HOPPY SAYS,
“Check the Events Calendar to find the upcoming Beer Events!”
HOOSIER BREWERIES SHINE AT BEST OF CRAFT BEER AWARDS!
The Best of Craft Beer Awards (BOCBA) 2025 took place last weekend in Redmond, Oregon. Fifty international judges determined the winners of the total of 135 gold, silver and bronze medals in the competition. Over 1,200 entries were judged in arriving at the medal recipients. As you might expect, due to the location of the event, most of the entries and award winners were from the West Coast states of Washington, Oregon and California. They accounted for a total 90 medals. Indiana breweries received a total of 7 medals, which was almost double that of any other state, not on the West Coast! The complete list of medalists can be found here.
The winners and the categories in which they won are as follows:
Bier Brewery – Dark Lagers – Night Lager – Gold
Bier Brewery – Flavored Beers – Pumpkin Ale – Bronze
Flix Brewhouse – Classic and Specialty Saisons & Farmhouse Beers – Flix Farmhouse – Gold
Flix Brewhouse – Fruit & Field Beers – Luna Rosa – Gold
Moontown Brewing – German & American Wheat Beers – Hefczkowski – Bronze
Moontown Brewing – Amber Lagers – Follow the Lederhosen – Bronze
Moontown Brewing – Hop Forward Lagers – 86th Meridian – Bronze
Congrats to the winning breweries!
THE DISTRICT TAP NORTHSIDE – INDIANAPOLIS
Last evening Hoppy visited The District Tap northside location in Indianapolis. Their slogan is, “Craft beer on tap and damn good food.” They are also a sports bar and a live music venue. There were 63 items on draft during the visit.
While there, Hoppy drank a Big Lug Brewing Big Tree Reserve Cold IPA – Described as having been put in their store picked High West Bourbon barrel. This lagered IPA took on notes of oak, smoke, and vanilla and added to the silkiness already abundant in Mr. Big Tree. 7% ABV, 80 IBU.
Pictures from the visit follow:
SUN KING BREWING – KOKOMO
Hoppy visited Sun King Brewing in Kokomo this afternoon. They opened in Kokomo as part of a partnership with Amanda Lewton in 2020. The location had previously operated, as a partnership, by Lewton, under Tin Man Brewing, which had brewed in Evansville.
The location has the core, seasonal, specialty, barrel-aged and sour beers from Sun King as well as small-batch new, unique and innovative beers that are brewed at this location.
While there Hoppy quaffed the following:
A sample of Sun King Toasted Marshmallow Stout – Described as combining the roast toasty malt character of a stout base with the flavors of marshmallow for a perfect fireside companion. 8.9% ABV, 20 IBU.
A pint of Sun King Kokomo Fistful of Haze IPA – An experimental IPA brewed with citrusy Mandarina, Azacca, and Trident hops. 6.9% ABV.
Pictures from the visit follow (Thanks to Lexi for the brewery photos):
CRAFT BREWERS CONFERENCE & WORLD BEER CUP COMING TO INDY!
The 2025 Craft Brewers Conference and World Beer Cup is coming to the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis! This is America’s largest gathering for the alcohol beverage industry. The events are occurring from April 28th through May 1st. For best pricing for the events, you must register before February 27th. The Conference includes not only speakers and seminars, but also BrewExpo America, which is the largest brewing and alcohol beverage trade show in the U.S.
The Craft Brewers Conference stated that choosing Indianapolis for the events was “a no-brainer–and long overdue,” and that “this dynamic city boasts a thriving craft beer scene, exciting urban adventures, and endless opportunities for nighttime fun, promising an unforgettable CBC week.”
For detailed information on the Craft Brewers Conference click here.
The World Beer Cup is described as the most prestigious beer competition in the world and “the Olympics of beer!” Their Awards Ceremony will take place on May 1st. There are volunteer positions available from April 26th through April 28th to assist in the competition. These roles include Stewards: responsible for delivering entries to judges, pulling entries for pouring (critical for delivery), and Back of the House: responsible for moving entries, sorting and compiling entries (the brawn of the operation). The deadline for volunteer applications is February 26th. If interested, you should DM Simon Kowalski here.
For detailed information on the World Beer Cup click here.
Both of the events are organized by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts.
WINTERFEST 2025 – INDIANAPOLIS
Hoppy attended the Indiana Brewers Guild Winterfest on Saturday. It was a chance to sample over 200 beers from 75+ Indiana breweries!
Some of the beers sampled by Hoppy were as follows:
Deviate Brewing Hop Supremacy DDH Hazy IPA – This is brewed with Citra and Mosaic Cryo hops. 6.5% ABV.
Moontown Brewing Temple of Dank Hazy DIPA – Made with a pilsner malt base along with unmalted wheat, rolled and malted oats. It is whirlpooled with Idaho 7 and /Citra hops and dry-hopped with a substantial amount of Nectaron and another hit of Citra. It is described as drinking very smooth and creamy with a refreshing finish, full of citrus and tropical notes along with a hint of dank, it has a tame body that lends to even greater drinkability. 8% ABV.
Metazoa Brewing Wicked Pawesome Hazy IPA – Described as an experimental Hazy IPA that leans on additions of Loral and El Dorado hops to give a tropical fruit and slightly floral flavor to this medium full-bodied IPA. 6.3% ABV, 25 IBU.
Taxman Brewing DIPA: Idaho Gem + Cryo-Pop – Described as two hops working in harmony to create a balanced hop-forward experience. The Pacific Northwest duo of Idaho Gem and Cryo-Pop hops contribute vibrant notes of sweet berry meshed with tropical fruits and citrus, all backed by zesty pine, spice and hazy saison yeast. It is a flavorful farmhouse double IPA! 8% ABV, 70 IBU.
Broad Ripple Brewpub Lavender Lawnmower Firkin Pale Ale
Moontown Brewing Firkin Oaked Lager
Sun King Brewery Afternoon Delight Bourbon Barrel-Aged Doppelbock – Described as having aromas of brown sugar and molasses accentuated with the sweet flavors of vanilla and wood from the bourbon barrels. 11.1% ABV, 23 IBU.
Pax Verum Brewing Reptilia West Coast IPA – Described as like reptiles traversing the ancient journey, it weaves through the world on fire, mastering the subtleties of evolution and the art of standing out. 6.7% ABV, 75 IBU.
ZwanzigZ Brewing 7 Mary 3 & 4 West Coast Hazy IPA – Brewed with “ChiPs.” 6.4% ABV, 64 IBU
Creatures of Habit Brewing Remo’s Revenge Bourbon Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout – Described as aged on Bourbon Oak to develop rich flavors from the caramel and roasted malts with notes of honey, chocolate and coffee. The high alcohol gives way to a complex and balanced finish. 10.5% ABV.
King Jugg Brewing Earl of Citra SMASH American IPA – This is a single hop and single malt (SMASH) beer brewed with Citra hops. 6% ABV, 65 IBU.
Northbrook Brewing Leon Spruce IPA – Described as a bold and aromatic IPA infused with fresh spruce tips for a unique piney character. The earthy resinous notes are balanced by a touch of citrusy hop bitterness, delivering a crisp and refreshing finish. Perfect for adventurous palates seeking a taste of the forest. 5.5% ABV, 85 IBU.
Hoppy also sampled a Three Floyds Premium Cocktail Tequila Splash Paloma – Made with Tequila, Grapefruit Liqueur, Lime and Grapefruit Juices, and Sparkling Water. 9% ABV.
Pictures from the event follow:
ROOTS BURGER BAR – CARMEL
Yesterday evening Hoppy visited Roots Burger Bar in Carmel. They also operate a location in Muncie. (Their main investor is Scott Wise who formerly owned Scotty’s Brewhouse and Thr3e Wise Men Brewing.) They have twelve beers on draft, most of which are craft brews from Indiana. It was Hoppy’s lucky night as they feature draft pints on Thursday for only $3.00.
While there, Hoppy enjoyed a WarPigs USA Foggy Geezer New England/Hazy IPA. It is described as being created with citrus and tropical hop varieties being gathered en masse. 7.3% ABV, 69 IBU.
Pictures from the visit follow:
