Many Events Lead Up To Microbrewers Festival This Weekend

25 Jul Many Events Lead Up To Microbrewers Festival This Weekend

by Mark E. Lasbury for Indiana On Tap

The 23rd Indiana Microbrewers Festival takes place at Indianapolis’ Military Park on Saturday, July 28th from 2-6pm. But that doesn’t mean that the festival is the beginning or end of the festivities in town this week. There are several breweries, craft beer bars and pubs that have tap takeovers or parties in the days leading up to the festival.

In addition, you can get pre-banded for Microbrewers Festival at Tomlinson Taproom (Fri. 4-7pm) or HopCat in Broad Ripple (Fri. 4:30-8pm, Sat. 11am-1pm). Make sure to bring your ticket (printed) and your ID. Attendees must be present to pick up their band, they will not be handed out to those not present.

Here’s a list of the events before Microbrewers Festivals of which Indiana On Tap has been informed:

Thursday, July 26th:

image credit: Brewers of Indiana Guild and Mallory Hodgkin Art and Illustration.

Tap Feature – The Pint Room in Carmel has a Fat Heads Brewing tap feature, call or check their Facebook page to see which beers will be on draft.

Tap Feature – Blind Owl Brewery will have a Stone Brewing tap feature at the brewpub on the northeast side. The 2018 WOOtstout, Ripper, Skedaddler, and Tangerine Express, will all be on tap.

Beer Releases and Guests – The Koelschip is dropping a MASSIVE amount of new beer – new cans, new draft options, and on-site bottles this Thursday. There will be beer from Funk Factory Guezeria, Black Project, and Speciation, along with Central State Brewing’s latest NE IPA, Moon Machine, and their Farmhouse Oat IPA called Just a Facade.

Tap Takeover – Bare Hands Brewing will control the taps at Tappers Arcade Bar in Fletcher Place from 4pm – 12am. The beers from bare hands will include: Westy, ThaI.P.A., Walter White IPA, Upful IPA, Citronic Pale Ale, Braintree DDH DIPA, and the Cream Ale.

Beer Birthday Party – It’s Rail Splitter IPA’s birthday at Triton Brewing in Lawrence! First brewed on July 26^th, 2010 as a test batch for what would soon become our biggest seller! Join Triton for $2 off Rail Splitter IPA growler refills and $1 off 4-packs of 16oz cans and 6-packs of 12oz bottles to go. In addition, it will be “Thrifty Thursday,” at Triton Brewing Company with $2 off all Usu-ales growler refills, 3-10pm. All of the year round brands will be on special.

Beer Dinner – Fountain Square Brew Co. will host a beer dinner at the Tick Tock Lounge in partnership with Old 55 Distillery. Four courses of tasty food paired with Fountain Square beers, including the Old 55 BBA Backyard Porter. Tickets are only $25, and can be purchased at Fountain Square Brewing or the Tick Tock Lounge.

Friday, July 27th:

Beer release – Round Town Brewery will be releasing their new hefeweizen, called Employee of the Month, in the taproom from 2-11pm.

Pre-party – Burn ‘Em Brewing will have several events going on, including a Pre-Fest party at Sinking Ship from 7pm – 3am. The beers on tap from Burn ‘Em will include Sprucalicious, Krankenwagen, Keep Summer Safe, and Gluttony.

Anniversary Party – Upland Brewing 20th Anniversary at White Rabbit Cabaret. There will be a free concert with Clint Breeze and The Groove, plus lots of Upland beers and Upland trivia for prizes. The party will run from 8-11pm.

Tap Takeover – Bare Hands Brewing/Burn ‘Em Brewing Tap Takeover at Twenty Tap from 5pm – 12am. Bare Hands will be pouring Westy, ThaI.P.A., Drain The Swamp, Citronic Pale, Upful, and the Vanilla Bean BBA Mail Order Bride. Burn ‘Em will be have Mr. Tea Razz, Kreamed Korn, Fourteen Buck Chuck, Coconoats, Baba Yaga on nitro, and Clurichaun Irish Red on nitrogen.

Tap Takeover – Bloomington Brewing Company and Mad Anthony Brewing will have a tap takeover event at Fat Dan’s Chicago-Style Deli. In a meeting of twenty year old breweries that each won medals at the Indiana Brewers Cup, this will be a showdown for the ages. Draft beers will include BBC’s Simcoe Kid and Ruby Bloom and Mad Anthony’s Summer Daze and Jonesing for Java. Packaged beers will include BBC’s Back Country Session IPA and Mad Anthony’s Ruby Raspberry.

Night of Sours – Black Acre Brewing is having a sour night at the brewpub. Four beers will paired with cheeses, including Brett Guava Llama Ding Dong (Brett Brux Gose with Guava, Mezcal Worm Salt and Lime), Feral By Nature: Peach (Brett Brux Wild Ale with Peach), Feral By Nature: Raspberry (Brett Brux Wild Ale with Raspberries), and Kveik Saison made with Alfafa lightly dry hopped with Falconer’s Flight.

Beer Dinner – Chef JJ’s Downtown will have their 9th Annual Make It Local beer dinner at their downtown location Friday evening. New Day Craft Mead & Cider, Bier Brewery, St. Joseph Brewery, and Taxman Brewing will be included in the pairing of six courses with local beers/meads/ciders. Click here for tickets.

Tap Takeover – Bare Hands Brewing/Burn ‘Em Brewing/The Sour Note Tap Takeover at La Margarita in Fountain Square from 5-11pm. For this take over, Burn ‘Em will be pouring their Anniversary Ale, Hessian Horesman, Coconoats, and Sluagh.  Bare Hands will have Westy, ThaI.P.A., Summer Wheat, and BBA Barleywine. The Sour note Peach Gose and Coconut Gose will be there as well.

Barrel Beer Festival – For those of you in the region who wish to warm up for Microbrewers Festival, 18th Street Brewery is having their Barrel Massacre 4 on Friday evening from 6-10pm. Tickets include seven pours (5oz) of the barrel aged beers on tap, including from their collaborator on the beer, “Saturday,”Cycle Brewing. Each ticket comes with a tote and glass access to the cellar rummage sale and barrel aged bottles, on site food and live music, including from  OF WOLVES, The Reaganomics and Drude and all day guest DJ Gregg Elzinga! Get your tickets here.