Beer Bars, Taverns & Restaurants

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.

The following are pictures from the event:

A TAPROOM – INDIANAPOLIS

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.

Pictures from the visit follow:

MOSES LAKE TAPROOM – MOSES LAKE, WA

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:

Follow Hoppy on his next adventures as he returns “Back Home Again in Indiana!”

BROKEN OAR OYSTER BAR – HOMER, ALASKA

Hoppy next visited the Broken Oar Oyster Bar which is a cozy bar on the Homer Spit with a nice view of Kachemak Bay. It is in a building named the Kachemak Mariculture Center. While there, they were serving draft beers from Matanuska Brewing out of Palmer, Alaska.

Hoppy enjoyed a Long Track IPA described as boasting a big clean citrus and tropical hop aroma accompanied by a slightly sweet malt finish. It clocked in at 6.7% ABV, 55 IBU.

Images follow.

SALTY DAWG SALOON – HOMER, ALASKA

Who goes to Homer without stopping at the Salty Dog Saloon?! The Salty Dawg opened in 1957, two years before Alaska became a state. Its beginnings as a building, however, was as one of the first cabins built in Homer, in 1897, shortly after Homer became a town site. (For more information on its history click here.) It is located on the Homer Spit.

The Saloon has a full bar but only has beer in bottles and cans (no drafts) and does not serve food. They only accept cash, but an ATM is onsite. Bring an extra dollar to hang on the wall!

While there, Hoppy drank an Alaskan Brewing Icy Bay IPA, out of Juneau. It is made from glacier-fed water and a blend of Cascade, Bravo, Calypso, Summit and Apollo hops and premium two-row pale and specialty malts. It is 6.2% ABV, 65 IBU.

Photos follow.

HOPPY VISITS THE HAMMOCK COAST, SC

Hoppy visited the Hammock Coast during the week prior to and including Memorial Day weekend. Some of the places that he visited are shown in the photos below.

Look for Hoppy on the Hammock Coast and Mrytle Beach, at the following establishments, as posted previously on beerblogIN:

New South Brewing – Myrtle Beach

Inlet Beer Garden – on the Marsh Walk in Murrells Inlet

Southern Hops Brewing – Murrells Inlet

Pawleys Island Tavern – Pawleys Island

Big Tuna – Georgetown

Hoppy’s next visit will be to Alaska!