25 Feb Broken Beaker Distillery opens doors to resounding approval
A new, unique experience has arrived in Downtown Indianapolis, as Broken Beaker Distillery has officially opened their doors to the public. On Wednesday, February 24th, I was invited to their VIP event (not sure how I made that list) and received a sneak peak of the new digs. And not only that, but I also got to try some of the already distilled spirits.
The moment you walk through the door you immediately notice just how big the space is. 3,500 square-feet big. Broken Beaker general manager Craig Rogers told me that one of the reasons the owners chose the Mass Ave location was because of it’s size.
“It was big enough to hold a big enough still, to have the tasting room up front, and to have a food prep area.”
The tasting room can easily seat 50-plus people, if my calculations are correct. There were plenty of tables and chairs, as well as about 10 seats at the bar. Inside the distillery sits a 150-gallon copper still and what appears to be a couple column stills. Each still is used to distill different kinds of spirits.
In those stills, Broken Beaker currently crafts four artisanal liquors: Pendulum Vodka, Isotope Liqueur, Mitosis Brandy, and Hypotenuse Gin. I had asked Rodgers why they chose these four spirits and if they would be adding to their lineup in the future.
I’m not well-versed on the spirits and liqueurs that Broken Beaker currently offers – I’m more of a whiskey guy – so I chose to rely on the friendly bartender for suggestions. He tossed out a classic: cranberry and vodka martini. I took his word for it and boy, was I glad I did.
The vodka was smooth, with no bite, and the cranberry liqueur wasn’t overpowering or too sweet, but did contain bits of cranberry which gave the martini a unique feel. I was impressed, which may not be saying much as my criteria for a good drink usually comes down to whether or not it tastes good.
One of my favorite parts of the distillery is their choice of glassware. From test tubes, to beakers, to custom martini beaker glasses, the science theme undoubtedly runs deeper than just the sign on the door and the stills in the back. And the theme will continue to grow as owners Thomas Wysocki (chemist) and Heather Finfrock (engineer) – both know a thing or two about science – add more decor to the building. They have ideas to add not only TVs and foosball tables, but more science decor like periodic table shelves, something that will “recreate the memory of a high school chemistry classroom.”
Broken Beaker is definitely setting itself apart from the other artisan distillers in the city. They have a prime location, they are creating a unique environment, and they are creating traditional cocktails with a twist. Like the old saying goes (or maybe I just made up): If you distill it, they will come.
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