HBG4 was a rousing success, thanks largely to the variety and quality of the Indiana beers on hand. But despite (or in some cases because of) Indiana's always developing craft beer community, there's always something new on the horizon - new styles, new breweries, and the continued pursuit of the craft of brewing beer. Recent trends in beer sales have shown that sales of American craft beer have not just hurt the big guys - they're also partially responsible for the erosion of the sales of foreign brands that appeal to the same audience. From a personal standpoint, I can attest that my first choice when having a beer almost always starts with an American brewery - despite the fact that there are plenty of great European options, many of which set the standard for style.
It got me to wondering if we'll ever reach a point where beer becomes even more local - when I'll stop looking to beer from other states, and set my default focus on beer made in Indiana. I don't think we're anywhere near that point now, but a large part of that sort of dedication relies on the creativity shown by Indiana's brewers and the availability of the creativity when I walk in the liquor store. Sure, you might be making wacky fruit beers (though not an Indiana brewery, this is exactly what I have in mind) for your brewpub, but can I find it in a liquor store on the south side of Indianapolis?
What would it take for you to focus primarily on Indiana beer? Are you already there? Or will you ever reach that point?
More hashtags.
ReplyDeleteFrom reading some beer history in the past few months and years, it seems like prior to Prohibition, there was a brewery in each city/town of decent size. I think in the future we're going to see more of that, as distributors and shelf space can only handle so much. Micro-micro breweries serving only their immediate area, not bottling or only bottling limited releases (which seems to be the most popular thing for really big beer geeks, if the Beer Advocate forums I'm part of are an indicator). I'd be OK with that. I love to travel, and it would be nice to have a "totally local" option everywhere I go. As it is, I could probably live a decent life focused solely on Indiana beers - with Three Floyds, Upland, Sun King, New Albanian - they cover so much ground and continually develop new beers.
ReplyDeleteBut what I really want most out of Indiana breweries is a job, money, or at the minimum, some free beer.
I estimate about 90% of the beer I drink is already from Indiana or Michigan. I keep going more and more local (the brewers are making it easy!) but I will never quit Michigan.
ReplyDeleteI'm close to being there. We have a lot of great brewers in this state making great craft beer.Drink Local, Drink Indiana and Support your local brewery
ReplyDeleteI think Indiana breweries should bottle some sours or saisons. I know Upland does lambics, but they're really hard to get, and Brugge sours are awesome but not bottled. Also, it seems like most Indiana breweries (Besides 3 Floyds) either don't release a good Imperial Stout, or they don't bottle it. The stuff that's coming out of Michigan absolutely blows Indiana beer away. Also (Again, besides 3 Floyds) there are no great IPA's in Indiana, decent but no where close to Bell's, Founder's, New Holland, Dark Horse, Short's, etc. My .02
ReplyDeleteI think a big problem with Indiana beer is mouthfeel. Take Brugge's sour, the taste is there but the mouthfeel is incredibly watery and unsatisfying. I find the same problem with nearly all "brewpubs" (granite city, rock bottom, et al). The only styles that I see lacking in Indiana are saisons, lagers, and pilsners. I would love for some Indiana brewery to craft a really delicate and flavorful pilsner. So get on it!
ReplyDeleteI just don't think we have enough IN breweries in the distribution chain. There are quite a lot of "local" pubs and microbreweries, but the commersh breweries who distribute locally and abroad are far outshined by many other surrounding states. It's a matter of time it seems for the distribution side.
ReplyDeleteI think too that we could handle a lot more small breweries and brew pubs, truly local to neighborhoods (fountain square, irvington, mass ave, etc). I think it's a business model that would survive, as long as we can continue the push for folks to drink local beer from growlers as opposed to buying a 30 pack of PBR for the weekend. This will also take time.
Well we don't need a cream ale. I'd like to see those cans filled with something more interesting.... I imagine I could (if needed) get by with just 3Fs, Bells, and Founders. Is that local enough?
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Mike about things getting even more local. I personally think that Nanobreweries are going to be a big hit at some point in time. It maybe a few years from now, but I see that coming. They can be attached to almost any local eatery or standalone for a minimal investment compared to a major brewing operation.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will ever drink only Indiana beer though. I love trying everything under the sun and will always check out something I've never had before regardless what state it came from. I do seek out American craft though more than anything else. It will be exciting that as more breweries come online the potential tap list for a restaurant with six or more taps will hopefully represent Indiana in multiple styles. You will be able to pair your dinner with any style from Indiana. I think that will be very cool to have here.
anon -- Isn't Cream Ale in cans interesting in that NO ONE makes one in this state? It also gets bonus points for being the ultimate gateway from BMC to craft.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, I think you'll get your wish with some adventurous beers in Sun King's universal can.
Well no, a cream ale in a can is not interesting just because it is the only one made in the state. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoy the unnamed pale ale in a can from the unnamed brewer (unless one click's on the link embedded in your response). Drinking from a can invokes a serious bout of nostalgia, and it is my idea of a great summer beer. I thoroughly enjoyed quaffing a few at an Indian's game, and it was my default beer while hanging with the neighbors until the 10 pm sunsets this summer. I have bought plenty of it. In addition, I get a bit of a kick out of having a waiter or waitress plop a can down in the middle of a table otherwise full of glassware.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't see it as a gateway beer. It just does not deviate enough from the norm, IMO, to suggest to a MBC devotee that there is a heretofore undiscovered world of beers. No doubt its broad appeal pays the bills as they gear up for the universal can offerings , but I don't think it qualifies as craft simply because it is brewed by a micro. Call me a heretic, but I think a Killian's would prove to be a better gateway beer.
And yes, I am certain that the universal can will fulfill my wish. I have been looking forward to it since first reading about on beernews.org
The previous post really poses a great question: what is the definition of "craft beer?" The reason I ask is because I think the answer is very subjective. It would be interesting to hear other's opinions. Is Killians a craft beer? How about Blue Moon? Sam Adams Boston Lager? Sierra Nevada Pale Ale? New Belgium Fat Tire?
ReplyDeleteMore of a rhetorical question, really, as the line between "craft" and "not craft" is blurry at best.
To each his/her own, but almost every time I'm in the Sun King tasting room I hear someone say "I've had your Cream Ale and really like that but I want to try something new, what else do you make?". If that's not the prime example of a gateway beer, I don't know what is. A gateway beer doesn't shock you in to a new reality, it gradually expands your view to accept the alternative notion that you might like something new.
ReplyDeleteI personally think we need good examples of every style being created by Indiana brewers if we desire a solid local offering. The idea of craft beer being exclusive to enthusiasts is passing. People who enjoy cream ale have as much right to enjoy Indiana beer as people who enjoy IPAs, stouts and saisons, which is why we need it as a style.
For me the definition of craft beer is anyone paying particular attention to the product and not treating the product as a commidity. I would say Sierra Nevada is most certainly a craft beer brewery because of their constant focus of quality, how they treat the enviornment, and their dedication to craft beer as a whole. Sam Adams brews a ton of beer, but I still consider it craft because of how they treat the beer and the consumer.
ReplyDeleteI don't consider any of the big boys craft because they treat their product like a commidity and their customers like idiots. I would also not consider several (at least one anyway) of the "microbrewers" here in the state of Indiana craft beer brewers. Just because it was produced in a smaller batch, but not created with idea of making an uncompromising and wonderful product to share with consumers isn't craft to me.
Would love to know what Indiana brewer you're thinking of...
ReplyDeleteTo me what makes a craft beer is the "Craft". Those who treat beer more as an art and a vehicle of self expression and less about a product with which to generate income. So in that definition Sierra, Boston Beer Co., all those guys are craft beers.
ReplyDeleteAs a homebrewer I for one would love to see a rise in neighborhood/community breweries and Nanobreweries, but I think this will be hard for the hardcore Beer Geeks to swallow (rim shot please) because you can take the BJCP style guide and throw it out the window. These types of breweries would/will make very unique and very diverse beers, but they may not always align with what we think of as typical styles. I think it would be easy for Beer Geeks to think "Man, this is a good beer, but it isn't quite hoppy enough to be an IPA"
Thoughts?
Well if it's not hoppy enough to call it an IPA, then why would you be calling it an IPA?
ReplyDeleteWe've always reviewed on the principal that if a beer is good, it's going to get a good score, regardless of what BJCP says. Having said that, it's hard not to notice when a beer is blatantly mislabeled. More diversity is a good thing as far as I'm concerned, as I don't care what you call your beer as long as it tastes good.
I am talking about a brewpub that is on the north side. I will call it Slate Town.
ReplyDelete