05 Jan It’s January – Let’s Pick Up the Slack for Our Favorite Craft Beverage Producers
by Mark E. Lasbury for Indiana On Tap
Januarys are typically a difficult month for craft breweries and distilleries. The holidays can easily take it out of you, and you’re going to need some time to recharge your battery. You likely had a good amount of liquid celebration during the holidays as well, so it might take some time to get your thirst back.
People might do a Dry January, which cuts into sales at the exact moment that breweries/distilleries need them the most. However, just because you’re drinking a bit less (or not all) during this first month of the year, it doesn’t mean that you need to avoid your favorite breweries/distilleries. There are many ways you can support them without going on a bender and drinking them out of beer/spirits.
image credit: Walmart
Here’s a few mechanisms by which you can maintain support for craft producers in Indiana during January (although they work during the rest of the year too):
- It may seem obvious, but go have a beer or cocktail at your favorite taproom. Take friends and bring a deck of cards or a board game. You may not want to drink as much, so take more activities with you and it will help you to have a great afternoon or evening without concentrating on the alcohol. If the place is family friendly, have a family night or game night. You’re going to watch the big game anyway, why not do it at a taproom?
- If you had a great beer share or two over the holidays, it’s likely that your beer fridge is a little light right now. Even if you’re not going out for a whole night of beers, you can have one and buys some packaged beer to restock. Remember, buying at the brewery/distillery will result in a greater profit margin for them. Show social media your beer fridge before and after restocking, so people will get the idea for themselves.
- If you wish to do a Dry January, you can still visit your favorite brewery/distillery. Most, if not all, now carry non-alcoholic beer choices and/or sodas. Distilleries almost always have a list of mocktails.
- You likely have some work you can do outside of your job site; why not belly up to the bar and get some work down while schmoozing with your favorite beer slinger.
- Take the money that you would usually spend on beer or spirits and buy gift cards to use the rest of the year. This will make it seem like your saving money this summer, while the breweries/distilleries get to spread out there income, getting some in January when they are most down, and foregoing some in summer, when their receipts are higher anyway.
- Breweries and distilleries have events all the time to help bring people in – attend one or more this month when you might not otherwise. Trivia, painting, comedy shows, happy hours, food trucks, live music, game nights – there’s always something going on, and with the weather cold & gloomy, it’s a great way to get out and see friends.
Please see the bottom of the text to see a list of events a different place this month – listed alphabetically by producer.
- Travel around the state. Taking a drive in a warm car is better than walking around a cold neighborhood, and you can find new places or old favorites. Is there a museum you want to see in an Indiana city or a concert you want to travel to? Add a brewery stop or two to your itinerary. Or you could get together with friends to plan a pub crawl, that’s always fun.
- You can even help your favorite producers without visiting them. Give your cat photos on social media a rest and post a story and photo about a great memory at a brewery. You know you’ve been taking pictures of pretty cocktails, so post one now and give a shout out to your favorite place and mixologist. Make a post ranking your favorite breweries or beers in the state – people will disagree strongly and post their own lists in the comments – whatever it takes to get people thinking about craft breweries. Go to Yelp and leave 5 star reviews of your places. It makes a bigger difference than you know.
January Events:
10-56 Brewing & Catering
2120 S US HWY 35
Knox IN 46534
January 17 Bingo at 6pm central free to play with prizes every game
January 24 5 pm central Prime Rib night! No reservation needed
2Toms Brewing Company
3676 N. Wells Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
January 15-26th Savour Fort Wayne
Special curated beer and BBQ Menu
8th Day Distillery
1125 E Brookside Ave Suite D06, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Trivia with Hambone Trivia every Sunday 4pm. Free to play + win 8th Day merch!
January 3, First Friday from 4-11pm
January 6, Post NTE Industry Appreciation Night from 4-9pm
January 10, Closed for team Holiday Party
January 11, 7-9pm Live music with Stephen and the Dream Shovel
January 16, Winter Cocktail & Mocktail Menu release 4-9pm + Flower Boys Workshop 630-8pm
January 17, from 7-9pm Acoustic Social + Tasting 4-7pm at Kahn’s Liquors
January 18, from 7-9pm Live music with Katie Jo Robinson
January 25, from 7-9pm Live music with Ben Justus
Black Circle Brewing
Loom – 1901 E. 46th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205
Laundry machines and pinball everyday but Monday
Karaoke on Tuesdays
Strange Trivia on Wednesdays
Bring your own vinyl on Thursdays
Chapman’s Brewing
Electric Works, 1660 Broadway, #140, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
January 8th – CLOSED to Public for Private Event @ 4:30p
January 9th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th – Trivia with Josh Hellcat – first round @ 6pm – second round @ 8pm
January 10th – First Friday Broadway Art Vernissage
January 15th – 25th – Special Savor menu runs
January 16th – Board Games and Brews @ 7pm
January 24th – Live Music – Adrienne Frailey plays @ 6pm
Chateau de Pique Winery/Brewery
6361 N. County Rd. 760 E., Seymour, IN 47274
January 11, Next Stop Comedy
Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/next-stop-comedy-at-chateau-de-pique-seymour-in-tickets-822145999817?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Happy Hours, Wed.-Frida, 4-6pm
January 31, Chocolate Peanut Butter Ports Cask Conditioned Beer release
Civilian Brewing Corps
14 N. Washington St., Spencer, IN 47460
January 7, trivia at 7pm
January 7, Pili’s Food Truck
January 14, Lumpia Creations Food Truck
January 21, The Mixed Plate Food Truck
January 28, Chef Dan’s Food truck
Easley Winery
205 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
January 11, Groovin’ On Ice (2pm-5pm)
Four Day Ray Brewing
11671 Lantern Rd, Fishers IN 46038 and 2111 Meadow View Ln, Yorktown, IN 47396
Six Pack Special $10 – Thursdays
Growler Fills $10 – Fridays
Same for both locations
Four Finger Distillery
Downtown – 630 Virginia Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Trivia every Tuesday evening
Lebanon – 126 W. Washington St., Lebanon, IN 46052
Trivia every Thursday evening
Live music on weekends
Westfield – 120 Camilla Court, Ste. A, Westfield, IN 46074
Trivia every Wednesday evening
Live music on weekends
Hog Molly Brewing Co.
830 Depot St. Columbus, IN 47201
January 9, General Knowledge Trivia
January 11, Tap Release: Pick Up Game Raspberry Chocolate Milk Stout
January 17, Rock n’ Roll Bingo
January 18, Tap Release: Hand Warmer Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout
January 23, Yellowstone Trivia
January 25, Tap Release: Timeout Entertainment Cranberry Blonde
Gas City Brewing
245 E. Main St., Gas City, IN 46933
January 4, NFL Trivia
January 9, Singo
January 16, Singo
January 18, Mug Club Chili Dinner, 4-6pm
January 18, OleMissBehavin’ Can Label Unveiling, 6pm
January 23, Singo
Flix Brewhouse
2206 E. 116th St., Carmel, IN 46032
January 7, Blues Brothers
January 11 & 12, Labyrinth
January 14, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
January 18, Almost Famous
January 19, Mimosa Movies: Mama Mia!
January 21, Little Shop of Horrors
January 25, La La Land
January 26, Singin’ in the Rain
January 28 Fanfest: Dirty Dancing
Grand Junction Brewing
1189 E. 181st Str., Westfield, IN 46074
every Thursday, trivia
every Friday & Saturday, live music (except Jan. 11)
January 11, TBG/Grand Junction Comedy Show, 8-10pm
tickets: https://event.ontaptickets.com/events/tbggrand-junction-brewing-comedy-show
Guggman Haus Brewing Co.
1701 Gent Ave. Indianapolis 46202
Wednesday Night Trivia every Wednesday at 7:30pm
Sunday Euchre League starting January 12th!
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/
Guggman Haus 46th St.
4601 N. College Ave., Indianapolis, IN
Tuesday Trivia every Tuesday at 7:30Journeyman Distillery, Sea of Monsters Brewing
258 South Campbell Street, Valparaiso, IN 46385
January 19, Meet The Makers: Art of Distilling, 4-5:30pm CT
January 25, Burns Night: A Supper of Celebration at Journeyman in Three Oaks, MI
Herrmann Brewthers Bierwerks7811 W. Morris St., Indianapolis IN 46231
January 8, Winter Euchre league starts with CCA sports. Play every Wednesday 7:00 – 8:30 for 8 week league. $5 pints for Euchre players. Registration ends 1/8
Thursday, Live Trivia 7-9
every Friday, $5 Pints
every Sunday, $12 Growler fills
Kekionga Craft Company
7328 Maysville Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815
January 11, Singing Bingo
January 17, Trivia Night – Bluey – Trivia is every 3rd Friday
January 15- January 26, Savor Fort Wayne. Food specials available for a lower price.
King Jugg Brewery
11110 Lantern Road, Fishers IN 46060
Jan 9, 2025 Tim Neuman 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Jan 16, 2025 Rebekah Meldrum 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Jan 18, 2025 Danny Frazier and Scotty Bratcher 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Jan 23, 2025 Traci & Jimmy with friends 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Jan 30, 2025 Ryan Raikes 6:00 pm to 9:00pm
Lafayette Brewing
622 Main St., Lafayette, IN 47901
January 28 – 30th Ann. LBC Winer Warmer
Barleywine & Winter Beer Fest, 5-9pm
Tickets: https://event.ontaptickets.com/events/lbc-winter-warmer-2025-1-25-2025
Metazoa Brewing
140 S. College Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46202
Bingo every Wednesday
Drag Bingo on 2nd Wednesday
Trivia every Tuesday, $5/team
January 18th, 80’s Ski Lodge Party, 12-8pm
Stocked up on non-alcoholic drinks for Dry January people
Moontown Brewing Company
345 S Bowers St., Whitestown, IN 46075
Whiskey Weekend with Old 55 Distillery: 1/23-1/26
Barrel Aged Beers, Special Food Menu, Special Cocktails
Free Live Music with 3:1 Band on 1/24
Free Live Music with The Mighty Pines on 1/25
Kids Sunday on 1/26
Northbrook Brewing
119 W. Main St., Arcadia, IN 46030
Every Wednesday, Open mic night
Every Thursday, Triva, 7pm
January 30, Trivia Major – there’ll be major prizes
Perry Vine
121 S Niles Ave Suite 15, South Bend, IN 46617
January 11, will be pouring at Hops & History at the Studebaker Museum
Science Project Brewing Co.
611 North St. Logansport, IN 46947
January 4, 7p: Music, Adrienne Frailey
January 6, 6:30p: Trivia
January 7, 6p: Cornhole Tournament
January 11, 7p: Music
January 13, 6:30p: Trivia
January 14, 6p: Cornhole
January 18, 7p: Music,
January 20, 6:30p: Trivia
January 21, 6p: Cornhole Tournament
January 24, 5p & 8p: Movie Night
January 25, 7p: Music
January 26, 2p: EUCHRE Tournament
January 27, 6:30p: Trivia
January 28, 6p: Cornhole Tournament
January 31, 5p & 8p: Movie Night
Studebaker Brewing
National Historic Landmark – Studebaker Mansion.
Winter Hops & History Festival
Jan. 11, Noon to 4pm
https://event.ontaptickets.com/events/hops-and-history-winter-festival-1-11-2025
Terre Haute Brewing Company
South 9th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807
January 17, Musician’s Jamboree & Prohibition Bash
January 25, Puppies, Pints and Treats
The Guardian Brewing
514 E. Jackson St., Muncie, IN 47305
January 13, How I Met Your Mother Trivia
January 20, Bingo
Each Tuesday, game nights 5-10pm
Traders Brewing Company
8587 Zionsville Rd. Indianapolis
January 11, Karaoke starting at 7pm. All ages welcome
January 18, Karaoke starting at 7pm. All ages welcome
January 25, Laughing Pint Stand-Up Comedy Night at 8pm. Tacos El Encanto Eden Food Truck on site.
January 25, Karaoke starting at 7pm. All ages welcome
West Fork Whiskey
10 E. 191st St. Ste. A, Westfield, IN 46074
January 2, Live Music – In the Mash House
January 9, Live Music – In the Mash House
January 11, Bourbon Pairing Dinner
January 18, Winter Farmers Market
January 23, Live Music – In the Mash House
January 25, West Fork Whiskey Day – bottle releases, all day events
January 30, Live Music – In the Mash House
Wooden Bear Brewing
21 W. North St., Greenfield, IN 46140
January 2, 2020’s Trivia
January 8, Friends & Family Game Night
January 9, General Knowledge Trivia
January 11, Paint & Sip: Night Skies
January 15, Dive Bar Music Bingo
January 16, Classic TV Show Trivia
January 22, Friends & Family Game Night
January 23, General Knowledge Trivia
January 29, Friends & Family Game Night
January 30, Disney/Pixar Movie Trivia
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