Metromix 2010 Local Brewing Guide: Sun King Brewing Company

Hoosier Beer Geek worked with Metromix to create their 2010 Local Brewing Guide. It was published in the November 18th issue and we are republishing the interviews we conducted. Enjoy!

Sun King Brewing Company, established 2009
135 N. College Ave, Indianapolis
Website: www.sunkingbrewing.com
Phone: (317) 602-3701

Sun King Brewery is the end result of a brewer’s long-time dream: to put his skills to work brewing for his own brewery. Along with brewer-partner Clay Robinson, Dave Colt opened the near eastside brewery in July of last year after working for both Circle V Brewing Company (a now-defunct Indianapolis brewpub) and Ram Restaurant and Brewery. “I looked around and said, ‘When I take the big dirt nap, am I going to be satisfied that I didn’t at least try and do it for myself?’” said Colt. “I said, ‘I need to at least try this once.’”

If the brewery’s success is any indication, he made the right decision. A lineup of four regular styles – Cream Ale, Pale Ale, ESB, and Scottish Brown – serve as the backbone of the brewery’s business, but Sun King’s regular rotation of seasonal and specialty beers move the fastest. “My own imagination is my only limiting factor at this point,” said Colt. That imagination has kept crowds coming back; the brewery regularly sells out of these limited release beers in just a couple days.

Sun King’s packaging is unique to Indiana beer - they are the only brewery in the state currently canning their beers. “Our decision to can was made before we even had a name,” said Colt. “Cans are a really great container for beer. If you think about it, they’re like a mini keg. Cans are lined, they cool down quicker, and they allow no light to spoil [the beer].”

Expansion has been constant at Sun King, and the brewery hopes to have a new brewing system in place by February or March to keep up with demand. “At the end of the day I think we’ll end up servicing the whole state,” said Colt. “Our main focus is and will always be Indianapolis and surrounding areas. It’s our back yard, it’s our hometown, it’s the reason we exist. Our goal will continue to be producing world class beer for a world class city and if it goes beyond that to the four corners of the state, then awesome, yay for us.”

Regular beers (styles in parenthesis): Sunlight (Cream Ale), Osiris (Pale Ale), Bitter Druid (ESB), Wee Mac (Scottish Brown)

Seasonals: Oktoberfest, Dopplebock, Maibock, Firefly (Wheat), Ring of Dingle (Irish Dry Stout), Winter Storm Warning, Cream Dream (Double IPA), Grapefruit Jungle (Double IPA)

Events: Ongoing series of brewer’s dinners with Chef JJ’s Backyard, seasonal and specialty tappings at the brewery and bars throughout the greater Indianapolis area