Indy Tavel Recommendations

I can't help too much with Indy, but live in Springfield, so can help this way. Every time we've stayed downtown Indy for sports, we end up in all the bars around the stadiums, which was, at least a couple years ago, mostly macrobrews. It's a very cool area though.

As for this way, you'll head through Champaign and I'm a big fan of Triptych which isn't that far off the highway or out of the way. Once you hit Springfield, Obed and Isaac's has a cool beer garden if the weather cooperates, and it's about a block from Lincoln's home. Up towards the museum, Terra Ferment is a great beer bar with cans to go. Buzz Bomb and Anvil and Forge are both downtown as well and pretty good.

Let me know if you need more recs this way.

Cheers

 

Indy's beer scene isn't as awesome as one would hope, but, there are a few decent options.

If you're into Belgians, Taxman opened up an Indy taproom with some quality stuff. Indiana city is a short walk away from there if you want some haze, but, if you want to Uber/drive then Guggman House does the best IPAs in the city in my opinion. If you're looking for a wider menu, Metazoa has a downtown spot right by all of the above. They hit every style well, nothing amazing, (unless you're into brown and red ales, which I know not many people are these days, they kill those) but nothing gnarly.

If you want to get a bit further north of the city, there's a beer bar called A Taproom and they feature 1 brewery a month and let them take over all dozen or so taps. This month is Narrow Gauge and next month is Perennial. They don't just put up their shelf beers either, they get some great stuff from all the participating breweries. Right around there you'll find DareDevils northern location, they fit the same bill as Metazoa to me, eclectic beer list but nothing bananas. If you're in that area, may as well drive about 10 miles further north is Deviate for some haze and really strong stouts as well as great jams.

Lastly, don't waste the 45 minutes driving south to 450 North.

 

I don't have a recommendation here, but I do recommend visiting Cafe Korea. If I was going back to Indy for a day, and I could eat anywhere, this would be one place I'd seriously consider stopping.

Goose the Market is also worth visiting, but it'll be on the more expensive side. They do have things to take back if you're so inclined.

 

Kahn’s definitely has a larger beer selection than anything you’ll find downtown and probably one of the largest in the area. That includes both domestic and import.

As for local bourbon, opinions seem to be varied. I don’t like Hotel Tango’s stuff, and West Fork is ok. 8th Day has had some good special releases, but most of the regular bourbon and rye is still pretty young. Old 55 has been getting some hype recently, but I’ve never had any of their stuff and it’s probably hour away.

You mentioned wanting dark beers…Upland just released their Teddy Bear Kisses stout and variants last weekend and had them all on tap at the fountain square location. It’s not a thick stout and won’t compare to BCBS, SP, etc, but it’s worth checking out. I don’t think Sun King has released their bourbon barrel stout Shadow Proof yet for this year, but it is usually good. I’ll also second the other poster’s recommendation for Deviate if they have some stouts on tap. Also as already mentioned, A Taproom has Perennial on this month. They are going to have Abraxas and all variants on draft at some point, but I’m not sure if they will this weekend.

Enjoy your weekend in Indy!

 

Not sure if they distribute spirits in Indy yet but up here north a coupla hours both Three Floyds and 18th Street put out some good whiskeys. 3F typically pretty damn pricey though. Worth a look IMO.