To better serve our readers and folks coming to town for Super Bowl XLVI, we're updating our "
Where to Drink in Indianapolis" series. In our third post of the updated series, we focus on one of Indy's prime entertainment and cultural districts:
Broad Ripple Village. We also highlight some drinking destinations on the city's north side and east side. Here's our list, sorted according to area.
South Broad Ripple/Meridian KesslerRecess/Room FourIf you're looking for an amazing culinary experience to match your search for excellent beer, you should dine at Recess or its companion restaurant, Room Four. Chef/owner Greg Hardesty is a gastronomic superstar in Indianapolis, and the restaurants' contemporary American dishes are unparalleled in the city. The menus change daily. And the beer selections, though offered solely in bottles, are perfect for pairing with Hardesty's cuisine. Reservations are a must for Recess; if you want to walk in, try Room Four.
4907 N. College Ave.
317.925.7529
WebsiteHBG Visits:
Scenes From a Beer Dinner: Nøgne Ø at RecessThe Sinking ShipAlong with Recess/Room Four and the Upland Tasting Room, the Sinking Ship recently brought a welcome revitalization to the long-neglected intersection of 49th Street and College Avenue. The Ship has a punk vibe and a menu of hearty sandwiches and draft beers from regional and local brewers (though be prepared to have your beer served in a Mason jar). The Ship is a great place for hockey fans because NHL games are always on during the season. 21+ only.
Smoking permitted4923 N. College Ave.
317.920.7999
WebsiteTwenty TapThe sign outside Twenty Tap says "Craft. Beer. Bar." What more need we say? Well, this: Twenty Tap, owned by Broad Ripple Brewpub brewmaster Kevin Matalucci, is one of your best bets for getting a taste of the best beer Indiana has to offer, especially considering that the pub boasts 31 taps. It's also worth noting that Twenty Tap offers half-pours of any of their beer selections, allowing patrons to moderate their sampling. Chef Rob Coates keeps a menu of expected bar food favorites interesting and upsale yet remarkably affordable. The vegan (yes, vegan) bahn mi sandwich is a Hoosier Beer Geek favorite.
5408 N. College Ave.
317.602.8840
WebsiteHBG Visits:
KOTBR #134 - Zombies on Twenty TapsUpland Tasting RoomBloomington-based Upland Brewing Company opened up their Indianapolis outpost, the Tasting Room, in 2009. The brewery's concept for the space is pretty simple. They serve beer, but they're not a bar. They serve food, but they're not a restaurant. The best way to describe the Tasting Room is that it's like a coffee shop, but with the emphasis on beer instead of coffee. Stop in and you'll be able to grab a beer and relax in a funky chair, or just walk in with a growler and head home to enjoy some fresh Upland beer there. We recommend the Teddy Bear Kisses Imperial Stout or a bottle of one of Upland's acclaimed lambics (if available).
4842 N. College Ave.
317.602.3931
WebsiteHBG Visits:
KOTBR #124 - In TributeUpland Tasting Room Now Open!Upland Coming Soon to IndianapolisBroad RippleBinkley's Kitchen & BarBinkley's is a neighborhood favorite with Broad Ripple and Meridian Kessler residents. The restaurant offers classic American fare and has a great line-up of local and regional beers on tap, including unique offerings from a nitro line.
5902 N. College Ave.
317.722.8888
WebsiteHBG Visits:
Sierra Nevada Brewmaster Meet and Greet - Binkley'sBroad Ripple BrewpubDespite owning Twenty Tap, Kevin Matalucci still holds down a regular job as the head brewer at the Broad Ripple Brewpub. English expatriate John Hill opened the Brewpub in 1990 in an effort to bring an authentic English pub experience to Indianapolis. He did more than that, kick-starting Indiana's craft beer revolution and creating an Indiana craft beer monument. Matalucci's English-style ales and an extensive menu help complete the effort. Order whatever is on the hand-pull. We especially like the Monon Porter.
842 E. 65th St.
317.ALE.BREW (253.2739)
WebsiteHBG Visits:
KOTBR #94 | 2001: A Stout OdysseyThe 2009 Knights of the Beer Roundtable Beer of the Year - Broad Ripple Brewpub's Monon PorterKOTBR #64 - Forgotten LandmarksIndiana Beer Week Bar Hop - Day One - Operation ChaosKOTBR #11 - Broad Ripple Brewpub's Wee Alec HeavyBrugge BrasserieLook below and you'll see a long list of posts we've written about Brugge Brasserie. There's a good reason for this: Brugge is an Indianapolis treasure. Nestled next to the
Monon Trail, Brugge is unique among Indiana's brewpubs because it's the only brewery in the state to focus on Belgian-style beers and food. Ask your server if there are any sour beers on tap, and be sure to order the frites (fries), which are among Indianapolis' best. You also can't go wrong with a glass of Brugge's famous Tripel de Ripple, but be advised: there's a two-beer limit due to the potency of this beer.
1011 E. Westfield Blvd.
317.255.0978
WebsiteHBG Visits:
KOTBR #124 - In TributeKOTBR #120 - Two Places, One Beer - Dogfish Head/Three Floyds PoppaskullBeer Diary #17 - Jim | The Power of NamesKOTBR #104: Brugge SpiderBeer Diary #18 - Lose Ends EditionKOTBR #90: Medal WinnersBeer Diary #15 - Mike - VacationsThe First Annual Hoosier Beer Geek Craft Beer BreakfastBeer Diary #10 - MikeKOTBR #51: The Hoosier Beer Geek Second Anniversary PartyIndiana Beer Week Bar Hop - Day One - Operation ChaosKOTBR #48 - Dude, Where's Chris's Car?Six Pack Interview with Brugge's Charlie MidgleyThe Complete Works (so far) of Ted Miller (abridged)KOTBR #34 - Two at Brugge Brasserie - Thunder Monkey and ImpérialBeer Diary - MikeThe Hoosier Beer Geek 6 Pack - Ted Miller, Brewer/Owner of Brugge Brasserie and Brugge BeerBeer Diary - Jim | South Florida EditionKOTBR #14 - Brugge QuadrippleKOTBR #5 - Brugge's The BlackChumley's PubChumley's is more or less a college bar, attracting much of its clientele from nearby Butler University (home to Indy's beloved Butler Bulldogs). But unlike many college bars with their sole focus on macrobrews, Chumley's has an extensive tap list that always has something to suit any beer geek's tastes. The bar also sells beer by the pitcher and has several nitro lines that pour more than the usual nitro offerings. 21+ only.
Smoking permitted.
838 Broad Ripple Ave.
317.466.1555
WebsiteHBG Visits:
KOTBR #55 - Beer and Progress with the UrbanophileCorner Wine BarIf you're looking for a restaurant that is perfect for date night and that has a well-curated wine and beer list, visit the Corner Wine Bar. Along with a menu of Continental-inspired dishes, the CWB has a cozy English-style pub with a small but nice selection of draft beers. Stop by on Wednesdays, when pints are $3.00.
Smoking permitted in the pub.
6331 Guilford Ave.
317.255.5159
WebsiteHBG Visits:
Beer Diary #8 - Jim | Then and NowLocals Only Art & Music PubSeeking local music in an off-the-beaten-path establishment? Then Locals Only is your place. There's a stage in one corner of the bar, offering live music of all sorts. The work of local artists hangs on the walls. And then there's the amazing bottle and draft beer selection, put together by proprietor and craft beer lover David Quiesser. 21+ only.
Smoking permitted.
2449 E. 56th St.
317.255.4013
WebsiteHBG Visits:
KOTBR #38 - I Love Scotch. Scotchy Scotch Scotch. Here It Goes Down, Down Into My Belly...KOTBR #12 - Locals Only...With a Special Guest StarMonon Food CompanyOffering a selection of 60 beers (mostly bottled), the Monon Food Company is a great place to dine in a family-friendly and casual atmosphere. During the summer, the restaurant's deck is a great place for people watching due to the restaurant's close proximity to the Monon Trail. When it comes to the food, we recommend the Ultimate Mac and Cheese.
6420 Cornell Ave.
317.722.0176
WebsiteNorthside SocialManaging to be upscale and casual at the same time, Northside Social carries a sophisticated air with its contemporary furnishings, well-dressed patrons, and attentive servers. Sink into a cushy chair in the lounge area, grab a table, or snag a spot at the bar and you'll have a good draft list at your disposal.
6525 N. College Ave.
(317) 253-0111
WebsiteHBG Visits:
KOTBR #112 - Flashback at the Northside SocialThr3e Wise Men Brewing CompanyScott Wise's Scotty's Brewhouse restaurants are well-known in central Indiana, especially in the area's college towns. To refer to Wise as possessing a restaurant empire would be no exaggeration. But Wise is an emperor of the best kind: a benevolent one who always wants to ensure a fun, good-quality dining experience. In 2011, Wise added a brewpub to his stable of restaurants with Thr3e Wise Men. With its blond wood paneling and airy space, the restaurant kind of looks like a ski lodge inside. But pizza and beer are the house specialties. Hop-heads should go for a Golden Zoe IPA, which is lovingly crafted by head brewer Omar Castrellon.
1021 Broad Ripple Ave.
317.255.5151
WebsiteHBG Visits:
3WM HBG Double Brown TappingKOTBR #132 - Thr3e Wise Men Golden Zoe IPA, Neil Patrick Harris StyleOpening Today: Thr3e Wise MenUnion Jack PubThere was a time when hardcore soccer fans in this town had no place to go if they wanted to watch a match from across the pond. Around the time of the 2006 World Cup, Indy's barkeepers began to catch on to the fact that yes, rabid fans of the Beautiful Game make Indianapolis their home. The Union Jack Pub is one of Indianapolis' soccer-centric bars, offering Saturday and Sunday breakfasts to accompany the English Premier League matches they show. The pub has a pretty extensive draft and bottle list with some British, regional, and local offerings.
924 Broad Ripple Ave.
317.257.4343
WebsiteHBG Visits:
KOTBR #75 - Secret Meeting of the (Expanded) Knights of the Beer RoundtableNorth SideAle EmporiumBilling itself as "The Home of Honest Pizza," the Ale Emporium certainly has a diverse selection of pies to choose from. But this Allisonville pub also has a well-rounded selection of local and regional craft beers on tap and in the bottle. You can even order by the pitcher if you desire. Visit on Tuesdays for discounted pints and pitchers. 21+ only.
Smoking permitted.8617 Allisonville Rd.
317.842.1333
WebsiteThe Beer Sellar"100 bottles, 50 taps, and 1 bitchin' jukebox"--with the Beer Sellar's tagline, you at definitely know what's in store for you. This bar is probably the north side's best known beer bar and occasionally hosts tap takeovers by the likes of Michigan's Bell's and Indy's own Sun King. If you're on the north side and don't mind smokers, we definitely recommend that you stop in, especially on Wednesday, when Indiana beers are $3.00 by the pint and $4.00 by the bottle. 21+ only.
Smoking permitted.6466 E. 82nd St.
317.849.2739
WebsiteHBG Visits:
Photo Post: 30 Bell's Taps at The Beer SellarChatham Tap FishersLike soccer? We do. Chatham Tap is the default choice for fans wishing to catch English Premier League action. The pub's tap list follows suit, with the standard English selections as well as local taps and a nice bottle list. And if you happen to follow the U.S. National Team, the Chatham Tap is where you want to be on match day because the local
American Outlaws chapter takes over the bar with their bawdy chants and infectious enthusiasm.
8211 E. 116th St.
Fishers, Indiana 46038
317.845.1090
WebsiteRock Bottom College ParkUnfortunately, chain brewpubs sometimes get a bad rap. People automatically assume that if it's corporate, it's not worth having. Definitely not so with Rock Bottom. While some of Rock Bottom's beers are the same no matter which Rock Bottom you visit, each pub's brewer is given the freedom to brew several other beers according to the brewer's own recipes. Rock Bottom's north side location offers several gems from brewer extraordinaire Liz Laughlin. We recommend ordering whatever's on cask.
2801 Lake Circle Dr.
317.471.8840
WebsiteHBG Visits:
KOTBR #107 - Re-dedication at Rock Bottom College ParkNortheast SideBier Brewery and TaproomBier Brewery and Taproom's Darren Connor began his brewing career at homebrewing supply store Great Fermentations, perfecting the homebrewing craft that he learned in college. In late 2010, he opened Bier just a few doors down from Great Fermentations. Bier is different from other Indy breweries in that it operates on a small, 1.5 barrel system. So in that sense, Bier is the city's one and only nanobrewery (though that will change soon with the opening of
Black Acre Brewing Company in Irvington). Because Bier's batches are small, the brewery rotates styles quite frequently and offers only growlers for sale. But that's not a bad thing; variety, as they say, is the spice of life. We're quite fond of Bier's DFG IPA, so grab a growler if it's on. 21+ only.
5133 E. 65th St.
317.253.BIER (2437)
WebsiteTriton Brewing CompanyTriton Brewing Company opened in 2011 out at Fort Benjamin Harrison in a marvelously refurbished building that was long-used as a horse barn. At Triton's helm are Jon Lang, former head brewer at Barley Island Brewing Company; Mike DeWeese, a longtime veteran of Indianapolis' craft beer scene; and David Waldman. Triton's name--borrowed from the name of Greek sea god Poseidon's son--stems from the brewery's emphasis on water quality. Indeed, Triton uses a reverse osmosis filtration system to ensure the highest quality water for its beers. Pints and growlers are available at the brewery, along with local and regional beers from the brewery's guest taps. Drinkers won't be disappointed by Triton's Rail Splitter IPA or Deadeye Stout.
Fort Benjamin Harrison
5764 Wheeler Rd.
317.735.2706
WebsitePreviously in our "Where to Drink in Indy" series:Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Mass Ave, the Near East Side, and the Near North Side Where to Drink in Indy - Hoosier Beer Geek's Guide to Fountain Square
This month brings an extra special treat to members.
I was quite excited about this beer, because everything I've had from the Barrel Series has been great. Curse the Goat took me a little by surprise, perhaps because the barrel aging is beginning to influence the beer in the sour direction. Sour red grapes were the first thing I noticed in the aroma, followed with faint notes of raisin, chocolate, malt and bourbon. The flavor was similar. A bit of tartness mixed with plums, figs and raisins and a hint of bourbon in the background. Certainly no longer your typical doppelbock, this is now something entirely unique. I wouldn't let this beer sit another year or it may lose its body to sourness, but right now the balance is intriguing.
You can forget all your troubles and forget all your cares and drink downtown…
