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.
Hoppy visited The Tap Beer Bar in downtown Indianapolis last Saturday. They boast having 200+ craft beers including up to seventy on draft. That would include up to twenty of their own beers, brewed in Bloomington, and up to 50 guest tap brews.
Hoppy indulged in brunch during his visit, while also quaffing The TapBionic DragonAmerican IPA. It is described as being packed with Waimea and Mosaic hops giving a tropical, citrus and floral aroma and flavor with an assertive bitterness. 6.8% ABV, 68 IBU/
Pictures from his visit follow:
The BarEntranceOutdoor SeatingTaproomSide Room with Additional BarBack RoomThe Tap Draft BoardGuest Beers Draft BoardTapsBionic DragonWall Decor
Hoppy recently visited a few taprooms of, or representing, breweries. The first of these was The Abandoned Station. This is a craft beer bar and arcade serving primarily as an outpost for Narrow Gauge Brewing out of Florissant, MO. They serve from 12-18 beers on draft most of which are from Narrow Gauge.
They opened early last year in the space formerly occupied by the A Taproom.
While there, Hoppy enjoyed the following brews:
An Emperor Fallen Flag Triple New England IPA – Described as their King Fallen Flag on steroids. It is double dry hopped with Citra and Mosaic hops. 10% ABV, 70 IBU.
An OJ Run Hazy Imperial IPA – Dry hopped with Citra, Galaxy and Amarillo hops. 8.6% ABV, 70 IBU.
Pictures follow:
ExteriorTapsDraft ListOJ RunMerchandiseHoppy Amongst The Crowd
SUN KING WINTER WARMER AT FLATWATER RESTAURANT – INDIANAPOLIS
Hoppy attended the Sun King Winter Warmer at Flatwater Restaurant in the Broad Ripple area on Thursday evening. This is an annual event hosted by Flatwater. Many of those in attendance were members of the Indy Beer Group on Meetup.com.
While there, Hoppy sipped on three barrel-aged beers from Sun King. These were as follows:
Chocolate Whiskey Barrel-Aged Scout Badge – A Barrel-Aged Cookie Porter amped up through the use of specialty chocolate whiskey barrel-aging. 8.5% ABV, 10 IBU.
Diddy Muckle – A Bourbon Barrel-Aged Scotch Ale with hints of toffee, molasses, caramel apple, brown sugar, vanilla and oak. ABV 12.9%, IBU 23.
Red Velvet Cake – A Bourbon Barrel-Aged Belgian-Style Dubbel aged in Bourbon Barrels with chocolate. 13.1% ABV, 20 IBU.
Hoppy was sorry to learn that A Taproom in Indianapolis will be closing soon (no later than January 7th, 2024). If you can, get out there and show support by visiting them prior to their impending closure! Hoppy visited them earlier today and sipped on the following brews:
More Brewing Barrel-Aged Henna: Birthday (2022) – An Imperial Stout from a brewery in Huntley, IL. Made with Coconut, Pecans, Vanilla and Cocoa Nibs. 15% ABV.
Windmill Brewing Pecan Panana Bancakes – A Double Pastry Stout from Dyer. Described as a big pastry boi brewed with loads of banana puree, Vermont maple syrup, and a ton of cinnamon pecans from our friends at Miller and Company German Roasted Nuts. 13.5% ABV
Heavy Reel Brewing Pacific Swell – A West Coast Triple IPA brewed in Seaside Heights, NJ. 8% ABV.
While in Moses Lake, Hoppy was able to make a few visits to the Moses Lake Taproom. They opened in March of this year in the former home of Squirrel Fight Artisan Brewery. While having only 12 taps, they offer a varied selection of craft beers with an emphasis on breweries from the region. The business is locally owned and operated by a family that is knowledgeable on beer styles and breweries and thus able to offer reliable recommendations. They are community oriented and offer friendly, excellent service.
Beers that Hoppy enjoyed during his visits included the following:
Georgetown Brewing Fresh Hop Bodhizafa IPA (Seattle, WA) – described as using their base recipe for Bodhizafa IPA and adding an additional 1,800 lbs. of fresh Mosaic hops from Double R Ranch to give this beer an extra fresh kick that can only come from fresh hop goodness. 6.9% ABV.
Lumberbeard Brewing What Once Was Imperial IPA (Spokane, WA) – described as reminding you of the IPAs that you first fell in love with, but with a fruitier punch and a cleaner mouthfeel. 8.3% ABV.
Bellwether Brewing It’s Pumpkin Saison (Spokane, WA) – 9.4% ABV
Varietal Beer Sup Cuz New England IPA (Sunnyside, WA) – described as a collaboration with Loza Farms. A hazy IPA brewed with Amarillo, Comet and Citra hops. 6.7% ABV
Two Beers Brewing Wonderland Trail IPA (Seattle, WA) – described as complemented by 2-Row Vienna and Munich malts while featuring a seamless blend of Washington-grown Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic and Cascade hops, you’ll notice a slightly sweet aroma of tangerine that is followed by a wave of citrus and passion fruit. 7.1% ABV, 84 IBU.
Monkless Belgian Ales The Trinity Belgian Tripel (Bend, OR) – described as having a soft malt character with a slightly spicy hop influence and moderate bitterness. The finish is peppery due to the clove-like phenols produced by the yeast. Mild esters reminiscent of pineapple and tropical fruit can be detected. 8.1% ABV, 36 IBU.
YaYa Brewing Barrel-Aged Fireside Imperial Stout (Spokane Valley, WA) – described as a chocolate milk stout barrel-aged in triticale barrels for nearly one year. 8.5% ABV, 25 IBU.
Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA (Kihei, HI) – described as an American dry-hopped IPA is bursting with tropical citrus hops. 6.8%, 70 IBU.
Pictures follow:
ExteriorTaps/Tin TackersTin TackersBar with Jon White Performing in BackgroundSeatingGeorgetown Brewing Fresh Hop BodhizafaDraft Selection on VisitDraft Selection on Another VisitDraft Selection 11/10Restroom Partition StickersSnow Geese Over Moses Lake
Follow Hoppy on his next adventures as he returns “Back Home Again in Indiana!”
