INDIANA BEER ADVENTURES
by Gary Dean
Are you tired of staying home? Have you canceled an out-of-state or out-of-country vacation? Are you ready to navigate the Hoosier landscape? How about an Indiana Beercation or just a beer event or experience? Here are some ideas to satisfy your thirst!
BREWERY TRAILS
Bloomington Ale Trail – To complete this trail you need to visit six brewery locations within Bloomington to earn a prize. You can also enter a drawing, upon completion of the required visits, for a chance to win a behind-the-scenes brewery tour. The current prize is not listed on their website, but it is my understanding that this Trail is still being sponsored in 2020.
Heartland Wine & Ale Trial – This trail consists of eleven stops in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio. Some of the places offer discounts, but there is no prize for completion. Wayne County, Indiana does offer a free Passport to Savings Card that enables you to discounts at area restaurants, attractions, shopping, performing arts, etc.
Indiana Grown Brewery Trail – This trail currently has twenty-three brewery members throughout the State. Once you obtain a stamp from each of the breweries you can receive a custom Indiana Grown bottle opener.
Indy Craft Pass – With this option, for Indianapolis and central Indiana locations, you register the pass on your mobile device and check in on it as you visit each location. There are currently 40+ locations that include breweries, distilleries and craft beverage producers. After checking in at eight locations, you qualify for a Indy Craft Pass t-shirt. If you visit every participating location you earn what is described as the “ultimate Indy Craft Pass prize package.” (This would currently be a ceramic stein that you receive after only 35 check-ins.) You must complete the pass within a one year period.
Northern Indiana Beer Trail – This trail includes twenty-two breweries, some with multiple locations, primarily in the Fort Wayne area. Their rewards are as follows: with one stamp you get a sticker, seven stamps earn you a koozie, and with all 22 stamps you are rewarded with a hat.
South Shore Brewery Trail – This Northwest Indiana beer trail includes twenty brewery locations. With seven check-ins on your passport you receive a diecast Drink Indiana bottle opener, and after twelve check-ins the reward is a Drink Region South Shore Brewery Trail t-shirt.
MEMBERSHIPS
IN Beer Brigade – Membership is offered through the Brewers of Indiana Guild. Its annual membership is $75 per year and the benefits include:
Entrance for you and a guest to the annual IN Beer Brigade collaboration bottle release, at your choice of various locations throughout the State. There you will receive your complimentary carry-out bottle and specialty limited edition glassware paired specifically for the year’s collaboration. You will also have the opportunity to purchase full pours of the collaboration beer at the event location.
An IN Beer Brigade t-shirt.
A Drink Indiana Beer sticker.
Advance notice of Guild festival ticket sales and members’ only discounts.
Invitations to participate in exclusive experiences and discounts at Guild member breweries throughout the year.
Tasting Society Membership – Offered through Indiana On Tap at the cost of $59.95 per year. Membership includes:
Exclusive members-only offers, via newsletter, for free and discounted tickets to craft beer festivals, member only events, brewery tours, etc.
If you auto-renew your membership you receive additional benefits each year, through year four. An example would be a free ticket to two of Indiana On major events during your second year of membership.
MUG CLUBS
A number of Indiana breweries have mug clubs which you can join for an annual or a lifetime fee, depending on the brewery. Check with your favorite local brewery to see if they offer one, and the included benefits and the cost involved. One of the benefits offered by many of them include your individual mug, which you can fill for the same cost as a pint. Benefits sometimes include exclusive parties or in the case of Union Brewing, in Carmel, they offer the opportunity for joining in a Mug Club kayak trip.
Check out these links for Books & Brews (various locations) and Rad Brewing (Indianapolis) who are both offering lifetime mug club memberships at the special price of $50 through the end of May.
beerblogIN.com
As always, check in with beerblogIN.com, to learn of new beer releases, special tappings, grand openings, anniversaries, brew fests and other events. While there, don’t forget to play the “Name the Brewery” game where you will have the opportunity to win a glass growler from a featured Indiana brewery! To make sure that you don’t miss anything, subscribe to the beerblogIN email list.
Hopefully, I have given you some new information, or peaked your interest in beer adventures, in this post COVID-19 lockdown period. When you feel comfortable, get out there and enjoy, but by all means stay safe.