I know not everyone loves these threads, but I have a friend headed up to Indianapolis (from Austin, TX) and he asked me where he should go beer-wise. I've seen some success with threads like this in the Southwest forums so I figured I'd give it a go. Best bottle shops, brewpubs, breweries, bars, whatever! Thanks in advance!
Any hint about where in Indianapolis he is headed, or will he have a vehicle? If he's stuck somewhere other than downtown, without a car, that will be a challenge, but here are some places I'd recommend for the most likely scenarios: Downtown only? Hit Crown Liquor downtown for bottles, Bru on Massachusetts Ave. for a great beer list and delicious food, Sun King on the east side of the city center for a great local brewery, and Union 50, also on Massachusetts Ave., for stellar food and an interesting beer list. In the city, with a car? Kahn's on Keystone for bottles, Brugge in Broad Ripple for food and great beer, and hit Upland's Broad Ripple Tasting Room on College for that brewery's easiest to reach outlet. I have not included HopCat in Broad Ripple or the Tomlinson Tap Room downtown because I've never been, but both offer large tap lists, with plenty of local options.
IMO La Margarita in Fountain Square is a must. Usually not a large tap list but they make up for that in quality. Plus the food is great. Other downtown spots include Macnivens, Ralstons Drafthouse, Tomlinson Tap Room (All Indiana beers), Chatham Tap. A little further north is Twenty Tap which has great food and 38 quality draft lines. If Twenty Tap is busy just a couple steps north (literally) is Fat Dans Deli. You won't be blown away by the tap list there but the food is fantastic and you will find something good to drink there as well.
I'm not sure about his specific destination or whether he'll have a car; thanks for considering both!
This is a fact. I second Brugge and 20 Tap if your friend can get up to Broad Ripple (it is a relatively short cab or uber ride from downtown).
Yeah pending on the location and if he has a car... the answers here could vary. More breweries to visit and awesome places to grab a drink than you actually would think. La Margarita, Twenty Tap, and Ale Emporium are three of the best places to go and get food. Breweries: Bier Brewery, Black Acre, Sun King, Fountain Square, Triton, Tow Yard, Two Deep, and the list goes on and on and on. I live in Indy and work downtown. Have them message me for specifics.
Black Acre is probably the best brewpub in the city IMO. Although I still love the Broadripple Brewpub even though their beers aren't going to blow anyone away. I would probably avoid Hopcat because I think you can get a just as good if not better beer and food experience at places like Twenty Tap or Pint Room in Carmel. Additionally, Hopcat prices beer a lot higher than other places. If you want a $12 pour of Arctic Panzer Wolf then go to Hopcat. Although you could drive just a little further south and get that same pour for like $5.
Here's the quick and dirty on Indianapolis: If you give a shit about food: Restaurants: Tortas (mexican sandwiches that will make you smack your momma) $ Bluebeard (Killer Italian inspired uber gourmet) $$$ Thunderbird (if you like hipsters and cocktails) $$ La Revolucion (tacos for days and a nice beer list) $$ MacNivens (great Scottish fare and a FANTASTIC beer selection) $$ Napolese (great pizza, shit beer selection) $ Mass Ave Pub (beer selection is usually shocking) $ Chatham Tap (great beer great beer selection, leans english style) $$ New Day Meadery (Mead and snacks, fantastic stop) $$ Breweries downtown: Indiana City (pints) Sun King (tasting only) Flat 12 (pints) Fountain Square (pints) (and some others that are new and that I know nothing about) Liquor Stores: Crown Liquor (ohio and deleware). This is my go to, downtown. Kahns. This is a haul from downtown. Ask for Al and tell him that I told you to ask him for cantillon. Hardwicks for a Cigar near the circle. Most of the stuff is downtown. If your dude ventures out of downtown or is cool with an Uber, tell him to uber to 20 tap.
