Anderson Brewfest Highlights Local Businesses Alongside Excellent Beers

By Writing & Reporting Community Member Tyler McCord

Well hello again! Have you been to any craft beer events since the last time you heard from me? I hope so! I hope that you were able to get out there and try and find a new local favorite beer. I had the pleasure of going to the Anderson Brewfest on Saturday, June 6. This wasn’t anything that I expected it to be, and that was a pleasant surprise!

Now, that’s not a jab at Anderson or anything. What I mean is that it wasn’t a typical beer fest. You see, they went above and beyond for this fest. As great as having a fest with hundreds of brewers can be, it was great to see one that featured around 20 local Indiana breweries but also gave local artist, crafters, and businesses space to set up booths. Sure you’ll find a few of these booths at the bigger fests, but not like this. There were just as many local vendors as there were breweries. There was live music, there were educational showcases about brewing your own beer, food trucks, and so much more. This gave you the opportunity to take a small break from the beer and enjoy some of the finer things from around the state. Overall, this fest wasn’t just about the beer; it was about supporting local businesses.

Well, onto the good stuff! The beer! So there were about 20 different breweries there and with plenty of time to try every single one of the beers that they brought that made for about 60 different types of beer. I know. I tried every single one. Ok, well…maybe I missed one or two. But I was close! Like last time I am going to highlight a few of my favorite beers, as well as some of the insider information about some upcoming awesomeness. 

New Corner Brewing
IPR IPA - I know, it’s kind of a generic name for a beer but it is also an experimental beer by New Corner. Even though they didn’t identify it as an IPA, it sure taste like one. The hops hit you almost immediately but didn’t last long. If you had been drinking IPA all night and needed a little break this would be the beer that I would choose. 

Triton Brewing Company
Beer Hammock Shandy - This sweet tasting little shandy was a refreshing blast of honey and fruit. It wasn’t overly sweet either. You know the type of sweet, the one that tastes like you’re drinking koolaid? Not this beer. The balance of this shandy makes it easily enjoyable on a beach, or you know…Lake Michigan. 

Taxman Brewing Company
Deduction - It’s hard to find a double that I’m not going to like, especially a Belgian double. This one is no different. Though, it didn’t have your normal sweetness that typically comes with a double. It was though, very smooth to drink and had a dry finish. Not sure how they pulled off the dry finish, but it worked. It made me want to keep drinking. 

Hop Audit - Do you like hops? No? Then you probably won’t want to try this beer. However, if you love hops then you’ll love this beer! Regardless of your view of hops though, this beer was still manageable. It wasn’t anything like Panzer Wolf from 3 Floyd’s (holly hopful, Batman) but it definitely earns the name Hop Audit.  

Wooden Bear Brewing
Big Paw Porter - There are thick porters and there are light porters. This porter falls in the middle somehow. Not nearly as thick as a Guiness, but a nice smoky flavour accompanies that medium thickness. 

Barley Island Brewing Company
Cork County Red Cream Ale - This delicious little treat is a cross between a Red Ale and a Cream Ale (hence the name…get it?). It brings the smoothness and flavour of a Red Ale and the thickness of a Cream Ale for a great blend that would be easy for anyone to enjoy. 

Be on the lookout for Deer Creek Brew, and expansion from Barley Island.

Three Pints Brewing Company
Darth Farmers - Ok…I need to figure out how to explain this one properly because it is something that you have to try! It’s a black saison with a strong presence of lemongrass that just make this beer so tasty. Even in my notes, I wrote “tasty tasty”. What? This was pretty far along in the beer fest. Let’s see your notes after all that! 

Banana Split (working name) – I say this is a working name because it’s kind of an experiment from Three Pints. Well, maybe not an experiment, but a new mixture. They take their Chocolate Raspberry Stout (which is amazing, by the way) and their H.I.L.F. With these two mixed together you get an amazing banana split flavour. How? I don’t know, but it works! Ask for it the next time you are in their brewery. 

Redemption Aleworks
Salvation Orange Blossom Honey Wheat - Imagine, if you will, taking an orange and coating it in honey, and dropping it into a wheat beer and that is this beer. I’m not over exaggerating about that flavour at all either. 

Books & Brews
The Pleasure to Burn - They warned me, and I laughed. They said it tastes like the Fireball candy, and I thought “that’s not possible”. Then I took a drink, and I might as well have put five of those little candies in my mouth. It’s a good beer, but for me…I would only be able to have one. If you love those Fireball candies though head over to Books and Brew and grab a pint.