Sun King expands to college towns

This past Wednesday, Yelp brought together Sun King and FARM Bloomington to host a Bloomington release party to celebrate Sun King's expansion in to the Indiana University college town.  Most of our readers are from the Indianapolis area, so many of you may not have realized that the state's fastest growing brewery was, until recently, only available in Indianapolis and the surrounding suburbs.  Sun King is now available in the ring of college towns that surround Indianapolis - Lafayette, Muncie and Bloomington.  The increase in demand outside of Indianapolis will be possible thanks to their newly installed 30 barrel brewhouse.  Now college kids have one less reason to drink crap while expanding their minds with the tomes of knowledge.  And to perhaps answer a question in advance, Sun King is still self-distributing.

Thanks to Yelp, Sun King and FARM Bloomington for hosting this event.  The bar space in the basement of FARM Bloomington was very cool!

Random Beer Roundup - The ... Edition

The week has been busy, but it is finally Friday!  Hope you've got some beer drinking plans for the weekend!

If there is something coming up that is not listed, we would love to hear about it. News, reviews, info, etc., to share for our next Random Beer Roundup can be submitted to hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com. Don't see your favorite craft beer establishment? Let them know you'd like to see them here! Work for an establishment that serves craft beer? We want to hear from you too!

Hoosier Beer Calendar

Events are subject to change

From the Brewers:

From Jeff at Barley Island Brewery in Noblesville/Broad Ripple:

Thursday, March 3rd 6:00 pm tapping of a new beer, Whose Ear Double Red Ale, at both Barley Island locations. This big, malty double red ale features Summit, Cascade and CTZ hops. To enhance the aroma it was dry hopped with Cascade and CTZ. About 9.3% ABV and still in fermenter at press time so available in goblets and growlers (to go). This beer fits with our tavern theme in that Whose Ear?, as voiced while cleaning up a tavern floor, may have been the origination of the term Hoosier.

We finalized the beer lineup for Founder's, our guest brewery at Barley Island Restaurant & Brewhouse in Broad Ripple. John Host from Founder's will be on hand Wed March 9th 6:30 pm. Tapping: 

* Nemesis - a surprise brew each year, the last keg available in Indiana

* Double Trouble, an Imperial IPA, 9.4%, 86 IBU's

* Red's Rye PA - 6.6%, 70 IBU's

From Bob at Flat 12 Brewery in Indianapolis:

Monday 3/7. Flat12 Tapping of Joe Brahma Coffee Brown Ale at Sinking Ship
Tuesday 3/8, King Cake Beer for FLAT TUESDAY at Flat12 Bierwerks Taproom
Thursday, 3/17 St. Patty's Day Irish Amber at the Elbow Room Parade party.

From John at Half Moon Brewery in Kokomo:

I have a new beer coming out on Thursday, March 10th. A light to medium bodied golden ale made with 100% Marris Otter malt. This one is very light on the bittering hops and heavy on the finishing hops, and even some dry hops to enhance the aroma and flavor. ABV=5.9% IBU=20

I also have a Dry Irish Stout(ABV=6.1% IBU=40) coming out on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th. I am installing a nitrogen generator and a few stout faucets to give it that smooth and creamy head you've come to expect with a Irish Stout. The beer will go fast, but the nitrogen system will stay with us to enjoy forever.

At the end of March I will be releasing the Heavenly Hefeweizen(ABV=5.5% IBU=15). Always one of the favorite seasonals around here, and just in time for spring.

I also wanted to mention that Half Moon was voted "Best Of" in 8 deifferent categories for 2010 by the readers of the Kokomo Tribune. Best BBQ, Best Burger, Best Steak, Best Wings, Best Place For Family Dining, Best Place To Watch The Game, Best Place To Go And Talk With Friends, and last but certainly not least, Best Place To Catch A Buzz.

From Greg at Lafayette Brewing Co. in Lafayette:

On tap this weekend at Lafayette Brewing: Star City Lager; Prophet's Rock Pale Ale; East Side Bitter; Pipers' Pride Scottish Ale; Tippecanoe Common Ale; Eighty-Five; Black Angus Oatmeal Stout; and Marley's VSOP.

I'll be down at Turkey Run this Saturday as The Narrows Restaurant & Turkey Run Inn present their new Brewmaster's Getaway package. The sold-out event includes weekend accommodations at the Inn along with a beer dinner featuring a different LBC beer paired with each course. Should be great fun!

From Andrew at Ram Brewery in Indianapolis/Fishers:

Thank you to all of the Homebrewers who entered the 2011 RAM Small Ale Competition. It is going to be tough to pick a winner out of all of our great entries, but we will have some of the premier judges in the state giving it their best shot. Keep in ear to the ground in early April for the announcement of the big winner!

On Tap Now
Aries American Wheat
Ole St. Mick’s Irish Red
Batch 999 “In Hops We Trust” Imperial IPA

On the Horizon:
Glacier Peak Pale – mid-March
Longshanks English IPA – late March
Big Horn Maibock – mid-April
Batch 1000 – “Easy Rye-der” Imperial Rye Pilsner

From Clay at Sun King Brewing in Indianapolis:

Ring of Dingle Tapping at the Rathskeller

March 4th, 2011 8:00 p.m.

Winner of the Sun King/Indianapolis Indians Naming Contest will be announced

Petite Chou / Sun King Beer Dinner

March 9th, 2011 6:00 p.m.

Four course beer infused dinner, each course paired with a different beer

Call 317-259-0765 or email rachael@cafepatachou.com for more information or reservations

New Brewhouse Party at Sun King

March 10th, 2011 6:00 p.m.

Left Lane Cruiser performing live and food from Fat Dan's

From Lauren at Thr3e Wise Men Brewery in Indianapolis:

 St. Patrick's Day

When: March 17, 2011 5:00pm to Midnight

Where: Thr3e Wise Men Brewery

What: There will be a $5 cover. $4 Pints of Bunny Blonde, Centennial Martyr Double IPA, Golden Zoe IPA and Two Lucy's Blackberry Wheat. A new brew called Saint Slaters Irish Stout will be available inside Thr3e Wise Men.

Sam King will take the stage at 5:30-6:30 and The Last Goodyear take stage at 7:00pm

Bagpipers from 10:30pm to 11:00pm

From Charles at Upland Brewery in Bloomington/Indianapolis:

We're in the final days of the Upland Film Fest. Watch the music videos linked from the Film Fest event page and leave us a post telling us your favorite.

The Mug Club Ard Ri Release Party is this Saturday! Want to be a Mug Club member? Just stop by the Bloomington Tap Room and ask the bartender what grueling challenges you'll have to endure...

Be looking for Ard Ri around the state on draught and in 22oz bottles!

At the Bar

From Jordan at Beer Sellar in Indianapolis:

New at Beer Sellar and Upcoming Draft
Bells Kalamazoo Stout
Bells Hopslam Draft & Bottles
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Three Floyds Jinxproof
Three Floyds Dreadnaught
Bloomington Brewing Amber
Sam Adams Revolutionary Rye Ale
Avery IPA
Boulevard Irish Ale
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

ON DECK:
Upland Ard Ri
Three Floyds Artic Panzer
Three Floyds Brain Boru
Brooklyn East India Pale Ale
Founders Red Rye
Bells Q-Falls
Bells Oarsmen

Upcoming Events:

March 17th: Beer Sellar GOES IRISH

We will be tapping a firkin of Bells Double Cream Stout.

All Pitchers specials for the day will be $7, $8, & $9. With $4.50 Jameson and $6.75 Carbombs.

Live Music starting at 10pm from Tobias.

From Tomlinson Tap Room (City Market) in Indianapolis: 

Most recent tap list is here.  Tapping 3Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf at 5pm TODAY.

From Patrick at Patrick's Kitchen and Drinks in Zionsville:

Beers on tap include Dreadnaught (not much), Sun King Oatmeal Stout, People's German Pilsner, Two Brothers IPA called Resistance, it's aged in French Oak Barrels....Sun King dopplebock is about to be traded out for Sun King's Timmie (an Imperial Russian Stout).
We have on order some beers from BBC in Bloomington which includes their Brown, and a Belgian Pale.

From the Stores

From Joe at Crown Liquors (US 31 S.) in Indianapolis:

This Friday, March 4, from 5-8PM, we will be sampling:
SCHLAFLY - Hefeweizen
AYINGER - Altbairisch Dunkel
NEW HOLLAND - Charkoota Rye (Smoked Rye Doppelbock) (New!)

Other new brews this week:
HEAVY SEAS - Peg Leg Imperial Stout, Black Cannon Black IPA (Back in Stock!)
LEFT HAND - Stranger APA (Brand New!)
MAGNER'S - Irish Hard Cider (Brand New to the US!)
NEW HOLLAND - Night Tripper Imperial Stout
THREE FLOYDS - Arctic Panzer Wolf (Very Limited Supply!)
WEIHENSTEPHANER - Korbinian

From Great Fermentations in Indianapolis:

New Beer Kits
Three new GFI Signature Beer Kits as well as a new one from Brewers Best. 

Java Porter
Steam My Blues Away
Bonsai Dog Ale
Rye Pale Ale

From the Distributors/Reps

From Greg at Cavalier Distribution in Indianapolis:

New arrivals:

JW Lee's Harvest Ale: Assorted Vintages & Barrel-Aged Varieties
People's Brewing Irish Red Ale: Draft only, limited seasonal 

Upcoming Cavalier Events:

03/04 - Arnold's Tavern Beer Tasting ; 8-10pm

03/04 - Parti-Pak Lq; Spring Craft Beer Tasting; 4:60 - 6:30

03/08 - Monon Food Co. Dinner featuring Left Hand Brewing Co ; 6pm ; Price $25

03/09 - Barley Island Broad Ripple / Founders Tapping featuring last Nemesis keg and many more; 7pm -

03/18 - Union St. Liquors Cav Beer Tasting, Mishawaka, 5pm

03/24 - Chalet Middlebury Cav Beer Tasting

04/28 - Chalet Elkhart CR 17 Cav Beer Tasting

Upcoming Beer Dinners:

From Rachael at Petite Chou in Broad Ripple:

We are holding a beer dinner in collaboration with Clay Robinson, owner of Sun King Brewery, Wednesday, March 9 (6:30pm). The cost of the dinner is $65/person, which includes tax and gratuity. We focus on providing high quality often organic and locally sourced foods prepared with love, care and consideration of culture for our guests. Our executive chef, Tyler Herald, has worked with Clay to prepare a four course menu that includes a Sun King beer as an ingredient in each course and is paired with a Sun King beer.

From Kelly at Monon Food Company in Broad Ripple:

Monon Food Company Left Hand Beer Share

March 8th at 6pm, tickets are $25

*Space is limited. Call 722.0176 to reserve space or stop in and get tickets

Left Hand Beer Share Menu

1. Sawtooth Ale

~ Meet & Greet ~

2. Polestar Pilsner

~ Goat Cheese Napoleon ~

3. 400lb Monkey

~ Yucatan Marinated Mahi Mahi Baked In Banana Leaves With Jicama-Orange Salsa ~

4. Black Jack Porter

~ Maple Glazed Pork Loin Stuffed With Apples, Bacon And Spinach ~

5. Milk Stout

~ Chocolate Tiramisu ~

6. Stranger Pale Ale to follow

Here is a link to the info on our the site - http://www.mononfood.com/announcements/bells-beer-dinner

*I know the url says "Bells"

Upcoming Events

Brew Bracket Introduces Live Tasting Tournament Featuring Local Craft Beers on April 17th; 400 Hoosiers to Vote for Best IPA in Indiana

Tickets and additional information here. 

Great Crescent: the next canned Indiana beer

It is exciting to see craft brewers fighting the stereotype that canned beers are cheap beers (both in price and quality). As we all know, canned beers are like mini-kegs and provide better protection for the craft beer inside.

Great Crescent Brewery is the next Indiana brewery to take up the charge of canned craft beer. Dan and Lani Valas have been looking at canning for a while. And they are close to putting the beers out for purchase.
The biggest challenge with canning is the cost of materials. There is a minimum purchase for each can design. For multiple designs, this can be prohibitively expensive. But breweries like Great Crescent are finding ways around it. Similar to Sun King's customizable can, Great Crescent has one can design. The cans will be filled with various beers and have a small label affixed to identify them. Each label has to be individually approved, but the hassle and cost involved is much better than the cost of printing cans for each individual beer.
Dan is starting with a manual canning machine. "We are using a CASK 2-head manual filler with a motorized single seamer. The cans get filled by hand and are then moved to the seamer, go through a rinse and then get the 4-pack rings applied. We are waiting on some trays to package the 4-packs in and then we will be ready to go. I don't have an arrival date on the trays, so I can't tell you exactly when we will start getting the cans out for sale. We're not sure which beer will be first in the cans, but it will likely be several styles to out with the first deliveries."
So far, six beers have received label approval with the federal government: Blonde, IPA, Mild Ale, Dark Lager, Stout, and Coconut Porter. I know several people that will be looking forward to having cans of Coconut Porter in their beer fridge.