Indiana Beer News

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. 

Scarlet Lane Brewing shuttered operations. They enjoyed 10+ years and had as many as five locations in the greater Indy area, at one time. They became known as “The Official Beer of Horror” and included a dungeon for Indianapolis icon, Sammy Terry, at their brewery, and original location, which closed yesterday. (Their four taprooms had closed previously.) For more information see the Facebook post from CEO, Elise Lane, at 12:25pm yesterday.

Hoppy visited them on their final day of operation. A few pix from the visit follow:

Triton Brewing permanently closed their doors on December 14th. It was a long run of 13+ years at their Fort Ben location. (See their Facebook post here.)

Hoppy’s visit to the brewery, where he enjoyed a Rail Splitter, can be found here.

Sorry to see another longtime brewery shutter their doors.

Simon Floyd, who founded 3 Floyds Brewing with his father, Mike and brother, Nick, passed away on December 22nd. They began brewing in 1996 in Hammond and moved to Munster in 2000. Simon is remembered, not only for his connection to 3 Floyds, but also for being an excellent chef and a kind and generous individual. (See The Times of Northwest Indiana Article.)

3 Floyds was ranked the 20th largest craft brewery by the Brewer’s Association last year. They have also been named the Number 1 craft brewery in the world by RateBeer, five times!

They might have celebrated Easter in Munster, but there will be no Christmas! Three Floyds will not be opening their taproom, this year, as anticipated. Hopefully we will be learning more soon about 2025.

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 4/8/2024 – CENTRAL INDIANA

Central Indiana may not only have been the best place to view the Total Eclipse of the Sun on April 8th, but also to imbibe special beers that were released to celebrate this historic once in a lifetime event! Hoppy was fortunate enough to not only see the event, but also to quaff some of the excellent beers developed just for this occasion. This would include two limited edition beers developed by Sun King and Upland Breweries as part of the Simons Foundation In the Path of Totality initiative. These were:

Sun King – In the Path of Totality – A Blonde/Golden Ale infused with locally roasted coffee from SunBean Roasters. It is 5.3% ABV, 20 IBU.

Upland – Don’t Stare Into the Sun – An American IPA brewed exclusively with Eclipse hops, a new variety from Australia, described as a truly dazzling spectacle of the blindingly intense flavors of Mandarin orange, pineapple, and peach with a firm but balanced bitterness. Only available on draft. 7.3% ABV.

More information on the Simons Foundation In the Path of Totality brews can be found here.

Not to be outdone, Taxman Brewing released two beers in honor of the eclipse. Hoppy was also able to partake of these. Their description follows:

Totality – A limited release Imperial IPA brewed with the out-of-this-world combination of Galaxy and Comet hops. This hazy ale features juicy notes of grapefruit, tangerine and passion fruit. 8% ABV, 65 IBU.

In the Black – A special blend of their bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, Deadline, blended with their award winning Belgian-style quadrupel, Qualified, creating a complex and robust dark ale almost as stunning as the eclipse itself. A touch of vanilla is added to further embolden the deep stone fruit and toasted notes. 11.2% ABV, 40 IBU.

During his eclipse adventures, Hoppy was able to obtain a few souvenirs, a 4 pack of In the Path of Totality and a t-shirt commemorating the event from Sun King and a Silipint glass from Upland.

Images follow:

Upland Glow in the Dark Silipint Glass

Hoppy was lucky enough to have seen this once in lifetime event, the total solar eclipse, twice! He was also able to see one on August 21, 2017, at the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes’ Stadium in Oregon at a baseball game which was delayed for a 58-minute period, after its start, so that attendees and players could view the eclipse. Hoppy was especially happy because the Volcanoes lost the game 9-5 to some of his relatives with the Hillsboro Hops! A good description of the day can be found here.