewing culture. I don't often get to geek out on the porter style as my wife tells me to shut my mouth when I start rambling about it. I also don't like that the BJCP makes brewers put true historical examples with a "sour" twang or brettanomyces into the specialty category, but that is how they are separated. Porter is a style that I can drink at any time and in any situation. Onto the Flat 12's version of their American porter.


This was the very first beer that I had from Flat 12 right before they opened, and the beer that I've had the most from them. It is the only beer I've ever bought from a growler from them, and the beer that I order the most from them. I've had their other offerings on tap, but this beer is truly the finest beer that they make. I don't mean for that to sound like a slam against their other offerings, but for me this is their finest beer. I mean to buy another beer at the tap house, but I just never buy anything other than the porter in a growler. I think this beer is a great mashup of the American brown porter and robust porter. It has very good hints of chocolate and a sweet toffee-liked roasted grain flavor to it. What I like most about this beer is how refreshing and quaff-able this beer is drinking. The mouthfeel is smooth and medium bodied. It is a porter that is drinkable all year long. 4.0 Mugs

I also must say do yourself and favor and get down to The Black Market. Indiana is so chain resturant driven, and if you look at the stats, one of the lesser drinking craft beer states, but places like the Black Market are really helping to change that perception. They have a solid tap and bottle list, and we had all of the appetizer plates they offered. I would recommend the tongue and pork belly. I just love the space and feel in there. I will certainly be a repeat customer.


I've been reading Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard's Let My People Go Surfing lately. Patagonia's focus lies not in being the first to do something - Chouinard refers to borrowing or outright theft of ideas more than once in the book - but to doing those things better than anyone else and making them your own.

Black Market is not a unique idea - owner Ed Rudisell admitted that many of the ideas came from restaurants in other cities - but it is exactly the sort of restaurant Indianapolis needs more of; Confident in who we are as Hoosiers, from the updated Indiana classics on the menu, to the shared spaces that show faith in the idea of Hoosier hospitality and Indianapolis community, and a beer menu that places its focus on our breweries.

As we gathered as the Knights of the Beer Roundtable, we made our way through the appetizers: house pickles (including pickled egg), welsh rarebit on bread made from Broad Ripple Brewpub's spent grain, locally sourced duck buns, and a pork belly dish that turns the idea of pork and beans on its head. All left us happy. Happy enough - in the case of Gina and I - that we returned the next evening to take on a few entrees. The pork schnitzel and duck dumplings did not disappoint.


To call Flat12 Beirwerks a unique idea would also be false - they were the first of many to come who look to follow in Sun King's business model, building a production-only brewery and an audience from the inside out. As a result they're often compared to their near-eastside neighbors, a rivalry unfair to both. The doors Sun King opened were always doors - it's to their credit that they may have opened them wide enough for others to walk through.

Although the Indianapolis market has gotten more competitive as of late, craft still only makes up 2-some percent of the Indianapolis market (as of last I've heard), lagging far behind the 4.9% national average. As breweries begin to dot the Indiana landscape - I heard another one just the other day, a special new brewery (on the northwest side, in case you're wondering) - awareness goes up, and hopefully market share follows. It doesn't matter who was there first - only whose beer you loved first, and how it opened the door for you.

Flat12 Porter (or Pogue's Run Porter) is a beer that stands on its own and can open doors. A deep brown body, cocoa powder nose - this porter is definitely on the sweeter end of the scale, balancing fruity elements with a hint of cocoa on the back end. Further in and warmer, more of that cocoa powder comes out, but the sweetness never goes away. It's a highly drinkable porter that can be equally appreciated by old drinkers as well as new ones. 3.4 Mugs


Flat 12's Pogue's Run Porter is my favorite beer in the Flat 12 lineup, so it's probably good that we reviewed this one first! Up front, this porter greets you with the subtle scent of roasted grains, french roast coffee, cocoa and a touch of sweetness. The kind of understated nose that a porter should have. The mouthfeel isn't too heavy but carries and interesting creamy character. Flavors of cocoa and roasted barley are the stars of the show, but a bit of sugar and charred bread can be found in the background. Overall this is a very solid, roasty porter that flirts with the idea of a sweet stout. A nice porter, any time of the year. 3.4 mugs


Oh and the Black Market? Holy crap does this place have character. Between the communal tables, mixed materials and great lighting, there isn't much I could say negative about this place. Every small plate we tried was excellent and I would order them all again. A lot of thought obviously went in to each dish and it shows. I'm crossing my fingers that the 2-way liquor license keeps the crowds down, but a bar with an atmosphere this polished is going to be packed in no time. I highly encourage you to check it out now before you have to fight to get in. Tip of the hat to Ed and company, you've raised the bar significantly with this one.


Flat12 Pogue's Run Porter
Mike: 3.4 Mugs | Gina: 3.2 Mugs | Jim: 4 Mugs | Jason: 4 Mugs | Rodney: 3.4 Mugs | Matt: 4 Mugs | Jess: 3.4 Mugs
KOTBR Score: 3.62 Mugs

27 June 2011

RIP Barley Island Broad Ripple, 2009 - 2011


We learned today that Barley Island's Broad Ripple location on the corner of Broad Ripple Avenue and College has closed.  We thank them for their service and we hope for their continued success at the Noblesville brewery and brewpub.

Roundtable 123 - Founders

24 June 2011

Beer and Cheese Club - June Edition


June's installment of the Beer and Cheese Club features a pairing of European products.  Our beer is Nora, an interesting spiced beer from Baladin out of Italy.  If your French is rusty, Baladin means "buffoon."  If anything, that means we should have a fun beer on our hands!  The featured cheese this month is Perail out of southern France.  To the untrained eye, such as mine, it would appear that this cheese is a brie - but if brie is what you are expecting, you are in for a surprise.


A quick visit to the Birrificio Le Baladin website suggests that they are a creative and fun loving brewery.  Those who pay close attention to the beer world might recognize the brewery as one of the collaborators on the Eataly market brewpub in New York (along with Dogfish Head among others).  Nora is a beer inspired by Egyptian beers and is flavored with ginger, myrrh and orange peel.

Perail is a creamy, soft cheese created specifically with milk from Lacaune sheep.  I'm no sheep expert, so I have no idea what that means.  This cheese features a soft, brie-like rind and it practically oozes out of its shell once you cut into it.  Perail is slightly sweet and nutty with an overwhelming creaminess.

If you're a member of the Beer and Cheese Club at Goose the Market, your June installment is likely ready for you to pick up right now. If you're not a member, the club is $99 for 4 months. This month's delivery will be 1 750mL bottle of Nora and a wheel of Perail. Either of these items would be great experiences on their own, but we feel they are even better when consumed together.


Nora is a great patio beer for someone not looking for something fruity. Lighter in taste and mouthfeel with a nice spice note of ginger and orange peel. this would be a great summer beer for someone who doesnt like wheat beers or summer ales. The cheese has nice lavender and juniper notes which are muted by the beer which instead enhances the tangy flora of the sheeps milk. The cheese has a great creaminess that balances out the effervescent carbonation of the beer and lends a little sweetness to the pairing.


Nora greets you with a wonderfully sweet citrus aroma. The first flavor to emerge reminded me of tangerines with a splash of lemon. As the flavors continued to develop, the citrus turned to red berries such as strawberries and raspberries with spicy ginger mixed in between. As I drank more of this beer, the ginger and orange peel became more dominant and I noticed the fruit flavors less.

Perail was a very buttery cheese with slight notes of lavender. When consuming the beer after a bite of cheese, a stronger herbal character was present in the beer. This reminded me of juniper and white pepper. The fruit flavors were subdued and the crispness of the beer cut through the buttery texture of the cheese. The ultimate result was something that reminded me of an American take on a Belgian Wit. A very interesting pairing that didn't take away from the subtle cheese and played nicely with the stronger flavored beer.


To join the Beer and Cheese Club at Goose the Market (in conjunction with Hoosier Beer Geek), check out this PDF and then either call Goose the Market at 317-924-4944 or stop in the shop at 2503 N. Delaware St.

Random Beer Roundup


We've been pretty quiet this week, obviously.  But we've been gathering information and drinking, of course.  Look for some new posts on Black Market, La Revolucion and a couple new brewery updates soon.

Looks like beautiful weather for Brew Ha-Ha on Saturday, but you may need your umbrella for later in the evening.

If you happen to catch this week's Metromix, you'll see a familiar face in the Top Tweeps section.  Nice work, Mike!

Other quick bits this week: Jared from New Albanian is going to work for Schlafly in St. Louis.  We're sad to lose him in Indiana, but we are happy it is to such a great place.  You can read more about this and other NABC happenings at the Potable Curmudgeon.

If you have been procrastinating, entries for the Brewers Cup are due by 7:00 TODAY (Friday).  They can be dropped off at Sun King.

Indiana Craft Beer Week is coming!  July 10 - 16th ending with the 16th Annual Microbrewers Festival (tickets are on sale, btw).  

Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change


From the Breweries
From Lafayette Brewing Co. in Lafayette:
On tap this weekend at Lafayette Brewing Co.: Star City Lager; East Side Bitter; Pipers' Pride Scottish Ale; Tippecanoe Common Ale; Black Angus Oatmeal Stout; Eighty-Five American Ale; and our latest seasonal release: Oatis Brown. Oatis is a Northern English-style brown ale with a twist: We added a hearty dose of rolled oats to the mash to give this brew a nice creamy mouthfeel and a boost in octane. Malty and smooth with a deceiving alcohol content. 6.4% ABV 28 IBU

And coming Monday, June 27, we will be releasing our newest menu. Look for the return of a couple of old favorites and the addition of some exciting new ones, including our tender and tasty Hickory Smoked Wings; a delicious Smoked Brisket Sandwich; our mega-veggie infused My Big Fat Greek Pita and much more.

From Andrew at Ram Restaurant and Brewery in Indianapolis/Fishers:
$5.99 Growler fills every day until the end of July!
The warm weather is telling us the season for outdoor fun has arrived. There is no better way to enjoy your barbecues, family gatherings, and weekend get-aways than to be accompanied by your favorite RAM beer on-the-go. Stop by either RAM location until the end of July, and you can pick up any of our house beers in the convenient, 64 oz. carry-out growler for only $5.99 per refill.

There is nothing that goes better with that sun tan than a local craft brew from the RAM!

Seasonals are $6.99 per fill. No growler fills in Fishers on Sunday.

Now on Tap
Spring Fever – Light, blonde ale infused with Jasmine and Lemon Peel
Bill’s Bettor – Nutty malt with a light body and dry finish
Barefoot Wit – tart and refreshing with additions of Orange Peel, Coriander, and Chamomile
Batch 1000 Easy Rye-der – big and balanced flavor of pilsner malt, noble hops, and rye

On the Horizon
JR’s Cucumber – Cucumber-infused Blonde Ale

Carry Out
From Patrick at Crown Liquors in Downtown Indianapolis:
Tickets for the INDIANA MICROBREWERS FESTIVAL are now available at some CROWN LIQUORS locations! The festival is on Saturday, July 16th from 3-7PM. We are carrying the GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS, they are $40 and allow unlimited sampling for four hours!
(NOTE: We are NOT selling the VIP or DESIGNATED DRIVER tickets, Sorry! These can be purchased here.)
From Joe at Crown Liquors (US 31 S.) in Indianapolis:
Tomorrow, Friday June 24th, from 6-8 PM we will sampling:

BOULDER - Hoopla Pale Ale (New!)
NEW HOLLAND - Black Hatter (Black IPA) (New!)
ST. FEUILLIEN - Brune (Belgian Brown Ale)

New Brews this week include:

NEW HOLLAND - Farmhouse Hatter (Belgian IPA) (New!)
HANSSENS - Oudbeitje (Sour Lambic with Strawberries)
GREAT DIVIDE - Rumble (Restocked!)
GRADO PLATO - WeizenTea (Wheat Beer with Tea) (New!)
SCHLAFLY - Irish-Style Extra Stout (Vintage!)
CROWN VALLEY - Black Cabin Smoked Ale

From the Distributors
From Greg at Cavalier Distributing:
NEW IN STOCK:

-Boulder Beer Hoopla Pale Ale: Collaboration beer with Kyle Hollingsworth from The String Cheese Incident, brewed especially for the festival season. Limited special release; 22oz bottles & Draft.

-Great Divide Belgian Yeti: Yeti Imperial Stout brewed w/a Belgian yeast; Limited special release; available in 22oz bottles & Draft.

-NABC / De Struise Naughty Girl Blonde IPA: Collaboration Belgian-style IPA between New Albanian Brewing Co. & De Struise Brouwers; Extremely limited; 22oz bottles.

-Two Brothers Hop Juice: 2011 Release; Imperial/Double IPA; Limited seasonal release; 22oz bottles & Draft.

The following Italian brews are now available:

-Birrificio Almond '22 Farrotta (Specialty Spelt Brew); Pink IPA (Italian IPA w/Pink Peppercorn); & Torbata (Peat Smoked Ale): All available in 375 ML bottles.

-Birrificio Grado Plato Chocarrubica (Coffee Oatmeal Stout); Kukumerla (Strong Ale); Strada San Felice (Chestnut Ale) & Weizen Tea: All available in 16.9oz flip top bottles.

-Birrificio Italiano Cassissona (Sparkling Cassiss) & La Fleurette (Original): Both available in 750 ML bottles.

UPCOMING CAVALIER EVENTS:

-6/24 - Wiseguys Tasting, Merrillville, 5 - 7.

-6/30 - Cavalier Craft Beer Tasting @ Chalet 3 in Elkhart; 4-6

-7/05 - Monthly Cavalier Tasting @ Birdy's, 6 - 8, $10

-7/13 - NABC / Sun King / 3 Floyds Beer Dinner @ Binkley's, 6pm, more details to come....

Upcoming Events:
Are you ready to tap into the Indiana beer scene? Look no further than the Phoenix Theatre’s 16th annual Brew-Ha-Ha Saturday June 25, 2011. Brew-Ha-Ha is an annual Indianapolis event with more than 20 Indiana microbreweries, you’re sure to find one that tickles your taste buds just right. Go ahead – try to taste them all. Though we certainly do not encourage this, and no such prize exists for accomplishing the feat, you’re sure to have a great time chugging away. What goes good with a stellar brew? Why, food and live music of course! With unlimited tastes of over 50 beers on tap, an abundance of food and melodious tunes in the air, the Brew-Ha-Ha is sure to please. The event is held rain or shine! The fun begins at 3pm and goes until 7pm. Cost is $25 presale at www.phoenixtheatre.org or $30 the day of the event. For the courageous few who will attempt to sample all the delicious brews, $10 will cover your designated driver. Remember, cash only accepted the day of the event and you must be 21 or over to attend. Come toss a few back that were made right here in Indiana! And like we always say – FEAR NO BEER!
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The Indiana State Fair Brewers’ Cup is one of the largest competitions in the country. We have two separate divisions, Homebrew and Professional. We had 961 entries last year and are hoping to break 1000 in 2011. All of our judges are BJCP qualified.

Best of Show homebrewer will get the opportunity to brew the winning recipe at the Broad Ripple Brewpub, and Homebrewer of the Year will receive a Blichmann Boilermaker brew pot. Homebrew Club of the Year will receive a traveling trophy, banner, and bragging rights. MECA has won the Homebrew Club of the Year trophy three years in a row, so let’s see if a different club can take the trophy from them this year.

In the Professional Division, the Champion Brewery will receive a large trophy sponsored by the Brewers of Indiana Guild.

Entries are now open so it’s time to get your beer to Sun King for this year’s Brewers’ Cup. This web site is your source for the official rules and interactive, printable bottle tags/labels. Entries may be shipped (UPS preferred) to Sun King, 135 North College Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, or hand carried. The tasting room at Sun King is very busy on Fridays and Saturdays, so we will have a couple of volunteers holding State Fair signs to direct you to the east side of the building (once in the parking lot, go north around the building to the east side). After dropping off your entries, you can go in the front door and pick up a growler or three. For business hours call Sun King (317-602-3702) or visit their web site. Entries will close at 7:00 pm on Friday, June 24, 2011.

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Craft beer festival coming to New Haven this summer

June 1, 2011 – New Haven, Indiana – The Trion Tavern is proud to announce its 1st
Annual “Brew Haven” Summer Craft Beer Festival. On Saturday, August 6, 2011, northeast
Indiana’s newest craft beer festival will be held in downtown New Haven, Indiana. From
2pm to 6pm, attendees will have the opportunity to taste dozens of different beers. The
festival tent will be located on Main Street just east of Broadway along the north side of
Trion Tavern.

Numerous craft breweries will be on hand to pour samples of their beers. The growing list
of participants already includes: Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, Indiana), Goose
Island Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois) and New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, Colorado)
and Five Star Distributing.

Advance tickets cost $25 and include: unlimited samples, a souvenir tasting glass, food
and water. Tickets can be purchased at Trion Tavern or through www.triontavern.com. A
limited number of tickets will be sold the day of the event for $30. Designated driver tickets
will also be available for $5. A portion of the proceeds will go to the New Haven Downtown
Improvement District. This will be a smoke-free event both under the tent and inside the
bar.

Trion Tavern is located at 503 Broadway in downtown New Haven, Indiana. “The Trion”
features the greatest selection of distinctive craft beers in the area with 58 different taps
and dozens of bottled beers. Many of the brews are regional, some of them rare, and all
are carefully chosen for their distinctiveness in order to provide the widest possible range
of styles for any palette. Owner and operator Greg Jacquay proudly provides a friendly,
authentic atmosphere with a unique, handcrafted bar as its centerpiece. Trion Tavern has a
full menu and a separate family room.

17 June 2011

Random Beer Roundup - The Summer is Heating Up Edition


Two new places with craft beer are now open, Black Market on Mass Ave and La Revolucion in Fountain Square.  I am looking forward to trying one and getting more acquainted with the other.  You will definitely be seeing a roundup from both places soon.

We also hear that Black Swan is starting to brew!  We look forward to that, and we'll pass along more information as we get it.

Indiana Craft Beer Week is coming!  July 10 - 16th ending with the 16th Annual Microbrewers Festival (tickets are on sale, btw).  

Hoosier Beer Calendar
Events are subject to change


From the Breweries

From Bob at Flat12 Brewery in Indianapolis:
A few of the events Flat12 will be taking part in.

June 25th
Brew Ha Ha
From John at Half Moon Brewery in Kokomo:
Tapping an English-Style Brown Ale for the weekend:

This is a medium bodied beer with nutty and roated malt flavors.

It’s balanced well with the hops and goes down smooth and easy.

This beer goes great with a steak or a burger!

ABV = 5.5% OG = 1.056 IBU = 26

Check Out our beer menu.

Check out our food menu(pdf).

From Roger at New Albanian Brewing Co in New Albany:
Nothing much this week, but there should be much material the beginning of next. Keep your eye on my blog.

From Andrew at Ram Restaurant and Brewery in Indianapolis/Fishers:
Batch 1000 – Easy Rye-der 
Saturday is the big day! We will be tapping the 1000th batch in the history of the Indianapolis RAM Restaurant and Brewery at 3 p.m. This Imperial Rye Pilsner known as “Easy Rye-der” features an overall smoothness from the base of Pilsner malt that hides its 8.5% ABV while also including Rye bread notes and a complimentary noble dry-hop character. If that wasn’t enough, the brewery will also be tapping a rare release of the 2010 Barrel-aged NUTorious Brown Ale which was aged in Evan William’s whiskey barrels

This celebration will also include:

  • Complimentary Cuisine including Tomatillo Carne de Cerdo (Pulled Pork with Polenta) and Amber Ale Cheese Dip 
  • Evan William’s folks will be in the house doing Bourbon sampling 
  • And, live acoustic music from “Cougar Bait”

Now on Tap
Spring Fever – Light, blonde ale infused with Jasmine and Lemon Peel
Bill’s Bettor – Nutty malt with a light body and dry finish
Barefoot Wit – tart and refreshing with additions of Orange Peel, Coriander, and Chamomile

From Clay at Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis:
Upcoming Events

UPL Wine & Beer Festival
Friday, June 17th 7:00-10:00 p.m.
Broad Ripple Station
http://www.unitedhopefoundation.org/blog/2011/04/28/indys-wine-brew-fest-2011/

Stable Studios Music Fest
June 17th - 19th
Stable Studios - Spencer, IN
20+ Bands • On-site Camping • Sun King On Tap
For more information: www.stablestudios.net

WFYI: Indiana Week In Review Roundtable
Thursday, June 23rd 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Join WFYI & Indiana Week In Review for a
roundtable discussion
and a tasting session IN the Tasting Room
Support Public Radio! http://www.wfyi.org

From Lauren at Thr3e Wise Men Brewing and Scotty's Brewhouse/Lakehouse:
Scotty's Brewhouse and Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co will be present at the Taste of Tippecanoe  
Scotty's Lakehouse- Sun King- A Few Hops More
Scotty's Brewhouse NorthSide Indy- Sierra Nevada- Summer
Scotty's Brewhouse West Lafayette- Sun King Cream Ale
Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co.- New guest tap- Sun King Popcorn Pilsner

At the Bars and Restaurants

From Corrie at Goose the Market in Indianapolis:
Now on the shelves at the Goose...

Hi, I'm Cuery and you'll be suery if you miss Cuir, an old ale partially aged in bourbon barrels that The Bruery released to celebrate their third anniversuery.

People who live in glass towers shouldn't throw their empty bottles of De Glazen Torren's Saison D'erpe Mere.

Did you hear that? Great Divide's Rumble is an APA aged on French and American oak.

Sometimes you can judge a bottle by its label...this beer's name just might be the best of the summer...introducing Kentucky Light.

From Patrick at Patrick’s Kitchen in Zionsville:
Having a little trouble keeping the IPA's straight, but here goes, we were fortunate enough to get one of the first kegs of Sun King's "A few hops more!"..there is Founder's Double Trouble, Upland's Double Dragon Fly, Boulevard Brewing Tank 7, at the moment we have a bit of Dark Horse's Double Crooked Tree, and then we tap People's Brewing keg of Farmer's Daughter American Wheat....which we blew thru last time we had it...thank you Chris Johnson.
Backing it up is a keg of Dreadnaught, and a keg of Sun King's Popcorn Pils.

Carry Out
From Patrick at Crown Liquors in Downtown Indianapolis:
Tickets for the INDIANA MICROBREWERS FESTIVAL are now available at some CROWN LIQUORS locations! The festival is on Saturday, July 16th from 3-7PM. We are carrying the GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS, they are $40 and allow unlimited sampling for four hours!
(NOTE: We are NOT selling the VIP or DESIGNATED DRIVER tickets, Sorry! These can be purchased here.)
From Joe at Crown Liquors (US 31 S.) in Indianapolis:
Here is this week's update...

Friday, June 17th, from 5-8PM we are sampling:

WELLS - Banana Nut Bread Ale (New!)
GREAT DIVIDE - Rumble Oak-Aged IPA
NEW BELGIUM - Lips of Faith Series: Grand Cru Abbey Ale (New!)

New Brews this week include:

DOGFISH HEAD - Raison D'Extra ('07 Vintage! - We got another case, get it while you can!!!)
LEXINGTON BREWING CO. - Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Bourbon Ale (Both New!)
NEW BELGIUM - Lips of Faith Series: Super Cru (New!)
SAM ADAMS - Summer Ale, Summer Variety 12pk (Featuring the new styles: Kolsch and Saison) (New!)
SAM SMITH - Organic Raspberry Ale
SIERRA NEVADA - Beer Camp Variety 12pk (Featuring: Juniper Black, Weizenbock, Double IPA, and California Common) (New!)
SO. TIER - Hop Sun Summer Wheat Ale, Gemini
VICTORY - Hop Devil IPA, Hop Wallop
WITTEKERKE - Framboise

From the Distributors
From Greg at Cavalier Distributing:
NEW IN STOCK:

Great Divide Rumble IPA: Wood-Aged IPA; Limited seasonal release; available in 6pks & Draft

People's Brewing Farmer's Daughter Wheat: Brewed lemon grass & wheat; Limited seasonal release; Draft

The Bruery Cuir 3rd Anniversary Ale: Brewed using Solera method; Same recipe as Papier & Coton (1st & 2nd Anniversary Brews) blended with original liquid from both; Extremely limited; 750 ML Bottles

Tyranena Fargo Bros Hefe Weizen: Special release that never leaves WI; Draft Only; Extremely limited & allocated


UPCOMING CAVALIER EVENTS:

6/18 - Tasting @ S&V Liquors on Illinois St., Fort Wayne, 5 - 8

6/18 - Founders Feature Tapping @ Trion Tavern, New Haven/Ft Wayne, Featuring 11 Founders Beers on Tap, 7 - close

6/24 - Wiseguys Tasting, Merrillville, 5 - 7.

6/30 - Cavalier Craft Beer Tasting @ Chalet 3 in Elkhart; 4-6

7/05 - Monthly Cavalier Tasting @ Birdy's, 6 - 8, $10

7/13 - NABC / Sun King / 3 Floyds Beer Dinner @ Binkley's, 6pm, more details to come....

Upcoming Events:

Trivia and Taster's Challenge at Tomlinson Tap Room to Benefit IKE (Improving Kids' Environment)

When: 20 Jun 2011, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM (EDT)
Location: Tomlinson Tap Room, Indianapolis City Market, 222 E. Market St. (Mezzanine Level of the Historic Market House, south west corner)

Registration(depends on selected options)

Base fee:
A. Trivia Master - $100.00 (USD) (Includes Indiana Beer Taster's Challenge)
B. Trivia Expert - $50.00 (USD) (Includes Indiana Beer Taster's Challenge)
C. Trivia Fan - $25.00 (USD)
D. Trivia Apprentice - $10.00 (USD)(student rate)
E. Regrets, can't attend. - $25.00 (USD)
F. Darn, wish I could be there! - $50.00 (USD)
G. Rats! Can't make it. - $100.00 (USD)

Trivia Challenge! Test your knowledge of Indiana. Twenty questions with a mix of Indiana and environmental facts, so everyone has a chance! $100 prize for first place. (Hint: some answers can be found at ikecoalition.org). Included with your admission cost.

Taster's Challenge! Test your taste buds on Indiana brews. The Taproom features 16 Indiana beers. Can you distinguish "American-style pale ale with centennial and Cascade hops" from "Irish red ale, soft malt sweetness balanced by tangy, citrus hop"? Join the Taster's Challenge to match five Indiana beers to their descriptions. Prizes for the most talented taste buds. Cost: $20 to play, or donation of $50 or more.

Also: Entertainment by the Mind Tripping Show!

Tickets and more information here.
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Are you ready to tap into the Indiana beer scene? Look no further than the Phoenix Theatre’s 16th annual Brew-Ha-Ha Saturday June 25, 2011. Brew-Ha-Ha is an annual Indianapolis event with more than 20 Indiana microbreweries, you’re sure to find one that tickles your taste buds just right. Go ahead – try to taste them all. Though we certainly do not encourage this, and no such prize exists for accomplishing the feat, you’re sure to have a great time chugging away. What goes good with a stellar brew? Why, food and live music of course! With unlimited tastes of over 50 beers on tap, an abundance of food and melodious tunes in the air, the Brew-Ha-Ha is sure to please. The event is held rain or shine! The fun begins at 3pm and goes until 7pm. Cost is $25 presale at www.phoenixtheatre.org or $30 the day of the event. For the courageous few who will attempt to sample all the delicious brews, $10 will cover your designated driver. Remember, cash only accepted the day of the event and you must be 21 or over to attend. Come toss a few back that were made right here in Indiana! And like we always say – FEAR NO BEER!
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The Indiana State Fair Brewers’ Cup is one of the largest competitions in the country. We have two separate divisions, Homebrew and Professional. We had 961 entries last year and are hoping to break 1000 in 2011. All of our judges are BJCP qualified.

Best of Show homebrewer will get the opportunity to brew the winning recipe at the Broad Ripple Brewpub, and Homebrewer of the Year will receive a Blichmann Boilermaker brew pot. Homebrew Club of the Year will receive a traveling trophy, banner, and bragging rights. MECA has won the Homebrew Club of the Year trophy three years in a row, so let’s see if a different club can take the trophy from them this year.

In the Professional Division, the Champion Brewery will receive a large trophy sponsored by the Brewers of Indiana Guild.

Entries are now open so it’s time to get your beer to Sun King for this year’s Brewers’ Cup. This web site is your source for the official rules and interactive, printable bottle tags/labels. Entries may be shipped (UPS preferred) to Sun King, 135 North College Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, or hand carried. The tasting room at Sun King is very busy on Fridays and Saturdays, so we will have a couple of volunteers holding State Fair signs to direct you to the east side of the building (once in the parking lot, go north around the building to the east side). After dropping off your entries, you can go in the front door and pick up a growler or three. For business hours call Sun King (317-602-3702) or visit their web site. Entries will close at 7:00 pm on Friday, June 24, 2011.

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Craft beer festival coming to New Haven this summer

June 1, 2011 – New Haven, Indiana – The Trion Tavern is proud to announce its 1st
Annual “Brew Haven” Summer Craft Beer Festival. On Saturday, August 6, 2011, northeast
Indiana’s newest craft beer festival will be held in downtown New Haven, Indiana. From
2pm to 6pm, attendees will have the opportunity to taste dozens of different beers. The
festival tent will be located on Main Street just east of Broadway along the north side of
Trion Tavern.

Numerous craft breweries will be on hand to pour samples of their beers. The growing list
of participants already includes: Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, Indiana), Goose
Island Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois) and New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, Colorado)
and Five Star Distributing.

Advance tickets cost $25 and include: unlimited samples, a souvenir tasting glass, food
and water. Tickets can be purchased at Trion Tavern or through www.triontavern.com. A
limited number of tickets will be sold the day of the event for $30. Designated driver tickets
will also be available for $5. A portion of the proceeds will go to the New Haven Downtown
Improvement District. This will be a smoke-free event both under the tent and inside the
bar.

Trion Tavern is located at 503 Broadway in downtown New Haven, Indiana. “The Trion”
features the greatest selection of distinctive craft beers in the area with 58 different taps
and dozens of bottled beers. Many of the brews are regional, some of them rare, and all
are carefully chosen for their distinctiveness in order to provide the widest possible range
of styles for any palette. Owner and operator Greg Jacquay proudly provides a friendly,
authentic atmosphere with a unique, handcrafted bar as its centerpiece. Trion Tavern has a
full menu and a separate family room.