[thomasbarnes]

We're going to Indianapolis this next weekend to judge at the State Fair, visit family and friends, and pick up beer that you can't get in NY state.

So, questions:

1) Is anyone else on this forum planning to be there? If so, would there be any interest in an informal forum meet-up?

2) Would it be cool to bring (commercial) beer to the awards ceremony on Saturday night? If so, what East Coast/NY brands aren't available in Indiana?

3) What are the laws regarding Sunday beer sales in Indiana?

4) Any suggestions for seasonal local beers to look for?

[gordonstrong]

I'll be judging there.  Bring my book and I'll sign it for you.

Not sure about the local laws and such.  Sun King is a relatively new brewery in Indianapolis.  We have done the NHC first round there the last couple years.  Good beers.  Other good local places are Broad Ripple (English style pub) and Bruges (Belgian style pub).  The Rock Bottom there has had winning beers in the past, including the best Kolsch I've had in the states.

Not sure what commercial beers are in NY but not IN.  If you have a list of candidates, I can tell you ones I'd like to try 

[hopfenundmalz]

Indiana may still not allow alcohol sales on Sundays from the package stores or grocery stores (haven't lived there in a long time).  The breweries have been able to get the law changed so that you can buy at the brewery to go on Sunday, like wineries have had for a long time.  Maybe one of the guys from Indiana will chime in with more info.

There is a new place in Broad Ripple (neighborhood not far from the Fair Grounds), that is called Thr3e Wise Men.  We tried it on Memorial day weekend and were impressed with how clean the beers tasted.  Talking with the staff, they use RO water for the beer.  The brewhouse area approached Sierra Nevada cleanliness.  We will go back to that one.

There is also a place on 65th, Bier Brewery, that is a nano.  We tasted some of the beer, some was OK, some needed some work.  It was interesting as you could see into the fermenter room, where a line of the big Blichmann 45 gallon conicals were.  They make ~40 gallon batches and sell mainly growlers from what I could tell.  You might want to check it out.

Edit - Sun King is worth checking out.  Only a couple years old and growing like crazy.  Of course, Indianapolis was fertile ground for a local craft production brewery.  You see their tap handles all over town.

[thomasbarnes]

I'll be judging there.  Bring my book and I'll sign it for you.

I noticed your name on the judging list we received today.

Do I get a super-duper extra fancy signature if I have my bibliography tucked into the back?

Not sure about the local laws and such.

Since we used to live in Indiana and I still have family there, I'm sort of familiar with the Indiana brewing scene. My main goal, however, is to pick up BJCP listed commercial examples for upcoming classes I'll be teaching. Bells, 3 Floyds, Founders, New Belgium (if in good condition) and perhaps some others will be at the top of the list. We'll probably hit Kahn's since it's close to the fairground.

For our own education and amusement, we'll probably pick up some of the tastier looking Sun King, Barley Island and Upland seasonals, then perhaps hit Brugge Brasserie for lunch on Sunday before we go home. I hesitate to go anywhere near Broad Ripple on a Friday or Saturday night, especially driving a car with an out of state license plate.

Not sure what commercial beers are in NY but not IN.  If you have a list of candidates, I can tell you ones I'd like to try 

If you're willing to pay (at cost of course), we've got a couple of very good beer stores in Rochester, so I could probably get a lot of things on your list. Send me a PM by Thursday with your wish list and maximum budget. Ditto for other people reading this message who will also be at the fair.

Just realize that we will be driving a sedan, will need to put any beer we bring into a cooler to keep it in good condition, and are on something of a budget, so don't go too crazy with the requests.

A rough inventory of what's available is here: http://mybeersoftheworld.com/

It might also be possible for me to find Belwether cider, but distribution for cider is screwy in NY, so no guarantees.

As ambassadors of the Upstate NY beer scene, we'll be bringing a couple of bombers of 3 Heads Brewing beer and a bottle of Southern Tier Iniquity to share.

[suds]

Others have done a good job outlining many points.

Beer sales from package stores and grocery stores is not allowed on Sundays. If you want to pickup some Midwestern beers not available at your home area, be sure to do so by Saturday. You can purchase growlers from the brewpubs on Sunday.

I'd also add Flat 12 as a brewery / tasting room to visit. They are pretty close to Sunking and have some quality brews, I'm a fan of their Porter.

[thomasbarnes]

Beer sales from package stores and grocery stores is not allowed on Sundays. If you want to pickup some Midwestern beers not available at your home area, be sure to do so by Saturday. You can purchase growlers from the brewpubs on Sunday.

Yep. I'm painfully aware of that. It's going to make getting beer to take home very tricky given everything else that we want to do.

I'd also add Flat 12 as a brewery / tasting room to visit. They are pretty close to Sunking and have some quality brews, I'm a fan of their Porter.

Not familiar with them. They must be very new.

If anyone can recommend a good tap room or brewpub that isn't in Broad Ripple, is on the north side or near the fairgrounds, is open on Saturday night, and isn't likely to be utterly packed, I'd be grateful. Given its location, Rock Bottom downtown might not be a bad choice, unless there's some sort of sporting event going on.

[a10t2]

If anyone can recommend a good tap room or brewpub that isn't in Broad Ripple, is on the north side or near the fairgrounds, is open on Saturday night, and isn't likely to be utterly packed, I'd be grateful.

Broad Ripple Brewpub would be my first choice for a pub (Scotch eggs!), or Chumley's for a tap room, but if you're staying on the north side check out the Beer Sellar. About 50 taps and big enough that you'll be able to get a seat even on a Saturday. The only downside is that they allow smoking indoors. http://www.beersellar.net/indy/default.html

Thr3e Wise Men just opened a few months ago. It's in Broad Ripple, but in a strip mall so parking shouldn't be an issue. From there you could easily walk to Chumley's, BRBP, or Brugge.

[thomasbarnes]

Thanks for the advice.

Thr3e Wise Men just opened a few months ago. It's in Broad Ripple, but in a strip mall so parking shouldn't be an issue. From there you could easily walk to Chumley's, BRBP, or Brugge.

I just communicated with the judge director and got some further tips. He said much what you said, and mentioned that Three Wise Men is quite good.

Sadly, I also learned that the Barley Island Tap Room recently closed, leaving just the brewpub in Noblesville. I hope that they were able to somehow salvage the murals on the walls.

[hopfenundmalz]

Thanks for the advice.

Thr3e Wise Men just opened a few months ago. It's in Broad Ripple, but in a strip mall so parking shouldn't be an issue. From there you could easily walk to Chumley's, BRBP, or Brugge.

I just communicated with the judge director and got some further tips. He said much what you said, and mentioned that Three Wise Men is quite good.

Sadly, I also learned that the Barley Island Tap Room recently closed, leaving just the brewpub in Noblesville. I hope that they were able to somehow salvage the murals on the walls.

Barley Island Tap Room had a house flavor when we visited.  Was also a little moribund, so hearing that it is closed was not a surprise.

My only comment when drinking the Thr3e Wise Men IPA was "needs more hops".  But I say that often.