As this semester dwindles down to the last few days, I’d like to thank any readers from near and far for following my road trip to various Indiana breweries.
Not only did I meet a handful of genuine brewers that dedicate their lives to good beer, I also gained a better understanding for the processes that are involved in brewing some of my favorite styles.
I hope you get a chance to visit a couple of these breweries for yourself, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Cheers!
Back in 1871, a young brewer left Chicago after 20 years to begin his own brewing adventure. That young man was Philip Zorn Jr. and hence the creation of Zorn Brew Works, a local Michigan City microbrewery with a lot of history and some very loyal customers.
After being closed for nearly 77 years, Zorn Brew Works reopened its doors and is now home to live music and a small staff of friendly faces. I had the opportunity to visit Zorn Brew Works this past Easter weekend with some native Michigan City friends who claim it’s their favorite hangout spot in town– and they weren’t lying. When we arrived at Zorn around 2:00pm, a handful of their close friends were waiting around a large fire pit on Zorn’s spacious patio with pints of beer and personal instruments in hand. We didn’t leave the brewery until nearly 12:00am, but the hours in between were spent playing board games, listening to our own live music during the day and a local band at night, chatting around the toasty fire pit and competing in a foosball tournament.
The 24 beers on draft included 14 in-house brews ranging from IPAs and APAs to stouts and cream ales alongside guest brews such as 18th Street Brewery’s kolsch beer and Fat Head Brewing’s honey-blueberry ale. The staff at the bar made us “new-comers” feel incredibly welcome, offering free tastings and their utmost attention. I ended up with a guest sour beer, however, made sure to expand my palette by tasting my friend’s IPAs and honey-blueberry ales.
If I had to imagine what Philip Zorn Jr. would think of the present day Zorn Brew Works, I think he’d be pleased to see such a transformation in his establishment. There’s a reason Zorn reopened after those 77 years of rest, and the locals are sure glad it did.
I sat down with Connor Wright, a senior undergraduate at Purdue University and lover of craft beer. Connor shared with me his personal insight about where the industry is going, his interest in microbreweries and IPA’s, and his favorite Indiana brewery.
Q: Overall, where do you think the craft beer industry in the United States is headed in the near future?
A: Recently we’ve seen all these craft breweries come up and everyone’s had their own take on the “classic” styles, but now that microbreweries are becoming so popular it feels like each brewery wants their own style and for me I’ve realized that they’re kind of all the same. So, what I think is that for breweries to differentiate themselves they’ll probably start creating new styles of beer and you’ve already kind of seen that with the American Pale Ale, which is sort of a new take on the India Pale Ale. So that’s kind of what I think, it’ll become new types of beer rather than a new brand’s label on a beer.
Q: What aspects of microbreweries interests you the most? (Whether is be atmosphere, variety of brews, or the staff that inhabit the brewery.
Q: India Pale Ales (IPAs) have undoubtedly become a large part of the craft beer industry, it seems nearly every brewery attempts to create their own original flavor. In your opinion, do you enjoy IPAs or would you like to see breweries shift their focus to another style of beer?
A: I think breweries try to make all types of beer, but I think the most successful has been the IPA’s and that’s what makes it so popular. And, you know, before microbreweries I think traditionally they stuck to things like Bud Light and those light beer options and then this new IPA is something that’s a little bit more foreign to the U.S. and it’s been a big hit. It’s also kind of turned into it’s own thing, again, with the American Pale Ale– which speaks to it’s popularity. American Pale Ales have even become their own style with the IPA bitterness but lower alcohol content. But, truthfully I love IPA’s and I may be biased but I think they should keep making them.
Q: Have you found a brewery in Indiana that you’d consider your favorite?
“Beer for the People” has been coined by a local Lafayette gem. Known as People’s Brewing Company, this craft brewery is widely known and admired within both the greater community and Purdue University’s campus. In fact, Chris Johnson— co-founder and Purdue alumnus– concocted two craft brews which he dedicated to the university. Boiler Gold, an American Golden Ale, and Boiler Black, an American Black Ale can be found at nearly any university sporting event or catered function. The brewery specializes in American Ales and German Lagers, but the menu is assorted with multiple Imperial Stouts and APA’s, as well.
I had the opportunity to visit the original taproom, located on 9th Street in Lafayette, during the #PeoplesLive event– a live-music show put on every Tuesday. Truthfully, I had never laid eyes on this brewery despite living in the Greater Lafayette community my entire life. However, when I parked my car and walked up to the establishment I realized that the building they inhabit appears to be quite a hole-in-the-wall even though their name is so familiar within the area and their clientele is so vast. The brewery has created it’s home out of a renovated garage, and the atmosphere inside feels as if it’s the frequent hangout for local businessmen and women after a long day’s work.
This week’s artist was the Jason Wells Music group and the crowd was attentive and engaged the entire time. The four employees sipped their personal favorites amidst serving customers and socializing with one another. The garage doors were propped all the way open to allow for the spring day’s breeze to flow in and the sun shined through every opening. It was nearly impossible to keep from plastering a smile on your face, which I can imagine is just the way the founders like it.
“Everyone likes great beer… they just don’t know it.” – Chris Johnson, Co-Founder and Brewmaster behind People’s Brewing Company.
“I hate to admit this, but I was a jumper onto the bandwagon (of craft beer). Growing up, I wasn’t really into beer a whole lot until friends and family members starting saying beer was more than just the domestics and there’s really a science and an art behind brewing beer and you can taste the difference. That’s kind of when I became interested, and now my palette has really expanded to appreciate all kinds of beers. My wife, my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law all enjoy craft beer. We really wanted to do something that would improve quality of life where we live and I forget who, but somebody ran across an article about the ’11 signs of a thriving community’ and one of the indicators of a thriving community is a craft brewery. We saw that West Lafayette had a lot of the other indicators, like a university for example, but we didn’t have a craft brewery. So we came up with a business plan and here we are today with Brokerage Brewery.”
HAMMOND, Ind. — Back in 2013, RateBeer— a website designed to judge your favorite brews and dedicate itself to beer enthusiasts– named 18th Street Brewery the best new brewery in Indiana.
Now in 2019, the local Hammond brewpub is creating widespread support and proving to be a true competitor in USA Today’s running for the best brewpub in the country.
Northeast Indiana beer lovers are cheering for this community gem and are encouraging others to vote for their beloved brewpub. Below are samples of the praise 18th Street Brewery has received online.
https://twitter.com/AnneAndersong/status/1106222740686684163
https://twitter.com/AnneAndersong/status/1101539035594539009
I’m beginning to crave summer weather and cream ales.
And speaking of summer, sipping on craft beer and snacking on light food with my friends is my preferred way to spend it.
My friends and I are big fans of Sun King’s Sunlight Cream Ale. It was actually the first Sun King craft beer I ever tried and now I always resort to it when I’m craving something sweet but not too heavy.
According to Bottleneck Management, a well-established Midwestern restaurant management group, the cream ale’s smooth malt and sweetness is best paired with hot, spicy foods and various salsas. If you’re not a huge fan of food that makes you break out in a sweat, I discovered a fresh mango salsa from Jessica Gavin that pairs extremely well with the sweet and bitter balance found in the Sunlight Cream Ale.
This salsa is quick and simple to make, and it’s packed with bold colors and flavors. Like Jessica says, “it’s like a party on a plate!” Everything you need to enjoy a casual night in while hosting all your closest friends is right here (well, it’s at the nearest liquor store and fresh market to be exact.)
Total time: 10 minutes (Active Prep Time: 10 minutes)
Servings: 16
Ingredients:
2 cups (346 grams) diced mango
1 cup (143 grams) diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup (30 grams) diced red onion
2 teaspoons (6 grams) minced jalapeños
1/3 cup (5 grams) chopped cilantro leaves
1 medium avocado diced
1/4 cup (60ml) lime juice
Directions:
In a medium sized bowl, combine diced mango, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeños, and cilantro leaves.
Add avocado and lime juice. Stir gently until all ingredients are combined.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for just up to two days.
Like this recipe? Pin it for later by clicking the photo below.
This past weekend I took my three best beer critics (my boyfriend, his brother, and their brother-in-law) and the family’s newest canine addition (see Photo Gallery for an adorable picture) to Urban Vines Winery and Brewery Co. in Westfield, Indiana. I had heard from friends at Purdue about these “heated igloos” that are set up on their property, so I figured a sunny, chilly, February weekend was the perfect time to see what the rave was about.
I walked in 20 minutes after they had opened; it was quaint and quiet inside the renovated pole-barn establishment. I guess most people don’t wake up early on Saturday’s to start drinking beer by noon? The interior decor portrayed a very Midwestern home vibe and we were greeted immediately by two cheery women whom of which were already set up behind the bar.
Right away, I got the sense of a family-owned business who’s top priority is customer service. Maybe it was because they were incredibly enthusiastic about our four-month-old husky pup, maybe it was because we were just the first customers of the day, or maybe it was because the attitudes of this small group of brewers was truly that enlightening. Within two minutes of being inside they had given us a bowl of water for the dog, got us set up in one of the outdoor igloos that were technically reservation-only (oops!), and were eagerly offering us samples of beers from their draft line.
The highlight of this place is definitely the unique outdoor setting. The three side-by-side igloos are extremely cozy and adorned with comfy patio furniture, a tiny radio and an electric fireplace. Our initial impressions were confirmed by the dog; she clearly approved as she jumped onto the love seat, immediately lounged and then began to gnaw on a milk bone. The views outside the igloo give you a glimpse into the wide-open vineyards set up behind the building– although it wasn’t much to gaze at in the middle of winter. The igloos felt like a miniature oasis and the perfect place to get away from the buzz of Indianapolis or in my case, Purdue’s bustling campus. We tuned into a mutually agreed upon radio station and let time slip away from us, which turned into nearly three hours of conversation, dog slobber, a custom-crafted charcuterie board and beer judging. We hardly noticed that two different groups had been in and out of the adjacent igloos within the same time we had sipped on brews, chowed on meats and cheeses, and chatted with various employees.
After some candid conversation with the woman behind the bar, I learned that they started as a winery and then decided that they could potentially attract a broader crowd with the addition of beers brewed in-house. They update their draft line every month while constantly keeping their wine retail stocked to the brim.
This particular weekend’s draft line consisted of multiple double IPAs, a few stouts, a pilsner, a Belgian tripel, a Hefeweizen, and a bourbon-barreled cider. As always, my boyfriend chose the beer with the highest alcohol content (start big and end small, as he likes to tell me every time). However, this time I was more intrigued by the bourbon-barreled cider– per the bartender’s recommendation. I was surprised and quite happy with my decision. Ciders are typically too sweet for many beer lovers, but this cider was dry, crisp and worth the additional glasses I got afterwards. While my trusty beer critics exhausted their palettes with the IPAs, the pilsner, the Hefeweizen, and a Belgian tripel, I casually sipped on one of the most enjoyable ciders I had ever tasted.
According to Andrew, my boyfriend’s older brother, the Mad Scientist IPA was the best he’s had and labeled it “the perfect blend of strong and bitter.” He also appreciated the attention he got at the bar, as we all did (hefty amounts of samples surely create a good impression).
We ended our day at Urban Vines with full growlers of craft beer to take home and a truly satisfying experience at this tiny Westfield location. I made sure to report back to my friends– those igloos (and the quality brews) are definitely worth the rave.
I know I like blogging about beer, but do breweries enjoy blogging as much as they enjoy making tasty beer? I took a peek at the corporate blog for Sun King Brewery of Indianapolis and tried to analyze its effectiveness toward consumers.
In regard to the frequency of posts, it seems as if they are spending much more time brewing and drinking. Since June 2018, Sun King’s corporate blog has made a total of nine posts. Each post is quite extensive in length and written with multiple sub-headings or various lists. However, the variety of posts is something I found intriguing.
Their blog posts include food recipes to pair with a Sun King IPA, customer appreciation giveaways and contests, new “featured” menu items, community involvement, locations where you can purchase Sun King beer at retail price, and nationwide expansion events and parties. The details included in each post truly gives a sense of transparency within their company and as a beer consumer, it’s enlightening to read about what one of my favorite breweries is doing outside of the taproom.
I found Sun King’s corporate blog informational but it lacked visual appeal. The format of the blog is a bit confusing and the length of each post can be daunting if you only have a couple minutes to spare. There is an apparent attempt to include photos for visual interest, but it could benefit Sun King more if they included additional photos to potentially break up long chunks of text within their stories.
There’s a couple things Sun King’s corporate blog does really well, and them some things they do very poorly. The recipes for food pairings is beneficial and interesting, the variety of posts is useful, and information on how to win prizes easily attracts customers to the brewery. However, the layout of the blog needs improvement, the length of each post needs condensing, and the lack of accompanying photos gets a tad boring.
Does the Sun King corporate blog change my opinion of their beer? Probably not. Does the blog make me skeptical of their creative abilities? Probably so. Would I be more than willing to be a media intern for Sun King Brewery and assist in revamping their corporate blog appearance? Absolutely.
A perfect day in Bloomington: a walk in the Hilltop garden, shopping on Kirkwood, catching a bite and a brew at Upland Brewing Company and ending with a late night comedy show.
I got the chance to join Upland’s HR manager, Alli Medley– who is actually a born-and-raised Boilermaker– in a private tour this past weekend.
After snacking at the brewpub, we headed to Upland’s primary brewing location. There I started to truly become aware of the complexity behind beer brewing and the seriousness of each step. From Upland’s bottling line– which exists as one of the oldest in the country– to their efforts to promote sustainability, I was intrigued by how these stereotypically lighthearted brewers execute an intense work load. And to think I was coming here to shoot the breeze with fellow beer lovers!
I had a gut notion that amongst the organized chaos lay some sort of comedic relief, so I was incredibly enthusiastic when Alli informed me that the fermentation tanks, which are delivered through the roof of Upland Brewery due to their massive size, are spontaneously named by the employees present during the delivery. Names varied from references toward childhood cartoons and primetime movies to inside jokes within Upland’s employees (see “Peter Drinklage” below).
Once I was done taking over 50 photos, secretly typing notes on how to open my own brewery, and nearly breaking a rack of newly labeled beer bottles, I concluded my tour of Upland and decided to finish the day with not just a pint of beer but rather an entire growler (as a sign of gratitude, of course).
Road Trip through Indiana Breweries 