Join in the adventure as my father and I attempt to drink 100 different Indiana beers in 2019. It will be a challenge, but we’ve been training hard for this!
While this endeavor is driven by my love for beer, my endeavor for safety and the law is always more important. So, I’m just going to say this up front: we will be drinking responsibly.
Inspired by my sister’s love of birding, my dad and I have decided to try “beering”. Instead of finding as many different species of birds as possible in Indiana, our quest will be to venture into the wild in search of as many native beers as possible.
So, How many beers are we aiming for? We came up with 100. Will this be too many? Not enough? I really don’t know. But it will average out to about 8 different beers per month. I’m assuming the first 50 or so will be easy. I can get a variety back at the grocery store or grab a beer at the microbrewery down the street. But, as the year goes on, the local pickings are going to get slimmer and we are going to have to start travelling a bit around the state. Those “seasonal” beers will become important (pumpkin ale… we meet again. Yuck!)
As a guesstimate, there are about 100 microbreweries in Indiana. Let’s say, to make is simple, that they all average at least about 10 different beers throughout the year. So we are talking about 1000 beers in Indiana. So I don’t think it’s going to be a question of the “beers available”, but rather a question of “time available”. This is compounded with the fact that I generally “try” to only drink on the weekends. We will also be traveling out of the state quite a bit over the summer. So we thought 100 would be about right for us.
Second rule: what counts as “having a beer”? In order for it to count, you have to drink (responsibly!!!) the full serving of the beer. That may be a 10 oz pour in a tulip glass, whatever the restaurant considers a serving of beer. The aim here is to prevent us from just going to micro-brew festival to taste 15 different beers to put them on my list. That takes the fun out of it.
We did make one exception to this rule: any beer over 10% ABV. Just having a sample of these beers will count. Or maybe we could share one. We made this rule because it seems responsible. And that is our middle names.
Other than that, it’s pretty simple, just drink the beer and log it. My dad and I have set up something simple and shareable on Google Sheets. We can access it from our phone and just log them in as we go. We don’t have to drink different beers than each other. This is not a race or a competition. Sure, I’m looking forward to reaching 100 beers at some point this year. But, I’m really excited about doing this with my father, enjoying a nice summer afternoon drive with him out to some brewery in another town. I’m look forward to the people we will meet and the stories we will share. That is what will certainly make 2019 a success in my book!
To add some extra fun, I’m going to list every beer in this post with a simple summary and review of it. I invite you follow along and let me know what some of your favorite Indiana beers are!
So, here is my Big Beer Year for 2019. I will be updating it throughout the year, so stop by often to see the newest beers that I have added. At the end of the year, I will be handing out some awards to notable beers. So stay tuned and don’t forget to get your brew on!
BIG BEER YEAR AWARDS:
TOP 10 BEERS: (So Far, In No Order….)
- DFG DIPA-Bier
- Deduction Abbey Style Dubbel-Taxman
- 10-Speed Hoppy Wheat-Bloomington Brewing Co
- Northern Soul IPA – Pax Verum Brewing Co (added on 4/8/19)
BEST BEER: Will be one of the top 10
WORST BEER: Nefarious Harbor-Evil Czech Brewing (As of 4/1/18)
SURPRISINGLY GOOD BEER: Latitude Adjustment – Upland Brewery (As of 4/1/18)
STRONGEST BEER: Lyrical Poet (12.2 % ABV)- Sun King Brewery (As of 4/1/18)
MOST EXPENSIVE BEER: Sun King Lyrical Poet
2019 BIG BEER LIST
1. Gumballhead – 3 Floyd’s Brewery-Munster, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Murphy’s Craft House-Indianapolis, IN
SPECS: ABV 5.6% IBU 35
REVIEW: 8.0-Possibly one of the most famous beers in the state, this is a perfect one to start off with. This is one of those brews that a buddy will tell you is on the beer list as soon as you sit down at the table. “Hey man! They’ve got Gumballhead on tap!” What most people usually don’t even realize is that this is a wheat beer. A lot of people think it is an some sort of ale. But it is a more American style wheat beer so it is much more hoppy and can come across as an ale. It’s a solid beer, but certainly not my favorite.
2. Wiesengoot – Bier Brewery- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: In my house.
SPECS: ABV 5.3% IBU 10
REVIEW: 6.5- I am not a big wheat beer fan, so it’s kinda crazy my list has started off with in a row. This is a more traditional German wheat (hefeweizen) and it just sort of is what it is. Bier Brewery makes fantastic beers and I love going to their tasting rooms. They did a solid job with this one, just not a huge fan of the style. But, if you like German Hefeweizens, I’d highly suggest this one.
3. PDG Ale – Bier Brewery- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: In my house.
SPECS: ABV 6% IBU 44
REVIEW: 7.0- One of Bier Brewery’s flagship beers, this is a solid American Pale Ale. It kind of has that orange/copper color that you get with some american ales. A bit more bitter than “hoppy”. I’ve had this one many times and can always count on it to be a solid ale.
4. Fluffy Pow Pow – Bier Brewery- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: CR Heroes, Indianapolis, IN
SPECS: ABV: 5.3% IBU 35
REVIEW: 8- I went out to eat with the family and they happened to have this one on the beer list. I’m a pretty big fan of Bier Brewery but hadn’t had this one yet. This is the excitement of the big beer year, you never know when fate will have you cross paths with something called the Fluffy Pow Pow. Just like their PDG Ale, this is an American Ale. But this one is more “hoppy” than bitter, so I liked it little better. It just had that citrus aroma that I love in a good ale. I”ll definitely have this one again if I run across it!
5. Busted Knuckle Porter – Quaff On Brewery – Nashville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Murphy’s Craft House, Indianapolis, IN
SPECS: ABV: 7.3% IBU 27
REVIEW: 8.5- Another very popular beer here in the Hoosier state. I LOVE this beer, it’s one of my favorites. I generally love Porters but usually only drink them in the warmer weather. So, it was a great beer for late-January. The beer is full-flavored, goes down smooth and PACKS A PUNCH. I would not have more than one of these if I had to drive home. And that stinks, because they are delicious.
6. Tiberius DIPA- Scarlet Lane Brewing Co – McCordsville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: I don’t remember.
SPECS: ABV: 8% IBU 100
REVIEW: 8.7- For some reason, I can’t remember exactly where I had this one. Maybe that is because is was 8% ABV…. But I do remember the beer. Exactly what a DIPA should be in my opinion. You literally feel like you are swimming in a sea of hops when you drink it. The beer is dynamic and smooth. At 100 IBUs I won’t pretend this beer would be for everyone (or for my wife!), but if your a serious beer drinker, this is a serious beer for you.
7. Ring Of Dingle Irish Stout- Sun King Brewery – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At home.
SPECS: ABV: 4.6% IBU 34
REVIEW: 7- I saw this in the store a couple weeks ago as we were leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. These seasonal beers are going to pay off in November when I’m scrabbling to get to 100. This is a pretty standard, traditional Irish Stout. A dry and smooth finish with a creamy head. I love Guinness, and this is basically what it is. So, I enjoyed the beer, but it was nothing new.
8. Brickhouse Amber – TwoDEEP Brewing Co.- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Murphy’s Craft House – Indianapolis, IN
SPECS: ABV: 5.8% IBU 36
REVIEW: 6.5 – This was on the draft list when I was at the bar a couple weeks ago for a dad’s club meeting. I’ve never been a huge fan of Amber beers but thought this was a good time to add this one to my list. I packed a much bigger punch than I expected for an Amber. At 5.8%, it lets you know that it’s there. Honestly, 6.5 is a good score for me to give an Amber beer, so hats off to TwoDEEP for a well done beer.
9. Champagne Velvet – Upland Brewing Co.- Bloomington, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 5.5% IBU 29
REVIEW: 6 – First off all, Upland makes the best priced IPA: the Dragonfly IPA. You can’t buy a better IPA for the price. So this brewery will always have a special place in my heart for that. As far as the Champagne Velvet….. I’ve had this beer a handful of times now and just don’t quite get it. It has a great name and a great label. They call it the “beer with the million dollar flavor”. Nah.. it’s just a pilsner. It has some history as it is brewed from a 1902 recipe from the Terre Haute Brewing Co. That is pretty cool. But, the taste of this beer just doesn’t do anything for me.
10. Dragonfly IPA – Upland Brewing Co.- Bloomington, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 6.7% IBU 65
REVIEW: 9.5 – As I mentioned above, I love everything about this beer. You can usually find a six-pack in the store for around $8.99, maybe less if it’s on sale. That is a fantastic price for a micro-brewed IPA like this. It is just about a perfect beer. Yes, there are better IPA’s here in Indiana (Grapefruit Jungle from Sun King), but they are certainly more expensive. Or, nationally, compare the price to something like the Dogfish Head 60 minute or the Ballast Point Sculpin, it’s a no-brainer. And I love those two beers, but this beer is just as good. It has that citrus/floral scent that I love and it is nice and smooth and not too bitter despite using 7 different kinds of hops in it. I also believe the perfect ABV range for IPA’s is in the high 6’s. It still lets you know that it there but, I can drink one (or two) of them and not need to take a nap. A great beer!
11. Latitude Adjustment – Upland Brewing Co.- Bloomington, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 6.2% IBU 30
REVIEW: 8- This came in a variety pack. I don’t like coconut and I don’t like pineapple. Both of these words were on the label. This i a beer I would have NEVER tried if not for the Big Beer Year. In fact, this beer would have probably prevented me from buying the whole variety pack. But, I loved this beer! The coconut really mellowed it out and the pineapple was very distant and gave it a nice citrus accent. Well done, Upland! I’ll have this one again!
12. Wheat Ale – Upland Brewing Co.- Bloomington, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 4.7% IBU 15
REVIEW: 7- A Belgian style wheat (Witbier or White beer), it is brewed with coriander and orange zest. Not a huge fan of this particular style of Wheat beer, but Upland does a solid job with this one. They say it is the best-selling beer that is brewed in Indiana. I’m not sure when that was written or if it is still true, but maybe it is. Anyhow, I’m glad I tried this one as it is their flagship beer and an important entry into the Wheat category.
13. SKB IPA – Sun King Brewing.- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 6.5% IBU 70
REVIEW: 6.5- This was pretty bitter. Not very smooth and honestly tough to drink a 12 oz can. It reminds me of another local IPA, Triton’s Rail Splitter IPA. There is just something about this IPA’s that dry my mouth out and give me a headache. Sun King DOES make my all time favorite local IPA, The Grapefruit Jungle. But I fear they missed the mark a bit with this one.
14. Wee Mac Scottish Ale – Sun King Brewing.- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 5.3% IBU 23
REVIEW: 7- I am no expert on Scottish beers (or, honestly any beers) but I’d like to think that this is what a REAL Scottish Ale would taste like in some tavern up in Scotland. It is pretty sweet and malty, being a brown ale with cocoa, hazelnut, caramel and toffee. But the flavors are well balanced and not over powering. I’m honestly surprised to see the ABV at 5.3%. I’ve had this one a handful of times and it always seems to kick me in the kilt. I would have guessed somewhere around 7% at least. Maybe it is 5.3% ABV in Scottish terms, where they can handle their booze a little bit better than us wee lil’ Americans.
15. Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter – Four Day Ray Brewing- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Claddaugh Irish Pub- Downtown Indianapolis
SPECS: ABV: 5% IBU 27
REVIEW: 4- This was a case of “it was the only Indiana Beer in the menu” so I had to get it. I love porters, but Chocolate Peanut Butter beers a just too rich for me. A true warrior, I soldiered on. I took my first sip and, whoa…. the chocolate and peanut butter were really up front. There have been some beers, like the Latitude Adjustment which had pineapple and coconut in it, that were able to slip their ingredients in to not be overbearing. Not so with this one. Don’t get this one unless you want to drink a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup for dinner.
16. Deduction Abbey Style Dubbel – Taxman Brewing.- Bargersville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Claddaugh Irish Pub- Downtown Indianapolis
SPECS: ABV: 8% IBU 20
REVIEW: 9- This was the only Indiana Beer left on the list at the restaurant, so I ordered it. I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. They ABV would have steered me away and I’m always a bit leery of Belgian Dubbels. Some I love, and some I don’t. I haven’t been able to figure out why or when I will like one. Well, I LOVED this one. Smelled great, looked great and tasted great. Smooth, approachable and drinkable, it was malty and complex. I drank this after I ate my dinner, so that probably helped the ABV not to hit me too hard. This is a wonderful beer.
17. Old Lionheart Ale – Redemption Alewerks.- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Redemption Alewerks- Downtown Indianapolis
SPECS: ABV: 4.2 IBU 27
REVIEW: 8.5- Wow! What a nice little beer. Has a light roasted flavor with just a little malt. This is the perfect beer to drink during lunch (which I did!). Didn’t feel full, lazy or tired after it. They call it a English Mild Ale and it is made with a West Yorkshire yeast that really makes me feel like I’m in some English pub with my mates after a long day at work. I loved this beer. I wish I could get a six pack of it!
18. Fourteen Buck Chuck– Burn ‘Em Brewery.- Michigan City, Indiana
WHERE I DRANK IT: Tried & True Ale Houes – Fishers Indiana
SPECS: ABV: 5.8 IBU 36
REVIEW: 8- Man. This beer was Hazy. Just how I like it. It has a nice, citrus nose. Tastes a little more biter than the 36 IBUs that are advertised. But it is a great looking beer and a solid NE Style IPA.
19. Shippen Street Ale – MashCraft Brewing – Greenwood, Indiana
WHERE I DRANK IT: Tried & True Ale Houes – Fishers Indiana
SPECS: ABV: 4.7 IBU 21
REVIEW: 8.5 – I’m confused. Is this an ale or a porter? Definitely looked and tasted like a porter. Really solid beer. Nice and toasty and malty. Perfect for a cold early March day!
20. Reptilia IPA– Pax Verum Brewery – Lapel, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Ale Emporium – Fishers Indiana
SPECS: ABV: 6.8 IBU 75
REVIEW: 7– Pretty standard IPA. A bit rough going down. Nice complex combination of hops and a slight citrus aroma. A little more bitter than I like. But not a bad IPA.
21. DFG DIPA– Bier Brewery – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Ale Emporium – Fishers Indiana
SPECS: ABV: 9% IBU 130
REVIEW: 9.5– We were just wrapping thing up a the bar and it was raining hard outside. My dad and I made the decision to just have a sample of this beer instead of a full serving. Although it was technically under 10%, we decided to make this one count on our list. We shouldn’t be penalized for good decisions, right? As for the beer, it was absolutely amazing. I really want to go back and try it again when I can drink more of it because this could be a top contender for my best beer of the year so far. I may increase this score to a 10 if I can try it again. I can’t believe it was 130 IBUs. It was incredibly smooth. Full of complex, delicious flavor. Proves once again why I think that Bier Brewery is the best brewery in Indiana.
22. Pachanga Mexican Lager– Sun King Brewery – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At home
SPECS: ABV: 4.2% IBU 24
REVIEW: 8.5 – I first drank this beer last summer when I was looking for a good beer to bring to a friend’s lake house for the weekend. I was looking for a good “lake beer”. So I brought a 12 pack of this. It was gone in a matter of hours. The llama on the can is absolutely perfect and it just screams “drink me”. As a lager, it is going for that “lawn mower” beer category. In my opinion, it is actually really hard to create a simple, drinkable lager like this that has a complex taste without being overbearing. It is kind of like the notion that if you want to know how good a brand of ice cream is, try the vanilla flavor. There is nothing to hide behind. As far a lagers go, Pachanga is the best I’ve ever had. Fantastic!
23. Railsplitter IPA– Triton Brewery- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Murphy’s Crafthouse
SPECS: ABV: 7% IBU 70
REVIEW: 7 – This beer marked my 25% point of the big beer year challenge. I’ve had this beer a million times, so I’m a but surprised that it took me this long to encounter it out in the wild. This is a very common beer here in central Indiana. I’ve never been a huge fan of it, as I’ve mentioned before, I like my IPAs a with more of a citrus hop. But, this is a solid beer that you will often find in bars around here and you can never go wrong ordering it.
24. Double DIPA– Taxman Brewing- Bargersville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Puccini’s Smiling Teeth Pizza
SPECS: ABV: 9% IBU 65
REVIEW: 8.5- So…. I’m not positive exactly which beer I drink. This beer was not actually on the beer list of the restaurant and the waitress just said it was a DIPA from Taxman. She couldn’t tell me exactly what the name was, which I found frustrating. We are at a pizza and beer place, she really just needs to know about two things to do her job: Pizza and Beer! So, I”m logging this beer as the Double DIPA, which is the only DIPA from Taxman I could find info about. It was a great beer. Like all the great DIPA, it is deadly how smooth it is. Very drinkable. I’d certainly get this one again!
25. John’s Porter– Bier Brewery- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Puccini’s Smiling Teeth Pizza
SPECS: ABV: 5.6% IBU 23
REVIEW: 8- Again, same story, she said it was a porter from Bier Brewery but didn’t know which one. So, I’m taking a guess that it was this one? A solid porter, not really what I would want to drink with pizza, but it was the only Indiana beer left at the restaurant that I haven’t already had. At #27, it is getting harder to find new Indiana beers at normal restaurants. This one didn’t knock my socks off, but again, it could have been because it just didn’t pair with the pizza. I LOVE Bier Brewery and I LOVE porters, so I may be giving this one an unfair score.
26. Coffee Vanilla Qualified– Taxman Brewing- Bargersville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 9.5% IBU 28
REVIEW: 8.7- Wow. A heck of a beer. I was able to add this to a “build your own six-pack” at Kroger’s. Props to Kroger’s for their strong local beer selection. I’m glad I drank this one at home because it put me to bed on a Saturday night. I really respect beers like this that have so much going on but don’t overdo it. You can certainly taste both the vanilla and the coffee in this beer, but it doesn’t over power the beer. At 9.5% ABV, I’d suggest drinking this at home as I did or with a Designated Driver. As much as I love local beer, I haven’t really had a lot of Taxman’s offerings. This is the second one that I’ve had during this challenge and they have both knocked my socks off. I think I may have to head to Bargersville….
27. Parliament Pilsner – Blind Owl Brewery- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Blind Owl Brewery – Indianapolis, IN
SPECS: ABV: 5.3% IBU 40
REVIEW: 8- This as a really solid beer. I drank it on a Sunday afternoon. I’ve had way too much beer and rich food over the weekend, so a nice Pilsner sounded perfect. It did just the trick. As I’ve mentioned before, I really respect a beer that can be nice and light yet still have some great flavor and dynamics. It was light and crisp and they dry hop it to give it that extra hoppy aroma that I love! This was a great Sunday afternoon beer. Didn’t feel like I had to take a nap after I drank it!
28. Tacayo Mexican Lager – Blind Owl Brewery- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Blind Owl Brewery – Indianapolis, IN
SPECS: ABV: 5.2% IBU 25
REVIEW: 8- Basically, this has the same story as the Parliament Pilsner. Just looking for something light. Is crafting Mexican Lagers a new thing now? It seems like Sun King has had success with their Pachenga, so others are following suit? Another solid, light beer that will be perfect during the summer months or when IPAs just don’t sound good to you. Please don’t ever order a Bud Light, if craft beer isn’t your thing, try a beer like this and support your local breweries!
29. Soul Ride IPA – Fountain Square Brewery- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 6.7% IBU 69
REVIEW: 8.5- A really great, crisp and hoppy IPA. I got a bottle of this with my “Build Your Own Six Pack” at the store. I chose to drink it out of the bottle instead of pouring it in a glass. I probably should have poured it in a glass to give it a fairer shot. But it was late Sunday afternoon and I was too busy to bother grabbing a glass. I don’t know a lot about Fountain Square Brewery, I just don’t get down to that area of town often. But I’d love to go down there and check it out. This was a really good IPA. Not too bitter, goes down smooth but still I nice hoppy kick just how I like it!
30. 10-Speed Hoppy Wheat -Bloomington Brewing Co. – Bloomington, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: HopCat
SPECS: ABV: 5.2% IBU 27
REVIEW: 9.5- Wow! What a fantastic beer! I think the biggest lesson I have learned so far on this challenge is that I really like “hoppy” American Style Wheat Ales. I’ve always just lumped all wheat beers together and considered them Blue Moons. Not true! This is a perfect beer. Not too high on ABV, a nice citrus hoppy kick right where you want it. I will be drinking more of these this summer and I am most certainly going to try to brew one myself!
31. Nefarious Harbor -Evil Czech Brewery – Mishawaka, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: HopCat
SPECS: ABV: 7.2% IBU 30
REVIEW: 4- Oh no! When this beer came out, it looked like my soulmate. I had that hazy, orangish look that I love in IPA. I took a smell of it, thinking I’d get a nose-full of grapefruit. I didn’t. Not deterred, took a sip. I initially didn’t get much of a flavor of anything. I waited. Still nothing. Waited some more. Nothing. I’m not sure what is going on with this beer. I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt and blame it on HopCat. They did seem to be having problems with their CO2 system. Because it most certainly tasted and looked flat too. So, I’d like to give it another shot if I run across it. But, right now, this is contending for worst beer of the year.
32. Preacher’s Daughter Amber – Fountain Square Brew Co – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 5.7% IBU 20
REVIEW: 7- I was looking for a Saturday afternoon beer that wouldn’t make me slugging and I found this in my fridge. It was perfect for the occasion. It had that nice copper coloring and wasn’t too sweet. Like my lesson that not all wheat beers taste like Blue Moon, I’m learning that not all Red/Amber beers taste like Killian’s Irish Red. I don’t like beers that are too sweet. This had a nice, subtle hoppy flavor with just a little bit of carmel. I really well done beer. I give it a 7 because I’m still just not a huge fan of this style of beer.
33. Kickoff Pale Ale – Indiana City Brewing Co – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: The Aristocrat
SPECS: ABV: 5.6% IBU ?
REVIEW: 7.5- A nice solid beer. If you are looking for a full-bodied beer with a nice hoppy flavor but you want to keep the ABV low, this would be perfect for you. Wasn’t quite as dynamic as I like my beers. It was a little two-dimensional. But a good beer to start out the night.
34. Wizard’s Tears -Bier Brewery – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: The Aristocrat
SPECS: ABV: 6.7% IBU 88
REVIEW: 7- Meh….. Bier is my favorite local brewery. I had never heard of this one before and I thought the name was awesome. An IPA from Bier that has a cool name?!?! Yep! Sign me up. Bier describes it as “Brewed deep in a black kettle by a gathering of elder wizards. They churn and churn until tears of magical wisdom drop their hex weathered eyes to complete this spell binding serum.” Really awesome description. But it just didn’t deliver. It was a so-so IPA and a little rough around the edges. Sorry, Bier. I still love you!
35. Milk Stout-Wooden Bear Brewing Co – Greenfield, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: The Aristocrat
SPECS: ABV: 5.6% IBU 25
REVIEW: 8.5- This was my first beer ever from this brewery. It was a really nice milk stout! It had a nice rich, full flavor without being too heavy. Some milk stouts almost taste a little “watered down” to me. Not this one, a fine balance between having a dynamic beer and not overpowering you. I drank it later in the night as my last drink, so I was a tad “beered out”. So, honestly, a stout didn’t sound all that good to me with a belly already full of beer and pizza. But I was really pleasantly surprised by this one. I can’t wait to try more from the brewery.
36. Six Foot Blonde – Quaff On! Brewing Company – Nashville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 4.5% IBU 20
REVIEW: 8- This was another surprisingly good beer. I’d never considered myself much of a blonde sort of guy (you know what I mean….) but I really enjoyed this. It had a nice hop aroma and taste. I started 2019 thinking that if I wanted my “hop fix” I needed to drink a pale ale or IPA. Not true. I’ve had some great American Wheat Ales and now this Blonde that had a nice little kick. I drank this on a Sunday afternoon while watching Back To The Future II with my kids. It was the perfect Sunday afternoon beer. “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads….”.
37. When The Lights Go Out Porter – Sun King Brewery – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: My Dad’s House
SPECS: ABV: 6.3% IBU 24
REVIEW: 8.7- I’ve had this one several times and it is one of my favorites. Generally not a huge fan of Sun King’s “flagship” beers, I find their speciality/seasonal beers outstanding. I think you can get this one year-round, but I still think it’s one of their best. They call it a Coffee Porter and you can certainly taste the coffee in there. But it is not overwhelming. I’m not sure this would be the best beer to drink on a hot summer day, but I was a cold and rainy March and it was perfect. I always have a soft spot for Poters….
38. My Ghetto IPA – The Devil’s Trumpet Brewing Co – Merrillville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: My Dad’s House
SPECS: ABV: 7.2% IBU 100
REVIEW: 6- Wasn’t a huge fan of this one. I’m still trying to figure out IBU’s. There have been some 100+ IBU beers that I have loved and some well under 100 IBUs where it was just way too bitter. I love some hoppy flavor, but there is something about some of these beers that is just a “little rough around the edges”. That’s the best way I can describe it. I was pleased to run across this beer thought, I had never heard of it or The Devil’s Trumpet Brewing. I’d love to try something else by them.
39. Lyrical Poet Imperial Stout – Sun King Brewery – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: My Dad’s House
SPECS: ABV: 12.2% IBU 80
REVIEW: 7.5- I honestly don’t even know how to rate this. At 12.2% ABV, I honestly don’t even really know how anyone could drink a whole one of these by themselves. We split ours up between four of us. I believe it was 16 ounces, so we all got about 4 ounces. I probably only drank two ounces. It was just…. too…. much. Too much of everything. It is certainly a deep, dynamic beer that has hints of chocolate and Raspberries. I respect the effort and the idea. And it was well executed, but it was too much for me.
40. Hop For Teacher Pale Ale – Fountain Square Brewery-Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 6.1% IBU 45
REVIEW: 7.5- A nice, solid Pale Ale. I’ve had this one several times and it never disappoints. It does taste a little more bitter than the advertised 45 IBUs. A nice, slight citrus aroma. Love the name!
41. Half Cycle IPA -Flat 12 Bierwerks- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At A Friend’s House
SPECS: ABV: 6% IBU 104
REVIEW: 7.9- Very hoppy but not too bitter. They say they used a whole lot of hops in this recipe and you can tell. I’m a fan of Flat 12 and think they do everything pretty well. This is true with their main IPA offering to this State. I drank this out of the can but it would have certainly been better poured into a glass or on tap. Oh well… next time!
42. Deduction Belgian Quadruppel -Taxman Brewing-Bargersville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 10.2% IBU 28
REVIEW: 8- I’m trying to be objective about this beer. I was unsure about Taxman before I started this challenge. But both beers that I’ve run into have been REALLY good, with their Deduction Ale currently competing for “Best Beer of the Year”. So I suppose I went into this one with very high expectations. It was just so-so. It says that it is made with a complex grain bill that adds fruity notes to the aroma and taste. That’s true, and the fruitiness didn’t bother me. There was a lot going on with the beer and I can tell that Taxman really is putting a lot of thought into their beers. I’d like to go out and visit them soon. At 10.2% ABV, I wasn’t shy about drinking the whole thing because I was safely at home. And it certainly gave me a nice, cozy feeling after I was done with it.
43. Freedom Rock Session IPA -Sun King Brewery- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: 4.7% IBU 50
REVIEW: 7- I actually didn’t realize that it was just 4.7% ABV until I just looked it up. It didn’t say so on the can. I suppose that would be my first suggestion to Sun King. One of the big selling points of a Session IPA is the low ABV. The should advertise that on the package. I certainly didn’t taste like 4.7%. A solid IPA, but again, it had that “rough around the edges” taste that I’m not a fan of. I’m still not sure how better to describe it. There are so many IPAs floating around these days, that you really need to do something special to stand out.
44. Single Speed IPA -Pax Verum – Lapel, Indiana
WHERE I DRANK IT: Pax Verum – Lapel, Indiana
SPECS: ABV: 5% IBU 47
REVIEW: 8.5- A nice little IPA that clocks in at a tiny 5% ABV. Not sure if they would consider this a session IPA, but it was a great beer to start out with during my visit to Pax Verum. A nice, rounded out taste that had dynamics to it. I could drink these all day.
45. Northern Soul DIPA -Pax Verum – Lapel, Indiana
WHERE I DRANK IT: Pax Verum – Lapel, Indiana
SPECS: ABV: 8.7% IBU 35
REVIEW: 9.3 Uh oh. I think we may have another contender for best beer of the year. A nice citrus aroma and a pleasant hoppy flavor leads the way to that warm feeling you get when taking a sip of a DIPA. At 8.7% ABV, I really wouldn’t be able to drink more than one of these, which is a shame. This beer gives you that happy buzz that makes it feel like all is right with the world.
46. Good Pup Pilsner -Bubba Pie Brewing – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At Home
SPECS: ABV: ?% IBU ?
REVIEW: 7 This is one of my own home brews. It is the third time I’ve made this recipe and I feel like I’ve got it pretty well dialed in. I always brew it this time of year when I can ferment it in my garage at about 60 degrees. I’m not sure what happened with this batch but I’m getting a lot more malt than hops. It may be that I didn’t dry hop it, which I almost always do. I’m not sure why I didn’t dry hop it, I think I was just lazy when I did the secondary fermentation. But, it turned out almost more like a belgian, which that slight banana taste to it. Nevertheless, it has a nice smooth finish and is very drinkable.
47. Brutilicious Brut IPA -Deviate Brewing- Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At a friend’s house
SPECS: ABV: 5.3% IBU ?
REVIEW: 6.5 Still learning about this newer type of IPA. It has an enzyme added that helps the yeast consume sugars. So the result is an beer that is extremely dry. It did almost have a champagne taste to it. I think it’s pretty cool and I’m totally on board with brewers finding new beers to create. Science is a cool thing. This beer was very crisp and clean. I wouldn’t mind trying it again on a super hot day when the beer was extremely cold. But, generally, it just wasn’t my thing.
48. Temporal Purgatory – 18th Street Brewery -Hammond, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: At home
SPECS: ABV: 5.9% IBU ?
REVIEW: 7.5 A pretty standard American Pale Ale. Slightly more bitter than hoppy. I came in a really cool looking can. It would have probably been better on draft. If you see this one out at the bars, go ahead and go for it!
49. Secret of the Sacred Hops – Books and Brews – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Books and Brews – 96th St Location
SPECS: ABV: =6.8% IBU ?
REVIEW: 8 First of all, I LOVE Books and Brews. It is such a great concept and the people there are always so nice. It is, simply, my kind of place. That being said, the beer is hit or miss for. I happened to be here during one of their Harry Potter parties and it was a blast. They had Harry Potter themed beer. This beer was pretty good, not out of this world, but good enough for Dumbledore.
50. Nancy Drew and the Hoppy Boys – Books and Brews – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Books and Brews – 96th St Location
SPECS: ABV: =6.2% IBU 55
REVIEW: 8.5 I believe this is one of the flagship beer of Books and Brews and it’s got a great name! This IPA is nice and hoppy with a smooth finish. You definitely have to get this one if you visit Books and Brews!
51. Cream Dream DIPA – Sun King – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: CR Heroes – Indianapolis, IN
SPECS: ABV: = 9% IBU 94
REVIEW: 9 Funny story about this one! We were at CR Heroes and they had the names of all of their beers on the chalkboard. My wife LOVES Cream Ales and thought Cream Dream might be a Cream Ale. I saw that it was 9% ABV and had my doubts. She didn’t believe me and asked the waiter (a 19 year old kid). He said that “yes” it was a Cream Ale. Still didn’t believe it. So he offered a sample. When he brought it out, one whiff of it told me that I was not in Cream Ale hell, but in DIPA heaven! My wife couldn’t even put it up to her mouth, but I gladly finished the sample for her. I had to drive my son to his soccer practice and didn’t feel comfortable downing a DIPA before that. So, I called my dad and he met me up there later to try one all to ourselves. It is a fantastic beer. I was still recovering from surgery and not feeling 100%, so I’d honestly like to try this one again. I may be one of the best of the year.
52. Trippy Hop Drop – Bier Brewery – Indianapolis, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Home – Indianapolis, IN
SPECS: ABV: = 5.8% IBU 40
REVIEW: 7.5 Meh….. It’s ok. I can’t put my finger on exactly why it’s not knocking me out. It gives me a bit of a headache for some reason. I went into this 100 beer challenge with Bier Brewery is my favorite local brewer. But I have been underwhelmed by a number of their beers. I shall not give up hope!
53. Hazy Desperado NEIPA – Deer Creek Brewery – Noblesville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Deer Creek Brewery – Noblesville, IN
SPECS: ABV: = 5.8% IBU 58
REVIEW: 7.5 This was my first visit to Deer Creek Brewery. I didn’t even know it was up there! It had a nice, small tasting room and they guy there (I forget his name!) was incredibly nice and talked with us for about 30 minutes about the local craft beer scene. It seems like these hazy NE style IPAs are all the rage these days. Super dry hopped and citrusy, I’m certainly on the bandwagon. I just didn’t get that citra hop explosion I was looking for. It tasted possibly just slightly flat, so there may have been a problem with the CO2. I did love that I can drink an IPA at 5.8%. I had a long night of playing music in front of me and this was my first beer. So I wanted to pace myself and certainly appreciated that it wasn’t an IPA in the 7%s…..
54. Deerfly IPA – Deer Creek Brewery – Noblesville, IN
WHERE I DRANK IT: Deer Creek Brewery – Noblesville, IN
SPECS: ABV: = 6.8% IBU 70
REVIEW: 8.5 Now this was a fantastic IPA. Nice and strong at the start but with a smooth finish. Full of hoppy, dynamic flavor. This is one of the best standard IPAs I’ve had in a while. Well done!
Leave a Reply