Minor Leagues, Major Brews

The Indianapolis Indians have their first pitch of the season tomorrow. I'm always impressed with the quality entertainment that can be found at Victory Field. Not to mention the impressive craft beer lineup (especially when compared to other, nearby sporting venues... I'M LOOKING AT YOU LUCAS OIL STADIUM AND CONSECO FIELDHOUSE!!!). As we do most every year, here is a breakdown of craft beer options at the old ball game in Indy and around the area:

Victory Field, Indianapolis, IN
-Oaken Barrel: For the 12th year, OB beers can be found on draft. Victory Amber (aka Indiana Amber) is behind home plate and Razz Wheat is in center field.
-Sun King: The 16 ounce can lineup of Sunlight Cream Ale, Osiris Pale Ale, and Wee Mac Scottish Ale is available. A rotating seasonal tap will also be available at the new Captain Morgan Cove bar. 1887, a California common beer, will be the first beer on tap.
-Other bottled selections: Bell's, New Belgium, Sam Adams, Goose Island
-Neither Vic Field nor Monarch Beverages could confirm if Upland will be returning this season. Cari at Upland informed me that Victory Field ordered bottles of Wheat, so they should be available.

Parkview Field, Ft. Wayne, IN
-Mad Anthony: The beers travel less than a mile to reach the home of the Ft. Wayne TinCaps. You'll find them on draft.
-Granite City: also available on draft
-Sierra Nevada: available on draft
-Other bottled selections: Mad Anthony, New Belgium Fat Tire

On Saturday, April 9th, a beer tasting event will be held prior to the game. Four themed tables will be providing samples from 4:05 to 5:05. Themes include A Taste of Mexico (Dos Equis, Tecate, Carta Blanca), Thorwback (Schlitz, PBR, Old Style, McSorley’s), Tenth & Blake (Blue Moon Seasonal, Leinenkugel Seasonal, Pilsner Urquelle, Grolsch), and Local Favorites (Upland, New Holland, Goose Island, Mad Hatter). Tickets are $40 and all you can eat meal and game admission is included. Advanced purchase is required. Call 260-407-2802 to reserve your ticket. An event flyer can be downloaded here.

Two more beer tasting events are planned for this season.

Coveleski Stadium, South Bend, IN
While it is a shame that local brewery Mishawaka isn’t served at the home of the SilverHawks, one beer that beer geeks might find enjoyable is Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Edmund Fitzgerald Porter.

US Steel Yard, Gary, IN
Bottles: Goose Island 312, New Belgium Fat Tire, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada; Draft: Leinenkugels Summer Shandy, Blue Moon

Slugger Field, Louisville, KY
The battle for craft beer at the ball park is well documented by NABC’s Roger Baylor at his blog The Potable Curmudgeon (here, here, and here), two craft beer taps were made available. At first, NABC’s Beak’s Best and Kentucky Ale were on tap. Later, BBC’s Nut Brown, BBC’s American Pale Ale and Cumberland’s Red.

Fifth Third Field, Dayton, OH
Sam Adams is the only craft beer available right now, but the Dragons have an annual craft beer tasting about midseason. Last season, 60+ beers were available for sampling and a few are selected for availability the rest of the season.

Big League Brew

What sport goes better with beer than baseball? It’s like peanut butter and chocolate. We had baseball. We had beer. But both became infinitely better when they were put together. Here’s a quick look at craft beer at five area ballparks:

Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
It pains me, as a Cubs fan, to say that not only were the St. Louis Cardinals quick to respond, but they also carry a greater selection than Wrigley Field (more on that below). I would expect a team that has a ballpark named for a shit beer like Busch to have nothing but shitty beers. Wrong. First up: Schlafly, the big microbrewery in town. On draft, you can find Pale Ale and Kolsch. Also from St. Louis: O’fallon, whose Wheach (peach wheat beer) can be found in bottles. Boulevard Brewing from Kansas City is on draft along with Sam Adams Seasonal and Goose Island Honkers Ale (you can say it isn’t a craft beer, but I still think it is worth noting).

Comerica Field, Detroit, MI
Fermentation Nation did a nice look at beers available while watching the Tigers. But here are the highlights: Atwater Block on draft; Atwater Block, Bell’s, and Sierra Nevada in bottles; and a rotation Sam Adams and Goose Island beers.

Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH
The Krauts in Cincy love their Reds fans. And they love their German beer. So you will find several stands with imported brews. If you have premium tickets (behind home plate), you will have access to the “Scouts Alley” bar. They serve a variety of craft beers. When I went last year, they had beers from Great Lakes Brewing Company and 21st Amendment Brewery.

U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
The White Sox didn’t respond to or acknowledge my requests for information. But God bless the internet. The Beer Leaguer had better luck. In a conference call with White Sox personnel, he discovered that Goose Island will still be available on draft and that the “Beers of the World” stands will be replaced by craft beer stands, though they didn’t say which craft beers will be available.

Wrigley Field, Chicago
Dammit Cubbies. I know that Budweiser and Old Style are the dominate beers, but couldn’t you carry just a couple of craft beers? How hard would it be to carry a Goose Island 312? There is a brewpub just a few blocks away. But no, you inform me that the local beers you carry include Old Style, Old Style Light, and Pabst Blue Ribbon. I almost wish that they didn’t reply.

Update: Hoosier Beer and Baseball Geek

Last year, we offered a guide to Indiana beer at Indiana baseball parks. The Indianapolis Indians have their home opener Friday night and (as long as the weather and the children cooperate) this Knight of the Beer Roundtable will be there. Victory Field's beer selection has improved. And while they don't have Sun King listed, we have it on good authority that Sun King beer will be at the Vic this year. Here is the 2010 update to the Hoosier Beer and Baseball Geek guide:


Victory Field
Opened: 1996
Home of the Indianapolis Indians
International League
AAA Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
2010 Opening Day: April 16

Indiana Beers Available:
Oaken Barrel Victory Amber (21 oz. draft, $5.75) at the Backstop Grille, Section 111

Oaken Barrel Razz Wheat (21 oz. draft, $5.75) at the Home Run Grille, Centerfield Plaza

Upland (12 oz. bottles, $5.50) at Guiness Pub Stand, Section 108

Sun King* Osiris Pale Ale and Sunlight Cream Ale(16 oz. cans) at Guiness Pub Stand, Section 108, and Home Run Grille, Centerfield Plaza

Other Beers Available:
At Guinness Pub Stand, Section 108, in bottles ($5.50): Bells Oberon, Corona, Fat Tire, Heineken, Leinenkugel Summer, Red Stripe, Sam Adams, Stella Artois.

At Guinness Pub Stand, Section 108, on draft ($6.50): Guinness, Harp, Smithwick's

Elsewhere in the park: Blue Moon, Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, Corona Light, Smirnoff Ice

*This is what we were told by the good guys at Sun King. Why it is not on the concession menu, I don't know.

Hoosier Beer and Baseball Geek

I really enjoy baseball and I like to frequent Major League ballparks in Cincinnati and Chicago. But for cheap, family fun, minor league baseball is the way to go. And Indiana has plenty. Professional baseball in Indiana has its first pitch tonight when the Indianapolis Indians face the Toledo Mud Hens at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

But baseball isn't the only thing that local ballparks have to offer. What is baseball without beer? I contacted the five professional ballclubs in Indiana to find out what's on tap. For you beer and baseball geeks, here is your starting lineup:


Victory Field
Opened: 1996
Home of the Indianapolis Indians
International League
AAA Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
2009 Opening Day: April 9

Indiana Beers Available:
Oaken Barrel Victory Amber (21 oz. draft, $5.75) at the Backstop Grille, Section 111
Oaken Barrel Razz Wheat (21 oz. draft, $5.75) at the Home Run Grille, Centerfield Plaza

Other Beers Available:
Guinness, Blue Moon, Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, Smirnoff Ice, Smirnoff Tea, Corona Light


Parkview Field
Opened: 2009
Home of the Fort Wayne Tin Caps
Midwest League
Single A Affiliate of the San Diego Padres
2009 Opening Day: April 16

Indiana Beers Available:
Mad Anthony (two taps along first base side)
Granite City

Other Beers Available:
On Draft: Bud, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bass, Guinness, Harp, Stella, Sierra Nevada, Shock Top, and Smithwicks.
Bottled: Bud, Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Killians, Blue Moon, Red Stripe, Corona, Sam Adams, Heineken, Smirnoff Ice, Mikes Hard Lemonade, O’Douls, Sierra Nevada and Bud Light Lime.

Of note: Thirsty Thursdays - $2 drink special, $1 beer special

US Steel Yard
Opened: 2002
Home of the Gary SouthShore RailCats
Northern League (independent)
2009 Opening Day: May 11

Indiana Beers Available:
Upland Wheat (bottle)

Other Beers Available:
Draft: Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Lite, Leinenkugel

Bottles/Cans: Miller Chill, St Pauli Girl, Corona, Red Stripe, Fosters, Pacifico, Leinenkugel, Dos Equis, Samuel Adams, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Sharps non alcoholic

Of note: Thirsty Thursdays - $2 beer special

Coveleski Stadium
Opened: 1987
Home of the South Bend Silver Hawks
Midwest League
Single A Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks
2009 Opening Day: April 13

Indiana Beers Available:
none

Other Beers Available:
Bud, Bud Light, MGD, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Leinekugel’s Sunset Wheat (draft only), Leinekugel’s Summer Shandy (draft only), Mike’s Hard Lemonade

Of note: Thirsty Thursdays - $2 beer special

Bosse Field
Opened: 1915
Home of the Evansville Otters
Frontier League
2009 Opening Day: May 15

Indiana Beers Available:
none

Other Beers Available:
Budweiser, Bud Light, Bud Select, AmberBock, Michelob, and Michelob Ultra.

Of note: Stadium was used to film the movie "A League of Their Own"