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 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.”
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.)
Just to be clear, Central Indiana craft beer is the beverage of choice in this equation and it definitely equals a great time.
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.
Urban Vines Winery and Brewery 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.
Heated igloos behind the brewery
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.
Belgian Tripel, Bourbon-Barreled Cider, IPA
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.
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).
Walking through the doors of Three Floyd’s Brewpub in my all white shag faux fur coat and lady’s fisherman cap I immediately feel out of place amongst the early 2000’s counter-culture vibe that fills this brewery. Iron Maiden is blaring through the speakers, Rambo is playing on the televisions and the man who just pulled out on his Harley Davidson motorcycle had hair nearly as long as mine. Maybe my scuffed Dr. Marten black boots will help me fit in?
Three Floyd’s Brewpub screams “off the beaten path” grunge. However, this Indiana brewery actually has a surprisingly large Scandinavian following. Truthfully, I first time I ever tried Three Floyd’s beer was during my semester living in Copenhagen, Denmark. The place was called Warpigs, and plastered on the exterior of the building was the words “Three Floyd’s” alongside their own local brewery.
Warpigs Brewery and Eatery in Copenhagen
Inside Warpigs, I debated between a Danish cream ale and an American Pale Ale called “Space Station Middle Finger.” I’ll admit, the name is what finally convinced me. I later learned that wacky beer was potentially the most popular of all Three Floyd’s brews. As I sat at a picnic table in Copenhagen’s meat-packing district enjoying an APA (something I never thought I’d say), I googled this place called “Three Floyd’s” and to my astonishment it was located in my own homestate Indiana just an hour or so north of my parent’s house in West Lafayette.
That experience is what brings me here, finally walking into a place I had wondered about ever since discovering it in Europe. I believe the true popularity of this establishment was apparent as soon as I walked inside the brewpub. The snowfall was reaching a dangerous level and it was nearly 10 degrees Fahrenheit, however, there was a 45-minute wait at 4:45pm for just two people. The place was filled with families, couples, groups of six or more, and even a sports team– which had taken over the entire back room. It appeared as if the customers were using this brewery as a hideout from the storm that lay ahead.
So, I chose to hide here as well. When there’s a selection of 20 beers brewed in-house on draft and 20 guest beers in bottles, it’s hard to turn down. Unfortunately, they don’t offer flights of beer, but they do offer 5-ounce pours for $3 or less so I was ready to awaken my taste buds. I opted to start with a sour beer called Pear Bear while my boyfriend chose the brew with the highest ABV (coming in at 10.5%) called Permanent Funeral, which is a fitting name I suppose. Pear Bear was truly the sourest beer I had ever tried, and it was amazing.
Pear Bear 5 oz. pour
The rest of the menu included milk stouts, Scottish-style ales, American IPA’s, wheat beers, porters, and a phenomenal Berliner-Weiss beer called Deesko. Their guest brews were imported from all parts of the country, and even some Danish breweries such as To ØL and Warpig’s own selection. The next few hours consisted of good conversation with the bartender, an outstanding meal of pulled pork pierogies, and an array of 5-ounce pours to go around! The best part? We were able to take home our favorite brews by the case and snag a graphic tee!
But before leaving I finished my trip to Three Floyd’s with Space Station Middle Finger, because there’s nothing like drinking an Indiana brewed beer in Indiana, rather than halfway across the world.
Road Trip through Indiana Breweries 