INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The second week of the Indiana State Fair is here and this year the fair includes alcohol sales. Its purpose was to showcase Indiana beer and wines that many Hoosiers don’t even know exist.
Most people didn’t know the first thing about craft beers. Monday, brewers said it was fun to educate them and it seems to be a win-win for everyone so far.
24-Hour News 8 asked one fellow taster if they knew much about craft beers until they came into the tent Monday. Dawn Bartlett exclaimed this was a first for him.
“We usually drink Bud Light at home,” said Becky Fueling.
“You get a lot of people that come up and are like I want a Coors Light or I want a Bud Light. You’re like, well, ya know, these are all Indiana brewed beers,” said Kelli Liggett, Indiana State Fair bartender.
These Indiana craft breweries take no offense. They’re happy to have the chance to try to influence new taste buds.
“It’s a great way, the sampling especially, to market our beers,” said Jeff Eaton, Owner/Brewer of Barley Island Brewing Company.
“So it gets them familiar with OK, this is what maybe a pale ale is, this is what a cream ale is or a Scottish style ale as opposed to the traditional domestic pilsner, said Damarin Smith, Sun King Brewing Company.
Picking up a craft beer can be intimidating. There are hundreds to choose from with much bolder taste than your average light beer. Smith says that by his estimates about 50 percent of the people he has met during his time at the Grand Hall are new to craft beer. But, first timers we spoke to said it’s started to grow on them.
“I just think it’s fun to see. I like the idea that it’s from Indiana. Try something new,” said Fueling.
“And you actually get a lot of surprised faces that they do enjoy the craft beer that you brought them. Like, Oh! This isn’t bad,” said Liggett.
This is something that the Craft Brewer’s Guild has wanted for years. They wanted a local beer and wine tent to show Hoosiers what the Hoosier state has to offer. So far, they’re saying the plan has worked.
“We’ll get people into our pub in downtown Noblesville just from being here,” said Eaton.
“Oh yea. I’m hoping that it does anyway. I mean it’s little bit early. We still have about a week left of the fair and everything but I think that, any kind of exposure is better than none,” said Smith.
To give these Indiana beers a try, visit the Grand Hall at the Indiana State Fair. Each attendee gets a bracelet with three tabs. The tabs allow people to buy three beers or four samples per tab. That means 12 samples or 3 beers or mix and match.
Only people 21 and over are allowed inside the Grand Hall.
