Tailgate for Nothing at Big Car's The Tube Factory

In 2009, the Indianapolis-based website Hoosier Beer Geek held Tailgate for Nothing, a beer and food sharing event. The concept was simple: pick a parking lot, invite friends, and share beer and food. Usually, tailgating is reserved as a precursor to another event. At Tailgate for Nothing, the tailgating is the event.

Hoosier Beer Geek has been great friends with the Big Car Collaborative since 2006, and we want to celebrate Big Car's new The Tube Factory. So on Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 11am to 5pm, we will be tailgating in Big Car's parking lot at 1125 Cruft St., Indianapolis near Garfield Park.

We are taking donations for Big Car, a 501c3 nonprofit arts organization. The funds will be used to renovate The Tub Factory building. You can reserve your tailgating spot by making an online donation. The minimum donation is $10 per car. You can check out the fun of previous Tailgates at Hoosier Beer Geek.

Here are the ground rules for the event and some tips for you if you're going to attend:

- Weather. We all know that the weather in Indiana is unpredictable. Therefore, regardless of Saturday's weather forecast, we recommend that you bring a canopy if you have one in case the weather decides not to cooperate. Here's hoping that we have sunny skies and decent temperatures.

- Victuals. We don't have many rules for this thing, but one rule we expect everyone to follow is this: Please bring beer and food to share. The beer and food don't have to be anything super-rare or of gourmet quality. Just bring something tasty. Don't be a freeloader.

- Courtesy. Please pick up your trash before you leave. Our friends at Big Car are doing us a big favor by letting us hold Tailgate for Nothing at their place. Therefore, please return their kindness by not leaving a mess behind. Trash bins will be provided to make the job easier.

- I gotta pee. The Tube Factory has functional restrooms. When you go in to return the beer, you can see the progress inside. But stay on the path. 

We hope that you'll come out and enjoy a day of beer-sharing and food-sharing with us!

To summarize:
Tailgate for Nothing
At Big Car's The Tube Factory
1125 Cruft Street
Saturday, November 7, 2015
11am to 5pm
Online reservations via donations at https://www.gofundme.com/sk72hg2k

Inaugural Crayon and Craft Beer Night at Mass Ave Pub, Tuesday, October 20

Our friends at Mass Ave Pub are launching a new charitable event called "Crayon and Craft Beer Night." Each month, Mass Ave Pub will select a signature pint and during the event night, they will donate $1 of each pint sold to a local arts program.

This month, the Art Club at IPS's CFI School #2 will be the recipient. The beer is Ottermelon, a watermelon gose from Central State Brewing Company. And they have been generous enough to match MAP's donation. 

But that's not all!

Because Hoosier Beer Geek has a soft spot for CFI School #2 (Jason's kids go to this excellent public magnet school), Hoosier Beer Geek will also match MAP's donation.

So count it... that is $1... $2... $3 will go to the Art Club at CFI #2 for every pint of Ottermelon you buy on Tuesday, October 20 starting at 5:30pm. Please come out and think of the children as you drink of the gose. And be ready to color... MAP will have coloring sheets. And yes, we will judge how well you stay in the lines.

Barrels on Bonna: BOBFest

Yup, another beer festival.

But for Indy, it is not just another beer festival.

It is a festival dedicated to barrel aged beers.  And that excites me.  If you know me (and some of you do), you know how much I love beers aged in barrels.  Festivals that are dedicated to styles or variations (like Upland's Midwest Sour + Wild + Funk Fest) are a much needed addition to our beer festival scene.  And I am happy that Black Acre Brewing is taking it on.

You can find the details at BarrelsonBonna.com, but here is the breakdown...

Date and Time: Saturday, October 10, 2015; 1pm-5pm

Location: Black Acre's production brewery at 5543 Bonna Avenue in the Irvington neighborhood.

Participating Breweries: 20+ Indiana breweries plus select national breweries

Tickets: $50, capped at 800 tickets

Food: Available from Beast food truck and another vendor TBD

Music: Audio Diner, Marc and Friends, the Lightweights, the Blue Alchemy Trio

Beneficiary: All profits go to Friends of Irving Circle, a 501(c)3 in Irvington that focuses on urban beautification and programming (it should be noted that I am a board member of Friends of Irving Circle; the board is all volunteers and there are no paid staff or administrative costs)