Indy Craft Pass – On the Quest Day Eight

It was only fitting that Hoppy visited 8th Day Distillery on the 8th day of his quest. He also dropped by Ellison Brewing and Sun King Spirits.

At Ellison Brewing Hoppy enjoyed a Crescent Fresh IPA (6.2% ABV, 65 IBU). He sipped a Goosebumps Cocktail (made with 90 proof Chat Maison Absinthe, lemon, mint and cucumber) at 8th Day Distillery. He quaffed a Keller Haze IPA (6.1% ABV, 51 IBU at Sun King Spirits. (Sorry spirits, this is a beer blog!)

Now for the big announcement – drum roll please: Hoppy has completed the necessary thirty-five check-ins to earn the ceramic stein!

As mentioned in an earlier post, Hoppy had been negligent and forgetful in obtaining check-ins on his Indy Craft Pass, and he had only received four check-ins in approximately a ten month period. Only thirty-one visits are documented in this eight day period, as Hoppy had completed those four visits previously.

Check back again tomorrow to see if Hoppy picks up his stein!

Indy Craft Pass – On the Quest Day Seven

The 7th day of the quest included stops at the following establishments: Peace Water Winery – Indianapolis, West Fork Whiskey, Taxman CityWay and Bier Brewery North.

With what did Hoppy tickle his taste buds on day seven of his quest? He had a glass of 2018 Radiant Unoaked Chardonnay (13.8%) at Peace Water Winery -Indianapolis, a 3rd Degree Cinnamon Whiskey (70 proof) at West Fork Whiskey, an Exemption Belgian Tripel (8.5% ABV, 30 IBU) at Taxman CityWay, and an Amarillo Avenue DDH Hazy IPA (5.3% ABV, 38 IBU) at Bier Brewery North.

Stay tuned tomorrow, to see if Hoppy finishes his quest.

Indy Craft Pass – On the Quest Day Six

On day six of the quest, Hoppy visited Fountain Square Brewery, (including New Day Craft Mead & Cider), as well as BrewDog Brewing, Hotel Tango Distillery, and Ash & Elm Cider.

At Fountain Square Brewery, Hoppy drank a Soul Ride IPA clocking in at 6.7% ABV, 69 IBU. While there, he also sampled a mead from New Day Craft, which is owned by Fountain Square, but whose tasting room is closed. (They will open a new tasting room in the future at their production facility at the Circle City Industrial Complex.) You can currently obtain your Indy Craft Pass check-in, for New Day Craft, at Fountain Square Brewery.

Hoppy particularly likes New Day’s slogan, “Every New Day Is An Adventure.”

Other beverages imbibed on day six of the quest included:

BrewDog – Elvis Juice IPA – 6.5% ABV, 40 IBU

Hotel Tango – American Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90 Proof

Ash & Elm – Extra Special Dry Cider – wild fermented with a tannic finish – 7.2%

Indy Craft Pass – On the Quest Day Five

Visits to Sun King Brewery Indianapolis, Easley Winery, Metazoa Brewing and Indiana City Brewing comprised the quest on day five.

Easley Winery was only open for curb service, but Jess provided me with the check-in and the free wine glass offered on the Indy Craft Pass. She also placed the following sticker on the door to the winery:

At Sun King, Hoppy sipped a Hot Rod Lincoln Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Chocolate & Cherries (11.4% ABV, 50 IBU), while at Indiana City, he drank a Cloud Creations DDH Hazy IPA (7.5% ABV), and at Metazoa, he quaffed a Hoppopotamus IPA (7% ABV, 70 IBU). At Metazoa, he also enjoyed a conversation with John Hall, the head brewer.

Hoppy is making significant progress on his quest and may be able to complete it ahead of schedule, within eight days!

Indy Craft Pass – On the Quest Day Four

Day four on the quest included stops at Mashcraft on Delaware, Centerpoint, TwoDEEP and St. Joseph breweries.

Today’s beers included Crafted Mash Vol. VI, a Russian Imperial Stout (9.5% ABV, 16 IBU), from Mashcraft; a Second Chances DDH American IPA (7.3% ABV) from St. Joseph; a Vanilla Blood Orange IPA (5.2% ABV, 51 IBU) from Centerpoint; and a Grande hefe-hefeweisen (4.7% ABV, 16 IBU) from TwoDEEP.

Indy Craft Pass – On the Quest Day Three

Hoppy begins day three at Upland Brewing in Carmel followed by both Upland Brewing and Sun King Brewing in Broad Ripple, and then Bier Brewery in Indy.

Recap after Day Three

Hoppy has found, that due to COVID-19, many more beer styles are available at this time of year than usual, such as barrel-aged stouts. Some of the beers sampled have been experimental brews including Nex IPA: Experiment #9 from Daredevil, which is a New England Style IPA (8% ABV, 80 IBU). Another would be Mashcraft Vine #3 Experimental Ale with Chardonnay Grape Must (7% ABV).

Others have been seasonal ales that included GFJ from Sun King which has a grapefruit flavor from the Warrior, Simcoe, Amarillo and Centennial hops (7.7% ABV, 77 IBU)

Peach Sour Ale, which is barrel-aged on whole peaches (5.6% ABV), and Oak & Rose Sour Ale aged in wine barrels on chambourcin grapes (5.8% ABV) were both sampled at Upland.

The following were brewery year-round beers that were enjoyed:

Bier PDG Pale Ale (6% ABV, 74 IBU

Guggman Haus Great Day IPA (6.7% ABV, 75 IBU)

Big Woods – Quaff On! QFTO IPA (6.5% ABV, 75 IBU)

Hoppy also enjoyed taster samples of Napa Valley red wines from, Indiana owned, Peace Water Winery.