Indy Brew Review

Beer Reviews!

I'm starting with local highly popular IPA's but I'll break off to do other beer styles soon. Enjoy!

• Daredevil Lift Off IPA

Eighteenth Street Brewery

Near Eastside

Hailing from Northwest Indiana, 18th Street Brewery delivers the good stuff. From Double IPAs to Milk Stouts to a simple Lager w/ Lime, they have some flashy, crushable & delicious beer. To this date, they offer my absolute favorite beers in the city.NOT located on Indy’s 18th street, this is actually an out of town brewery, but still local to Indiana. 18th street started out in a tiny space in Gary, IN, opened a second larger location in Hammond, IN, and now has its third taproom open with Indy’s eastside location. Sadly, I have not been to the other original locations, yet!18th Street DELIVERS the good stuff. To put it bluntly, it has my favorite beers in the city. 18th St bypasses a lot of the stereotypical, boring stuff and gets right into some weird brews: Candi Crushable Pale Ale with Lactose, Psychadelic Lines DIPA w/ Grapefruit, a double milk stout, and an abundance of quirky sours. Their beers give off a very candy-like element. Flashy and sweet in their own way. As for me, I just went with the bar tenders suggestion - #2 Pencil: DDH DIPA. It was simply delicious.Go to 18th Street Brewery if: You want experimental, quirky beers. You want some of the best beers brewed in the Hoosier state, period. You love the Eastside.Trivia Night: ❌
Full Menu: ❌ Snacks / Brunch Menu 👍
Cocktails: ✅
Daily Beer Special: Not that I know of.

My ratings:
Beer: 9.5
Aesthetic: 9.5
Community: 8.5
Overall: 9.2

Bare Hands Brewery

Granger, IN

Bare Hands, hailing from way up north in Indiana, is a very very fine brewery. Northern Indiana breweries such as 3 Floyd, 18th St, Evil Czech, etc and … Bare Hands have some top notch beer that is hard to rival from other parts of the state.Their taproom is very small and warm with a modest seating area.However, their beer packs a punch. What to get: Westy IPA is the flagship which likely put them on the map. It has a complex flavor profile: danky, herbal, and smooth. Watch out for these on tap or distributed as they’re favorites as well: Thai IPA, Honey Badger IPA, Joe England IPA (so I've heard), and A Ton Load Citra IPA. These are absolute f i r e . I would say Bare Hands is really honing it in the IPA category, but I was not as impressed with other types.Bare Hands is a solid 8.8/10 for me on my brew review scale. What I’d love to see is a larger full blown production taproom! Maybe in the future? Regardless it was a fun visit!Have you been to Bare Hands? What did you enjoy? Let me know on Instagram!

My ratings:
Beer: 9.3
Aesthetic: 7.5
Community: 9.4
Overall: 8.8

Daredevil Brewing Co.

Speedway & Ironworks Keystone

Propelled by their dominant flagship beer, Lift Off IPA, Daredevil is rapidly expanding all around Indianapolis. They deliver a lot of clean, traditional German-inspired beers that make for fun tasting as well. My personal favorite is, inevitably, Lift Off.
Daredevil is coming in at a solid 8.8 rating, for me. Daredevil has their original location in Speedway, Daredevil Hall in Ironworks near the Fashion Mall at Keystone, and very soon (at the writing of this review) Daredevil will be opening another taproom at Bottleworks on Mass Ave. Judging by their expansion & larger distribution compared to most local breweries, they seem to be doing very well!Daredevil seems to be playing off of the Speedway racing them with their branding. You’ll find a dominant red-infused futuristic theme. It sets them apart from many other local breweries.We can’t begin the discussion on their beer without mentioning Lift Off. Daredevil has done what many successful breweries have done and latched on to a dominant flagship beer. This West Coast IPA was likely one of the earliest successful “dank” hops IPA produced locally, and it has had tremendous success. You’ll find it on draught all around Indy. Daredevil has two parts to their lineup - super hoppy IPA’s and traditional German brews. So, you can keep it traditional with a Kolsh or Dunkle or you can go “futuristic” with Lift Off or Rip Cord Double IPA. In the end, don’t go to Daredevil without trying Lift-Off!

My ratings:
Beer: 8.7
Aesthetic: 8.9
Community: 8.7
Overall: 8.8

Moontown Brewing Co.

Whitestown

Moontown is a destination brewery in its own right. Occupying a historical auditorium serving the original Whitestown school-goers, its been reimagined as a funky hop forward brewery.I did not believe in dank hops until I came here. I cannot say whether the juicy hop rage is justified, but Moontown does a great job bringing super hoppy, hazy, juicy beers to the table. With brews like Jean Claude Van Dank and Dankorman (9.6% DIPA!!) you get what I mean.Moontown is absolutely a must-visit brewery in the Indy area. It occupies the old auditorium connecting the grade school and high school of Whitestow. Imagine walking into a 1960s indiana high school gymnasium. Now reimagined as a funky brewery with new-age brews, it’s a neat and unexpected fit.During my visit I did tasters of 3 juicy, hazy IPA’s and eventually settled on a Belgian Hazy IPA (this exists 😱). It was honestly a strange combination and would take me a couple more rounds to get used to. Go to Moontown if, you want to escape the city and check out some small town history. You want bitter, strong hops but wouldn’t mind tossing down a cocktail too - they have a full bar!Trivia night: ✅
Full Menu: ✅
Daily Beer Special: ❌

My ratings:
Beer: 8.7
Aesthetic: 9.5
Community: 8.5
Overall: 8.7

Guggman Haus Brewing

West Indy

Guggman Haus has had a meteoric rise in the brewing scene owing to its unique, rapidly changing taps, welcoming, home-like atmosphere, and homage to Indy’s past.Guggman Haus is a newcomer to the Indianapolis brewing scene. They are one of the few breweries on the West side and the only on the Near West corridor. Guggman Haus has a couple themes they’ve latched on to, which interestingly enough don’t have much overlap. They are situated on the previous headquarters of Boyle Racing, which has ties to the racing scene in Indy’s past. As the name implies, there’s some German heritage too. On top of that, they have a pro-outdoors element, with now a very enlarged beer garden / patio. At the time of this writing, they are undergoing a massive expansion, moving the main brewery into a neighboring large complex. Frankly, it’s going to be huge.Guggman has had a meteoric rise that I didn’t even expect. Their beers are solid, and they crank out seasonal, or not-so-seasonal specials all the time. It seems like every other week they have a new batch of limited releases, all of which are usually interesting to try. Guggman is strong on the IPA/NEIPA front and they don’t disappoint. This is where they have many other indy breweries beat, in my opinion. They make everything from imperial stouts to lactose-infused sours and their far-fetched experimentation is unlike most indy breweries. The last time I visited I enjoyed a Double-Dry Hopped NEIPA called The Great Haze, which is a part of a series of DDH NEIPA’s they put out (they’ve put out almost 30 different varieties at this point). It was excellent. All in all, Guggman Haus is hard to pin down, but they do have a strong commitment to revolving their taps with new exciting beers.

My ratings:
Beer: 8.8
Aesthetic: 6.8
Community: 9.0
Overall: 8.5

Trition Brewing

Lawrence

Triton! Triton was a fun experience for me to visit for this review because it’s one of the few Indy-area breweries that I had not yet visited. It’s tucked away in a nice, up-and-coming area of Lawrence. The inside is everything you’d want from a chill-but-hip area. With almost every seat in the beer hall you can take a peak at the huge brewing vats through gigantic windows (reminds me of Founders Brewing Co.). Their branding - Triton, Greek-ish themed - is not my favorite. The actual brewery seems too cool for their comic-y branding.As for the beer, I had to get their flagship IPA, Railsplitter. It bring THE hops, with a bitter bite at the end. Overall, it was lacking some of the flavor that a Two Hearted would bring to the table. They had 4 IPA’s on tap, and all seem very solid. So, if IPA’s are your flair, give Triton a whirl. They have everything from a Gingerbread Porter to a Extra Special Bitter to a Golden Pilsner. They have something for everyone.Who I would recommend Triton Brewing to: You want a solid hometown IPA. You want to sit for a while to try different types of beers in a large brewery hall, hip atmosphere.

My ratings:
Beer: 9.0
Aesthetic: 7.5
Community: 8.5
Overall: 8.3

Bier Brewing

Broad Ripple & Carmel

I’m not sure what it is about Bier specifically, but this place KNOWS how to put people in a good mood. Even on a dead Tuesday evening, I found a way to make some new friends here. Bier has friendly, engaging staff and plenty of packed tables to keep you company. For that reason, they have a 9.7 in community appeal. An added bonus is that they have two taprooms - one on 65th street and one in Carmel. Not sure if they have plans to expand or not...!As for their beer, or shall I say bier. It is VERY hit or miss for me. When I visited in the autumn, Bier offered 3-4 season brews that were outstanding. Visiting in late January was less overwhelming. The IPA’s on tap were not my favorite. Previously, I had Citra Valley NEIPA which was a real treat. Daystarter IPA had an odd taste that kept me wanting. A mainstay beer for them is Weizengoot, which really turned me on to beer, specially Wheat Beer back in the day. It’s the type of beer you can rely on when needed.Overall, Bier is a real delight to visit. Trivia nights are a blast and the entire place will be packed. For starters, try Weizengoot Wheat or Pretty Damn Good Pale Ale - both are rock solid beers for their type. Cheers 🍻

My ratings:
Beer: 7.8
Aesthetic: 8.0
Community: 9.7
Overall: 8.5

Centerpoint Brewing

Near Eastside

Centerpoint Brewing dials in the new age industrial look, keeps their branding basic but solid, and offers some nice takes on old classics.Centerpoint is not the first brewery that comes to mind when you think Indy, but it is definitely not to miss. It occupies an old industrial complex along the Mass Ave train tracks. Honestly, this massive industrial complex - with its iconic blue and red siding and huge open spaces - was screaming for a brewery in it. It just feels right.As for their beers, the first that comes to mind is the Blood Orange IPA which strikes the perfect balance between fruity and hoppy. If you want to be an IPA guy or gal it would be one I would point you to, to get into them. As for me, I got the Mango Centerpoint Pale Ale. There was some solid bitterness at the end, and it was not as smooth as I was hoping. Hit up Centerpoint if you’re by Mass Ave and desire a more chill vibe with some approachable beers.

My ratings:
Beer: 7.0
Aesthetic: 8.0
Community: 6.8
Overall: 7.3

Metazoa Brewing Co.

Fletcher Place

Metazoa carved out its niche with a neat cause. They give 5% of their profits to a variety of animal-based charities. It’s great to know that a portion of your beer proceeds are going to a fantastic cause! Oh, and if you have yourself a pup (or older dog…) Metazoa is EXTREMELY pet-friendly. They even have a dog park!Let’s be honest though…I was there for the beer! Let me start of by saying Metazoa has quite the long list. There were 20+ beers on tap when I visited. Just their sheer variety gives them points in my book. BUT, in my opinion, Metazoa has many just average beers. Sifting through to find the best can be difficult. Out of their flagships I would rank them #1 Puppy Slumber Party Peanut Butter Stout, #2 Hoppopotomus West Coast IPA, #3 Nap in a Hammock Cream Ale (I’d pass on this as it does not have a strong flavor). To have a flagship that is just not good is a big no-no in my book.As far as aesthetic and curb appeal, Metazoa has a lovely location on College Ave facing the Indy skyline. For outdoor seating in the warmer months, you are SET with tons of picnic tables set up. If you do not like dogs, I’d recommend just not coming here, as every night there will be some furry friends around. I am not necessarily the most animal friendly when it comes to beers, so I generally opt for another place when I want to enjoy a brew near downtown. To each there own! Come here if you want a wide selection and love dogs and/or animals.

My ratings:
Beer: 7.5
Aesthetic: 7.4
Community: 9.3
Overall: 8.1

Indiana City Brewing

Near East Side

In the spirit of it’s name, Indiana City is a very uniquely Indianapolis brewery. The location is superb, taking up space in a large renovated brick industrial complex just across the tracks from the 65/70 merger in Indianapolis. It gives off a very eclectic, pseudo-industrial and yet comfy vibe...I personally am a fan of the large buck head with antlers plastered on the wall.During my visit I was convinced to try a strange beer, as far as my palet is concerned. I got a double-dry hopped hazy IPA which is a part of their semi-famous “Doodle Club” series. Named Robot Jungle, this beer was strong and yet subtle. I was a massive fan and gave it a great review on Untappd. Indiana City does darker beers and IPA’s well. It has some very quirky beers. I greatly enjoyed my experience in this neighborhood-friendly spot.

My ratings:
Beer: 8.8
Aesthetic: 9.0
Community: 6.5
Overall: 8.1

Beech Bank Brewing

Beech Grove

Beech Bank was a hidden gem right under my nose. I had no clue it existed until a follower alerted me! I’m glad they did! Beech Bank is an incredibly neighborhood-friendly, locally-inspired, humble hometown brewery. It’s name comes from the name of a park in Beech Grove, which is now called Sara T. Bolton Park. Sarah lived in Beech Grove and is the author of a poem called “Paddle Your Own Canoe” which is the inspiration behind the canoe, exploration theme.As for the brewery, it is a small little nook. The beer menu is not extensive, but it has something to satisfy everyone. My favorite in the flight I ordered was Kanu Bier, their version of a Hefeweizen. They release a seasonal beer every once and a while, and this winter one was their Mint Stout, which I was wayyy too nervous to get. The Southside Python IPA left me wanting; it needed more of a bite of hops to fit the category, in my opinion.Make the drive to Beech Grove to check this small gem out. Strike up a conversation with the bartender, because they will be sure to be friendly!

My ratings:
Beer: 7.0
Aesthetic: 7.2
Community: 8.5
Overall: 7.6

St. Joseph Brewery & Public House

Mass Ave

I love a brewery with some history! St. Joseph’s building is more than 100 years old, and was completed in 1880! It served a nice life as the 4th Catholic parish of Indianapolis. Fast forward to 1954, when the church officially closed. Luckily this building did not have the fate of some historically famous Indianapolis buildings (R.I.P. the old City-County building - search it up!), and was reconverted into a fully fledged brewery in 2015 after falling into significant disrepair.If you’ve never been here, you may feel slightly off drinking your brewskis in the same place where sacred mass was carried out. No worries, that weird feeling wares off after a bit. The building is set up at an awesome spot within very close walking distance to Mass Ave. It is an immaculate building with an awesome patio as well.When I visited there were 3 staple beers and 11 variety beers available; so, you will not be lacking options! I have enjoyed each of the 3 staple beers at some point, and they each are excellent. Confessional IPA can definitely hold it’s own. Of the varieties, I found that they were hit or miss. In my flight, the Oat Stout was a bit syrupy and not as robust as I’ve had from nice Oat Stouts. That being said, there are definitely gems to be found. The Pew Buster Double IPA, Dark Angel Black Lager, and Formidable Hops were each bursting with flavor. In perspective, their beers are tasty, but not quite on the top tier of my favorite Indy breweries.Do yourself a favor and add this to your list of places to hit up downtown! With a distinctively historical Indianapolis set up, and within walking distance to other great spots, this is not one to miss! #Food Menu ✅
Cocktail Menu ✅
Daily Beer Special: ✅ (Tuesday Dollar Off Pints, Sunday Dollar Off Flight)Cheers! 🍻

My ratings:
Beer: 7.7
Aesthetic: 8.0
Community: 7.0
Overall: 7.6

Chilly Water Brewing

Fletcher Place / Virginia Ave

In my opinion, Chilly Water is much too overlooked. The brewery occupies the ground level beneath a flashy apartment complex in Fletcher Place (Virginia Ave). For an addition to an apartment, it’s an excellent brewery. It would be the type of brewery you can start or end the night at. Chill, chilly.As for the beer, I got the monthly special, which I usually return to here, their Blood on the Tracks, Blood Orange IPA. It doesn’t disappoint. Centerpoint offers the same brew and it may have Chilly Water beat, but to each their own. Some unique beers on tap when I visited were a Cerveza Negra, Java Stout, Chocolate Blonde, and a Harvest Moon Spiced Ale. Let’s be honest, I could easily take a pint of each of those. Go to Chilly Water if: you like blood orange. You want a place to round out a Fountain Square experience. You want a comfy neighborhood nook, type of spot.Although I have not been to one yet, I know that Chilly Water hosts local (or not local) bands and musicians. This is the sort of vibe that Chilly Water is PERFECT for. I'll definitely be on the lookout for live music there soon!

My ratings:
Beer: 6.8
Aesthetic: 7.5
Community: 7.0
Overall: 7.1

Ellison Brewing

Downtown

Hailing from Michigan, Ellison seized the opportunity to take up the old Tow Yard Brewing facility. Sadly, I never got the chance to try out Tow Yard, which had always interested me. Ellison brings a geeked-out-science branding into their beer. This is matched by some experimental brews, namely the Tiramisu Stout, Blueberry Crumb Ale, and a Coco Imperial Stout at 14.5%! Ellison didn’t quite have the caliber of beers to make them distinguished in my opinion. The standouts in my visit were the Crossroads Pale Ale and Copenhagen (a bit hoppy!) Pilsner.
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I’ll be honest, from a Michigan-based brewery, this was not up to standards. That being said, you can find some decent beers on the menu. The view of the city from the near south side of the city is quite nice. I couldn’t speak more highly about their pick for a facility!

My ratings:
Beer: 6.8
Aesthetic: 7.2
Community: 6.0
Overall: 6.7

Deviate Brewing

Northwest Side

Deviate is a straight grunge fest. They are brewing their own beer, for themselves, and doing their own thing. Mass appeal? Forget about it. Strategic marketing? Nah. Deviate just brews its beers and does its magic. They are legit.Beer: I tried the Juicy Caboosy DIPA, Vanilla Maple Imperial Stout, Hop Extremacy, Silent Reader Scotch Ale, and Imperial Wheat Ale with Mushrooms. It was a trip. Personally, the Vanilla Maple Imperial (Sissy-Sticks) was one of the best beers I’ve ever tried, bar none. Juicy Caboosy was a lot more flavor packed than Hop Extremacy in my opinion. Scotch Ale.....finally a good local scotch ale. Imperial Wheat with Mushrooms, honesty just impressed they pulled this off. Everything Deviate puts out is extremely alcoholic and tasteful. Founders has nothing on them.Aesthetic: Deviate is just an odd, grungy place. You’ll find some hard rock music, odd memoriabillia, and tons of support for other breweries in the form of stickers / posters, etc. The outside is just a plain strip mall, nothing fancy by any means. They could probably up their aesthetic a bit with a more dynamic look and feel, but they don’t seem to mind. You come here for the beer.Community: It’s solid. I had a fantastic conversation about the Indy brewing scene with the bar tender. He was super legit. The people there were smashing many beers & everyone was having a good time. I felt good about the community element. Overall, Deviate is a beer-lovers dream for Indy people. It’s not a fancy place, it just does what it does best - unique, powerful beers.

My ratings:
Beer: 9.8
Aesthetic: 7.0
Community: 9.3
Overall: 8.7

Trader's Brewing Co.

Northwest Side

Trader’s Brewing Co was a new one for me! I quite honestly knew very little about it before stepping in the door! You wouldn’t expect much from the outside looking in, but the interior has a very cozy feel. This would be a very fun spot for a game or a trivia night!As for the beer, I very much enjoyed one of their flagships, Badass IPA. This West Coast style IPA gave me exactly what I wanted, a dank, smooth-yet-biting IPA. As for the other beers, I could honestly try or pass. Their darker beers were not incredibly flavorful, and their lighter beers were middle of the road.Can you have a great time at Trader’s? Absolutely. Is it a “top notch” Indianapolis brewery? I would say there would be others higher on my list. Overall, go there and grab a round or two of their Badass IPA; this one is fantastic.

My ratings:
Beer: 6.6
Aesthetic: 7.0
Community: 7.2
Overall: 6.9

Wabash Brewing Co.

Northwest Side

Wabash Brewing is another Indy brewery that might catch you by surprise. What, that exists?! What, there's a brewery there?! Yes, and they have a very respectable community following! On the outside, you might expect a packing facility, but walk in an find a cozy brewing nook. The space is tiny; actually the smallest physical space of any Indianapolis brewery that I have seen. In the end, this makes it unique and more personal. The patio out front can accomodate a few more, too!As for the beer, I wanted it to be better than it was. I went on Indiana Stout Day, so naturally I got their signature Paddlefish Stout. This was a bold, biting Stout with a ton of flavor, coming in at 7.8%. Their best, in my opinion. I tried both of their IPA's - Sunlight over Citra Hazy and their Double IPA. Kevin, who came to help me review, did really enjoy the DIPA, however! I'm not going to lie, they just were not doing it for me. I did attach a picture of their tap list on that particular day for you guys to see if there are any that you'd be interested in.Was I happy that I got to see what's happening at Wabash? Absolutely! Would I be a regular here? Probably not. But if you do go, you'll be greeted by a band of dedicated friendly followers! Cheers!

My ratings:
Beer: 6.4
Aesthetic: 6.0
Community: 7.5
Overall: 6.6

Black Acre Brewing Co.

Washington St. Irvington, Bonna St. Beer Garden, Loft Downtown, Zionsville (Soon)

Black Acre is the truest form of a neighborhood brewery I’ve found. Irvington COMES OUT to support this place — and I, admittedly, a citizen of irvington, love it. Black Acre opened in 2011 which, funnily enough, makes them pioneers in the Indy craft scene. In many ways, they’ve shown what it looks like to forge a massively popular local brewery. Their innuendos to the irvington-Halloween-general darkness...theme I dig, a lot. Come thru near Halloween and enjoy a fresh Oktoberfest or Saucy!Beer: As for the beer, it really depends on what season you’re visiting, because their taps change a lot and drastically. My only critique of Black Acre is that I am not personally head over heals for two of their mainstay beers: Natural Liberty & TV Wolf. Personally, not a fan. As for their other two staples - Saucy Intruder Rye IPA & 1802 Lager - I think these do well for their type. Saucy has just the right malt, just the right hop, and comes in at a niiiice 7.2% abv. You don’t find many rye IPAs- I like this. Quirky, like irvington. Killer Robots Blackberry Wheat is an extremely tasty & lighter option. You’ll find this at the taproom / outdoor garden throughout most of the warmer season. As for community / aesthetics, it’s just hard to beat. Dark, dark, ethereal. But at the same time so friendly? Trivia nights at black acre on Wednesday is where I grew to love craft beer. Call me biased (I am...) but black acre is the shit! Come out to the IRV!

My ratings:
Beer: 8.8
Aesthetic: 9.9
Community: 10
Overall: 9.6

Field Brewing Co.

Westfield

Whenever we are willing to make the extra trek up to Westfield, it is always worth it. Hosting a beautiful open-concept tap-house, outdoor turf patio, and coffee shop-feel, Field knows how to create a gorgeous space. The mid-century modern style paired with Flatland Kitchen graphic design is just so appealing to the eye. Don’t forget to peek your head in the events building and knock out a game of indoor street curling!Okay, but how’s the beer? I gave Field a 7.5 in this category. Their newer release Reunion Citrus IPA is a nice brew as well as some Stout varieties. All in all, the food and the physical space may be the standout. Fortunately, the beer doesn’t take away. Be on the lookout for Field at Christmas time; this past year they released a “12 Days of Christmas” Stout line! My main disappointment from this past brunch trip? No dark roast coffee! (I’ll get past that one.) Overall I gave Field a rating of 8.4 which lands them pretty high on my list!

My ratings:
Beer: 7.5
Aesthetic: 9.8
Community: 7.8
Overall: 8.4

Sun King Brewery

Downtown, Broad Ripple, Fishers, Carmel

The OG! The story goes that the founders of Sun King - Dave & Clay - met while working at Ram Brewery Downtown. They went on to open Sun King in 2009, the first commercial brewery to open in Indy in over 30 years. (The 80s/90s aren’t particular known as the decade of beer innovation...). A lot of brewery-heads I talk to in Indy reminisce about the time when Sun King was really the only innovative, independent brewery in the city. S.K. tends to get a lot of shit now for “reducing the quality” to keep up with demand and be “mainstream” brewer. But, do they deserve the bad rap they’ve gotten among the hardcore beer lovers?In my experience, Sun King is always a good time. The Fishers “Taste Kitchen” — where I visited today — is no exception. Positioned in a neat little location among the other attractions at “Fisher’s District,” S.K. seems to be growing exponentially more popular as it expands into the suburbs. Food: The Korean BBQ is HOTT. Great beer grub. I’m a fan. Haven’t tried the dumplings yet... The “Tasting Kitchen” has a rotating vendor and at this moment it was a Mexican-inspired vendor.Beer: In my opinion, I do think Sun King beer is made to be a crowd pleaser. Sunlight, Wee Mac, Osiris, Pachanga are all quite normal, mediocre beers. Do they taste great as a side kick at a concert or outdoor event? Absolutely! Some of their seasonal varieties can wow, occasionally... Keller Haze is a nice subtle IPA with some fruity undertones. Hop Tickler offers a more dank, juicy hop taste, which I can appreciate. When the Lights Go Out is a coffee porter that comes on strong & roasty but finishes light and crisp. On the whole, Sun King has a decent variety, but mainly provides a lineup of non-offensive, easy-drinking brews. I do kind of think of Sun King as the nice gateway drug that leads you into the more unique and powerhouse beers that other non-mainstream local brewers can provide. Someone had to be the first to bring microbrewed beer to the masses in Indy, and I’m grateful S.K. helped usher in a new era!Beer: 6.8 - Some decent beers, all are just “not bad”Aesthetic: 8.7 - Can’t complain here, Sun King knows how to create a strong likable brand!Community: 8.4 - Sun King is so macro for Indy that it’s hard to tell if they have their own unique fan base, but they’ve brought a lot of people together over brewskis!Bottom line: Sun King earns a 8.0 rating overall, landing them in the middle of the pack.

My ratings:
Beer: 6.8
Aesthetic: 8.7
Community: 8.4
Overall: 8.0

Mashcraft Brewing Co.

Greenwood, Near North Delaware St., Fishers

Mashcraft opened for business in 2014 and has expanded now to three locations: Greenwood, Near North (Delaware St.), and Fishers. I had a ton of fun trying out a few of their beers last night with friends at the Fishers taproom!
AESTHETIC: I really love the new logo and design Mashcraft has put out recently (see 3rd pic). Mashcraft’s tag line is “Your Ale Artisan” and they definitely make you feel as though they want their beer to be an expression of art! They were the first Indy brewery to make use of the Libbey glass too - style points 😎.COMMUNITY: Mashcraft always has very friendly, personable servers & bartenders! I remember the first time I went to the Delaware St. location and the bartender gave me a nice rundown of the tap list & beers that I might enjoy! Mashcraft is the place to go if you want a nice, ambient spot to unwind, grab a pretzel or a bite to eat and relax with a few friends! Their Delaware St location especially feels like a nice little beer nook!BEER: Mashcraft has a long, varied tap list! They have a few experimental brews to offer but nothing off the charts crazy. I tried out Howe High IPA which featured Indiana hops, a tasting experience I don’t think I’ve ever had. I was searching for a standout WOW beer and I’m not sure I’ve found it yet. Their spring seasonal Maibock was very solid - a nice tart, sweet version of a something I’d liken to a Vienna Lager. Last Light is a flagship Blood Orange IPA which is not bad, but not a standout in my opinion. Bottom line: MC has many beers to try, but I need to go back to find that one-of-a-kind brew!

My ratings:
Beer: 6.5
Aesthetic: 8.0
Community: 7.5
Overall: 7.3

Upland Brewing Co.

Bloomington, Carmel, Fountain Square, College Ave., Jeffersonville, and Southport

From it’s humble beginnings way back in 1997 Bloomington, Upland has expanded to become the 3rd largest brewery in the state with multiple brewing locations and taprooms across Indiana. Upland Brewing is where local brewing culture crosses paths the blossoming Midwest progressive, outdoor-adventure culture.AESTHETIC: Upland has it’s design, artwork, and branding on point. In fact, they make Indiana look cooler than it is. Look for Upland’s iconic outdoor, hiking, and camping themes. Is this cliche for breweries now? Kind of. But back in 1997 Upland was in the forefront of the outdoor-brewery mix-mash culture. All of the taprooms are known for being trendy spots, but I especially love drinking (and playing cornhole) at the outdoor beer garden at the Fountain Square location.COMMUNITY: Upland is making the transition from a local brewery to a regional brewery. As such, it’s harder to determine who their niche crowd is. There’s no doubt that the wider Indiana community loves to come out, drink, and purchase Upland beer & food. They are almost universally well-liked and appreciated! What I love about Upland is that they do give special attention to yearly specials / holidays. Oktoberfest, Maifest, Irish food on St. Patty’s, etc are all a lot of fun!BEER: I have a huge blind spot when it comes to Upland, which is that I am not a fan of Sours. Sours are a huge niche that Upland dominates. Their barrel-aged sours / wild ales intrigue me and I need to break out of my comfort zone! In terms of Upland’s regular beers, they are solid. Dragonfly is a decently bitter & softly fruity IPA. Upland Wheat Ale gives you their version of a Blue Moon. Champagne Velvet is a Pre-Prohibiton Pilsener that Upland obtained the rights to from Terre Haute Brewing when they were shut down. Rounding out their flagships is Bad Elmer Porter and Campside Pale Ale which I usually enjoy! Campside is the only one lacking a bit in my opinion. Upland always has around 4 seasonal beers that are seasonally appropriate. I rate their Oktoberfest pretty highly every year. Beers from Upland I’m dying to get my hands on…Juiced in Time IPA and Coastbuster DIPA! Let me know what you think of these. Placing Upland in context, I see them as a brewery with a lot of crowd-pleasers that stick to type, most of which have more layers than say Sun King beers do.

My Ratings:
Beer: 7.9Aesthetic: 9.0
Community: 8.5
Overall: 8.5

Taxman Brewing Co.

Bargarsville, CityWay Downtown, Fortville

What do you get when you cross Belgian-style brewing, eclectic small-town appeal, seasonal, artisan food, and a corporate background in finance? Taxman Brewing Co! Taxman was born in 2014, and has now expanded to three restaurant / tap houses across the Indy metro!BEER: The three founders birthed the idea of Taxman over Belgian style beers on a tax-related trip in...Belgium! So I am told... It’s only fitting that the Belgian beer takes center stage at Taxman! If the bready, rich, sweet banana taste of a Belgian ale wets your appetite, this is your spot. Each of their “House Beers” I am a huge fan of. If I want a thick, dessert-like beer, I’ll grab an Deduction Dubbel. If I want something easy to go along with dinner, I’ll grab La Maison, a Belgian golden ale (still 7%...) or Wit-Held, a more traditional wheat beer. They always have a nice selection of Seasonal Beers & Sours on draft too. Don’t sleep on these! One go-to that I always look forward to....Tax Holiday around Christmas season!ATMOSPHERE / AESTHETIC: Most breweries in Indy have a very laid back, mess-hall type of feel. Taxman brings a different take. Here you’ll find top-quality, locally sourced food that changes with the season. You’ll find a beautiful space in absolutely incredible old (historic?) buildings. Remember that Ben Franklin quote, “Two things you can always count on in life: Death & Taxes.” This is the basis for their unique aesthetic: skulls, death, taxes, farmhouse-feel, and wonderful Belgian-style beer!COMMUNITY: With their three various locations — Bargarsville, Fortville, and now Delaware St Downtown — Taxman brings together many diverse groups of people. Each venue has its own appeal (and I’ve found most Tax fans have their preferred location). Taxman is a happening place, and a great place for an event, catching live music on the patio, or just grabbing a bite with a few friends. When to go: Wednesday all house beers are $3 🤑!!

My Ratings:
Beer: 9.0
Aesthetic: 9.5
Community: 9.0
Overall: 9.2

Scarlet Lane Brewing

McCordsville, South Broad Ripple, Near North, and Beech Grove

Notes. . .“We’re Different” so Scarlet Lane Brewing (SLB) says. They ARE! What I appreciate most about my visits to SLB is how unique and odd (yep I’m gonna say it) their approach to beer is. If you are all about the horror-show-always-Halloween vibes then get here! They have four locations now (crazy!!): Main Brewery in McCordsville, South Broad Ripple Taphouse, Gastropub off 17th near Downtown, and Scarlet Grove in Beech Grove. I’ve personally only been to the Gastropub and the SoBro Taphouse so let me know what I’m missing from the others! Did you know…Scarlet Lane is run by a female head brewer, Eilise Lane who forged her brewing expertise in the Pacific Northwest, and she is accompanied by a primarily female investment team (Scarlet Lane website). Pretty neat!!My Beer Pick. . .First of all, I love that they separate their beer menu into three tiers, each with a different price point and complexity it seems (pic 3). I have to give my beer pick to the Dorian Coconut Stout which is a SLB staple. For me, it doesn’t disappoint and I can even enjoy it on a hot, steamy day! Let me know in the comments, what’s been your favorite at SLB??

My Overall Rating: 7.1 / 10

Grand Junction Brewing

Westfield

Notes. . .Grand Junction provides the feel-good, local water-hole vibes that we all want to experience, especially on a warm summer night with the live music jamming!! What I think I loved most was that there seemed to be SO MANY regulars here. It was as if the bartender knew everyone. They’ve carved out a dependable, fun spot for themselves way up in Westfield… In terms of beer, I would need to go back a few more times to give a legit review. All in all, I appreciated that they seemed to have a tap for just about every type, all the way into the more obscure types like a Scottish Ale, ESB, Brown, etc. Would I go there for the cutting edge hazy double dry hopped? No. But for a more traditional type of beer they’ve got you well covered!My Beer Pick. . .Try out the Westfield Underground ESB, especially if you considered yourself not a fan of this type. It has a nice sweet amber feel and it may surprise you! One with Nature IPA seems to be the consensus favorite so this is likely a sure bet as well! Cheers!

My Overall Rating: 7.3 / 10

Local Beer: Reviews

Beer: Lift Off IPA
Brewery: Daredevil Brewing Co. in Speedway, IN
Style: West Coast IPA
abv: 7.2%
ibu: Unknown

Notes:Artwork / Pour: The can art on this is not my favorite, going to be honest. The old guy flying on his contraption is cute but I'm more of a fan of a nice, clean design. This has a bit much going on. It pours more light & blonde than expected, considering it's of the west coast style.Taste: Lift Off brings in a variety of hops. I couldn't find the exact hops. Their website just says "a variety of American hops." I'd liken it to tasting a "garden" of hops with many different hop flavors coming to the front.Bottom Line: This is my standard, go-to west coast IPA. Even compared to other macro-brewed west coast IPA's, this one stands out as a fine IPA. It's one of those with just the right balance of bitterness and smoothness.

My Untappd Rate: 4.5/5
Cheers, Daredevil! 🍻

Big Lug Brewing

Sahm's Ale House, Big Lug Canteen, Half Liter, Hoss, Roost, Rockstone

Time to talk about one of my favorite groups: Sahm’s / the Big Lug fam! Did you know that Sahm’s Ale House(s), Hoss, Roost, Rockstone, Big Lug, and Half Liter are all part of the Sahm’s family?! Neither did I until a bit ago. On to the notes…🗒Notes. . .As per my page, this just concerns the Big Lug places (I’ve been to): Big Lug Canteen & Half Liter. These guys were one of the first companies to make use of @flatlandkitchen design and ushered in an era of 💯 coolness! To be honest, they monopolize some of the best patios / beer gardens in the city…both right on the Monon 🚲 — which I dig since I now live on the Monon. For good clean social media fun, unpretentious yuppieness, no frills eats, and a fun crowd these are your spots!🍺My Beer Pick. . .KRISTOFFERSON. This thicker pale ale makes use of oats to bring out a piney malty flavor I can’t get anywhere else. I’m obsessed. S/o to @aimeepatras for showing it to me! Otherwise just grab a 32oz of Goat Ranch from Half Liter and thank me later! I love that Big Lug sticks with traditional German styles…no hazies / crappy seltzers (no offense). Cheers! 🍻

My Overall Rating: 7.36/ 10

Pax Verum Brewing

Lapel, IN

Pax Verum had been on my list of places to visit in the greater Indianapolis area for a VERY long time. Luckily my wife said, lets go out of the blue and so it was ON!Notes. . .Pax Verum has the “wayyyyy out” themes on lock. #1 they are literally way out there in rural Lapel, IN, albeit located right in the heart of the local downtown area. #2 they have some BOLD solid brews. From luscious stouts to hop-monsters they seem to have you covered. Their styles remind me a lot of 18th Street Brewery actually — large and in charge. Their spot is impressive. Industrial yet cozy; fit with an impressive turf beer garden to get you out in the sun.My Beer Pick. . .I’d say go with Nectar of the Gods DIPA. It’s big, sweet, and flavorful. Hard to not like. Reptillia West Coast would be my runner up. Indiana Pale Ale is UNIQUE that’s for sure, featuring Indiana-ingredients. Wouldn’t be my top pick for taste. I didn’t have any darker styles but can’t wait to work those in in a winter visit, hopefully.Cheers!

My Overall Rating: 8.5/ 10

Garfield Brewery

Garfield Park, Indianapolis

BEER: the beer is solid! Is it out of this world jaw-dropping amazing? Maybe not. But it’s dependable and gets the job done. They’re hazy line up is very popular and I love the Conservatory IPA. Feel-good beer.AESTHETIC: Man are they killing it here. It’s just the perfect brewery to sum up Garfield: Natural, Ecclectic, Friendly. The new windows mirror the conservatory down the road: lots of natural light, plants, and good feels.
COMMUNITY: A+ here. I think (?) there are around 4 owners and it seems one is always around, ready to strike up a conversation. I’ve had some of the best beer conversations while here. Always great people around. cheers, @garfieldbrewery ! 🍻🍻

My Overall Rating: 7.9/ 10