Indiana Beer News

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.

3 FLOYDS TO OPEN TAPROOM/RESTAURANT – UPDATE

You heard it here first, on August 30th of last year, that 3 Floyds was reopening their brewpub in Munster! At that time, I was informed that it was anticipated to open in January 2024. Others have posted their expected opening to occur in May. Currently, I am hearing only that it will open sometime in 2024.

INDIANA BREWERIES SUPPORT RELIEF EFFORTS IN MAUI

675 breweries worldwide and seven Indiana breweries are participating in the Kokua Project to support the ongoing needs of the people affected by the tragic fires on the island of Maui. It was inspired by Sierra Nevada’s Resilience Project to support the victims of the tragic Camp Fire in California in 2018.

The Kokua Project is one beer, brewed by many, to support the people of Maui, with 100% of proceeds going to relief efforts. The beer is named Kōkua – “Maui Strong” Session IPA. It is brewed with Mosaic hops and is 4.2% ABV, 20 IBU. The recipe is provided by Maui Brewing Co.

The seven Indiana breweries that are participating in the project are:

2Toms Brewing Company
Auburn Brewing Company
Blockhead Beerworks
Brokerage Brewing Company
New Oberpfalz Brewing
Urban Vines
Windmill Brewing Co

For a list of all participating breweries, or if you are a brewery wishing to participate, you can find the information here.

#MauiStrong #LahainaStrong

BREAKING NEWS: 3 FLOYDS TO OPEN TAPROOM/RESTAURANT

It is Hoppy’s understanding that 3 Floyds plans on opening a taproom/restaurant in Munster in January of 2024!

3 Floyds had closed their original taproom/restaurant early during the COVID-19 pandemic and as of December 1st, 2020, decided to close it permanently for the safety of their customers and staff.

Hoppy visited the original brewpub in September of 2018 and rocked out to Heavy Metal. The question is, will customers still be serenaded with Heavy Metal at the new brewpub?

Pictures from Hoppy’s visit in 2018 follow:

CONGRATS ARE DUE TO INDIANAPOLIS BREWERIES, ESPECIALLY KISMETIC, GUGGMAN HAUS & SUN KING

USA TODAY recently had a number of Top Ten lists relative to beer in the United States. Indianapolis was ranked third in the Best Beer City competition. (Indy has been close to the top for the last few years.) For the best beer city results click here.

Kismetic Brewing finished 2nd in the country in the ten best new breweries category. Those results can be found here.

Guggman Haus Brewing captured 2nd in the best beer garden results. This ranking can be found here.

Sun King Brewing garnered 5th place for their Indy Pale Ale in the best beer label category. For those results click here.

You can find more information relative to each of these breweries buy doing a search on beerblogIN.com.

INDIANA PLACES TWO BREWERIES IN TOP TEN AT 2023 U.S. OPEN BEER CHAMPIONSHIP

With more than 9,000 beers in 147 categories, Flix Brewhouse in Carmel, excelled by placing second in the competition. Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis also did Indiana proud by finishing tied for fifth in the event. The top ten breweries in the competition were as follows:

Top 10 Breweries in 2023’s U.S. Open Beer Championships
1. Toppling Goliath Brewing — Iowa
2. Flix Brewhouse – Carmel – Indiana
3. Schulz Brau Brewing – Tennessee
4. Urban Artifact – Ohio
5. Boulevard Brewing Company – Missouri
5. Bull & Bush Brewery – Colorado
5. New Heights Brewery – Tennessee
5. Sun King Brewery – Indiana
9. Pontoon Brewing – Georgia
10. Lupulin Brewing Company – South Dakota
10. Woodland Farm Brewery – New York

Flix Brewhouse won three gold medals and one silver, in the following categories:

German Hefeweizen – Gold for Who Is This Hans?

Münchner Dunkel – Gold for Dunkel Dimension

Foreign Stout – Gold for Inside the Moon

Gose – Silver for Ursula’s Agreement

Sun King won two gold medals, three silver and two bronze in the following categories:

Barrel-aged Fruit Beer – Gold for Barrel Berry Smash

Barrel-aged Quad/Belgian Dark – Gold for Diddy Muckle

Belgian-style Fruit Beer – Silver for Cherry Berry Cuvee

International-style Pilsner – Silver for Pachanga

Golden or Blonde Ale – Silver for Sunlight Cream Ale

Barrel-aged Brett/Wild Beer – Bronze for Brett Fusion

Barrel-aged Pale Beer – Bronze for Lonesome Dove

Other Indiana winners follow:

Metazoa Brewing won two gold medals and one silver medal in the following categories:

Heller Bock/Maibock Beer – Gold for Ain’t Afraid of No Goats

Münchner Helles – Gold for Lagerhead Turtle

Kellerbier or Zwickelbier – Silver for Good Boy

Bier Brewery won one each of gold, silver and bronze medals.

ESB – Gold for ESB

Rye/Roggen Beer – Silver for Roggenschnizzle

Pumpkin – Bronze for Pumpkin Ale

Byway Brewing won a gold medal in the Rye/Roggen beer category for Rye Bob.

Grand Junction Brewing won a silver and bronze medal in the following categories:

Belgian-style Blonde Ale – Silver for Belgian Spy Balloon

ESB – Bronze for Westfield Underground ESB

Daredevil Brewing won a silver medal in the American Premium Lager category for Indy Lager.

Taxman Brewing won a silver medal in the American Berry/Fruit Beer – Lime category for Expat: Key Lime.

Hop River Brewing won a bronze medal in the Strong Bock/Doppelbock category for Express Elevator.

Hoppy congratulates the winners on another great showing for Indiana breweries!

The complete list of winners can be found here.