Indiana Beer love

Hearing and execution are two entirely different things. I wish no ill will onto 18th Street and would be thrilled by new offerings of substance, as I mentioned previously I have enjoyed many of their beers. Hopefully, the Sour Note stuff will be great (I enjoyed the Sour Peach that they bottled about a year ago and the Penrose Collab). However, from my perspective the past year+ has been pretty unremarkable both regarding beer (really how many different double dry hopped IPA's do we need or under carbonated NEIPA’s) and business decisions. I will keep an ear to the grindstone for exciting happenings from 18th Street per your insider information. Cheers!

 

I might have known that the pontiff of 18th Street might leap to their defense. Boy, have I got a bottle of Nutt Fluffer to share with you.

 

Which year Nutt Fluffer? That is some rare stuff...

And, you'll note that I didn't defend; merely made a couple of statements.

 

I believe its an ‘18. Though I suspect the guy I got it from may have tampered with it. He probaby dumped it and resealed it with St. John Malt Bros.

 

For that he should die many painful deaths.

 

I would suggest that your comment applies to the craft beer world moreso than just 18th St? I can't blame breweries for making the haze/juice bombs because people are buying them.

 

An average IPA can be a cash cow. Drew would not be going to an almost exclusive IPA format if somebody has not buying. That said, it’s a crowded market.

 

I agree that, in general, a lot of breweries are focusing too much on the hazy/ juice bombs at the expense of other styles. My point with 18th Street was “how many different” DDH beers do we need. In that past 6 months I think they have brewed at least 20 “different” DDH beers. Some have been good and others have been very average or below (I have not tired them all and have not been to the brewery in a month do to my increasing frustration). Perhaps if they stuck with a few examples and worked on mastering the brewing process for that particular beer they would not have under carbonated beer or overly sweet beers with uninspired tasting profiles. Don’t get me wrong I like experimentation, but it seems like, from my perspective, that 18th Street has had a lot more misses as of recent then hits. It seems like Drew’s business approach is to throw a bunch of hops at the wall and see what sticks, rather than mastering a particular beer (at least in terms of IPA’s and the like).

 

To reinforce that, Death with the Devil is their best and most notable IPA. It should probably be bottled or canned monthly rather than once in a year.

 

Windmill’s release went super smooth today! Will be back later to drink!

 

That was my first time ever going to Windmill and was very impressed by how smooth that went. Luther and the Memesicle was very tasty

 

I really enjoyed Nailed...had it during their party last year. I don't think that's been done again.

 

Anyone had Flippie Floppies at Rock Bottom downtown? Worth swinging by and getting a growler?

Also, Indiana City is doing a DDH IPA release at noon. I'm not usually a fan of their beers but dug their Earthworm War. Nothing amazing but enjoyable. Figured I'd stop there, hit Kahn's to load up for grilling out this weekend. Sounds like Maine Beer Co. has hit the selves, as well.

 

What’s the word on Maine Beer Co.? Was that a limited distro or going to be a regular thing? Also don’t know much about them. What’s their specialty?

 

Saw Odd Side is in Indy now. Anyone seen any Dank Juice yet? Saw a few offerings today but no Dank Juice. Will probably pick up one of their offerings tomorrow for the weekend. Picked up some Tangy Dank Juice in Chicago a few weeks ago. Pretty good stuff. Interesting considering it’s and IPA sour mix. I like it though.

 

Nevermind I did the research. Looks like their doing NE IPA. Lunch and MO are their big sellers. Looks like it’s a little pricey as one would probably expect. Anyone had it yet? Thoughts?

 

It'll be here to stay, but distro will be limited as they'll only send some every once in a while (like once a month type thing).

 

Who is carrying Maine Beer in Indy?

 

Big red must be if they are carrying it in Bloomington. Not sure who else, it I'd assume Kahn's at least as well. I did not see I thought at Whole Foods on 86th when i was there last week, though.

 

Kahn's had Mo and Lunch on the shelf when I was there on Friday. The Lunch was dated 5/8/2018.

 

MBC beers are solid, though like many other breweries in the past few years, good IPAs found locally is becoming a lot more common, thus hurting those with a broader distribution footprint; which I am sure is why they are expanding into IN, in this instance. These will be turding up the Indy shelves in no time.

 

Ended up buying a bottle of MO and Lunch at $7.99 each. Drank Lunch. Very very good but $7.99 for 16.9oz bottle is salty.

 

As in the distributor? Cavalier.

Agreed. Aside from Lunch and Dinner, I don't really see most of their other stuff selling too well at most locations 6 months from now and beyond. But, I suppose you never know.

 

There is always the chance of a whole new crowd getting into them for reasons other than they are MBC. The reason I say that is my significant other commented on the bottle + white label standing out and said she would buy it again because of that. Shrugs, long shot but who knows

 

Weizenbocks don’t get much love on BA. That’s said, Four Fathers in Valpo released their version of the style “Omaha and Utah”. Per the style, it is dam near perfect. The also still have a few bottles of the BA version aged with whiskey coated plantains and liquid caoco.

 

I am a fan of German styles, but not much of a fan of THAT style. Not long ago a fellow BA and I did some locals for locals, and I was able to get some Live Oak. Their Hefe was great - and their weizenbock (Primus is name i think) is also supposed to be (Have not had enough of the style to really compare), but I just can't get behind it. A little too lager-y for my personal liking.

I guess my comments are irrelevant, but I like to discuss/share tangential thoughts. On that note, you're right that Weizenbocks definitely don't get much love.

 

I welcome discussing beers that aren't IPAs and stouts.

 

Anyone see FW Stickee Monkey around Indy?

 

I continue to struggle finishing beers from Central State. Cracked a Worst Millennial Ever tonight and I got more tree bark & burnt caramel than I got any kind of enjoyable citrus or floral notes from the hops.

Thankfully I only buy one can at a time & only check in every now & then, but this brewery continues to disappoint me.

Granted, this is not "Indiana Beer Love" but but it is feedback on an Indiana brewery.

 

I enjoy a lot of Central State beers--lately, recency bias is telling me that L'Apiculteur is the best they've made--but I would concede that their black-label IPA series can fall short of their usual excellence. I felt like Worst Millennial Ever was fine, but not of the same character that got me interested in their beers in the first place. I like their experimentation and the fact that they originally were committed to all-local brett yeasts. I prefer their brett IPAs like Oatsplosion more than their "regular" IPA efforts with the black labels; if I'm looking for a good, local Indiana IPA, I already have Bare Hands and Windmill for that.

 

...glad you posted this, as what I'm getting in Chicago, I believe, is always the black label stuff brewed at Round Town. Next time I'm in town I'll make sure to stop by their actual location...

 

Sports television was not my cup of tea. Too bitter, a tad dry, and seemed to lack whg it was trying to be. It definitely felt like it was trying to be a NE IPA, it just couldn't quite get there.

 

If you do visit Central State or check out some Indiana bottle shops, I would definitely give L'apiculteur, Oatsplosion, or Halsdurschlag a try as more recent, better offerings. Central State also has a limited series of barrel-aged beers in a 375 mL format that have all been pretty good--typically a saison or farmhouse of some sort, aged in wine barrels rather than the usual bourbon. I don't know how common those are in shops, though; my impression is that they're a lot more limited than their canned releases.

 

Love the bare hands shoutout, have you tried New Westy? It is the same grist and hops as Westy, but, a Vermont yeast + changed the hop schedule. The net of it is a juicier Westy. They are implying that this is a one time only batch so snag some up today if you haven't. They have a ramen pop up from 4-10, I'll be there!

Anyway, I just had Windmills Pils, Around Chicago, and it was great. Maybe it is just because I am so used to assaulting my taste buds with hops, but, man. What a deal at 10 bucks a pack. Get some

 

Just saw Windmill’s 3rd Anniversary Party announcement - August 11th. $10 ticket, $5 per beer.

Guest beers from 18th St, Wildrose, Off Square, Burn ‘em, New Oberpfalz

Details here: https://m.bpt.me/event/3508855

I’m in!

 

This seems like a fun event. Something that a couple with a small kid or a dog or both could do. Outside all day long in a park. It being a beer ticket event should mean you won't get the drunkbros

 

Do I get a lanyard? I need to know before I decide.

 

Went to Liter House yesterday in Indy for the first time. Food is really good. I had a giant chicken schnitzel sandwich. Had two 1/2 liters of German pils as well. Beer was excellent. Looking forward to drinking in the beer garden when it is finished.

 

Going to be in Carmel this weekend. Any beer I should be searching out? Local haze maybe?

 

NW Indiana folks (or anyone who's been there recently, I guess): thoughts on Hunters Brewery in Chesterton?

About 5 years ago I lived briefly in the area & this was my go-to; they had just opened but they seemed to have a good handle on a few styles.

Now, whenever I'm in Michigan City (my hometown) it's just too far to convince my folks/friends to drive out to; have they steadily improved over time? Stayed about the same? Regressed?

I could always stop in for a howler on the way into or out of the area, but I never do. Let me know if I'm making a mistake.