Five years ago, microbreweries producing craft beer were just that, a microscopic portion of the $100 billion U.S. beer market.
Fast forward to today, and craft beer demand has exploded to represent the quickest-growing segment of the beer industry, outpacing the giants that have long-dominated the market. The renaissance of small-time beer, which saw double-digit growth last year, has helped spawn the emergence of startup breweries across the country and Indy is no exception.
If you’re staying downtown, two great places to visit are Sun King Brewery and Flat12 Bierworks. The Flat12 taproom will provide you with some great IPA’s, wheats, an amber and a porter, in addition to seasonal specialties. Sun King’s tasting room, which has a great ambiance, is also downtown. Must-tries there include Osiris, a pale ale, and the Wee-Mac, a Scottish-style brown ale that has tons of flavor but goes down smooth.
If you’re looking for some food to help wash down your beer, try Barley Island or Thr3e Wiseman in Broad Ripple. What you’ll get at Barley Island is 20 taps and some great food choices. One of the newest additions to the local scene, Thr3e Wiseman has a porter made with coffee from a local mainstay among its solid beer choices. The food is nothing to scoff at either, and you get to eat and drink at an indoor picnic table complete with an iPad. Head a little further south, and you can try out some of Upland Brewery’s drafts at its Indy tasting room as well. I highly recommend the wheat.
If you’re staying on the north side, have no fear – local beer is still within your reach. Stop by the Bier Brewery and Taproom, another one of the newest additions to the local scene where there is no shortage of choices.
No matter where you end up, you’re sure to have some fun and learn a lot about the beer-making process from passionate brewers. Come for the beer, leave with a growler.
You can also check out an Insider’s Guide to Indianapolis Breweries on visitindy.com
